Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody has formally unveiled its L-39NG jet trainer and light-attack platform at its production facility near Prague. The company will now prepare the aircraft for its maiden flight planned before the end of the year.
“The next generation of the legendary L-39 Albatross, the L-39NG, is defining the future of Czech aviation by taking the best from its tradition, bringing modern technology, and providing the best training and light attack solution available on the market. The L-39NG is already attracting a lot of international attention and customers and will definitely strengthen the customer community we already have,” said Giuseppe Giordo, President and CEO of Aero Vodochody during the roll out ceremony on Oct. 12.
The L-39NG is a jet trainer and light attack cost effective platform for modern air force. First launched at the 2014 Farnborough International Airshow, the L-39NG version of the L-39 Albatross features a more powerful Williams International FJ44-4M engine, a wet wing, a modern cockpit, and a lighter airframe than its predecessor. The L-39NG is a single-engine two-seater with staggered seating and an advanced cockpit design that includes full glass cockpit, a sophisticated on board virtual training system and a Helmet Mounted Display.
The L-39NG is a key component of an innovative training concept developed by Aero that includes state-of-the-art ground-based training devices, new learning methods and environment and extensive use of Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence technologies. It has been designed as a maintenance-friendly aircraft in anticipation of many decades of service.
The development of the L-39NG has accelerated in the last two years in order to be able to deliver the first aircraft to the market in 2020. In 2017, the initial pre-serial production and the industrialization phase started including agreements with all key suppliers and partners of the project – both international and Czech companies (about 40 Czech suppliers). The certification of the new avionics and engine installation was already done at the end of 2017. Certification of the L-39NG will be fully achieved before the end of 2019.
Aero Vodochody estimates the potential demand in the next 10–15 years for trainer aircraft will be up to 3,000 pieces.
Current training fleets around the world are rapidly ending their lifetime and do not respond to the future needs of pilots training for 4th and 5th generation fighters. In a conservative scenario, Aero expects to deliver 150 aircraft in the next 10 years.
Production Time Line
Aero plans to deliver 6 aircraft in 2020, 12 in 2021 and 18 in 2022. Thereafter, production can reach 24 per year provided the company secures new orders, Giordo said. The current order-book for the aircraft stands at 30 aircraft plus an option for 12 more units. “We are expecting two to three new orders coming soon from Europe,” Giordo added.
Aero is also targeting the approximately 60 operators of the L-39 as potential future L-39NG customers. These include Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Libya (most of which are believed to have been withdrawn from use), Lithuania, Mozambique, Nigeria, Russia, Slovakia, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Giordo noted that he expects the L-39NG to secure “a significant portion” of an expected 3,000-aircraft market during the next 15 years.
Before the L-39NG rollout, representatives of 18 states where air forces have experience in operating legendary L-39 jet trainers met on the 3rd L-39 Users’ Group Conference. Most of the attendees of the conference took this occasion to see the next generation of the aircraft based on the successful training platform on the rollout ceremony.
The project is supported by Aero’s strategic partner, Czech military company Omnipol. “Today´s rollout is a major milestone for the L-39NG. Omnipol very proudly joined the L-39NG Project in the June of 2015 as the strategic partner and equal co-investor alongside our colleagues from Aero Vodochody.” said Jiří Podpěra, President of Omnipol.
The L-39NG is based on the aerodynamic concept of the current L-39, but utilizes the latest technologies and equipment. Power is provided by the modern FJ44-4M engine supplied with the TAP Blue engine support service to ensure airworthiness and predictable maintenance costs. The aircraft’s avionics are prepared to train future pilots of 4th and 5th generation aircraft and can be tailored to the customer’s requirements. The L-39NG is equipped with five hard-points for weapons. The aircraft also features a broad range of simulation technologies, including the integration into high-tech tactical simulation centres with the goal to increase training efficiency.
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