TSAMTO, June 23. The Czech company AERO Vodochody has signed two new contracts for the supply of L-39 Skyfox aircraft to customers in Angola and North America.
According to AERO Vodochody, in just the last few months, the company has received new orders for nine Skyfox aircraft. At the same time, AERO Vodochody is completing the assembly of four additional aircraft for another customer who placed an order earlier.
The contract with the Angolan Air Force provides for the supply of four L-39 Skyfox aircraft, related equipment and services to support the commissioning of equipment and the development of a training system.
Initially, the Angolan Air Force sought to overhaul existing L-39 Albatros aircraft. However, after assessing their condition and the funds needed for repairs, the customer decided to purchase new Skyfox aircraft.
The second contract with an unnamed customer from North America provides for the supply of aircraft to a customer from the civilian sector. The cooperation will also include a commercial representative office of the L-39 Skyfox brand. As stated, the customer has many years of experience working with the L-39 Albatros fleet.
Preparations are currently underway for the delivery of the first Skyfox aircraft to operate in North America. The agreement with the new partner will allow not only to deliver the first Skyfox to another continent, but also to offer and present this platform to other potential customers in the region.
Although the manufacturer does not disclose the customer, they may be the Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), Draken International, Jet Warbird Center in the USA or AEX Skyline in Canada. Draken International seems to be the most likely option, given the previously concluded cooperation agreement with Aero Vodochody.
The signing of new contracts for the L-39 Skyfox allows the company to enter the markets of two new continents. Along with Europe and Asia, the aircraft will now be operated in Africa and North America. Both orders are firm. The aircraft are already in production and will be delivered according to agreed schedules. The orders received will allow loading AERO Vodochody's production facilities until the second quarter of 2027.
The new contracts were signed following AERO Vodochody's recent announcement of record financial results for 2025. Over the past few months, AERO Vodochody has received orders for 9 new aircraft, two of which contain options, as well as orders for the overhaul of several L-39 Albatros totaling more than 200 million euros.
To date, the confirmed customers of the L-39 Skyfox are the Angolan Air Force, LOM PRAHA (for the Czech Air Force), the Hungarian Air Force, the Vietnamese Air Force and an unnamed civilian customer. Nigeria recently announced its intention to purchase aircraft of this type.
Aero Vodochody positions the L-39 Skyfox as a replacement for the widely used L-39 Albatros in the world. It features a lighter airframe, a more powerful and efficient FJ44-4M engine with Williams International's FADEC control system, wings with integrated fuel tanks, and a cockpit with modern avionics adapted for training pilots of 4th and 5th generation aircraft. The maximum take-off weight of the L-39 is 5,600 kg. The aircraft is capable of reaching a maximum speed of 907 km / h, flight duration – 3 hours 45 minutes, flight range with internal fuel tanks – 1,900 km. TCB uses modeling technologies to improve the effectiveness of training.
The aircraft is equipped with five suspension points (compared to two for the basic version of the L-39) and can carry up to 1,200 kg of air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons, including the AIM-9L Sidewinder missile. Two additional suspension points are located on the wingtips.
