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Aero awarded overhaul and modernization contract for Bulgarian Air Force L-39 aircraft
January 6, 2023
An order has been placed with Aero Vodochody
for the overhaul of the first two Bulgarian L-39ZA aircraft
which will also include two engines and the Safir auxiliary launch unit.
Aero Vodochody has secured a contract for the overhaul of L-39 fighter aircraft belonging to the Bulgarian Ministry of Defence.
The first two L-39 aircraft which are to be overhauled and modernized will be transferred to Aero by the end of January 2023.
The newly signed contract also includes a partial upgrade of the machines.
The framework contract is valid for four years.
The L-39 fighter jets are scheduled to be delivered back in 2024 after the contract is fully completed.
According to the contract,
an order has been placed for the overhaul of the first two L-39ZA aircraft
which will also include two engines and the Safir auxiliary launch unit.
LOM Praha, a strategic partner of Aero Vodochody, will also work on the contract and will overhaul the AI-25TL engines.
Aero will begin extensive overhaul and partial modernization work by the end of January 2023
when the L-39 fighter jets will be delivered to the Vodokhod factory.
According to the contract, the completion of the first overhauled and modernized aircraft is expected in 2024.
Both parties are committed to the plan to fly the fighter jets back to Bulgaria on their own.
Other suppliers from the Czech Republic, who cooperate with Aero Vodochody, will also participate in the contract.
The contract also includes a partial modernization,
mainly replacing the original Russian avionics with Western ones,
thus modernizing navigation, communication, identification, and recording equipment.
The overhaul itself will restore the aircraft to 7.5 years or 1,500 flight hours between overhauls.
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