Aero and Lockheed Martin sign industrial cooperation agreement as part of Czech F-35 acquisition

Brno 28 May 2025  –   AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE today signed an industrial cooperation project agreement with Lockheed Martin at the IDET international defence and security technology trade fair in Brno as part of the Czech F-35 aircraft acquisition programme.

The agreement represents a specific collaborative project to develop and produce a next-generation Multi Sensor Reconnaissance Pod from advanced composite materials.

“This agreement confirms that the Czech aerospace industry has the know-how and capabilities to participate in the development of cutting-edge technologies for the most advanced aircraft of today,” said Viktor Sotona, President and Chairman of the Board of Aero. “The Multi Sensor Reconnaissance Pod project confirms Aero’s capabilities not only in terms of producing unique technologies in the field of advanced composite structures, but also in terms of significant international cooperation.”

The signing of the agreement builds on previous discussions with Lockheed Martin and technology partner Collins Aerospace and confirms Aero’s readiness for technical collaboration on global defence programmes.

AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the development, production, maintenance and modernisation of civil and military aircraft and is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest aircraft manufacturers in the world. In the field of its own aircraft, Aero is a permanent partner of a number of military air forces and has a strong position in the market for military trainer and light combat aircraft. With 11,000 aircraft produced in its 100 years of existence, hundreds of L-39 Albatros aircraft still in service with dozens of military operators and a number of demo teams, and especially with its new L-39 Skyfox aircraft, Aero has established itself as a leader in the global jet trainer market. In the civil aviation sector, Aero works with major aircraft manufacturers on a wide range of projects and is a partner in several risk-sharing programmes, where it is responsible not only for the manufacture and assembly of aircraft assemblies, but also for their development.

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Radka Cerna, PR & Communications Manager
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