The Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic, Major General Róbert Tóth, arrived at AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. at the invitation of the Commander of the Air Force of the Czech Republic, Major General Petr Cepelka. The aim of the meeting was to deepen mutual cooperation and to continue the effective and long-term interaction of the air forces of both countries. At the Aero factory, representatives of the Air Force visited the L-39NG aircraft and its serial production. Aero presented the features of the L-39NG aircraft and its capabilities for training future pilots of fourth and fifth generation aircraft, including F-16 fighter aircraft. It also presented the possibilities of strategic cooperation in the training of military pilots between the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
“Modernisation of the Slovak Armed Forces’ equipment is one of the important priorities. One of the projects is also the replacement of the current L-39 Albatros trainer aircraft used by the Slovak Air Force. Therefore, we welcome direct demonstrations and presentations, where there is an opportunity to get acquainted in detail with the possible successors of the trainer aircraft,” says Major General Róbert Tóth, Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic.
“The transition from the L-39 Albatros to the L-39NG represents a significant upgrade and improvement in pilot training capabilities, both in preparation for the F-16 platform being acquired by the Slovak Army and the F-35 platform in the case of the Czech Republic,” said Colonel David Klement, Deputy Commander of the Czech Air Force.
The presentation of the L-39NG also covered the technical part. The Aero team and Air Force representatives discussed the technical parameters of the aircraft, modern avionics and safety systems of the aircraft. The representatives of the Slovak Air Force were introduced to the technologies for pilot training and tactical missions, as well as the key parameters of the armed version of the aircraft. Should the Slovak Republic decide in the future to enter into an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation with the Czech Republic in the acquisition of the L-39NG aircraft, it would include strategic cooperation in the operation of the L-39NG and pilot training and the acquisition of a significant industrial share by the Slovak Republic. In this context, Aero has already entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with Letecké opravovne Tren?ín, which covers, among other things, aircraft servicing and other operational and logistical areas.
The L-39NG is a completely new generation of two-seat subsonic jet aircraft. It combines modern avionic systems, an extremely efficient jet engine and excellent flight characteristics. The L-39NG platform allows for both Western and Eastern configurations and meets the requirements for full-fledged, modern, comprehensive and cost-effective Air Force military training. The aircraft’s avionics are ready for training future pilots of fourth and fifth generation aircraft. The aircraft includes a wide range of simulation technologies, including integration with a highly advanced tactical simulation centre to enhance training effectiveness. In addition to pilot training, it is also suitable for light combat and reconnaissance missions. In the light combat variant, the aircraft is equipped with five hangers for carrying armament.
The programme of the new Czech Aero L-39NG jet trainer entered a significant phase this year. After receiving type certification without restrictions on 18 July 2022, serial production has begun and the first aircraft will be delivered to its first customer, Vietnam, for use by the end of this year. The latter has ordered 12 units of the newly developed L-39NG subsonic aircraft from Aero. At the same time, the aircraft are already being produced for a Hungarian customer, with whom a contract for another 12 aircraft has been concluded. This year, production was also inaugurated at the Aero factory for LOM Prague, which will take delivery of four aircraft in a training version. They will be used at the Centre of Air Training Pardubice primarily for training pilots of the Czech Army, but also for other foreign air forces, which provide training for their pilots at CLV Pardubice.
AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. focuses on the development, production, maintenance and improvement of civil and military aircraft and is the largest aircraft manufacturer in the Czech Republic and one of the oldest aircraft manufacturers in the world. In the field of own aircraft, AERO is a permanent partner of a number of military air forces and has a strong position in the market for military trainer and light combat aircraft. With 11,000 aircraft produced in its 100 years of existence, hundreds of L-39 Albatros aircraft still in service with dozens of military operators and a number of demo teams, and especially with its new L-39NG aircraft, AERO has established itself as a leader in the global jet trainer market. In the civil aviation sector, AERO works with major aircraft manufacturers on a wide range of projects and is a partner in several risk-sharing programs, where it is responsible not only for the manufacture and assembly of aircraft assemblies, but also for their development.
