Nigerian Air Force L-39ZA Albatross jets upgraded in Czech Republic now back home.

As reported by DefenceWeb on July 25, Aero Vodochody has concluded maintenance work on three Nigerian Air Force (NAF) L-39ZA trainer and light attack jets, which have recently returned home: after a two-year overhaul, the three aircraft departed the Czech Republic for Nigeria on 17 July, Key Publishing reports.

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Nigerian Air Force L-39ZA Albatross trainer and light attack jet (Picture source: Wikipedia)

In 2020, the three L-39ZAs were transported to the Czech Republic for a general overhaul and avionics upgrade at the Aero Vodochody facility in Prague, Defence Web reports. US company Genesys Aerosystems has upgraded the avionics that includes a Czech-designed Speel head-up display (HUD). The work was carried out in conjunction with a small NAF team.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) flies around nine L-39ZAs, out of two dozen it received in 1986 and 1987. It has been taking over maintenance and repair work on its L-39ZAs, Alpha Jets, F-7Mi fighters and C-130H Hercules transports.

After a two-year overhaul, the three L-39ZAs departed the Czech Republic for Nigeria on 17 July (Picture source: Military Africa via Lionel Ekene)

State-owned Czech company LOM Praha has been (still is?) contributing to Nigeria's efforts to professionalize its air force by training Nigerian pilots at the CLV Pardubice air training center in the Czech Republic.

The Czech public company LOM Praha provides training for Nigerian Air Force pilots at the CLV Pardubice center. (Picture source: Nigerian Air Force)