Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis announced on 10 November that the Thai Ministry of Defence (MoD) has expressed interest in acquiring an undisclosed number of Aero Vodochody L-39NG jet trainers/light-attack aircraft.
“They [the Thais] are interested in our aircraft, the newest generation of aircraft, something which is considered to be hi-tech military technology,” Babis told reporters on 10 November following a meeting in Brussels earlier this month with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Babis is scheduled to visit Thailand in January when he intends to hold further talks with his Thai counterpart regarding the potential sale of the L-39NG, which was formally unveiled in mid-October, and the ongoing trade deficit between the Czech Republic and Thailand, which favours the latter.
According to Jane’s World Air Forces , the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) currently operates 24 L-39ZA Albatros aircraft, some of which are being replaced by 12 Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) T-50TH Golden Eagle lead-in fighter trainers (LIFT) ordered in 2015.
First launched at the 2014 Farnborough International Airshow, the L-39NG version of the L-39 Albatross features a more powerful Williams International FJ44-4M engine, a wet wing, a modern cockpit, and a lighter airframe than its predecessor, as Jane’s reported.
(Jane's)