Ukraine takes delivery of 10 Alto ultralights for new pilot training

Five of the Czech-made piston-singles were paid for by Prague, while five more were donated by the Darek pro Putina charity group.

Ukraine has taken delivery of 10 Alto NG ultralight aircraft produced by Czech manufacturer Direct Fly.

The piston-singles will be used to support new pilot training for the Ukrainian air force, which is now conducting regular combat operations with the Lockheed Martin F-16A and Dassault Mirage 2000.

Ukraine’s current trainer inventory includes 42 L-39 albatross jets from Czech airframer Aero Vodochody, along with trainer versions of the Soviet-era RAC MiG-29, and Sukhoi Su-25 and Su-27.

Ukrainian defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov describes the addition of the Alto NGs as a “significant step forward” for the country’s air combat enterprise.

“Using these modern light aircraft drastically reduces the cost of flight hours compared to combat jets, allowing us to optimise resources while expanding our domestic training infrastructure,” Fedorov says. “This builds systemic autonomy and reduces reliance on foreign programmes.”

Five of the 10 Altos were provided by the Czech government, while the remaining five were funded through a Czech charitable organisation called Darek pro Putina, which translates as “A Gift for Putin”, in reference to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

That foundation has used online crowdfunding to supply Ukraine with a range of military hardware, including a used Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The campaign to purchase Alto NG trainers for Kyiv was launched in August 2025.

“Ukraine needs pilots. And they have to learn to fly on something,” the announcement from Darek pro Putina said at the time.

The Alto aircraft would be used to equip a “future Ukrainian military pilot school”, the group said.

Confirming that original intent, Fedorov says the Czech aircraft will help new pilots drill on basic skills, advanced navigation and formation flying while also providing a “seamless transition to Western fighter jets and aligning our training with NATO standards”.

Nearly 100 secondhand F-16s have been pledged to Ukraine by a number of European allies, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium and Norway. Only a portion of those are currently in active service with Ukraine. The US is providing retired F-16s as a source of spare parts.

France has also committed its Mirage 2000 fleet to Kyiv.

Ukraine has also signed agreements with France and Sweden to explore the purchase of new-build Rafale fighters from French airframer Dassault and Swedish-made Gripen E/F combat jets from Saab.

Stockholm says it also plans to donate 16 older model Gripen C/Ds to Ukraine from the Swedish air force fleet, which is being modernised with new-build E/F fighters.