Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 16, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 19, 2026
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The Czech Republic plans to supply Ukraine with combat jets to enhance its drone defense capabilities, as announced by President Petr Pavel in Kyiv.
KYIV, Jan 16 (Reuters) - The Czech Republic is set to provide Ukraine with combat planes shortly that can shoot down incoming drones, President Petr Pavel told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Friday.
He did not give specifics but two years ago said Czech-made subsonic L-159 fighter jets could be transferred to Ukraine, which has been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion for almost four years.
"The Czech Republic can in relatively short time provide several medium combat planes, which are highly effective in fighting drones, and I believe we will manage to quickly and successfully conclude this issue," Pavel told a news conference with Zelenskiy.
He said Prague might also supply early-warning systems such as passive radars.
Pavel, a former army general and head of NATO's Military Committee, has been a strong supporter of Ukraine and a Czech-led initiative supplying Kyiv with large-calibre ammunition paid for by Western donors.
A new Czech government led by populist Andrej Babis has agreed to continue the initiative but pledged not to provide any national funding for aid to Ukraine.
The Czech army has 24 L-159 planes in one- and two-seat configurations, used for training and support for ground forces. Its main fighter jets are 14 Swedish Saab JAS-39 Gripens, but it has ordered 24 American F-35 fighters for delivery after 2030.
Under its previous government, the Czech Republic gave Ukraine heavy equipment including tanks and helicopters from army stocks and received compensation from NATO allies as it rearms with Western weaponry.
(Reporting by Jan Lopatka in Prague; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Military aid refers to assistance provided by one country to another in the form of weapons, equipment, training, or financial support to enhance military capabilities.
Combat jets are military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat against other aircraft, or for ground attack missions.
A drone defense system is a set of technologies and strategies designed to detect, track, and neutralize unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) that may pose a threat.
The president typically plays a crucial role in military decisions, including authorizing military aid, deploying forces, and setting defense policy.
A fighter jet is a fast military aircraft designed for air-to-air combat, capable of engaging enemy aircraft and providing air superiority.
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