Prague, January 20, 2026 (Agencies) – The Czech Republic will neither sell nor transfer light combat aircraft to Ukraine, Prime Minister Andrej Babis has said, effectively rejecting an earlier proposal by President Petr Pavel to provide several Czech-made fighter jets to Kiev.
Speaking at a press conference, Prime Minister Babis clarified that the aircraft under discussion were the subsonic L-159 ALCA light combat jets and that the Czech Air Force could not spare them. He said the aircraft still have around 15 years of service life remaining and are required to meet the country’s own security needs, adding that they are actively used and not sitting idle in storage.
President Petr Pavel had earlier indicated that Prague could provide Ukraine with several L-159 aircraft, with estimates ranging from a small number of operational jets from existing inventories. He maintained that transferring a limited quantity would not undermine the Czech Republic’s defense capabilities. However, the prime minister dismissed the proposal, stating that no further debate on the matter was necessary.
Babis, who took office in December, has adopted a more cautious stance on military and financial assistance to Ukraine, emphasizing that Czech taxpayer funds and defense assets should not be diverted. He has also opted out of contributing to the European Union’s latest multibillion-euro financial package for Ukraine.
The L-159 ALCA is a Czech-produced light fighter and advanced trainer aircraft designed for close air support and reconnaissance missions. While seen by some as suitable for Ukraine due to its lower operating costs and NATO-compatible systems, the Czech government has now made it clear that no L-159 jets, in any quantity, will be made available for transfer to Kiev.