Lockheed Martin completes 11 agreements with Czech industry for F-35 stealth fighter program.

Lockheed Martin has completed 11 industrial cooperation agreements with Czech industry supporting the Czech Republic’s acquisition of 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets, marking a decisive step in integrating the country into the global F-35 supply chain.

The agreements involve 12 Czech companies, including LOM Praha, Aero Vodochody, and VZLU Aerospace, with projects spanning pilot training systems, AI-driven aerospace development, and component manufacturing within the F-35 supply chain. Initiated under the 2024 U.S.-Czech acquisition agreement, this industrial integration strengthens long-term operational readiness, NATO interoperability, and sustainment capacity for fifth-generation air combat operations.

Read also: Czech Republic Extends JAS 39 Gripen Fighter Jet Lease with Sweden Until F-35 Arrival in 2027

The Czech Republic’s acquisition of 24 F-35A jets forms the operational basis of this industrial framework, with production scheduled to begin in 2027 and deliveries starting in 2029, including six aircraft in 2029, followed by incremental deliveries in subsequent years. (Picture source: US Air Force)

On March 18, 2026, Lockheed Martin finalized all 11 industrial cooperation agreements associated with the Czech Republic’s F-35 Lightning II program, completing a phased process launched in 2024 that progressively structured Czech participation in production, research, training, and sustainment activities tied to the acquisition of 24 F-35A jets, and formally transitioning all projects into their execution phase within the global industrial network supporting the aircraft.

The industrial cooperation process originated in January 2024 with the signature of the acquisition agreement between the Czech Republic and the United States covering 24 F-35A aircraft, munitions, training, and support services, alongside a negotiated industrial participation package comprising 11 projects with Lockheed Martin and three additional projects with Pratt & Whitney, with a total value exceeding 15 billion CZK and involving 13 Czech companies, research institutes, and universities distributed across manufacturing, research, training, and maintenance activities.

The first implementation agreements were signed in May 2024, including cooperation with the state enterprise LOM Praha, focused on restructuring pilot training systems to support the transition from L-39NG aircraft to F-35 operations, including analysis of existing training infrastructure, development of new curricula, integration of simulation systems, and definition of personnel and ground equipment requirements, forming the basis for long term adaptation of Czech Air Force training capabilities to 5th generation aircraft requirements.

A second phase of agreements was concluded on May 28, 2025 during the IDET defense exhibition in Brno, involving Aero Vodochody Aerospace, VZLU Aerospace, and Vrgineers, expanding industrial participation into advanced aerospace development and simulation technologies, with Aero assigned development of a multi sensor reconnaissance pod using advanced composite structures, VZLU Aerospace focusing on artificial intelligence and machine learning applications in aircraft development and testing processes, and Vrgineers contributing virtual and mixed reality simulation systems integrated with Lockheed Martin training software.

Parallel industrial cooperation included projects involving PBS Group, One3D, and the HiLASE research center, focusing on advanced manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing, laser surface processing, and thermal treatment in vacuum and HIP furnaces, with development phases planned over a five year period and subject to technical qualification and approval by U.S authorities, confirming the integration of Czech entities into production processes requiring high levels of precision, certification, and compliance with international standards.

The final phase was completed on March 18, 2026 in Prague with the signature of the remaining agreements, including cooperation with Ray Service to establish domestic production of F-35 wire harnesses, enabling the Czech Republic to manufacture critical electrical subsystems for the aircraft and integrate into the global supply chain supporting more than 1,300 aircraft already in service, with all 11 projects now active and covering research, design, testing, production, supply chain management, and sustainment functions expected to continue over a period of 50 to 60 years.

The acquisition of 24 F-35A jets is structured with production beginning in 2027 and deliveries scheduled from 2029, including six aircraft delivered in 2029, two in 2030, four in 2031, and subsequent annual deliveries of four aircraft, with the first 12 aircraft produced in the United States and the remaining 12 assembled in Italy at the Cameri facility, which will also provide higher level maintenance, while the procurement package is valued at less than $5 billion and total system costs including infrastructure, training, and support are estimated at nearly 150 billion CZK by 2034, with lifecycle costs projected at 322 billion CZK through 2069.

The current Czech Air Force operates 14 leased JAS-39 Gripen C/D fighters for air policing and limited operational missions, alongside L-159 light combat aircraft used for training and secondary roles, with existing capabilities focused primarily on airspace protection and constrained participation in NATO operations, while the transition to F-35 is intended to expand operational roles to include integrated air defense, intelligence collection, data sharing, and participation in alliance wide command and control systems, ensuring interoperability with more than 700 F-35 aircraft operating or planned in Europe and aligning Czech capabilities with NATO capability targets for the period beyond 2040.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.