Aero participates in SIAF Slovak International Air Fest
Vodochody, September 1, 2023 – Aero, the exclusive partner of SIAF Slovak International Air Fest, will present its new L-39NG series production jet trainer to visitors of the largest aviation event in Slovakia this year, building on the historical legacy of the proven and reliable L-39 Albatros. The L-39NG will be on display at Kuchyň Airport in Malacky on 2 and 3 September 2023, both in a static display and in the air, when the pilot will demonstrate the capabilities of the aircraft.
“The acquisition of L-39NG aircraft for the Slovak Air Force represents a natural transition from the L-39 Albatros predecessors in service, which are reaching the end of their technical life. The L-39NGs come at the right time to help in the area of training from Eastern to Western style flying. They will play a similar role to that played by the L-159s in the Czech Republic in the transition from MIG to Gripen aircraft. The aerodynamic similarity will make the transition from one training aircraft to the other easy. The new state-of-the-art training platform offers an efficient solution for training tactical pilots and will allow Slovakia to be independent in training. Aero is actively negotiating through the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic with the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic on a strategic cooperation that will give Slovakia a significant industrial stake in the implementation of the L-39NG project,” says Viktor Sotona, President and CEO of Aero.
Aero anticipates that an intergovernmental agreement will be developed to cooperate in the acquisition of L-39NG aircraft. This will 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 Trenčín, which covers the production of certain parts of the aircraft as well as other operational and logistical areas.
“The L-39NG represents a significant upgrade over the L-39 Albatros in the area of training, also in view of the introduction of the F-16 into service in Slovakia. It also brings a significant enhancement of tactical mission capabilities. For the Slovak Armed Forces, the aircraft enables the expansion of operational capabilities, for example, to include protection of airspace from drones and other low-flying targets, support of ground troops, border security and more. The cooperation of Czech and Slovak companies in strategic acquisition projects is also in line with the defence cooperation between our countries,” says Filip Kulštrunk, Executive Vice President and CCO of Aero.
The new Czech Aero L-39NG jet trainer programme entered a significant phase this year. After receiving type certification without restrictions on 18 July 2022, series production has begun and the first aircraft will be delivered to its first customer, Vietnam, for use by the end of this year. The first customer has ordered 12 units of the newly developed L-39NG subsonic aircraft. At the same time, the aircraft are already being produced for a Hungarian customer, with whom a contract for 12 more machines has been concluded. This year, the Aero factory also inaugurated production for LOM Praha, 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.
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 enables both Western and Eastern configurations and meets the requirements for full-fledged, modern, comprehensive and cost-effective Air Force military training. In addition to pilot training, it is also suitable for light combat and reconnaissance missions.
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.
Contact:
Radka Černá, PR & Communications Manager
e-mail: radka.cerna@aero
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