Aero receives L-39NG contract from Senegal

Aero Vodochody has received an order from the government of Senegal to deliver four L-39NG aircraft in light attack configuration, the company announced on 4 April.

The order also covers training of pilots, including conversion, instructor and combat training, maintenance personnel training, spare parts, ground support equipment and logistic support services.

Four aircraft are currently in production: the first and the fourth aircraft will be used for flight tests, the second for the static tests and the third for fatigue tests. The first flight of the new pre-series aircraft is scheduled for the end of 2018. Aircraft deliveries to the customer are expected to start in early 2020.

The L-39NG trainer aircraft has been designed as a comprehensive training system. The aircraft has avionics to train pilots for fourth and fifth generation fighter jets, and is powered by the FJ44-4M engine. Equipped with five hard-points for weapons, the aircraft also features a broad range of simulation technologies, including integration with high-tech tactical simulation centres for increased training efficiency.

Giuseppe Giordo, president, Aero Vodochody, said: ‘The L-39NG aircraft is the new future of Aero Vodochody, the company that has been producing proprietary aircraft since 1919. Currently we also have two additional contracts in a very mature state of negotiation.'