Under a contract signed in November 2022, LOM Praha has ordered four L-39 Skyfox aircraft with an option for an additional four. The jets will play a key role in training multi-role fighter pilots for the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Defence, covering both basic and advanced pilot training.
LOM Praha is the second operator to receive serial production L-39 Skyfox jets. Aero Vodochody also began deliveries to Vietnam in 2024, marking an expansion of its customer base.
The L-39 Skyfox is an upgraded version of the successful L-39 Albatros, which first flew in 1968. It features a modernised airframe without the traditional wingtip fuel tanks, an advanced avionics suite from Genesys Aerosystems, and a Williams FJ44-4M engine with a thrust of 16.89 kN.
The aircraft can be used for advanced training, including weapons training with a payload of up to 1,200 kg. It can carry precision-guided munitions on five hardpoints, including one under the fuselage and four under the wings.
Aero Vodochody has so far secured orders for 34 new-generation L-39 aircraft, destined for users in Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America. However, reports from Czech media suggest that the relatively low number of orders could lead to an increase in unit costs, potentially affecting the aircraft’s competitiveness in the market.
