The Nigerian Air Force has taken fresh steps to solidify its defence partnership with the Czech Republic, a move aimed at bolstering national security and fostering stability across West Africa.
This renewed focus emerged during a key meeting on 19 August 2025, when Air Marshal Hasan Bala Abubakar, the Chief of the Air Staff, hosted Radka Konderlová, the Junior Deputy Minister of Defence from the Czech Republic, along with her team at the force’s headquarters in Abuja. The discussions underscored a mutual desire to expand collaboration, building on decades of shared history in aviation and military support.
Air Marshal Abubakar portrayed the visit as a testament to the enduring bond between the two countries, rooted in a joint dedication to peace, regional calm, and progress in the aerospace and defence sectors. He commended the Czech Republic’s role in international peacekeeping through its NATO membership, while drawing attention to Nigeria’s central position in maintaining order in West Africa via the Economic Community of West African States. The timing of this interaction, he noted, aligns perfectly with the Nigerian Air Force’s ongoing overhaul to emerge as a flexible and enduring entity ready to tackle a range of security issues. He detailed the force’s active involvement in combating terrorism and insurgencies in the Sahel region and around Lake Chad, as well as its work in safeguarding sea lanes in the Gulf of Guinea. Through persistent aerial missions, the air force has managed to erode the strength of armed groups outside state control and dismantle their operational structures, contributing to broader efforts to restore safety in affected areas.
In response, Konderlová expressed the Czech Republic’s eagerness to widen the scope of defence ties, labelling Nigeria as one of its primary allies on the African continent. She stressed the value of sharing technology, fostering enduring skills development, and investing in personnel growth. Beyond purely military aspects, she pointed out the broader possibilities for this alliance, such as stimulating domestic manufacturing in Nigeria and reinforcing the nation’s overall security framework.
The exchange pinpointed several promising fields for joint work, encompassing maintenance and supply chain assistance for the Nigerian Air Force’s L-39ZA aircraft, refurbishment and potential purchase of Mi-series helicopters, and specialised instruction for technical staff. Further opportunities lie in advancing expertise in aerospace design, electronic systems for aircraft, and drone technologies. The talks also touched on emerging domains like digital security, orbital innovations, surveillance radars, methods to neutralise unmanned threats, and techniques for capturing communications signals. Czech companies, including Avast for software solutions, RETIA for radar and electronics, and ERA for air traffic management, stand ready to engage in these ventures.
Air Marshal Abubakar voiced strong belief in the enduring advantages of this collaboration for both sides. He anticipated that the planned activities, grounded in reciprocal regard and a unified pursuit of worldwide harmony, would foster sustained safety, economic growth, and a robust alliance that extends benefits to Africa and the global arena at large.
This contemporary push builds upon a rich legacy of aviation links between Nigeria and the Czech Republic, dating back to the 1960s. The Nigerian Air Force first turned to Czech manufacturers for its initial jet training platforms, securing 16 Aero L-29 Delfin aircraft with deliveries spanning from 1967 to 1970. These jets played a direct part in operations against separatist forces during the Nigerian Civil War starting in 1967, proving their worth in combat despite the challenges of a nascent air arm. By mid-1971, eight of these Delfins remained active within the force, serving as a foundation for pilot development and tactical experience.
As Nigeria’s needs evolved, the partnership shifted to more advanced models in the mid-1980s, when the air force procured 24 L-39ZA Albatros variants. Produced by Aero Vodochody, these jets function as trainers while also handling ground strikes and scouting duties. Adapted locally with rocket launchers and explosives, and fitted with avionics from Western suppliers, they operate primarily from the 303rd Aviation School in Kano. While not every unit stays flight-ready due to wear and resource constraints, ongoing partnerships with Aero Vodochody focus on restoration, enhancements, and extensions to their service life. This commitment has yielded tangible results; for instance, in 2019, Aerovodochody reactivated three Nigerian L-39ZA Albatross in-country. In December 2020, two L-39ZAs underwent successful reactivation and life-prolonging work within Nigeria, increasing the pool of operational aircraft to better fulfil the force’s duties under the constitution.
Training initiatives have further cemented these ties. Since the first half of 2018, Nigerian pilots have honed their abilities in aerial combat and surface targeting at the CLV Pardubice facility run by the state-owned Czech firm LOM Praha. By 2021, this programme had expanded to include air-to-air and air-to-ground exercises, equipping crews with refined tactics for real-world scenarios. The collaboration extended to maintenance in 2022, when three L-39ZA Albatros units returned to Nigeria after comprehensive structural repairs and avionics modernisations performed in the Czech Republic, restoring them to frontline status.
The Aero L-39 Albatros, a high-performance jet trainer designed by Aero Vodochody in the Czech Republic, has become a beloved asset for more than 17 African countries.
Looking ahead, the Nigerian Air Force eyes the next evolution in this lineage with interest in the L-39NG, a cutting-edge trainer and light combat platform unveiled by Aero Vodochody. In 2023, Air Marshal Abubakar raised the prospect during talks in Prague with his Czech counterpart, exploring options to further refine the existing L-39ZA fleet alongside potential acquisitions of the newer model. The L-39NG represents a complete redesign, incorporating contemporary cockpit electronics and compatibility with various armaments, rendering it ideal for instruction, intelligence gathering, and limited offensive roles. It serves as a logical successor to the L-39ZA, which the force employs alongside Dassault Alpha Jets for similar purposes. In time, these older types may give way to or work in tandem with incoming Leonardo M-346 aircraft, signalling a phased upgrade to keep pace with modern demands.
Meanwhile, Aero Vodochody has introduced its latest aircraft, the Skyfox. Unveiled at the 4th African Air Force Forum in Lagos, Nigeria, in May 2025, the Skyfox stood out as the centrepiece of Aero’s exhibition booth, signalling the company’s renewed commitment to the region. The Skyfox traces its roots to the L-39NG program, which aimed to modernise the classic Albatross design.
Guillaume Dujardin, Aero Vodochody’s Regional Sales Director, described the Skyfox as the latest evolution of the L-39NG, blending the latest technologies with the reliable traits that made its predecessor a success.
