Yesterday, the Industrial Cooperation Project Agreement (ICPA) between LOM PRAHA state enterprise and Lockheed Martin was signed by its director Jiří Protiva on behalf of the Czech Ministry of Defence and by David Baker, Senior Director of F-35 Industrial Participation Lockheed Martin Aeronautics on behalf of the global security and aerospace company. The ceremony was attended by top officials of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, headed by Minister of Defence Jana Černochová.

The acquisition of 24 fifth-generation F-35A fighter aircraft is the most significant project in the history of the Czech Army. In January 2024, this strategic agreement was confirmed by the Minister of Defence of the Czech Republic, Jana Černochová, and the Ambassador of the United States of America, Bijan Sabet.

Industrial cooperation is also an integral part of this key contract for the modernisation of the Czech Air Force. The current idea includes 11 projects with Lockheed Martin and 3 projects with Pratt & Whitney, the manufacturer of the F135 twin-jet engine. 13 Czech companies and universities will participate in these projects. They will be involved in four areas, namely component production, research and development, pilot training and maintenance, and F-35 service and repair. 

Yesterday's agreement was preceded by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Lockheed Martin and the state-owned LOM PRAHA. On behalf of the American side, the memorandum was signed by J.R. McDonald, and on behalf of the state enterprise LOM PRAHA the director of the enterprise Jiří Protiva. The latter had previously announced to CZ DEFENCE that LOM PRAHA wanted to be significantly involved in the potential purchase of F-35 aircraft for the Czech Armed Forces through Lockheed Martin.

The agreement concluded between Lockheed Martin Global, Inc. and LOM PRAHA s.p. is the first industrial agreement concluded within the framework of the Czech industry's involvement in the programme for the acquisition of 24 F-35 fighter aircraft for the Czech Army. Its objective is mainly the transfer of cutting-edge know-how in modifying the training curriculum of the LOM PRAHA Air Training Centre to respond to the introduction of the 5th generation aircraft into use by the Czech Armed Forces, as well as the transfer and implementation of new technologies.

In the first stages of the cooperation between LOM PRAHA and Lockheed Martin, analytical work will be carried out on the existing training system at the Pardubice Air Training Centre. Based on this information, a new training system will be developed to reflect the needs necessary for a smooth transition of pilots from the L-39NG subsonic jet to the F-35 fighter aircraft. In particular, this includes ground equipment requirements, as well as instructional systems (including simulation technologies), new curricula, flight training syllabi, or staffing.

We asked the director of LOM PRAHA, Jiří Protiva, what the signing of the agreement means for the state enterprise in practice. "For the state enterprise, the agreement with Lockheed Martin means that the training is moving up another level, as we are transferring modern know-how and technology to the training system of the Air Training Centre to ensure a smooth transition of pilots from the L-39NG trainer directly to the F-35. With this agreement, the State Enterprise is responding to the rearmament of the Czech Army and at the same time developing its portfolio to offer to other countries, primarily from NATO and the EU."

Radka Konderlová, Senior Director of the Industrial Cooperation Section of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic, commented to CZ DEFENCE on the conclusion of the agreement, "The Czech Republic has a long-standing specialisation in the field of pilot training. Establishing cooperation of the state enterprise LOM PRAHA with the largest defence industry company in the world within the framework of this project will further deepen our capabilities of adaptation to the 5th generation aircraft."