The Czech government, at the initiative of Defense Minister Jana Chernokhova, approved a program to train Ukrainian pilots, which is implemented by the state-owned enterprise LOM Praha
Points of attention
- The Czech government has approved a training program for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, providing 150 hours of flight training to 8 pilots to support Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression.
- The training program will cover various aspects including flight training, ground training, simulation exercises, logistics, and medical examinations, at an estimated cost of 4.5 million CZK.
Czech Republic to train 8 Ukrainian F-16 pilots
This was reported by the press service of the Czech Ministry of Defense.
This involves 150 hours of flight training worth about 32 million Czech crowns, which will be used to train Ukrainian pilots.
The training is part of the Czech Republic's assistance to Ukraine to support its defense against Russian aggression. The pilots will be trained to operate F-16 fighter jets, although the Czech Armed Forces do not have such aircraft.
However, Ukraine is also interested in training on simulators and L-39 training aircraft.
The Minister of Defense emphasized that for effective defense, Ukraine needs not only equipment, but also qualified military personnel, including pilots. The Czech Republic, as an active member of the Coalition of the Willing, considers supporting Ukraine to be its strategic interest.
Training costs will be covered within the approved budget of the Czech Ministry of Defense.
The training will include not only flights, but also ground training, simulation exercises, logistics and medical examinations, totaling around 4.5 million CZK. This will be carried out in accordance with a new addendum to the current contract between the Czech Ministry of Defense and LOM Praha, as well as in accordance with the cooperation agreement between the defense ministries of the Czech Republic and Ukraine.
The training will take place within the framework of the current national mandate, which allows the presence of military personnel from Ukraine, the EU, and NATO on the territory of the Czech Republic for the purpose of training up to 800 people in the period from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.
