PHOTOS, VIDEO: Hungarian company makes fighters for Vietnam’s modernised air force against China

Aero Vodochody is a Czech aircraft company owned by the Hungarian state. They have a new fighter and training jet type, the L-39NG, which they aim to produce in mass. The first order came from Vietnam, the second from Hungary, and their name popped up in a joint military aircraft manufacturing program for Ukraine. The Hungarian state theoretically against delivering arms to Kyiv was not against the plan.

Fighter aircrafts for Vietnam, Hungary, Senegal, Ghana

According to g7.hu, Aero Vodochody presented their first L‑39NG fighter and training military aircraft in August. The colours are of the Vietnamese air force, where the first jets will go to strengthen it against China, the country’s main rival in the region. Interestingly, Aero Vodochody is not a Czech company. The majority ownership went to Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky in 2021. After he was nominated Hungary’s minister of defence, he sold his shares to MOL CEO Zsolt Hernádi, who passed it to the state months later.

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The Aero got a HUF 53 billion Hungarian state loan from the Hungarian Development Bank (MFB) even though its income before tax was only HUF 15.6 billion in 2022, thanks to an Iraqi order. The Czech minority owner is Richárd Háva, a controversial Czech arms dealer living in Switzerland. He agreed with Vietnam, and the sum was HUF tens of billions.

Plná typová certifikace bez omezení našeho #L39NG je kompletní. Máme z toho velkou radost. Kvůli velkému zájmu o letoun máme zaplněnou výrobní kapacitu až do roku 2025. S několika dalšími zákazníky aktuálně jednáme. pic.twitter.com/UNiRSgw6tu

— AERO Vodochody (@AERO_Vodochody) August 1, 2022

The alpine form of the aircraft:

Mountains, snow and a few Super G’s ❄️Not only skiers go to the Alps🏔️ but this time our #L39NG aircraft also tried some super G’s in the Austrian Alps. ✈️ What do you think of its alpine form? pic.twitter.com/NY4DwWbTKm

— AERO Vodochody (@AERO_Vodochody) January 17, 2023

The fighter can also carry out small-scale attacks:

💥 L-39NG at full strength. 💪🇨🇿 A dazzling view of another successful #L39NG Light Attack weapon systems test. #Aero #AeroVodochody #WeaponTest #MultiroleAircraft pic.twitter.com/VfMhztZTeo

— AERO Vodochody (@AERO_Vodochody) February 27, 2023

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Vietnam aims to modernise their army against China. Before, they used the L-39 model of the Czech aircraft company. Now, they will purchase 12 new L-39NGs. Here is a video of the plane:

Hungary will manufacture arms for Ukraine?

The new model is the modified and modernised version of the L-39 Albatros made in mass numbers before 1990. The new L-39NGs will serve training purposes but can carry out small-scale attacks. They have new composite wings, American Williams motors, a new cockpit and modern electronic and avionics systems.

The first flight of the series L-39NG was excellent 😍👍Lasting 40 min. Verified the functions and behavior in all flight phases from take-off, and aerobatics to landing. Testing was from 0 to 8,500 meters and speeds from stall to the max. (Mach number 0.8 or 900 km/h). pic.twitter.com/f3NtMrZ0L0

— AERO Vodochody (@AERO_Vodochody) April 24, 2023

Vietnam will receive the new aircraft in 2023-2024, and Hungary will get its 12 new jets after August 2024. As a result, we will be able to train our Gripen pilots instead of sending them to Canada. The new type will be introduced in the Czech fighter training, and there is gossip about deals with Senegal and Ghana. Therefore, they would like to increase production capacity from one per month to two.

Czech President Petr Pavel mentioned the Aero as a possible player in a Ukrainian-Czech joint military aircraft manufacturing cooperation. The majority owner, the Hungarian state, did not comment on the idea.

The L-39NG ✈️ can land and take off from unpaved surfaces. This feature is highly appreciated in the world. Aero pilots with L-39NG can take off and land even on the bumpy meadow in Vodochody🔝#Aircraft #aero #vodochody #L39NG pic.twitter.com/ydr1NrLXzN

— AERO Vodochody (@AERO_Vodochody) April 11, 2023