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AERO L-159A
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The Czech Republic originally ordered 72 L-159 single-seat light attack jets – advanced, westernized variants of the subsonic L-39/59 Albatross trainer/light attack aircraft that served with so many air forces around the world. Unfortunately, issues with available funds, the loss of the Albatross family’s global market niche with the Soviet Union’s demise, and program cost growth from CZK 20-30 billion to over 51 billion Koruna, left the government in a bind. In response, they’ve been trying to keep 24 for operational use, and sell off 47 of the L-159s (one aircraft has been lost) since 2002. They also moved to privatize state-owned Aero Vodochody, which took place in November 2006.

The L-159s are capable aircraft. They can be fitted with targeting pods and laser-guided weapons, Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and the usual assortment of guns, rockets, and conventional bombs. They can even operate from austere bases, and are easy to maintain. Their problem is that established entries like Brazil’s Super Tucano, crowd the field, and have better long-term prospects n the regions likely to buy an aircraft like the L-159. To make matters worse, subsonic light attack jets are often undervalued in favor of prestige buys – vid. Sri Lanka’s desire to purchase a small handful of MiG-29s, instead of acquiring far more L-159s in order to defend against terrorists in light propeller aircraft. A few 2-seat L-159 conversions have been performed as a demonstration of their potential to become dual-role trainer/attack aircraft, and the planes have been touted to Colombia, Afghanistan, Bolivia, Georgia, Indonesia, and Nigeria.

In January 2009, it seemed that a partial sale would create the jet’s first export customer. Now, American sanctions seem ready to dash its ally’s hopes…

Contracts and Key Events

AERO L-159T, L-159A
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April 20/09: A deal is finalized with EADS. The Czech government will buy 3 C-295M light transports, and exchange 5 L-159s for a 4th C-295M. Flight and ground maintenance training are included in the package, and the deal has been approved by the resigning Czech government. The ministry has reportedly set aside CZK 3.5 billion ($73 million equivalent) for the whole project, with delivery expected between 2009 – 2011. Read “Czechs Replacing Their Airlift Fleet.”

Ceske Noviny adds that the Defense Ministry is negotiating with the USA for 4 C-130 Hercules medium tactical transports, with the aim of buying 2 in flyable condition and 2 as a source of spares. This implies that the aircraft would be used C-130H models, rather than the new C-130J.

March 17/09: The pro-government La Prensa newspaper reports that the USA has refused export permission for the L159’s to Bolivia. The cited source is a Ministry of Defense spokesman.

Under American law, military exports also require US government permission for any resale. That includes the American equipment installed in these jets. Evo Morales is a close ally of Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, hence hostile to the United States.

Jan 13/09: Bolivia’s air force declares that it will purchase 5 single-seat L-159 light attack fighters and a twin-seat L-159T under the Air Surveillance and Control modernization program. Bolivian President Evo Morales has signed decree 29852, an order that includes the 6 planes, a flight simulator, pilot and maintenance training, spare parts, and other standard support. Despite Morales’ ties to volatile Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez, American consent was reportedly forthcoming for re-export of the L-159’s advanced electronics. The deal is worth $57.9 million, and will be paid in 4 installments: $11 million in 2009, and 3 more $15.6 million payments from 2010-2012. After that, matters become less clear.

Czech reports state that the 6 L-159s will have to undergo an overhaul worth over CZK 400 million ($18.7 million) before their transfer to Bolivia, to be paid by the Czech Republic’s Defence Ministry. On the other hand, President Morales’ decree appears to mention new aircraft, so this aspect is still slightly unclear. DID believes that refurbished aircraft are the likely bet, as restarting a production line is far too expensive.

Bolivia’s long-term intentions are less clear. What is certain, is that the Fuerza Aerea Boliviana wants to replace its 16 obsolete Lockheed T-33s. The T-33 is a trainer and light attack jet derived from the P-80 Shooting Star, the USAAF/ USAF’s first jet fighter. Though American production ended during the late 1950s, licensed builds ended later, and it is still in service with some air forces around the world. Bolivia will not be one of those forces for long, but the exact nature of Bolivia’s replacement program depends on which source one chooses to cite. Some reports peg the FAB’s desired goal as a fleet of 12-18 L-159s. Others cite a goal of 6 L-159 single-seat and 4 two-seat models. Still other sources note that a separate deal for Brazil’s similar EMB-314 Super Tucano turboprops is expected in 2009, once the export financing credits are approved by Brazil’s development bank. Time will tell.

The least clear aspect of this deal concerns the involvement of EADS. Earlier reports described a 3-corner deal structure, and reports indicate that the Czech defense ministry may still be interested in swapping the L-159s with EADS for one EADS-CASA C-295M light tactical transport plane, plus an option for buying another 3 aircraft to replace its aging AN-26s. EADS would then act as the middleman with Bolivia, and transfer its own aircraft to the Czechs in recompense.

At present, however, this arrangement does not appear to be reflected in the current deal; reports state that the designated agent will be the Czech Republic’s Omnipol. Other reports confuse the issue further by mentioning President Morales’ press conference response that he was getting CASA aircraft – but caza (fighter) sounds very similar in Spanish. Praugue Daily Monitor | Decreto Supremo No 29852 [in Spanish] | Bolivia’s La Razon [in Spanish].

Czech AN-26
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March 28/08: The Czech daily Lidove noviny reports that the 6-month negotiations with Bolivia have failed, because the country does not have enough money for the 6-10 planes planes involved. Ceske Noviny report [English].

July 2007: The The Prague Monitor reported that the jets’ eventual fate may be a swap for transport aircraft. Discussions were reportedly underway with EADS-CASA around an exchange for the C-295M light transport aircraft that serves with a number of air forces around the world. The Czech Republic’s Soviet-era AN-26 “Curl” aircraft are wearing out quickly, and will need to be replaced by 2015.

Additional Readings & Sources

• Thanks to subscriber Inigo Guevara, author of Harpia Publishing’s Latin American Fighters, for his assistance.