On February 7, the Uzbek Air Force took delivery of the last of its six L-39 Albatros trainers overhauled by manufacturer Aero Vodochody. Among other things, the on-board equipment was modernized.

“Aero is systematically strengthening and developing the relationship with current L-39 users,” said Jan Štechr, Vice President of Military Programs at Aero Vodochody. “Uzbekistan is just the first of a whole series of customers who have opted for overhauls and modernizations of their L-39s.”
The six Uzbek aircraft already arrived in 2019

under strict secrecy in the Czech Republic. As part of the partial modernization, the on-board radio was replaced by a Czech system and a new Garmin system was installed in place of the old radio navigation system. The radio compass and the icing display were also adapted.

In the past, Aero produced a total of 2,900 L-39 Albatros aircraft, hundreds of which are still in service. Uzbekistan received its L-39C after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Aero offers a wide range of support services to L-39, L-59 and L-159 users. In 2020, maintenance, repair and modernization orders for L-39C and L-39ZA were registered from four foreign customers from Africa and Central Asia, as well as a maintenance order for 16 L-159s from the Czech Air Force. In December, Aero handed over three L-39ZAs to the Nigerian Air Force following repairs and life extensions. A further three Nigerian aircraft are currently undergoing a general overhaul.

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