Hungary will buy 12 L-39NG advanced jet trainers from Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody, the Hungarian government Commissioner for Armed Forces Development Gáspár Maróth announced in a video.
Aero Vodochody presented the L-39NG project at the Farnborough Airshow in July 2014 and currently has one training and one light fighter version.
Of the 12 planes Hungary plans to buy, eight will be used to train pilots for the country’s existing JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft and another four will be used for reconnaissance.
Maróth said the reconnaissance version will be jointly developed by the two countries — Hungary bought a majority stake in Aero Vodochody last year. The new planes are expected to be delivered at the beginning of 2024.
Maróth did not disclose any financial details of the deal.
