Fighter Jets of the Czech Republic

Aircraft database

Fighter Jets of the Czech Republic

Every combat aircraft in Czech service, from the Gripen to the home-built L-159, plus the L-39 and MiG-15 you can still fly.

Updated October 2026

What fighter jets does the Czech Republic operate?

The Czech Air Force operates around 30 combat aircraft: leased Saab Gripen C/D fighters and the locally built Aero L-159 light combat aircraft. The Czech Republic is home to Aero Vodochody, builder of the L-39 Albatros.

Frontline types

2

In active service

Combat aircraft

~30

Czech Air Force

Fifth-generation

0

24 F-35A on order

Next generation

F-35A

Replacing the Gripen

Fighter jets in service today

Aircraft

Manufacturer

First flight

Top speed

Role

Status

F-47

Manufacturer

First flight

2028

Top speed

Mach 2.0

Role

6th gen fighter

Status

In development

KAI KF-21 Boramae

Manufacturer

First flight

2022

Top speed

Mach 1.81

Role

Multirole

Status

In testing

J-35/FC-31

Manufacturer

First flight

2012

Top speed

Mach 1.8

Role

Carrier stealth fighter

Status

In testing

J-20 Mighty Dragon

Manufacturer

First flight

2011

Top speed

Mach 2.0

Role

Stealth fighter

Status

In service

Su-57 Felon

Manufacturer

First flight

2010

Top speed

Mach 2.0

Role

Stealth multirole

Status

In service

Su-35 Flanker-E

Manufacturer

First flight

2008

Top speed

Mach 2.25

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

F-35 Lightning II

Manufacturer

First flight

2006

Top speed

Mach 1.6

Role

Stealth multirole

Status

In service

JF-17 Thunder

Manufacturer

First flight

2003

Top speed

Mach 1.6

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

HAL Tejas

Manufacturer

First flight

2001

Top speed

Mach 1.8

Role

Light fighter

Status

In service

J-10C

Manufacturer

First flight

1998

Top speed

Mach 1.8

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

F-22 Raptor

Manufacturer

First flight

1997

Top speed

Mach 2.25

Role

Air superiority

Status

In service

F/A-18 Super Hornet

Manufacturer

First flight

1995

Top speed

Mach 1.6

Role

Carrier multirole

Status

In service

Mitsubishi F-2

Manufacturer

First flight

1995

Top speed

Mach 2.0

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

Eurofighter Typhoon

Manufacturer

First flight

1994

Top speed

Mach 2.0

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

Su-34 Fullback

Manufacturer

First flight

1990

Top speed

Mach 1.8

Role

Strike fighter

Status

In service

Saab Gripen

Manufacturer

First flight

1988

Top speed

Mach 2.0

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

Dassault Rafale

Manufacturer

First flight

1986

Top speed

Mach 1.8

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

AV-8B Harrier II

Manufacturer

First flight

1978

Top speed

1,070 km/h

Role

VTOL

Status

In service

Mirage 2000

Manufacturer

First flight

1978

Top speed

Mach 2.2

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

MiG-29 Fulcrum

Manufacturer

First flight

1977

Top speed

Mach 2.25

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

Su-27 Flanker

Manufacturer

First flight

1977

Top speed

Mach 2.35

Role

Air superiority

Status

In service

MiG-31 Foxhound

Manufacturer

First flight

1975

Top speed

Mach 2.83

Role

Interceptor

Status

In service

Panavia Tornado

Manufacturer

First flight

1974

Top speed

Mach 2.2

Role

Strike

Status

In service

F-16 Fighting Falcon

Manufacturer

First flight

1974

Top speed

Mach 2.05

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

F-15 Eagle

Manufacturer

First flight

1972

Top speed

Mach 2.5

Role

Air superiority

Status

In service

A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog)

Manufacturer

First flight

1972

Top speed

Mach 0.56

Role

Close air support

Status

In service

F-14 Tomcat

Manufacturer

First flight

1970

Top speed

Mach 2.34

Role

Carrier interceptor

Status

In service

SEPECAT Jaguar

Manufacturer

First flight

1968

Top speed

Mach 1.6

Role

Strike

Status

In service

Mirage F1

Manufacturer

First flight

1966

Top speed

Mach 2.2

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

F-5 Tiger II

Manufacturer

First flight

1959

Top speed

Mach 1.63

Role

Light fighter

Status

In service

F-4 Phantom II

Manufacturer

First flight

1958

Top speed

Mach 2.23

Role

Multirole

Status

In service

MiG-21 Fishbed

Manufacturer

First flight

1955

Top speed

Mach 2.05

Role

Fighter

Status

In service

Bombers and support aircraft

Aircraft

Manufacturer

First flight

Top speed

Role

Status

B-21 Raider

Manufacturer

First flight

2023

Top speed

Mach 0.8

Role

Stealth bomber

Status

In testing

Yak-130

Manufacturer

First flight

1996

Top speed

Mach 0.93

Role

Advanced trainer

Status

In service

B-2 Spirit

Manufacturer

First flight

1989

Top speed

Mach 0.95

Role

Stealth bomber

Status

In service

Aermacchi S-211

Manufacturer

First flight

1981

Top speed

667 km/h

Role

Jet trainer

Status

In service

Tu-160 Blackjack

Manufacturer

First flight

1981

Top speed

Mach 2.05

Role

Strategic bomber

Status

In service

Aermacchi MB-339

Manufacturer

First flight

1976

Top speed

898 km/h

Role

Trainer

Status

In service

BAE Hawk

Manufacturer

First flight

1974

Top speed

Mach 0.84

Role

Trainer/light attack

Status

In service

L-39 Albatros

Manufacturer

First flight

1968

Top speed

750 km/h

Role

Jet trainer

Status

In service

U-2 Dragon Lady

Manufacturer

First flight

1955

Top speed

Mach 0.67

Role

High-altitude recon

Status

In service

B-52 Stratofortress

Manufacturer

First flight

1952

Top speed

Mach 0.86

Role

Strategic bomber

Status

In service

Retired fighter jets

Aircraft

Manufacturer

First flight

Top speed

Role

Status

Tornado GR4

Manufacturer

First flight

1974

Top speed

Mach 1.3

Role

Strike

Status

2019

F-111 Aardvark

Manufacturer

First flight

1964

Top speed

Mach 2.5

Role

Strike

Status

2010

F-117 Nighthawk

Manufacturer

First flight

1981

Top speed

Mach 0.92

Role

Stealth attack

Status

2008

F-104 Starfighter

Manufacturer

First flight

1954

Top speed

Mach 2.01

Role

Interceptor

Status

2004

Concorde

Manufacturer

First flight

1969

Top speed

Mach 2.04

Role

Supersonic airliner

Status

2003

SR-71 Blackbird

Manufacturer

First flight

1964

Top speed

Mach 3.3

Role

Strategic recon

Status

1999

Blackburn Buccaneer

Manufacturer

First flight

1958

Top speed

1,038 km/h

Role

Strike

Status

1994

English Electric Lightning

Manufacturer

First flight

1954

Top speed

Mach 2.0

Role

Interceptor

Status

1988

F-105 Thunderchief

Manufacturer

First flight

1955

Top speed

Mach 2.08

Role

Fighter-bomber

Status

1984

Avro Vulcan

Manufacturer

First flight

1952

Top speed

Mach 0.88

Role

Strategic bomber

Status

1984

X-15

Manufacturer

First flight

1959

Top speed

Mach 6.72

Role

Rocket research aircraft

Status

1968

Harrier Jump Jet

Manufacturer

First flight

1967

Top speed

1,175 km/h

Role

VTOL

Status

Folland Gnat

Manufacturer

First flight

1955

Top speed

1,118 km/h

Role

Trainer

Status

F-86 Sabre

Manufacturer

First flight

1947

Top speed

1,105 km/h

Role

Fighter

Status

MiG-17 Fresco

Manufacturer

First flight

1950

Top speed

1,145 km/h

Role

Fighter

Status

Fouga Magister

Manufacturer

First flight

1952

Top speed

715 km/h

Role

Jet trainer

Status

L-29 Delfin

Manufacturer

First flight

1959

Top speed

655 km/h

Role

Jet trainer

Status

T-33 Shooting Star

Manufacturer

First flight

1948

Top speed

966 km/h

Role

Jet trainer

Status

de Havilland Vampire

Manufacturer

First flight

1943

Top speed

882 km/h

Role

Fighter

Status

Hawker Hunter

Manufacturer

First flight

1951

Top speed

Mach 0.94

Role

Fighter

Status

Gloster Meteor

Manufacturer

First flight

1943

Top speed

965 km/h

Role

First British jet fighter

Status

MiG-15 Fagot

Manufacturer

First flight

1947

Top speed

1,077 km/h

Role

Fighter

Status

MiG-25 Foxbat

Manufacturer

First flight

1964

Top speed

Mach 2.83

Role

Interceptor

Status

Me 262 Schwalbe

Manufacturer

First flight

1941

Top speed

870 km/h

Role

First operational jet fighter

Status

How Czech air power is structured

One operating service

All combat aircraft are flown by the Czech Air Force, which also polices Slovak airspace under agreement.

Home of the L-39

Aero Vodochody built more than 2,800 L-39 Albatros trainers, and builds the L-159 and L-39NG today.

What comes next

24 F-35As are on order to replace the leased Gripens.

L-39 Albatros in flight over the Alps

Can you fly a Czech fighter jet?

Yes, in a Czech-built jet. Fly the L-39 Albatros from Brno, or the MiG-15 from Hradec Králové, about an hour from Prague.

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Czech Republic fighter jet questions

How many fighter jets does the Czech Republic have?

The Czech Republic has around 30 combat aircraft, flown by the Czech Air Force. The fleet is made up of the Saab Gripen C/D and the Aero L-159, with 24 F-35As on order.

What fighter jets does the Czech Republic fly?

The Czech Republic flies the Saab Gripen C/D and the Aero L-159. The Czech Air Force operates around 30 combat aircraft and has 24 F-35As on order.

Is the L-39 Albatros Czech?

Yes, the L-39 Albatros is Czech. The jet trainer was designed and built by the Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody, and Jetify flies it from Brno in the Czech Republic.

Is the Czech Republic buying the F-35?

Yes, the Czech Republic is buying the F-35, with 24 F-35As on order. The Czech Air Force currently flies the Saab Gripen C/D and the Aero L-159.

Can I fly a fighter jet in the Czech Republic?

Yes, you can fly a fighter jet in the Czech Republic with Jetify. L-39 Albatros flights run from Brno, from around £2,500, $3,300 or €2,900, and MiG-15 Fagot flights run from Hradec Králové, about an hour from Prague, from around £2,800, $3,800 or €3,400.

Other countries

Russia

Su-57, Su-35, MiG-31 and the Soviet legacy fleet

View aircraft

China

J-20, J-35 and the fastest-growing air force

View aircraft

United Kingdom

Typhoon, F-35B and the Tempest programme

View aircraft

France

Rafale, Mirage and independent design

View aircraft