On June 3, 2025, the Czech Ministry of Defence announced its acceptance of a renewed lease offer from Sweden for the continued operation of 12 Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets through 2035. The contract proposal was endorsed by the Defense Minister’s Collegium and will be submitted to the government for information. The newly negotiated terms represent an approximate 25 percent cost reduction compared to the 2024 Swedish proposal. This extension is intended to maintain the Czech Air Force’s air defense capabilities during the period in which fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II jets, ordered from the United States in 2024, will be gradually introduced into service between 2031 and 2035.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the extension was made necessary by the timeline for F-35 induction and was facilitated by intensive negotiations that resulted in significantly more favorable conditions. The agreement includes the lease of 12 JAS-39 Gripen aircraft, comprising 10 single-seat (C variant) and 2 two-seat (D variant) aircraft, as well as associated services such as maintenance and pilot training. The total contract value is 6.012 billion Swedish kronor, equivalent to 16.695 billion Czech koruna (€549.900.866,52) including VAT at current exchange rates. The current lease, which includes 14 aircraft, is scheduled to expire in 2027. The reduction in aircraft quantity by two units is expected to yield considerable financial savings. Generalmajor Petr Čepelka, Commander of the Czech Air Force, confirmed that the reduced fleet size will still meet national airspace protection requirements and will allow for the uninterrupted training of pilots who will transition to the F-35. NATO has been notified of the reduced aircraft number, and this adjustment will be accounted for in the alliance’s planning for joint airspace defense.
The contract also includes a modernization package for the leased Gripens, which are approaching the end of their operational life cycle. The cost of the modernization is 1.454 billion Swedish kronor, or 4.037 billion Czech koruna (€133.031.098,26) including VAT. This upgrade is required in response to the evolving operational environment and is considered necessary for the continued operation of the aircraft. Modernization of the Czech Gripens has been ongoing since 2015 and is now included as an integral part of the lease contract, avoiding the need for future standalone approval. The increased cost of operation is attributed to the aging of the aircraft, which will be in service for over three decades by 2035, and to higher global market prices for labor and materials in the military aviation sector. The offer was negotiated under terms equal to those applied to the Swedish Air Force and other Gripen users.