On Wednesday, the Czech government supported the Defense Ministry's initiative to train Ukrainian military pilots to fly F-16 fighter jets.
The Czech Ministry of Defense reported this.
Ukrainian F-16 pilots training in the Czech Republic: what is known
In accordance with the approved decision, the state enterprise LOM Praha will organize 150 hours of flight training for Ukrainian pilots. By the end of 2026, no more than eight pilots will be able to undergo this training.
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“The pilots will be trained on F-16 aircraft, which the Czech army does not have in service, but the Ukrainian side has also expressed interest in training on simulators and subsonic L-39 aircraft,” the statement said.
The Czech government notes that all costs for the implementation of this project (32 million crowns) will be covered from the already approved budget of the Ministry of Defense.
“We have the capacity, know-how and experience, and in cooperation with the Army of the Czech Republic we are ready to offer them where they are really needed,” emphasized LOM Praha Director Jiří Protiva.
Let us recall that in May 2025, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala agreed to cooperate in training Ukrainian pilots to fly F-16s.
