Israel Decides on New Trainer Aircraft (updated)
Jun 10, 2008 15:43 EDT
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In November 2005, Israel’s Ministry Of Defense (GOI/MOD) announced its interest in replacing the IAF “Zukit” (“Thrush,” an upgraded 1950s-era Fouga Magister) basic training aircraft with a new trainer. The Zukit’s high fuel and maintenance costs, and low mission capable rates were all creating issues. The intent was to execute this program using an RFI concept, including a comprehensive test and evaluation phase of candidate aircraft, which would then be taken into account during a potential RFP stage. This page of the Israeli Ministry of Defence site has full details and associated document regarding this RFI.
Israel is typically secretive about its defense undertakings, and nothing was heard for a long while. Possible candidates included the IAI/ATG Javelin, Romania’s IAR-99C Soim, and possibly even the Czech L159 Albatros, which remains on the market at an excellent price. Now a winner has been announced, and it’s “none of the above.” The lure of using American aid dollars instead of hard currency, combined with advertised operating economies, appears to have decided the competition in favor of an American entry…
Contracts and Key Events
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June 9/08: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Israel’s formal request for 25 T-6A Texan aircraft, equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) including CMA-4124 GNSSA card and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System (INS). The deal will also involve spares, ferry maintenance, tanker support, aircraft ferry services, site survey, unit level trainer, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $190 million.
Unlike their T-6B counterparts, or the Zukit which preceded it, T-6As lack a dual-role potential as counterinsurgency or light attack aircraft. The turboprops will replace existing Zukit (Fouga Magister) aircraft, and are expected to reduce training fuel requirements by 66%. The principal contractors will be:
- Hawker Beechcraft Corporation in Wichita, KS (aircraft)
- Pratt & Whitney Corporation in Quebec, Canada and Bridgeport, WVA (engine)
- Martin Baker in Middlesex, United Kingdom (ejection seats)
- Hartzel Propeller in Pique, OH
- Canadian Marconi in Broken Arrow, OK
- L-3 Vertex in Madison, MS
Offset agreements associated with this proposed sale are expected, but they remain be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and contractor(s). Implementation of this proposed sale will U.S. Government and contractor representatives on site for technical reviews/support, program management, and training over a period of up to 15 years.
Sidebar, November 2005
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A proposal at CASR (recommending a buy for Canada’s Snowbirds), the entry at GlobalSecurity.org, and the Czech government’s own L159 page all report that the Czech Republic has been trying to get out of a procurement bind since 2002 by selling off some of these modern, westernized subsonic aircraft. This could be the opportunity they’ve waited for.
On the other hand, while 2-seater versions of the L159 exist, many are single-seat light attack aircraft. They are derived from the 2-seat Aero L39 Albatros trainer, and the L159’s design appears to give them the potential to become 2-seaters without modifying the airframe; nevertheless, the question of their suitability for this RFI would likely depend on conversion costs.
In a related vein, it may be noteworthy that the Israeli firm Elbit Systems has collaborated with Romania’s Avioane Craiova SA on the IAR-99C Soim advanced jet trainer aircraft. Elbit Systems provides the avionics suite, which is logical as the Soim is a lead-in trainer to the Elbit-upgraded MiG-21 ‘Lancer’. Weapons integration for the IAR-99C is also Israeli.
Finally, the IAR-99C includes the Elbit Advanced Combat Training System. As Airforce Technology describes it:
“The system provides efficient training in combat scenarios and reduced training cost of combat aircraft.
The modular system includes a library of dynamic scenarios that can be preloaded or initiated by the ground station instructors. The choice of scenarios includes fighters, along with simulation of any infrared or radar guided missile, interceptors, air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft batteries, radars, chaff and flare countermeasures, collision warnings, in low or dense electronic warfare environments, and many other simulated or re-enactments of true to life combat situations.
The pilots and instructor crews use a full range of debrief options for post-mission analysis and review.”
