Written by Michael Thervil
Photo owned by Lockheed Martin Photo captured by Johnathan Case
With the Czech government planning to purchase 24 F-35 American fighter jets by the year 2035, there are many people that think that this is a great investment to ensure that the Czech Republic's strategic interest as a NATO member on the battlefield remains intact. Many are praising the F-35’s high-end stealth capabilities and its highly advanced sensor suite which allows it to engage targets in some of the most complex wartime environments. On the contrary, even though the American F-35 is defined as a technological marvel by some, there are just as many people claiming the opposite.
From the F-35 suffering from premature cracking in its airframe, to its overly complex software, to the various issues concerning its under-reliability in terms of its helmet display and its seemingly flawed design of its Arrestor Hook which is used to slow down the aircraft once it touches down on the deck. Some people are wondering what kind of deal the Czech Government is getting themselves involved in on its citizens' dime. Moreover, another issue that comes to mind when speaking about the F-35 is the fact that it's been reported that its fuel tanks are vulnerable to lighting strikes. Additionally, its software suffers delays in processing due to its overly complicated software system. It has also been reported that because of its overly complicated internal mechanics, finding replacement parts and keeping up with the regularly scheduled maintenance poses a costly challenge when it comes to any nation to include America maintaining the upkeep of the F-35 to the manufacturer's standard.
However, with the F-35 fighter jet package costing a staggering $109 million per plane combined with all the associated secondary issues that come with simply owning and operating the aircraft, the question is: “Why does the government of the Czech Republic want their hands on this particular aircraft so bad?” Currently, there's no clear answer. In fact, any answer to this question becomes even more complex because technology, as the world knows it, tends to improve exponentially every 6 months. So, from September 2023 until the final delivery of the last F-35 to the Czech Republic in 2035, it's more likely than not, the technology that has been used to build the F-35 will be outdated. This is especially true when one considers the rate in which technology advances from both Russia and China.
On the political front, the purchase and deployment of the American F-35 in the region will do nothing but cause Russia and China to interpret the operational status as a national security threat. When this happens, this gives both China and Russia yet another reason to further develop their military technology. Our advice to the government of the Czech Republic: stop while you're ahead, because if war breaks out in your region of the world, you will suffer a tragic defeat.
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