Czech government rubberstamps purchase of 24 F-35 fighter jets

The Czech government has approved the purchase of 24 US-made F-35 aircraft at a total of CZK 150 billion. The minister of defence, Jana Černochová, said at a news conference on Wednesday that that amount also included all expenses related to the preparation of operations in Czechia.

The first of the fighter jets will be ready in 2029 and all 24 will be in the country by 2035, the minister said.

It will be the biggest defence contract ever signed by Czechia.