Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has signed an agreement with the Czech Republic to extend the lease, operation and support of JAS-39 Gripen C/D fighters until 2035. The package also includes upgrades to keep the aircraft relevant against future threats. FMV said the current lease, in place since 2004, is being extended for a second time.
“We are pleased to continue our cooperation with Czechia in the fighter domain, and this extension strengthens NATO’s collective security,” FMV Director General Mikael Granholm said following the signing.
Under the new terms, the Czech Air Force will transition from its current 14 aircraft to 12 Gripen C/Ds between 2027 and 2035. The Czech side values the lease, servicing, and pilot training at 16.695 billion CZK ($800 million), with a separate modernization effort budgeted at approximately 4.0 billion CZK ($190 million). Czech MoD materials indicate the fleet will comprise 10 single-seat and two dual-seat jets.
Bridge to F-35 introduction
The extension bridges the period until the introduction of 24 F-35A fighters. According to earlier government-to-government documentation, the first Czech F-35s are scheduled to arrive in 2031 in the latest Block 4 configuration, with deliveries expected to be completed by 2035. The Czech MoD states that pilot training will commence in the United States before transitioning to the Czech Republic as squadrons are established.
Prague has operated leased Gripen C/Ds since 2004, using them for national air defense and NATO missions. The government approved extending the lease to 2035 in June 2025. The formal contract signing confirms the plan and locks in the transition path to fifth-generation F-35s.
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