Czech Republic to Invest €8.8 Billion in Military Aviation and Defense Development
The government of the Czech Republic has approved the allocation of 215.8 billion Czech crowns (over 8.8 billion euros) for the maintenance and development of Czech military aviation until 2036. The primary focus will be on supersonic aviation, as reported by Česká televize.
Specifically, the Czech government plans to acquire 24 fifth-generation F-35 aircraft for 150 billion crowns (6.15 billion euros) and extend the leasing of JAS-39 Gripen fighters until 2035. These American fighter aircraft will replace the current fleet, which includes 14 leased JAS-39 Gripen fighters and 24 L-159 aircraft.
The purchase of the 24 F-35 aircraft was approved by the government based on military recommendations at the end of September. The allocated amount, according to the Defense Minister Jana Chernohová, includes all expenses for deploying these aircraft in the Czech Republic, such as infrastructure, fuel, and personnel training.
For applied research in defense innovations from 2023 to 2029, approximately 6.1 billion Czech crowns (250 million euros) will be spent, with a focus on developing potential in areas of advanced technology. These research areas will include military geography, space technologies, cybernetics, and robotics. Research will also concentrate on medical support for the military and the development of simulators for pilot, military, and medical training. Funds will also contribute to the development of infrastructure for research organizations within the Ministry of Defense in collaboration with the University of Defense.
It was reported by The Gaze on November 29th that during the plenary session of the Czech Parliament, deputies finally approved the proposal to involve the forces and resources of the Ministry of Defense in foreign operations and the presence of armed forces of other states on the territory of the Czech Republic in 2023 and 2024.
The priority of this proposal is to provide conditions for the continued training of Ukrainian military personnel on the territory of the Czech Republic and beyond. The current mandate for their presence expires at the end of 2023, and the new one will extend it for a year until December 31, 2024. By the end of this year, approximately 4,000 Ukrainian military personnel will undergo training in the Czech Republic and Poland.