Air Force Officers School Conducts Live-Fire and Bombing Exercises for Pilots, Instructors, and Cadets Using Yak-130 and L-39NG Aircraft

20 Oktober 2026

Aviation technical personnel from the 940th Regiment conduct pre-flight preparations for Yak-130 aircraft (photo: PK-KQ)

On September 29, at the TB-2 firing range, the Air Force Officers School—under the Air Force and Air Defense Service—conducted live-fire and bombing exercises for pilots, instructors, and cadets using Yak-130 and L-39NG aircraft.

Aviation technical personnel from the 910th Regiment conduct pre-flight preparations for L-39NG aircraft (photo: PK-KQ)

The exercises were observed and directed by Senior Lieutenant General Pham Truong Son, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army; Lieutenant General Vu Hong Son, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Commission, and Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Service; Major General Bui Thien Thau, Deputy Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense Service; Major General Ta Quang Thao, Deputy Director of the Department of Military Training (General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army); along with representatives from various functional agencies of the General Staff and the Air Force and Air Defense Service.

Aviation technical personnel from Regiment 940 load a P-100 bomb onto an Yak-130 aircraft (photo: PK-KQ)

This marks the first time the Air Force Officers School has organized live-fire and bombing exercises for pilot cadets prior to their graduation, utilizing L-39NG aircraft.

Aviation technical personnel from the 940th Regiment load rockets onto Yak-130 aircraft (photo: PK-KQ)

During this exercise, pilots, instructors, and personnel from the 940th Regiment executed various sorties, including combat-style bombing and rocket launches against simple, mobile ground targets; training-focused bombing and rocket launches against simple, mobile ground targets; and complex combat-maneuver bombing and rocket launches against mobile ground targets.

Aviation technical personnel from Regiment 910 load a bomb onto an L-39NG aircraft (photo: PK-KQ)

For the 910th Regiment, instructor pilots conducted training sorties involving the delivery of practice bombs against simple, mobile ground targets.

Yak-130 aircraft from Regiment 940 takes off for its mission (photo: PK-KQ)

Thanks to meticulous preparation, rigorous training and practice, and well-coordinated operations, the instructor pilots and cadets from the Air Force Officer School participating in the exercise demonstrated steady composure and a stable mindset. They executed the required techniques and maneuvers with precision, successfully striking their targets on the very first pass. The mission was completed with excellence and absolute safety.

L-39NG aircraft from Regiment 910 takes off for its mission (photo: PK-KQ)

Notably, many young pilot cadets—participating in live-fire and live-bombing exercises for the first time—remained calm and confident. They struck their targets with great success, achieving "good" and "excellent" ratings. This underscores the professional growth of the cadets and the high quality of training provided by the Air Force Officer School. In total, 100% of the attack sorties hit their targets accurately.

Yak-130 aircraft from Regiment 940 conducting to drop the bomb (photo: PK-KQ)

This live-fire and live-bombing exercise was designed to enhance the command, coordination, and operational management capabilities of officers at all levels within the Air Force Officer School—specifically regarding the management of mixed-aircraft flight operations. 

Yak-130 aircraft from Regiment 940 fires a rocket (photo: PK-KQ)

It also served to test support systems, including aviation maintenance, airfield logistics, communications, and radar infrastructure, in the context of both combat training and actual combat operations.

L-39NG aircraft from Regiment 910 conducting to drop the bomb (photo: PK-KQ)

The exercise aimed to evaluate training outcomes, piloting proficiency, navigation skills, combat application, and the use of weaponry against ground targets (under daytime, clear-weather conditions) for the instructors and cadets of the 940th Regiment.

The bomb strikes the target (photo: PK-KQ)

Furthermore, it served to test the L-39NG aircraft’s aerial weapon systems for ground-attack missions and to assess the progress of the 910th Regiment’s transition training program for L-39NG pilots. ...serving as a basis for evaluating the quality of the school’s training and instruction, as well as the proficiency in employing aerial weaponry, to meet current operational requirements.

(PK-KQ)