Latest news with #Ukrainian-Czech
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Czechia and Ukraine to train F-16 pilots in joint programme
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and his Czech counterpart, Petr Fiala, have agreed to cooperate in training Ukrainian pilots for F-16 fighters. Source: a joint statement following a meeting of the prime ministers on 20 May, seen by European Pravda Details: During their meeting in the western Ukrainian city of Uzhhorod on 20 May, Shmyhal and Fiala agreed upon cooperation in training Ukrainian pilots for F-16 aircraft, other types of aircraft, and helicopters. According to the statement, this agreement will be accompanied by the development of simulation capacities and training in Ukraine and Czechia. The statement emphasised that the training will also include technical ground personnel through the implementation of specific modernisation projects. The prime ministers also underlined the importance of further increasing military, financial, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Shmyhal and Fiala emphasised strengthening cooperation between the defence industries of Ukraine and Czechia through joint efforts and technology licensing, aligned with the goals and mechanisms of the Readiness 2030 plan (presented by the European Commission in March 2024, aiming to leverage over €800 billion in defence spending), as well as collaboration in third markets. Background: On 4 May, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine and Czechia are working on the establishment of a joint Ukrainian-Czech F-16 training school. A few days later, it was reported that Romania and the Netherlands will establish a joint centre to train Ukrainian technical personnel for the F-16 fighter jets. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Ukraine's New Strike Drone Flies 1,000 Miles With A Large Warhead
Kratos' ramp-launched Valkyrie drone. U.A. Air Force photo One of Ukraine's newest strike drones—the UAC FP-1—travels as far as 1,000 miles with a warhead weighing up to 250 pounds, likely making it significantly more powerful than the roughly similar, but years older, UkrSpecSystems PD-1. The latter ranges maybe 600 miles, presumably with a lighter warhead. Ukrainian-Czech UAC tweaked a lot of small things to extend the propeller-driven FP-1's range and payload compared to older drones. The biggest refinement is the most obvious: the FP-1 doesn't have landing gear. Instead of taking off on its own wheels like the PD-1 does, the FP-1 blasts off from an angled ramp, propelled by a fuselage-mounted rocket. The new drone made its official public debut at a recent exhibition in Kyiv. But production actually began last year—and the type has already seen combat. Ukraine boasts an array of domestically produced strike drones, and routinely strikes targets such as air bases and oil refineries hundreds of miles inside Russia. The deepest strikes are the most demanding, of course, and usually fall to the small number of Aeroprakt A-22 sport planes that the Ukrainians have converted into far-flying attack drones by replacing the human pilot with remote and autonomous control. But the A-22s, each costing $80,000 or more before the addition of drone controls and warheads, are an awkward solution to Ukraine's long-range strike problem. They're designed to be manned planes and have voluminous cockpits. They are, in other words, overbuilt for what they do as drones. That might explain why an A-22 or similar sport-plane drone evidently ranges just 800 miles or so with a 220-pound warhead. The FP-1, which might cost more than $100,000, should go farther with a similar payload. It helps that UAC omitted the landing gear, which on most manned planes accounts for up to 5% of the overall weight. If the gear folds up into the fuselage for maximum aerodynamic efficiency, it also consumes a lot of internal volume. It's not for no reason that, when U.S. firm Kratos developed a landing-gear version of its ramp-launched Valkyrie attack drone, it also cut the drone's payload from four bombs (weighing 1,000 pounds in total) to just two bombs (together weighing 500 pounds). There's an even better way to launch a drone: mount it on a rolling trolley that the drone jettisons on takeoff. That way, it can build up a high takeoff speed on a runway—and omit the rear-mounted rocket—without also having to lug around heavy landing gear. This only works for reusable drones if they also have internal parachutes they can deploy in order to float back down to their bases after a mission. The FP-1 is a one-way attack drone that slams into its target and explodes; it's not expected to come home.
Euronews
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Zelenskyy says Ukraine is awaiting three million artillery shells from allies
ADVERTISEMENT Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine hopes to receive some three million artillery shells from its allies this year, including 1.8 million from a Czech-led programme. During a meeting with Czech president and former NATO general Petr Pavel, Zelenskyy also said discussions were underway for a Ukrainian-Czech training school for F16 fighter jet pilots. "Obviously, for security reasons, we cannot open such a base in Ukraine at this time. Russian strikes continue every day and therefore we are working with our partners to ensure that such schools can be opened outside Ukraine and this will happen," Zelenskyy explained. During the meeting, he renewed his call for a 30-day pause in hostilities, as the US had initially proposed, and said he believed a ceasefire with Russia was possible. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a meeting in Prague, 5 May, 2025 AP Photo "Today is the 54th day that Russia has ignored the American proposal for a complete ceasefire. We believe that a ceasefire is possible at anytime, even from today, and should last at least 30 days to give diplomacy a real chance. And I am grateful to the Czech Republic for supporting our position in this proposal," Zelenskyy said. His visit to the Czech capital comes amid Russia's announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire next week to mark Victory Day in World War II. Chinese leader Xi Jinping will pay an official visit to Russia from May 7–10, the Kremlin confirmed on Sunday, to discuss "further development of relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction" and "issues on the international and regional agenda." Zelenskyy's visit also follows comments made by Putin to state television that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen and that he hopes it will not. In comments aired in a film by Russian state television on Sunday about his quarter of a century in power, Putin said Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a "logical conclusion."
The Guardian
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Ukraine war briefing: Three million shells coming from our allies, says Zelenskyy
Ukraine hopes to receive 3m artillery shells from allies and partners in 2025 including 1.8m under a Czech-led programme, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Prague on Sunday. 'The Czech artillery initiative is working brilliantly,' the Ukrainian president said. Prague steers a European drive to supply artillery ammunition to Ukraine, financed largely by Nato allies. 'Not only North Korea is capable of helping [Russia] in the war – we have allies who are helping Ukraine,' Zelenskyy said in comments reported by the Kyiv Independent. Zelenskyy added there would be a meeting on Monday with 'Czech defence companies', with details to be announced later. Discussions were under way for a Ukrainian-Czech pilot training school for F16 fighter jets, which could not be established in Ukraine 'due to current security concerns'. Zelenskyy spoke alongside Petr Pavel, president of the Czech Republic and a former Nato general, who said that 'Putin can end the war with a single decision but he has not shown any willingness so far'. The Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, and the speakers of both parliament chambers said they would meet Zelenskyy in Prague on Monday. Ukrainian forces struck an electrical equipment factory in Russia's Bryansk region close to the border with Ukraine, destroying much of the plant, said the local governor, Alexander Bogomaz. Ukraine said the factory specialised in the production of electronics for Russia's defence industry. 'According to preliminary information, the Strela factory in Suzemka, Bryansk region, is no longer operational following the strike,' said Andriy Kovalenko, head of the government's Centre for Countering Disinformation. Mash, a Telegram channel with links to Russia's security services, said the factory produced electrical equipment and was hit by a Grad rocket system. Air defence destroyed four Ukrainian drones flying towards Moscow, the mayor of the Russian capital said early on Monday. Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he did not believe Putin would adhere to a self-declared three-day truce to coincide with Russia's 'victory day' celebrations on 9 May. 'This is not the first challenge, nor are these the first promises made by Russia to cease fire. We understand who we are dealing with, we do not believe them.' Citing a military report, he said Russia had carried out more than 200 attacks on Saturday, 'so there is no faith [in them]'. Zelenskyy said, though, that a ceasefire with Russia was possible at any moment and called on Kyiv's allies to apply greater pressure on Moscow otherwise Putin would take no real steps to end the war. The Guardian's Shaun Walker has investigated how Moscow is using 'disposable people' recruited online to carry out sabotage, arson and disinformation campaigns in Europe – sometimes against specific targets related to support for the Ukrainian war effort, but more often simply to cause chaos and unease. While some know exactly what they are doing and why, others do not realise they are ultimately working for Moscow. The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said in comments broadcast on Sunday said that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen, and that he hoped it would not, writes Angelique Chrisafis. Putin said Russia could bring the conflict in Ukraine to what he called a 'logical conclusion … There has been no need to use those [nuclear] weapons … and I hope they will not be required.'
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Czech president: We are discussing artillery shell supplies to Ukraine for 2026
President of Czechia Petr Pavel has announced that discussions are already in progress regarding the delivery of artillery shells to Ukraine in 2026, as part of the Czech-led ammunition initiative. Source: Pavel during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Prague on Sunday 4 May, as reported by European Pravda Details: The Czech president confirmed that this year, within the framework of the Czech initiative, Ukraine is expected to receive 1.8 million artillery shells. "At the same time, we are already discussing ammunition deliveries for next year. We cannot rely on peace being achieved this year," Pavel said. He added that if the fighting can be stopped, Ukraine will be able to use these shells to replenish its reserves. "I am convinced that the artillery initiative and the ability to deliver a sufficient number of shells to Ukraine is one of the factors that can force Russia to realise that continuing this war makes no sense," the Czech president added. Background: President Zelenskyy arrived in Czechia on Sunday for an official visit. Following his meeting with Pavel, he announced that Ukraine and Czechia are working on creating a joint Ukrainian-Czech F-16 training school. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
