Czech Republic to Buy 24 F-35 Jets, CV-90 Combat Vehicles, Cancels Infantry Fighting Vehicle Tender

The Czech Republic today decided to cancel the tender for infantry fighting vehicles and authorised Defence Minister Jana Crnochova to negotiate with the Swedish Government to procure the CV90 combat vehicles.
Minister Cernochova was also authorised to negotiate the procurement of 24 F-35 Lightning II multirole fighters with the United States Government.
“Today is a crucial day for the future of our defence acquisitions. The Government decided to cancel the tender for new infantry fighting vehicles and authorised me to negotiate the procurement of the Swedish CV90 combat vehicles with the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden.
Another point on the agenda of the Government’s session was the future of the Czech supersonic air capability. I was authorised to form an inter-ministerial negotiating team and commence negotiations with the United States Government to procure 24 units of the F-35 Lightning II multirole fighters to equip two squadrons”, Defence Minister Jana Cernochova said after the Cabinet session." the minister was quoted as saying in a Ministry of Defense statement.

F-35 Lightning II

Regarding the F-35, minister Cernochova said, “Our decision is based on the analysis by the Czech Armed Forces, which clearly articulates that only the most advanced 5th generation fighters will be able to meet mission requirements in future battlefields.”

The acquisition needs to be decided now because the costs of weapon systems have been growing continuously while manufacturing capacities and input materials become scarce, which extends the lead times. “We must not hesitate, because the lead times take years,” says the Minister and adds that 2027, when the lease contract for the existing supersonic capability expires, only seems to be far away."
The F-35 multirole fighters offer a solution for decades. “The F-35 Lightning II will represent a highly competitive aircraft even in 2040, whereas the so-called 4+ generation of fighters will have become obsolete by then. In addition, the F-35 provides an aerial capability combining a fighter, air defence element, as well as surveillance and command, control and communication centre while being part of a broad network of Internet of Things including unmanned aerial vehicles," Chief of General Staff Major General Karel Řehka elaborates on the requirement of the Czech Armed Forces.
The rationale behind increasing the number of fighters is the fact that the present quantity of supersonic fighters no longer meets the current tasking and given the worsening security situation, the volume of performed missions will continue to grow.