Czech General Staff Chief Karel Řehka announced in a press briefing on January 23, 2026, that the army is technically ready to donate four L-159 ALCA light attack aircraft to Ukraine. According to a report in iROZHLAS, despite the army’s official reports stating that such a donation “would not endanger national security,” Prime Minister Andrej Babiš’s government blocked the transfer of the aircraft by a political decision.
The Army’s Technical Assessment
In a statement at Prague-Kbely Airport, General Staff Chief Řehka referred to the official documents prepared by the army at the end of 2024 and the beginning of January 2026. Řehka explained that donating these aircraft would not weaken the Czech Republic’s defense capabilities, citing the following technical data:
- Security Analysis: It was determined that removing four aircraft from the inventory does not pose a critical risk to national security.
- Operational Status: While the aircraft are “not completely unnecessary” for the army, it was noted that they could be donated under the current strategic planning.
- Recommendation: The army’s technical opinion in favor of the donation was communicated to the government.
The Government’s Decision and Justifications
Despite the army’s “ready” declaration, the government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Defense Minister Jaromír Zůna rejected the transfer proposal. The government’s refusal highlighted the following points:
- Inventory Needs: The Ministry of Defense stated that the L-159 platforms should be kept in the inventory for pilot training and low-intensity operations.
- Service Life: It was emphasized that the aircraft have approximately 15 more years of service life, which should be used for domestic needs.
- Authority Definition: After the decision, General Staff Chief Řehka reiterated that the army only provided a technical opinion, and the constitutional authority to decide whether the donation takes place lies with the government.
Background of the Process
The debate began with previous statements by President Petr Pavel suggesting that aircraft could be provided to Ukraine. However, due to the Czech Republic’s current administrative structure, final approval for military aid rests with the cabinet. With this latest government decision, the process of transferring L-159 aircraft to Ukraine has been suspended indefinitely.
Source: C4Defence / iROZHLAS
