Czech Republic Plans to Buy F-35 as New Fighter, Would Be 16th Customer July 20, 2022 | By John A. Tirpak The Czech Republic plans to buy 24 F-35As, which would make it the 16th nation to either buy the fighter or announce the intent to do so and the 10th member or soon-to-be member of NATO to select the jet. The aircraft will replace 14 ...