The Czech Republic is offering Poland major industrial participation in Aero Vodochody's light attack and jet trainer aircraft programmes as part of a wider move to increase political and economic co-operation between the two countries.
Prague is proposing the transfer of wing manufacture for Aero's L-159 light combat aircraft to Poland, if the country selects the Czech type for its lead-in trainer requirement. Full transfer of the L-139 jet trainer final assembly line is also under discussion.
Poland requires around 40 advanced trainers to plug the gap between its Orlik basic trainer and new frontline fighters it plans to acquire. The Poles have been evaluating the British Aerospace Hawk 100 alongside the L-159. The government remains under pressure from labour unions, however, to procure the Czech-made Iryda jet trainer, despite continuing air force opposition.
A 30-strong Polish delegation, comprising representatives from the air force, defence ministry and industry, visited Prague on 14 January for detailed briefings on the L-159 and L-139 and to view flight demonstrations.
The visit came after Czech defence minister Vladimir Vetchy wrote to his counterpart Janusz Onyszkiewicz earlier this month inviting Polish participation in the L-159 project. Vetchy says in the letter that bilateral defence co-operation was in the "long-term best interests of both our countries", according to sources close to the Czech Government.
He also notes that the two face "similar problems", given the need to modernise their armed forces within tough budgetary constraints and "protect and strengthen our respective defence and industrial bases".
Preliminary discussions about the L-159 have already taken place between Aero and Polish military house Mielic, helicopter manufacturer PZL Swidnik and engine maker Rzeszow. As well as agreeing to transfer wing production, Aero has proposed jointly designing "wet wings" for the L-159 with Polish company Okecie. The aircraft's wings are do not have internal fuel tanks.
Polish deputy defence minister, Romauld Szeremietiew, who led the delegation to Prague, was quoted by the Polish news agency as saying: "If the Iryda does not work out, and very much indicates that that is indeed what will happen, then one of the alternatives is the purchase of the BAe Hawk. The second option is the cheaper L-159."
The Czech Government has directed Aero and its US partners - 35% shareholder and L-159Êavionics integrator Boeing, and AlliedSignal, which is supplying its F124 engine - to submit proposals on Polish participation by early February. These would cover the financial aspects of a possible deal, based on the assumption that Poland is looking to acquire around 40 aircraft.
The proposals would provide a framework for the two governments to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and form a joint working group to thrash out a definitive workshare agreement.
The Czech initiative is part of a wider move to breath new life into the Visegrad agreement with Poland, Hungary and Slovakia, reached in the early 1990s. This was intended to further the countries' common political, military and economic interests through regional co-operation.
The Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary are set to assume full membership of NATO in March and have been evaluating advanced Western fighters for several years. The Czech air force is the launch customer for the L-159, and is due to take delivery of the first of 72 later this year, with the last scheduled to be handed over in 2002.
Source: Flight International
