VPAF Soon to Induct L-39NG Trainer into Service

Our Bureau - : Dec 18, 2024 - : 11:41 pm

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The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF), the first customer in the region for the L-39NG trainer aircraft, will soon induct the aircraft into service. Vietnam has a total of 12 L-39NGs on order. Aero Vodochody Aerospace had announced in August, this year, the completion of the Site Acceptance Test (SAT) for its L-39NG trainer aircraft in Vietnam. All six L-39NG aircraft successfully passed the final acceptance test in which the aircraft were in their completed configuration and flown by a factory pilot on site.

“The final step of the handover of the aircraft, called SAT, takes place directly at the customer’s site and is directed by a joint team of around ten specialists from Aero and Omnipol,” said Victor Sotona, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Aero. Earlier this year in October, Aero has renamed the L-39NG as the L-39 ‘Skyfox’ and is eyeing additional export opportunities for the type. Other customers for the L-39NG include Hungary and the Czech Republic and Aero currently has orders for atleast 34 units of the L-39NG.

The VPAF is expected to formally induct the six L-39NGs into service in 2025, following which the aircraft will serve as a training platform for fighter pilots as well as a tactical strike platform fulfilling a wide range of air force missions. The L-39NG platform has been configured specifically for Vietnam, which operates an all-Russian fighter force.

The new aircraft meets the VPAF’s requirements for comprehensive and cost-effective training of future pilots and is also suitable for light combat and reconnaissance missions. "We are proud that, six of these machines, the latest version of the legendary Czech L-39 training jet, are already in operation with their first customer. This is an important milestone for Omnipol and AERO Vodochody," said Jiří Podpěra, President of Omnipol. Vietnam is the first user of the L-39NG aircraft to receive the aircraft in partnership with Aero’s shareholder Omnipol. Aero achieved a production rate of one aircraft a month in 2024.

The SAT is carried out to is to ensure that the aircraft is correctly installed and configured and is ready for operation. It is also understood that the VPAF has received the all the appropriate theoretical and practical training kits along with its completed L-39NG aircraft, which also includes a simulation training system and manuals for pilots and mechanics.

“The entire project is proceeding according to the agreed schedule, and both parties are cooperating intensively on it,” a company official said. Approximately 400 supplier companies are involved in the production of the L-39NG, with about 65% of the suppliers coming from the Czech Republic. The assembly of one L-39NG aircraft requires approximately 14,000 parts, 17,500 rivets and 31,000 hours of labour.

The new L-39 ‘Skyfox’ will have a service life of up to 15,000 Flying Hours, features use of lightweight composites and has a wet wing. The aircraft has the possibility of operating from unpaved surfaces, can have up to five hard points and features open architecture avionics, Multi-Functional Displays (MFD), HUD, HOTAS and digital radios. The aircraft is fitted with a Martin-Baker Zero-Zero Mk.CZ16H ejection seat and the powerplant is a Williams International FJ 44-4M engine.

Aero-vodochody / L-39ng / Vietnam-peoples-air-force-vpaf /

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