Defence site: Babiš wants EU states supplying Ukraine with F-16s to fund purchase of Czech training aircraft

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, together with Ukrainian officials, wants to propose to European partners who have supplied Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets that they finance the purchase of 10 Czech L-39NG Skyfox combat training aircraft for the Ukrainian Air Force, the Ukrainian site Defense Express reported on Saturday.

The specialised defence outlet said the proposal was intended for Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands and Belgium, which supply F-16s to Kyiv. Ukraine could use them not only for pilot training but also for defence against Shahed-type drones, which the Russians manufacture under the name Geran-2, it said.

Defense Express estimated the contract’s value at $250 million to $300 million, based on previous contracts for the procurement of these aircraft. Based on experience from Czech and Hungarian contracts, the first aircraft could be delivered to Ukraine as early as 2028–2029, it said.