The Czech government has finally guaranteed funding for the production of 72 Aero Vodochody L-159 Advanced Light Combat Aircraft for its air force.

The move was revealed by Czech defence minister Miloslav Vyborny at the roll-out on 12 June of the first prototype at Aero's production plant, near Prague.

The final contract is expected to be signed later this year, following the conclusion of discussions with the finance ministry, says Jaroslav Borak, Aero Vodochody chairman.

The first test aircraft has been built in a two-seat configuration, closely resembling that of the earlier L-39 and L-59 jet trainers.The airframe, however, is 0.6m longer, with a modified engine bay to accommodate its ITEC F124 powerplant, and redesigned nose to house the Fiar Grifo radar in production-standard aircraft.

Neither the radar nor the full Boeing North America developed avionics package are installed in the first prototype. Viktor Kucera, Aero Vodochody's vice-president for research and development, says that the first prototype is fitted with an AlliedSignal Bendix/King avionics suite similar to those of the Egyptian air force's L-59s.

The first production-standard aircraft will be the second prototype, now under construction and due for completion at the end of this year, says Kucera.

Boeing has begun delivering avionics, while a series of laboratory tests on a complete L-159 suite is being finished at Boeing's Anaheim site in the USA.

Because of the amount of ground-testing required once the new avionics are fitted, the first flight of the second prototype is not expected until mid-1998, says Kucera. The Ìrst flight of the first prototype is due in July 1997.

The manufacturer needs to sell 230 L-159s to break even, says Adam Stranak, Aero Vodochody's chief executive. Existing L-39/L-59 operators are regarded as the main targets for exports, but countries seeking an inexpensive capable jet trainer are also targeted.

Proposed weaponry for the aircraft includes the Raytheon AIM-9M Sidewinder short-range, infra- red guided air-to-air missile, the Hughes AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile, and GEC-Marconi Brimstone millimetre wave-guided anti-armour weapons.

GEC is also proposing its Thermal Imagining Airborne Laser Designator (TIALD) and Apollo electronic countermeasures pod for the aircraft. The L-159 will carry an external 20mm Plamen cannon pod, under development by Zbrojovka Vsetin.

Source: Flight International