Aero Vodochody has secured its first buyer for the new-generation L-39NG, with Senegal to acquire four armed examples from the Czech Republic manufacturer.
Confirming its selection on 4 April, Aero Vodochody said: "The order contains four aircraft in a light-attack version, maintaining also the full training capability." Its deal with Dakar also covers the provision of training services for pilots and maintainers, plus ground-support equipment, spare parts and logistics support.
Once fielded, the combat-roled L-39NGs will complement the Senegal air force's on-order trio of Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano armed turboprops. The service currently lacks a fixed-wing strike capability, Flight Fleets Analyzer shows.
Hailing the first order for the Williams International FJ44-4M-engined NG, Aero Vodochody president Giuseppe Giordo says "currently we also have two additional contracts in a very mature state of negotiation".
Production deliveries of the new model are scheduled to begin in 2020, with Aero Vodochody having early this year launched work on a pre-series batch of four examples: two flight-test articles, plus static and fatigue test examples.
flightglobal.com