11 November 2026
Source:
ČTK/Sznapka Petr
The Czech Republic could deliver sixteen Skyfox aircraft to Ukraine, Czech Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček (ANO) told reporters on Wednesday. He is on a two-day business mission to the country, which is resisting a Russian invasion. According to him, four Skyfoxes have already been confirmed in the past, and he is now negotiating with Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhiy Korecký about the delivery of another twelve aircraft.
“I have a very good feeling about the meeting. The Prime Minister (Koreckyj) also brought Energy Minister Denys Šmyhal and Transport Minister Mykola Kalashnyk to the meeting,” said Havlíček.
Ukraine had previously been interested in L-159 Alca light attack aircraft from the Czech army and had been negotiating with the Czech side. The Ukrainian defenders wanted to use the aircraft to combat drones that the Russian army sends to Ukrainian targets almost every night.
The government of Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) ultimately refused to hand over these machines, saying that the soldiers needed them. Chief of the General Staff Miroslav Hlaváč told ČTK last month that the matter was already closed. However, in this context, he mentioned the possible delivery of L-39 Skyfox aircraft.
Aero Vodochody currently produces approximately twelve L-39 Skyfox jet trainers per year. According to earlier statements by the company’s management, it can increase production capacity to eighteen aircraft per year. The company has sold more than forty of these aircraft so far and its production is fully booked until the second quarter of 2027, according to data from September this year.
Anti-drone version
The anti-drone version currently under development, called Drone Hunter, would probably be intended for Ukraine. It is intended primarily to destroy enemy unmanned aerial vehicles, with significantly lower operating costs than when using conventional fighter aircraft.
Aero has already presented a configuration equipped with an electro-optical targeting system and rocket launchers for 70mm guided missiles. It is working with, among others, the Belgian company Thales on their integration and testing. The Hunter drone has not yet been operationally deployed and its capabilities must be confirmed by further tests.
Aero Vodochody has been owned by mostly Hungarian investors since 2021, together with the Czech arms group Omnipol. After this year’s changes, the largest individual shareholder is businessman Oszkár Világi, with an indirect stake of approximately 48 percent. Richard Háva’s family’s Omnipol holds 24 percent, the Hungarian state arms holding N7 holds another fifteen percent, and the remaining thirteen percent belongs to Hungarian businessman Zsolt Hernádi.
These little planes are not as glamorous as F-16s or Gripens, but they are ideal for shooting down drones. The other two types are a bit overkill for this job.