The first fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft landed on Friday afternoon at the airport in Mošnov near Ostrava. The machine of the Italian Air Force, which is on display in Central Europe for the first time, will be the main attraction of this year’s NATO Days in Ostrava, which are being held at Leoš Janáček Airport on Friday and Saturday.
“This is a historical event not only for the airport in Mošnov, which became the first-ever in the V4 countries to land a fifth-generation aircraft,” says Zbyněk Pavlačík, chairman of Jagello 2000, which organizes the event.
“The fact that it is fifth-generation means that it is significantly more developed than its predecessors, both in terms of protective equipment and avionics, the systems it can carry. It’s a generation higher than, for example, our Gripen aircraft today,” Pavlačík added.
The F-35 aircraft is invisible to radar and has high maneuverability
NATO Days is the most significant security show in Europe. Last year, it could not be held for the public, but the event will welcome military, rescue, and security units from 17 countries this year.
In 2018 and 2019, more than 200,000 people visited the event, but this year the number of visitors is limited to 40,000 for each day.