The transfer of Czech L-159 aircraft to Ukraine is currently a closed matter.
This was reported by the Chief of the General Staff of the Czech Armed Forces, Miroslav Hlaváč, according to Ceske Noviny.
He said the country’s government had taken the relevant decision, so the issue is no longer on the agenda. Hlaváč also noted that the needs of the Ukrainian army are changing rapidly, so since the discussions began Ukraine may have found other technological solutions to carry out its tasks.
The possibility of transferring several L-159 aircraft to counter enemy drones was discussed at the start of this year after Czech President Petr Pavel’s visit to Kyiv. Former Chief of the General Staff Karel Řehka said the country could provide up to four such aircraft without harming its own security. However, the governing coalition rejected the initiative, saying the equipment is needed by the Czech army.
At the same time, the Czech General Staff stressed that cooperation between the two countries’ militaries and the exchange of combat experience are continuing. The Czech Republic is also continuing to actively modernise its own armed forces, focusing on developing air defence systems, introducing artificial intelligence and countering hybrid threats from Russia.
- In January this year, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine remains interested in receiving Czech L-159 light attack aircraft. The head of state stressed that protecting Ukraine’s skies is a multi-layered system that combines various components — from mobile air defence units to aviation. He said L-159 aircraft could become one element of a comprehensive air-defence system. The President underlined that Ukraine would be interested in their delivery as quickly as possible.