The Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody and the Swedish defense company Saab have signed a letter of intent for cooperation in Hungary. The two companies will jointly explore the possibilities of adapting the L-39NG to the needs of the Hungarian Air Force.
“This collaboration is a logical and natural step for us, and we see this newly established cooperation as a great opportunity to further develop our L-39NG training system,” says Filip Kulštrunk, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Aero. https://militaeraktuell.at/auch-die-schweizer-luftwaffe-uebt-strassen-einsaetze/ The main objective of the collaboration, with Saab acting as a subcontractor to Aero Vodochody, is to conduct a feasibility study for a modification of the L-39NG that will enable Hungarian pilot training from basic to advanced level. The results of the first phase of the cooperation will subsequently feed into a joint study aimed at developing a new pilot interface and avionics system for the L-39NG to make it compatible with the Hungarian JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft. Aero and Saab already have a long-standing partnership and positive experience with previous collaborations. In 2008, for example, they entered into a cooperation for the L-159 combat and training system. In 2009, Aero began supplying pylons for Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen aircraft, which serve as carriers for various weapon systems or fuel tanks. In 2011, the cooperation continued with the production of three more types of pylons, which were fully assembled and tested at Aero.
Hungary operates a fleet of Gripen fighter jets and decided two years ago for the purchase of twelve L-39NGs. The jet trainer is also considered in Austria as a successor candidate for the Saab 105OE, which was decommissioned at the end of 2020 after 50 years of service (!). In addition to the Aero-Sproß, the employees of the Armaments Directorate in the Ministry of Defense also looked at the T-7 trainer (-> T-7 trainer makes further progress) from Saab/Boeing and the M-346FA from Leonardo in detail – a decision could be announced in the coming weeks.
Here for more news about Aero Vodochody and here to further news about Saab.
