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The Czech government suggested the timing and location of the signing in Prague was affected by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's recent health issues.
"What we found is that systems that are heavily reliant on contractor support, that have a minimum of government-owned intellectual property or access to the intellectual property, that the flexibility to make changes in accordance with a new national security environment is limited," Assistant Secretary of Defense Christopher Lowman told Breaking Defense.
The announced deal covers 25 F-35A models, alongside 26 Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 engines and a host of equipment.