Aero Vodochody has commenced the prescribed PP2000 work on the Czech Air Force’s L-159 aircraft
Vodochody, February 3, 2026 – Aero Vodochody has commenced the prescribed PP2000 program work on the two-seater L-159 aircraft operated by the Czech Air Force. The project involves a total of eight aircraft in the L-159T1 and L-159T2 versions and will ensure their continued safe and reliable operation in the coming years. The work will continue until 2029.
The aim of the project is to carry out all the work necessary to renew the aircraft’s operating life to 2,000 flight hours, or 8 years of operation for all aircraft parts. This is not a modernization of the aircraft, as is sometimes mistakenly reported in the media, but technically necessary work prescribed by the manufacturer, which is a condition for their continued operation in accordance with applicable aviation regulations.
“This work does not constitute modernization of the aircraft, but rather standard procedures prescribed by the manufacturer, the aim of which is to maintain the full operational capability and safety of the Czech Army’s L-159 fleet. As the original manufacturer, Aero has the unique know-how, complete technical documentation, and supply chain necessary to carry out these tasks,” explains Viktor Sotona, President and Chairman of the Board of Aero Vodochody.
As part of the renewal of the operational period, selected units will undergo general repairs by their original manufacturers, both Czech and foreign suppliers, including Aero Vodochody. At the same time, all valid and as yet unimplemented service bulletins will be implemented on the aircraft and their parts, and the accompanying technical documentation will also be updated to reflect the condition of the aircraft after the work has been carried out.
The project also includes state quality verification (SOJ), under which selected work and activities will be inspected by representatives of the Office for Defense Standardization, Cataloging, and State Quality Verification. This oversight confirms the high standards of quality and safety of the work performed.
The PP2000 program concerns five L-159T1 aircraft and three L-159T2 aircraft. The implementation schedule is spread over four years, from 2026 to 2029. In 2026 and 2027, work will gradually begin on three aircraft per year, and in 2028 on the remaining two aircraft.
After completion of all work, the aircraft will undergo ground and flight verification of the correct functioning of all systems and will then receive new camouflage. After successful completion of the tests, the individual aircraft will be handed over to the Czech Army and will fly back to their home bases, where they will continue to perform training and support tasks for the Czech Air Force.
The L-159 aircraft are used by the Czech Air Force, with the Iraqi Air Force being another operator. Draken Europe has also recently started using them for training purposes, where they play the role of adversaries (aggressors) in the training of RAF fighter pilots, including the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-35 types.
AERO Vodochody AEROSPACE a.s. se zaměřuje na vývoj, výrobu, údržbu a modernizace civilních a vojenských letadel a je největším leteckým výrobcem v České republice a jedním z nejstarších leteckých výrobců na světě. V oblasti vlastních letounů je Aero stálým partnerem řady armádních letectev a má silnou pozici na trhu s vojenskými cvičnými a lehkými bitevními letouny. Díky 11 tisícům letounů, které vyrobilo za sto let své existence, stovkám stále používaných letounů L-39 Albatros sloužících u desítek vojenských provozovatelů i v řadě demo týmů, a zejména díky svému novému letounu L-39 Skyfox se Aero profiluje jako lídr na světovém trhu s proudovými cvičnými letadly. V oblasti civilního letectví Aero spolupracuje s největšími leteckými výrobci na široké škále projektů a je partnerem v několika risk-sharingových programech, kde je zodpovědné nejen za výrobu a montáž leteckých celků, ale také za jejich vývoj.
Contact:
Lukáš Hora, External Relations & Communications Manager
e-mail: lukas.hora@aero
mobil: +420 608 974 258
www.aero.cz
