The Czech Republic has signed an agreement to purchase its first 24 F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced.
The signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) for the latest advanced Block 4 configuration aircraft is worth about $6.6 billion and represents the largest purchase made by the Czech military, ABC News reported.
The purchase, which will make the Czech Republic Air Force the 18th to operate the fighter jet, also includes personnel training, as well as service and logistical support, Lockheed Martin said.
“We are pleased the government of Czech Republic is now officially a part of the F-35 Lightning II program of record,” U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Mike Schmidt, program executive officer, F-35 Joint Program Office, said in a statement. “This partnership with the Czech Ministry of Defense will deliver and sustain the F-35 aircraft for decades, while providing the Czech Air Force with unmatched interoperability and ensuring it has the capability to counter current and future threats.”
The first Czech F-35s are expected to be delivered to the Czech Republic Air Force in 2031, Lockheed Martin said.
