Aviation News – Serbia has finalized an agreement to purchase six L-39NG Skyfox jet trainers from Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody to strengthen its national defense training capabilities.
The procurement was announced by Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on November 5, 2026, during the Prague Security Dialogue. This announcement follows extensive evaluations by the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence (Radno Vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana), which included rigorous flight testing of the aircraft at Batajnica air base earlier in March 2026, as well as pilot assessments conducted directly in the Czech Republic.
The new acquisition is designed to modernize the Balkan nation’s tactical training pipeline and eventually replace its aging fleet of Soko G-4 Super Galeb aircraft. By integrating modern turbofan propulsion and advanced flight systems, the acquisition aligns with Serbia’s broader defense overhaul aimed at phasing out legacy Cold War-era equipment.
The L-39NG Skyfox combines modern digital cockpit displays, advanced avionics suites, and light-attack capabilities that significantly reduce operational costs while maximizing training efficiency. Beyond traditional flight instruction, the versatile platform features modern hardpoints capable of executing light combat missions and counter-drone operations.
Industry representatives underscore that the global demand for next-generation training aircraft highlights the strategic importance of reliable, cost-effective defense platforms in modern military aviation.
