Ukraine expands domestic pilot training program with Czech aircraft

Ukraine has received 10 ALTO NG training aircraft through a joint effort by the Czech government and Czech citizens who contributed through the charitable foundation Dárek pro Putina, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence announced.

According to the ministry, the delivery will help Ukraine establish a comprehensive domestic training system for military pilots and strengthen the long-term development of its Air Force, Caliber.Az reports, citing Ukrainian media.

Five of the aircraft were supplied with the support of the Czech government, while the remaining five were financed through donations raised by Czech citizens via the Dárek pro Putina initiative.

The Ministry of Defence said the light training aircraft will significantly reduce the cost of pilot training compared with the use of combat aircraft and accelerate the transition of cadets to Western-made military aviation platforms.

The ALTO NG aircraft will be used for basic and advanced flight training, including piloting skills, navigation, and takeoff and landing procedures. The aircraft are also expected to serve as an intermediate training platform before pilots move on to modern Western fighter jets.

The ministry emphasized the strategic importance of developing domestic pilot training capabilities.

“Organizing the training process within the country significantly reduces dependence on foreign training programs, enables more efficient use of state resources, and ensures the autonomy of training new flight personnel for the Air Force,” the ministry said.

“This approach to training significantly enhances the combat readiness of our pilots and makes air defense simpler, more modern, and more effective,” it added.

The ALTO NG is manufactured by Czech aviation company Direct Fly. Powered by a 100-horsepower Rotax 912 ULS engine, the two-seat aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 600 kilograms, a cruising speed of 180 kilometers per hour, and a top speed of 260 kilometres per hour.

The fundraising campaign for five ALTO NG aircraft was launched by volunteers from the Dárek pro Putina foundation in August last year. At the time, organizers said the Ukrainian side had selected the model as the “ideal aircraft for the basic training of its military pilots.”

By Vafa Guliyeva