Vietnam Receives Its First L-39NG Trainer
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam finally received the first Aero L-39NG light jet from Czechia. The Aero Vodochody aircraft was designed in the mid-2010s as a follow-on of the popular Aero L-39 ‘Albatros’ trainer aircraft. Vietnam ordered 12 L-39NG aircraft through OMNIPOL company with the delivery time spanning from July 2023 through to 2024. The jets will replace the existing L-39C fleet operating within the Vietnam People’s Air Force.
The L-39NG is equipped with the FJ44-4M turbofan jet engine generating 16.89 kN thrust. The jet is equipped with five external hardpoints, capable of carrying 1,200 kgs of weaponry with two additional “wet” hardpoints that can host additional 570 kgs of external armament. The jet can also fit a variety of optoelectronic systems such as a FLIR turret, programmable jamming pod, or targeting pod.
The L-39NG number 2303 will be transferred to the 910th Air Training Regiment of the Vietnam People’s Air Force Academy and will operate with the Russian Yak-130 and Beechcraft T-6 Texan II ordered from the US in 2021.
The L-39NG provided to Vietnam will remain in the ‘Eastern’ configuration in order to maintain the post-Soviet and Russian standards of the aircraft fleet. The People’s Air Force operates a number of Su-27 and Su-30MK2 along with outdated Su-22M3K/4. Despite being training aircraft the L-39NG have limited combat capabilities suitable for densely forested and remote regions. The L-39 proved to be a very popular and the much more modernized NG variant will prepare many young pilots for service with newer generations of fighter jets which the country may obtain in the future.
Besides Vietnam, the L-39NG is also operated by Senegal, while Hungary and Ghana ordered several aircraft as well. This type of light fighter is also in use by a magnitude of private companies such as US-based Draken International and the French Breitling Jet Team.