The first new L159T2 is now in production at
Aero Vodochody’s factory in the Czech Republic. (Photo: Alan Warnes)
by Chris Pocock
October 12, 2017, 8:05 AM
Czech company Aero Vodochody is assembling three new
two-seat L-159T2 advanced jet trainers in its factory at Prague. This is
the latest version of an aircraft that serves the Czech Air Force and two
export customers: the Iraqi air force and the contract air service provider
Draken International. The company has also provided more detail on its plans to
produce a new version of its original L-39 jet trainer, and to upgrade those
still serving with various air forces.
Like the single-seat L159 light combat aircraft
that Aero produced in the late 1990s, the L159T2s will carry a Leonardo
Grifo radar, but they will have improved software as well as four
five-by-seven-inch multifunction displays (MFDs) and wet wings. These three
new-production aircraft will enter Czech service, and the five two-seat L-159Ts
in service with the Czech air force will also be upgraded to the T2 standard,
by the end of 2019.
The Czech Air Force also operates 16 single-seat L-159s,
out of the 72 that it originally planned to acquire. Of the remainder, 10 were
sold to Iraqi and 21 to Draken. Iraq also acquired a sixth L159T that
was previously in Czech air force service, and a new-build two-seater. Both
these two-seaters are currently based at Aero’s Prague facility to train Iraqi
pilots, but they will move to Iraq soon.
Aero Vodochody is offering the Czech Air Force a
comprehensive upgrade for its single-seat L-159s, which entered service in
2000. Massimo Ghione, Aero’s chief business officer, said the work could
include “a complete new fourth generation-plus avionics package, a targeting
pod, Grifo radar software improvements, a new self-defense suit, a wet wing,
wingtip air-to-air missile launchers, a fixed air-to-air refueling probe, full
night vision goggle [NVG] configuration in the cockpit and a helmet mounted
display.”
It is unlikely the Czech Air Force will go for the full
upgrade on offer, but would certainly be interested some aspects. The targeting
pod is of particular interest, since the Rafael Litening is already in service
on the Czech Air Force’s Saab Gripen fighters.
Meanwhile, Aero Vodochody is now flying a prototype of
the L-39NG (“New Generation”) version of the original L-39 jet produced in
large numbers from 1968 to 1997 as the standard trainer for the former Warsaw
Pact and some other countries. The L-39NG has a Williams FJ44 turbofan and
a glass cockpit. The prototype has been converted from an old L-39, but three
new-build L-39NGs are now being assembled at the Prague factory.
The first of these three L-39NGs is expected to fly in
the third quarter of 2018, and to be delivered in late 2019 as a trainer
to LOM Praha. But Aero also plans to add light attack capability to
the L-39NG. The first flight of such an aircraft is expected in January 2020.
Marco Venanzetti, who recently joined Aero from Alenia
Aermacchi to head the L-39NG program, said: “It will have five hard
points: one on the centerline and two under each wing; two 350-liter fuel
tanks; Mk 81 [250-pound]/82 [500-pound]) laser-guided/free-fall bombs; CRV-7
unguided/guided rocket launchers and a single/twin barrel gun-pod which will be
available on the centerline as well as on two under wing pylons, should the
customer need more fire power. This configuration will satisfy 80 percent
of our customers.”
Aero Vodochody’s offer to upgrade existing L-39s to the
L-39NG is now designated the L-39CW version.
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