The Czech Republic has already opted for the 2023 purchase of 24 F-35 fighter jets from manufacturer Lockheed Martin in 2023. However, their introduction is not planned until 2031, which is why Prague is now seeking an extension to the lease agreement for 14 JAS-39C/D Gripen from Saab which only runs until the end of 2027.
How Radio Prague International reportsthe Czech Ministry of Defense has now announced that progress has been made in negotiations with Sweden on extending the Gripen mission until 2035.
“We were not satisfied with the first offer – the original proposals were deemed inadequate,” says Lubor Koudelka, Director General of Armaments and Procurement (NAD).
“As the extended operation of Gripen remains the preferred option for continuous air surveillance, we have asked our Swedish partners – FMV and Saab – for a new offer. After challenging negotiations, we have now arrived at a significantly more advantageous variant. Compared to the original offer, we were able to achieve a discount of around 25 percent.”
Around 833 million euros for eight more years
The new offer is currently being examined together with the Czech armed forces. It envisages that from 2027, only 12 Gripen will be operated instead of 14 – 10 single-seaters and 2 two-seaters. The total cost of the new leasing package, including maintenance and the training of additional pilots and technicians, is reported to be around 675 million euros.
Although the pure leasing rates remain comparatively low, maintenance costs will increase as the jets will then have been in service for almost 30 years. In addition to the lease, the aircraft, which have been in operation since 2005 – the author was personally present at their first landing in Čáslav – are to be extensively modernized. This modernization would cost a further 158 million euros.
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By comparison, a good EUR 80 million has already been spent on upgrades during the current leasing contract (2015 to 2027).
According to the Czech Ministry of Defense, the offer takes into account the general inflation in the defense industry – in particular the increase in labor and material costs over the past two decades. The price structure offered by Sweden is the same as that used for its own air force.
If the Ministry of Defense accepts the offer together with the army, a draft contract will be prepared that could be signed towards the end of the current legislative period in October 2025.
Air Force gives the green light
“In the context of current and future tactical aviation capabilities – especially in view of the F-35 program schedule – the Swedish offer is acceptable from the point of view of the Air Force Command,” explained Major General Petr Čepelka, Commander of the Czech Air Force.
“Ensuring continuity is critical to maintaining an experienced pilot base – after all, today’s Gripen pilots will form the core of the future F-35 fleet.”
The F-35 is expected to enter service from 2031, although full operational capability (FOC) will probably not be achieved until a few years later in line with international standards.
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