Ukraine advances on L-39 Skyfox deal with Czech Republic
Kyiv is reported to have agreed to take an initial four of the Czech Republic-built type, to boost counter-drone operations.
Ukraine’s air force re-equipment process appears set to also include the Czech Republic-built Aero Vodochody L-39 Skyfox, with a potentially 16-aircraft acquisition being considered.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to Kyiv on 11 November, Czech minister of industry and trade Karel Havlicek indicated that an agreement has been reached for four of the single-engined jets, with another 12 to potentially follow.
Introduction of the type would bolster the Ukrainian air force’s ability to neutralise the threat posed by Russian one-way attack drones, Havlicek says. Aero Vodochody has promoted a ‘Drone Hunter’ development of the Skyfox, with the variant to be capable of deploying precision-guided rockets.
Data from aviation analytics company Cirium used in FlightGlobal’s newly-published 2027 World Air Forces directory indicates that Ukraine has 41 legacy L-39 jet trainers in its air force inventory. It records those jets as being aged between 37 and 43 years.
Drone threat
The commander of the Ukrainian air force unit operating donated Lockheed Martin F-16s earlier this month revealed that its pilots have to date downed 4,700 drones and cruise missiles during the war with Russia, primarily using the fighter’s internal 20mm cannon.
Engagements against threats such as Geran-series uncrewed aerial vehicles have seen up to nine drones downed during a single sortie, the commander – call-sign “Phantom” – said at the Defence iQ International Fighter Conference in Munich.
Meanwhile, Aero Vodochody confirms that the L-39 Skyfox also is a candidate for a potential order by Serbia.
Responding to reports suggesting that a contract has been signed, the airframer states: “Our offer was received very positively, and discussions have since advanced significantly. Both parties are currently working to resolve the remaining technical, commercial, and financial matters.
“For projects of this scale, it is entirely standard for the process, from the submission of an offer through the negotiation of individual terms to the signing of a contract, to take several months,” the company notes.
Serbian prospect
“We are confident in the quality of our offer and in the benefits that the L-39 Skyfox can bring to the Serbian air force. We view the progress of the negotiations very positively and remain optimistic that they will be successfully concluded in the near future,” it says.
“Specific technical, commercial, and contractual matters are being addressed directly between Aero and the relevant Serbian partners.”
Serbia – which already has ordered 12 Dassault Aviation Rafales as part of a fleet modernisation activity – currently operates the Soko G-4 in the jet trainer role.
Cirium fleets data shows there are a trio of current operators of the Williams International FJ44-4M-engined Skyfox: Hungary, with eight of its 12 ordered examples in use; Vietnam (12); and Czech operator LOM Praha, which has six, from an eight-unit commitment.
Another 20 of the type are on order, for Angola (four), Armenia (four), and private US training provider RSW Aviation (12).
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