Czech plane producer Aero Vodochody and fight aviation coaching specialist, Draken Europe have introduced the signing of a cooperation settlement to help the Pink Air Aggressor Coaching Service (IRAATS) mission of the British Royal Air Drive (RAF). The settlement was introduced throughout The Royal Worldwide Air Tattoo airshow, held at RAF Fairford from 15–17 July 2022. Draken Europe’s L-159E eight-aircraft fleet will quickly start flying because the “adversary/aggresor“ of the very best pilots of the British Armed Forces to begin implementing a not too long ago signed settlement between Draken Europe and the RAF. The service is the primary of its type within the UK and represents a totally new coaching alternative within the discipline of fight aviation coaching of RAF members. The collaboration between the 2 entities is not going to solely help the IRAATS mission, however will even give attention to creating long-term upkeep, improve, coaching and logistical help for a squadron of L-159E aircrafts, nicknamed “Honey Badger” in NATO code.
“The L-159E Honey Badger is a confirmed, sturdy, versatile mild fight and coaching plane that our colleagues at Draken US have used for a few years to supply secure and extremely specialised coaching for ‘agile aggressors’. We’re proud to be bringing this service to the UK, which is able to permit additional alternatives for ever nearer collaboration with the producer of those glorious plane,” mentioned Paul Armstrong, CEO of Draken Europe.
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“We’re very comfortable to be working with Draken Europe. We’re happy that Draken is bringing a confirmed coaching idea from the US to Europe. The collaboration with Draken Europe can be a terrific reference for the entire Aero, with our plane being extremely appreciated by our prospects, and rightly ranked among the many finest plane of their class on the planet. The Czech L-159 fighter is extensively considered a powerful workhorse. The truth that Draken has introduced this squadron from the US to Europe solely confirms the excellent qualities of the L-159,” mentioned Viktor Sotona, President and CEO of Aero Vodochody.
“The deployment of the L-159 plane into the armament of the Czech Armed Forces in 2000 enabled the pilots of the tactical air drive to take part absolutely within the allied air drive workout routines and thus achieve invaluable data and expertise in planning and conducting air operations. The L-159s have additionally confirmed their price in coaching air controllers to help floor forces day and evening. The L-159 is a subsonic plane, which corresponds to the spectrum of duties it could possibly carry out and thus contribute to the operational capabilities of the air drive. Within the context of airspace safety, it’s efficient towards gradual and low-flying targets – together with unmanned aerial automobiles. A serious benefit is the top quality airborne radar,” mentioned retired Main Basic Bohuslav Dvo?ák, Exterior Advisor of Aero.
The L-159 Alca is an plane that meant a qualitative leap within the improvement and manufacturing of a brand new plane at Aero. It concerned adjustments in all areas from the design of the plane, integration of latest avionic techniques together with a ‘glass cockpit’, passive safety techniques, in addition to the combination of Western weapon techniques together with the well-known AIM-9 Sidewinder Air-to-Air missiles. The cockpit is designed in an identical method because the F-16, together with a HOTAS philosophy of the controlling of varied techniques in order that the pilot can function all crucial techniques with out taking his palms off the controls. The plane can be geared up with highly effective radar. The L-159 has confirmed its operational capabilities in Iraq. Right here it has already accomplished lots of of fight flights and has absolutely confirmed itself in destroying floor targets utilizing varied kinds of munitions. The Aero L-159 ALCA is a subsonic mild fight plane and superior coach developed within the single-seat L-159A and two-seat L-159B variations respectively, produced within the Czech Republic by Aero Vodochody. It was derived from the Aero L-59 Tremendous Albatros coach, which was in flip developed from the Aero L-39 Albatros sequence.
