(PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC) – The Czech Armed Forces have stated that they have no objection to transferring four L 159 light combat aircraft to Ukraine, saying such a move would not threaten the country’s own security. Senior military officials stressed that the final decision rests with the political leadership rather than the armed forces.
The position was reported by Czech outlet iROZHLAS, which cited comments from the Chief of the General Staff, Karel Řehka. He said the army had already recommended the transfer in its internal conclusions in October and December, proposing that the aircraft be provided to Ukraine as a gift.
Řehka explained that while the L 159 aircraft are not surplus to requirements, their transfer would not undermine the Czech Republic’s defence capabilities. He underlined that the role of the military is to provide a professional assessment, while decisions on supplying weapons to Ukraine are made by the government.
The general added that even when the armed forces recommend that equipment can be transferred, this does not mean it is unnecessary. In such cases, he said, the government must formally grant an exemption for property that is not classified as redundant.
Public discussion of the potential transfer intensified on January 16, 2026, when Czech President Petr Pavel raised the issue during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. The comments highlighted Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to secure additional military support as it resists Russia’s invasion.
Soon after, however, the governing coalition rejected a decision on the possible sale of the aircraft. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš said the defence minister had informed the Cabinet that the Czech Air Force would need the L 159 aircraft for its own purposes.
Řehka declined to comment directly on the differing political statements. He noted that the president had long shown regular interest in the matter and had been receiving detailed briefings from the military. According to him, the armed forces prepared three formal positions on the issue, with the most recent completed in December 2025.
The first assessment was drafted in August 2025, when the army concluded that a maximum of four aircraft could be transferred to Ukraine. At that time, Ukraine had requested a larger number. A second assessment followed in October, partly in response to the worsening security situation faced by Ukraine.
Řehka said Ukrainian officials had since pressed their case more urgently, arguing that circumstances had changed and that even a limited number of aircraft would be of value. He quoted them as saying that four aircraft would be sufficient to meet some of their immediate needs.
In its October recommendation, the Czech military stated that it was ready to transfer four L 159 aircraft as a gift and repeated that this would not threaten national security. This stance was confirmed again in a third document prepared in December.
While the army has expressed support for a transfer in principle, Řehka said other options were also being considered. These include possible exchanges involving new technology or specialised know how, leaving the final outcome dependent on political negotiations.
The Aero L 159 ALCA is a subsonic light combat aircraft and advanced trainer developed and produced in the Czech Republic by Aero Vodochody. It exists in both single seat L 159A and two seat L 159B versions and was derived from the Aero L 59 Super Albatros trainer, itself developed from the widely used Aero L 39 Albatros series.
Development of the L 159 began in 1993 as part of a national effort to replace ageing Soviet era combat aircraft with a modern, domestically produced alternative compatible with Western systems. The aircraft has since formed part of the Czech Air Force’s light combat and training fleet.
