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Czech Republic extend Gripen lease to bridge until entry of F-35

3rd June 2025 - 19:32 GMT | by Damian Kemp in London

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The Czech Air Force will continue operating Gripens until the mid-2030s. (Photo: Czech Air Force)

The Czech Republic has formally extended its lease of Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft until 2035, allowing for the arrival of the first Lockheed Martin F-35 in 2031 and full operational capability four years later. .

The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) has agreed to an extension of lease of its Saab JAS-39 Gripen multirole fighter aircraft. The deal will keep the aircraft in service until the country’s Lockheed Martin F-35s enter service in the first half of the 2030s. The lease was initially due to expire in 2027.

The Czech Republic will pay SEK6 billion (US$624 million) for the lease of 12 Gripen aircraft, their servicing and pilot training which, according to the MoD, is 25% decrease on a previous offer.

The MoD said there would be reduction in the number of leased aircraft from 14 to

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Author

Damian Kemp

Damian Kemp has worked in the defence media for 25 years covering military aircraft, defence …

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