Czech Air Force The Czech Air Force ( CZAF ; Czech : " Vzdušné síly Armády České republiky " ) is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic . The Air Force , with the Land Forces , comprises the Joint Forces , the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic . It succeeded the Czechoslovak Air Force together with the Slovak Air Force in 1993 . The Air Force is responsible for securing the integrity of the Czech Republic ' s airspace through the NATO Integrated Air Defense System – NATINADS , close air support to the Land Forces and for transportation tasks including government and state priority flights . History . Czech Republic ( 1993 – present ) . The separation saw a large reduction in types , numbers and bases . 1994 saw the creation of the 3rd tactical air force corps . The newest fighter in the Czechoslovak Air Force arsenal was the MiG - 29 ( Izdelie 9 . 12 ) . As there was only one general maintenance kit , which was given to newly created Slovak Republic , and all the material was split 1 : 1 with Slovakia , maintenance costs for the Czech Fulcrums would be too high . Along with the unreasonably high costs , speculative costs for spare parts imported from Russia , which were realised through third - party companies ( Mil Mi - 24 rotor blades acquisitions were over - priced by 400 % ) , led to exchange of 10 MiG - 29s with Poland for PZL W - 3A Sokół rescue helicopters with avionics and ground support . Therefore 10 air superiority fighters were exchanged for 11 light helicopters , an exchange many considered to be very uneven . The burden of readiness squadron passed to the MiG - 23s . Those participated in air exercises with western air forces , where MiG - 23MLs were capable of outperforming Mirage III , F1C , and 2000 and F - 4 F in vertical manoeuvering and acceleration and Mirage III , F1C and Phantom even in horizontal manoeuvering , while being outperformed by F - 16A in all aspects and by Mirage 2000 in horizontal manoeuvering . As the Czech Republic prepared to become a member of NATO in 1999 , it began to revise and update its doctrines and aircraft . Therefore , acquisition of a new , western fighter was considered . MiG - 23MFs were retired in 1994 , MLs in 1998 and MiG - 21s were reestablished as an interim type for what was supposed to be a transition period before buying a new fighter – which was selected to be Swedish JAS 39 Gripen multi - role fighter aircraft . Because of the devastating floods that hit the country during 2002 the deal was put off . A new international tender was issued for an interim solution . Gripen again won this tender among six different bidders as the Czech Republic accepted a government to government 10 - year lease from Sweden that did not involve BAE Systems . Media allegations of BAE Systems kickbacks to decision makers during the original sales effort have so far led nowhere in the judicial system . In December 2008 , the Czech Air Force wanted to train helicopter pilots for desert conditions for the upcoming mission in Afghanistan . Israel was the only country that was ready to help out , as it saw this as an opportunity to thank the Czech Republic for training Israeli pilots and supporting Israel when it first became a state : Future . In 2015 , the lease of the JAS 39 Gripen s from Sweden will expire . It is foreseen that the aircraft will then be either returned to Sweden or purchased . The Czech government expects a tender to be organised to provide a force of 18 supersonic fighters after 2015 . The JAS - 39 Gripen is generally accepted as the most effective option owing to the existing infrastructure , the availability of trained personnel and previous good operational experience . However , the background of the existing contract – specifically the broadly discussed issue of alleged corruption – prevents politicians from settling for this quick solution , favouring instead a general tender with more bidders offering such types as the F - 16 , F - 18 , F - 15SE or F - 35A . , , The creation of a non - supersonic air force has also been discussed as an option , owing to the perceived high costs and limited usefulness of keeping supersonic assets in a country surrounded by allied countries ( all are European Union members and also NATO members , except Austria ) . In this scenario the subsonic L - 159 would become the backbone of the air force . The latest 2011 White Book clearly states that the supersonic fleet is to be continued for the protection of the Czech Republic and for co - operation within the NATO Integrated Air Defence System . On the other hand , a number of close support helicopters Mi - 24 / 35 will be decommissioned ( the Mi - 35 will even be sold before the end of its operational life ) . Twelve single - seat and two twin - seat aircraft are viewed as sufficient for patrolling the Czech Republic , while 18 can support the sentry role in other NATO countries . A preliminary RFI requested 18 aircraft . The White Book specifies the 12 + 2 solution , requiring strategic requirements for the supersonic air force to be specified by November 2011 . Another option being discussed in the Parliament is the formation of a joint force of Czech , Slovak or even Hungarian units responsible for the air protection of these countries . Although it seems to be a financially effective solution ( argued mainly by the Social Democrats ) , its practical realisation would be complicated : Hungary has its own JAS - 39 s , while Slovakia has recently upgraded its MiG - 29 fleet . Insignia . The first Czechoslovak military aircraft bore , for a short time between September and November 1918 , three - colour roundel , from the middle : red , blue and white . From 27 November 1918 it was replaced with slanted parallel lines in these colours . From 1920 they were replaced with an inverted roundel , from the middle : white , blue and red . From 21 December 1921 national insignia on aircraft became rectangular national flags . Finally , in December 1926 a current roundel of three parts in white , red and blue , was adapted . It remained the insignia of the Czech Air Force until today , although in recent years , a low - visibility variant , all in grey , was adapted in some applications . Structure . Flight Training Centre ( CLV ) Pardubice , operating EV - 97 , 2x Z - 142C - AF , 2x L - 39C , Mi - 2 , L - 410 UVP , L - 410 UVP - T , 2x Mi - 17 is not a part of the Air Force . Primary flight training was outsourced as of 1 April 2004 . CLV is a branch of LOM PRAHA s . p . , state owned company . Aircraft inventory . In addition , several Sojka III unmanned aerial vehicle s are operated for reconnaissance and electronic warfare . Types recently retired from Czech service include :