Government’s plan to purchase F-35s “best decision that could have been made”, says expert
The Czech government announced this week that it will be entering negotiations with the United States about the possible purchase of F35 fighter jets. The Ministry of Defence says that it is hoping to secure two squadrons – around 24 aircraft – worth dozens of billions of crowns, which would quite possibly make this the most expensive purchase in Czech Army history. The negotiations are set to be concluded by October next year. I asked defence expert Matúš Halás, from the Institute of International Affairs in Prague, what he makes of this decision.
“It’s the best decision that could have been made, honestly. The F-35s are the best fighter jets on the market. You cannot get anything better. Of course it’s extremely expensive, but given the situation in Europe after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this is really not a time to try to save money on defence. In fact it is the other way round. If you want to be competitive in the air you really need the best aircraft possible and the F-35 is the right choice.
"You cannot compare Ferraris with Dacias, so this really is the best possible decision by the Czech government.”
“It is more expensive than other possible competitors, such as the latest generation of the Swedish Gripen, but these aircraft aren’t really comparable, because the F-35s have unique characteristics and are simply better planes. You cannot compare Italian sports cars with Romanian ones. You cannot compare Ferraris with Dacias, so this really is the best possible decision by the Czech government.”
The Czech Air Force is currently operating 14 JAS 39 Gripen fighters. Some opposition MPs, such as the Freedom and Direct Democracy’s Radovan Vích, say that this is a political decision which will end up costing the state too much. He mentioned both the operating costs and the costs of reconstructing airfields so that they suit the fifth generation F35. But you don’t think these are valid criticisms?
“I don’t think that this is really on the mark, because there would have been a need to upgrade the infrastructure of military airports anyway. We will be upgrading them and probably also get some money from the US government as well, so this is not something that the Czech government can easily opt in or out of. There is a need to upgrade Czech airfields.
“It is true that the operational costs of the F-35s are much higher, several times higher in fact than those of the Swedish fighter jets."
“It is true that the operational costs of the F-35s are much higher, several times higher in fact than those of the Swedish fighter jets. But again, these are two completely different kinds of aircraft with completely different kinds of capabilities. You really can’t compare them. The F-35 is a different generation of aircraft, so it’s natural that the operational costs are different.”
The F-35 is currently being used by the United States, Britain, Australia, Israel, Italy and several other countries. Could you tell us a bit more about its capabilities, especially in comparison with those of the Russian and Chinese air forces?
“The Russian Air Force has nothing comparable to it. It has no fifth generation aircraft. It is bragging about its latest Sukhoi [Su-57] aircraft, but it isn’t really able to produce it. So there is nothing comparable in Russia. China has some fifth generation aircraft, but it’s really doubtful whether they are on par with the F-35.
“As for the F-35s capabilities, it is a multi-role fighter, so it is a fighter jet that is able to dominate the air while being able to attack ground targets as well. It also serves as an information hub, so it can gather information and disseminate it to other platforms, either in the air or on the ground. If you wanted to, you could call it a fighter, bomber and reconnaissance aircraft at the same time.”
Is there anything else that you would like to highlight as a defence analyst in relation to the government’s planned purchase of F-35 fighter planes?
“I think it is important to realise that the lease of the Swedish fighter jets is most probably going to be extended. The current contract runs until 2027, with the option to extend the lease by two more years until 2029.
"I think it is realistic to assume that if everything goes according to plan, the first F-35s will arrive in the Czech Republic by 2028, maybe 2027."
“Given the time schedule, the intention to negotiate with the US until October of next year and the long delivery times of the F-35s to other countries, such as the example of Finland which recently signed the contract and yet will only receive the aircraft in 2026, I think it is realistic to assume that if everything goes according to plan, the first F-35s will arrive in the Czech Republic by 2028, maybe 2027.
“But those will be the very first aircraft to arrive. Therefore, I think that the Gripen lease will have to be extended to 2029.”
