체코, 그리펜 임대계약 연장

[위종민]

체코는 현재 복좌 2기, 단좌 2기 총 14기 운용중인 그리펜 대체기로 F-35 24기의 도입을 확정지었습니다만, ( When Computers Went To Sea | 체코 공군, 그리펜 대체기로 F-35 24기 도입 추진 - Daum 카페 ) 2031년에야 인도가 시작될 예정이라 2027년 만료 예정이던 그리펜 임대계약을 8월 31일 연장했네요. 계약기간은 F-35 도입이 완료될 2035년까지입니다. 

Czech Republic to lease Gripen fighters beyond 2027 - Airforce Technology (airforce-technology.com)

Czech Republic to lease Gripen fighters beyond 2027

The lease renewal will likely maintain the Czech force structure until its forthcoming F-35A units are delivered from 2031.

John HillSeptember 2, 2024

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Two Czech-operated JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft in flight. Credit: Czech Ministry of Defence.

The Czech Republic has signed a Joint Declaration with Sweden to extend its lease of 14 JAS 39 Gripen combat aircraft beyond 2027.

Two double-seated and 12 single-seated units were delivered to Prague on the 31 August 2005; the fleet is stationed at Čáslav Air Base.

As well as the lease renewal, the defence cooperation agreement includes joint training activities with the Swedish-made CV90 infantry fighting vehicle, which the republic seeks to purchase in a joint effort with neighbouring Slovakia.

According to a statement from the Swedish Minister of Defence, Pål Jonson, on 31 August 2024, “the defence cooperation between Sweden and the Czech Republic will further increase to the benefit of both parties.”

As a former eastern-bloc nation, the Czech Republic is undergoing a transformational programme to shed its Soviet-era inventory – such as the Army’s BVP vehicles, 200 of which were donated to Ukraine – for more modern equipment and platforms.

Ultimately, the Gripen aircraft were always intended to be an interim solution as the Czech Air Force explore their options for a major longer-term fighter procurement. In July 2022, the longstanding frontrunner in the competition – Lockheed Martin’s F-35A multi-role stealth fighter – was confirmed as the Czech Republic’s choice.

The F-35 sale was approved by the US State Department in June 2023 and approved by the Czech Parliament three months later. The 24 planned units will be a step up in overall force numbers, necessitating expansion of Air Force personnel.

Czech Gripen aircraft during exercise Lion Effort, 8 May 2024. Credit: Nato Allied Air Command.

These first F-35As are expected to arrive in 2031 while deliveries conclude in 2035. It is doubtless that the Gripen renewal will play out until such a time that they may be replaced by the F-35A fleet on a more permanent basis. Contrary to any sense of defence expansion, the lease renewal serves to extend the interim period.

Nevertheless, the Gripen fleet in the Czech Air Force play a crucial role for the country and Nato more widely. The service recently hosted exercise Lion Effort from Čáslav Air Base in May this year. There, 150 air force personnel from Hungary, Sweden, Thailand and Brazil conducted flying manoeuvres with more than 20 aircraft including Gripen.

This was the second time the Gripen operator hosted the triennial rotating pattern after its first time in 2015.

[백선호]

2008년 그리펜 데모를 내놓으며 F-35의 대안으로 열심히 홍보했지만 결국 현실은 ‘사고 싶은 차 기다리는 동안 렌트하는 차’ 신세네요.

[Black Knights (윤재산)]

땜빵펜ㅜㅜ

[위종민]

저렇게라도 팔리고 굴려지다보니 그래도 브라질이랑 태국에서 E/F가 팔리는 것처럼 볕드는 날도 생기고... ㅎㅎㅎ