Lockheed Martin Secures $422M for Czech F-35 Program Integration

The Pentagon has awarded Lockheed Martin a $422 million contract to help the Czech Republic join the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, covering program management, logistics, sustainment, and systems engineering services.

The contract, announced on September 26, 2024, is part of the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. The work is expected to be completed by September 2027.

The contract follows the Czech Republic's official entry into the F-35 program on January 29, 2024, when the country signed a letter of offer and acceptance for 24 F-35A jets. These aircraft will be delivered starting in 2031 as part of a broader defense package that includes industrial cooperation projects with Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney. The Czech Air Force is expected to receive the latest Block 4 configuration of the F-35A, which features conventional take-off and landing capabilities.

The Czech Republic's involvement in the program includes 11 industrial cooperation projects with Lockheed Martin and three with Pratt & Whitney, valued at approximately CZK 15.3 billion (€620 million). These initiatives will engage 13 Czech companies and academic institutions in component manufacturing, research and development, pilot training, and maintenance activities.