Czechia to train eight Ukrainian F-16 pilots by end of 2026
Czechia to train eight Ukrainian F-16 pilots by end of 2026 (Getty Images)
The Czech government approved the Ministry of Defense's proposal to train eight Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, the Czech Defense Ministry's press service reported.
According to the decision of the Czech government, the state-owned company LOM Praha will provide 150 hours of flight training for eight Ukrainian pilots by the end of 2026.
"The pilots will train on F-16 aircraft, which are not in service with the Czech Army, but the Ukrainian side has also expressed interest in training on simulators and subsonic L-39 aircraft," the Czech Ministry of Defense stated.
The ministry stated that all costs on the Czech side — amounting to 32 million crowns — will be covered from the approved budget of the Czech Ministry of Defense.
"Training Ukrainian pilots at the flight training center in Prague is not only a professional challenge for us, but also a demonstration of our active support for Ukraine and our solidarity," said Jiří Protiva, Director of LOM Praha.
"We have the capacity, know-how, and experience, and in cooperation with the Czech Army, we are ready to offer them where they are truly needed," she emphasized.
F-16s for Ukraine
The Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium have led the aviation coalition to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.
In July 2024, the Netherlands finalized the export approval for 24 F-16s to Ukraine. By August, it was reported that Ukraine had received the first aircraft, although it was not disclosed which countries and how many jets were delivered.
At the end of last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that a second batch of F-16s from Denmark had arrived in Ukraine.
In May of this year, the Netherlands sent the final batch of its allocated F-16s to Ukraine.
Belgium has also pledged to deliver 30 F-16s to Ukraine by the end of 2028.
In early April, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher G. Cavoli, said that additional F-16s were being prepared for transfer to Ukraine, though he did not specify which country would provide them.
In addition, The War Zone reported that the United States had sent retired F-16 aircraft to Ukraine to be used for spare parts.
It was also recently confirmed that Czechia, together with partners from the Coalition of the Willing, will conduct training for Ukrainian pilots on F-16s and L-39s.
