The Aero L-39NG is a Czech turbofan-powered military trainer and light combat aircraft currently under development by Aero Vodochody. It is a successor of the Cold War eraAero L-39 Albatros. The aircraft is being developed in two versions. While the L-39NG Stage 1 is an upgrade of original L-39 airframes with a new engine and avionics, the Stage 2 are newly built aircraft with several design improvements such as a wet wing without the type's distinctive wingtip fuel tanks. Serial production should begin in 2019.
Design and development
Aero Vodochody presented the L-39NG project at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2014. As of April 2015, Draken International is offering the L-39NG upgrade program in a partnership with Aero Vodochody and Williams International and is responsible for the L-39NG upgrade for the American market. Other aircraft will be modernised by Aero in the Czech Republic. The L-39NG aircraft is being developed and marketed in two stages. The L-39NG upgrade program contains an installation of FJ44-4M engine and optionally the Stage 2 avionics to existing L-39 Albatros. The first stage was completed in September 2015 with a maiden flight of the L-39NG technology demonstrator on the 14th of that month. On 20 November 2017 Aero Vodochody announced they have completed the development of the L-39CW and on 14 March 2018 they announced that the L-39CW, equipped with both the new engine and the new avionics, received type certificate. The second phase represents newly built L-39NG aircraft with the possible use of components from the previous upgrade to Stage 1, once the original airframe reaches the end of its life. Flight testing of this L-39NG variant is scheduled for the end of 2018. In June 2017, Aero Vodochody unveiled its plan to build four pre-production examples of L-39NG for testing and demonstration. In July 2017, Aero Vodochody began producing parts for the assembly of four aircraft, three of which are to be prototypes and one pre-serial production aircraft. The first L-39NG prototype was rolled out in Odolena Voda on 12 October 2018, and conducted its maiden flight on 22 December 2018.
Operational history
Testing
Prototype of the re-engined L-39 with FJ44-4M engine first flew from Vodochody airport on 14 September 2015.
Orders
The first customer for the L-39NG Stage 1 was announced at the Paris Air Show in June 2015. LOM Praha, a state-owned enterprise, will use the L-39NG at its Flight Training Center at Pardubice Airport in the Czech Republic. Aero Vodochody has also signed an agreement with Draken International for up to six of the L-39s of Draken's display team to receive the L-39NG upgrade. Breitling Jet Team is another L-39NG upgrade customer. On 4 April 2018, a new agreement has been signed with Senegal for 4 L-39NG for light attack and training duties. At 2018 Farnborough Airshow Portuguese company Skytech placed an order for 12 L-39NG and option for another six, while US company RSW Aviation placed an order for 12 L-39NG and 6 L-39CW. In October 2018, the Czech Defence Minister Lubomír Metnar announced that it would procure up to 6 L-39NG aircraft to replace its current L-39 aircraft. In December 2019,, a Czech Ministry of Defence-owned company for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul, agreed to buy 4 aircraft with an option for an additional 2.
Variants
;L-39CW: Technology demonstrator of the L-39NG based on the L-39C airframe with the Williams International FJ44-4Mturbofan. ;L-39NG Stage 1: Re-engined L-39 Albatros to be powered by Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan. Optionally includes an installation of the L-39NG Stage 2 avionics. This version has the original "dry" wing with wingtip fuel tanks. ;L-39NG Stage 2: Newly built L-39NG jet trainer aircraft with Genesys Aerosystems avionics suite and glass cockpit, new airframe with five hardpoints, and FJ44-4M engine. This version has a brand new "wet" wing with internal fuel tanks.
