The Czech Republic is considering the possibility of supplying Ukraine with 16 L-39 Skyfox trainer/combat jet aircraft, which can be used to intercept Russian drones. Part of the aircraft has already been tentatively agreed upon, and deliveries of the rest are being discussed with the Ukrainian government.
This was announced on November 11 by the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, Karel Havlíček, during a working visit to Ukraine, ČTK reports.
According to Havlíček, the sides previously agreed on the delivery of four L-39 Skyfox aircraft. Now Prague is discussing the possibility of transferring 12 more machines, which would increase the total number to 16.
The issue of additional deliveries was discussed by the Czech Deputy Prime Minister with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Serhiy Koretsky. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal, and the Minister of Communities and Territories Development, Mykola Kalashnik.
Havlíček positively assessed the results of the consultations and noted the Ukrainian side's interest in continuing cooperation. However, a final agreement on the supply of additional aircraft has not yet been announced. The timing and financial terms of a possible deal are also not disclosed.
As iDNES.cz notes, Havlíček's visit is part of a large Czech business mission dedicated to the development of economic cooperation, the restoration of Ukrainian infrastructure, and the supply of industrial equipment.
The L-39 Skyfox aircraft is produced by the Czech company Aero Vodochody. It is a modern two-seat jet aircraft intended primarily for military pilot training. In an armed configuration, they can also perform certain combat tasks.
For Ukraine, the possibility of using a special modification called Drone Hunter, developed for countering drones, is being considered. Its main advantage lies in potentially lower costs of intercepting drones compared to the use of modern fighters and expensive air-to-air missiles.
In September 2026, Aero Vodochody presented a demonstration configuration of the L-39 Skyfox Drone Hunter at the international NATO Days airshow in the Czech Republic.
The aircraft was equipped with an electro-optical detection and targeting system, as well as underwing launchers for 70-mm guided rockets. The Czech manufacturer is cooperating on the integration of this armament, in particular, with the Belgian company Thales.
It is assumed that this modification will be able to be used against strike drones, including Shahed-type UAVs. However, the Drone Hunter version has not yet been used in combat, and its capabilities still need additional testing.
According to the Czech agency ČTK, Aero Vodochody currently produces approximately 12 L-39 Skyfox aircraft per year. The manufacturer has stated the possibility of increasing capacity to 18 machines annually.
The company has already sold more than 40 aircraft of this model, and its production capacities, as of September 2026, were full with orders until the second quarter of 2027. This circumstance may affect the timeline for fulfilling a potential Ukrainian order.
Previously, Ukraine also showed interest in Czech light combat aircraft L-159 ALCA, which were planned to be used to counter Russian drones.
However, the government of Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš refused to transfer such machines from its own armed forces, explaining the decision by the necessity to keep them for national defense.
Against this background, the L-39 Skyfox is being considered as a possible alternative. Unlike the L-159 ALCA, these are aircraft that can be manufactured specifically for a Ukrainian customer.
At the same time, the Czech side has not yet specified whether future deliveries will be provided as military assistance or as a commercial contract.
