In 2025 Czechia has signed a binding agreement with Sweden to extend the lease of Swedish JAS-39 Gripen C/D fighters until 2035. This means the Czech Air Force will continue to operate the Gripen C/D until 2035, while the F-35s ordered in early 2024 are gradually deployed.
The signing of this agreement had been expected for several months, as the principal deal — covering all details and lease costs — was reached back in June. However, due to the summer political and government recess, it was only finalized on September 1 2025.
Read more: B-52 Gets Radar Upgrade While Second B-21 Raider Prepares for First Flight
Under the contract, the lease is extended for the period 2027–2035, i.e., eight years. During this time, the active fleet will be reduced from the current 14 aircraft to 12, with two of them remaining in the two-seat version.
The lease will cost approximately €550 million (6.012 billion SEK or 16.695 billion CZK). In addition, the Czech Ministry of Defence will continue the Gripen modernization program with another €130 million (1.454 billion SEK or 4.037 billion CZK) to ensure operational capability of the aircraft, which have been in service since 2004.
Thus, one Gripen C/D for Czechia effectively costs €5.73 million per year during the eight-year lease, plus €1.35 million annually for modernization. The MoD also noted that the lease fee itself, due to the aircrafts age, now accounts for a smaller share of the total costs compared to maintenance.
It's worth recalling that in 2004, both Czechia and Hungary leased Swedish Gripens essentially due to a coincidence. At that time, Sweden was halving its fleet from about 200 fighters, making surplus aircraft available on favorable terms.
In 2002, Prague was actually offered to buy 24 Gripens for $1.5 billion (about $62.5 million per jet), but it lacked the resources. As a result, it opted to lease 14 aircraft. Sweden, on the other hand, preferred this arrangement over scrapping the surplus jets
Read more: russian Transport Aircraft Production Is in Question as the First Il-76MD-90A of the Year Has Been Delivered Only Now
