Czech manufacturers Aero Vodochody and Omnipol have completed delivery of the final batch of trainer and light combat aircraft to Vietnam.
Hanoi ordered a fleet of 12 L-39 Skyfox aircraft in 2021 and received the first half in 2023, the year Prague also expressed interest in supplying the Southeast Asian country with dual-use radars, cargo aircraft, and more Skyfoxes.
The aircraft will be used for Vietnamese People’s Air Force pilot training, in addition to the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II first received in November 2024.
This acquisition supports Vietnam’s military modernization efforts amid increasing regional tensions and diversifying defense partnerships after traditionally relying on Russian weapons and equipment.
L-39 Skyfox
The Czech-made L-39 Skyfox is also known as the L-39NG (next-generation) subsonic jet trainer and tactical aircraft.
It is a two-seater aircraft powered by a Williams International FJ44-4M turbofan engine and measures 38 feet (12 meters) with a wingspan of 30 feet (9.38 meters) and a height of 15.12 feet (4.87 meters).
The aircraft features a comprehensive training system for fourth and fifth-generation fighter aircraft and a Genesys IDU-680 avionics suite supporting night vision goggle compatibility.
With a top speed of 907 kilometers (563 miles) per hour and nearly four hours of endurance, the Skyfox can also be used for air patrol, reconnaissance, and light attack roles, where it can be set up in Eastern and Western configurations.
The Skyfox has a maximum payload capacity of 1,650 kilograms (3,637 pounds), can be equipped with air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground weapons, and carry up to 570 kilograms (1,256 pounds) of external fuel.
