Iraq receives first L-159 jets from the Czech Republic

Iraq has received the first of its L-159 light attack and training aircraft from the Czech Republic.
The Czech Ministry of Defence cleared the sale of 11 surplus and four active-duty L-159s to Iraq earlier in the year. In all, the IqAF is to receive 10 single-seat L-159A Advanced Light Combat Aircraft (ALCA) light strike platforms, two twin-seat L-159B Albatros II trainers, and three spare parts airframes by the time deliveries are complete in 2017.
Based on the L-39/59, the L-159 has a larger, redesigned nose to accommodate a radar; a longer fuselage; the option for a single-seat armoured cockpit with 297 kg of additional fuel in lieu of the rear seat for the ALCA model; modern controls and avionics; as well as permanent wingtip fuel tanks. The aircraft features seven external stores stations - one under the fuselage and three under each wing - and can carry the AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM, the AGM-65 Maverick ASM, and SUU-20 or CRV-7 unguided rocket pods, up to a maximum payload of 2,700 kg (5,952 lb).
janes

Czech Republic sell 15 of their L-159s to Iraq

The Czech government today approved the sale of 15 redundant L-159 combat planes to Iraq.
The ministry struck an agreement with Aero Vodochody on the supply to the Iraqi military at the end of last August. The firm will buy the aircraft from the military, and it will then resell them to Iraq.
This procedure is required by the respective law.
Aero Vodochody will ensure that the planes are operable and that they are fitted with further equipment and ammunition.
It will ensure the training of pilots and the ground stuff.
Out of the 15 aircraft to be sold have been grounded and four are actively used by the soldiers. Iraq will acquire 10 one-seaters, two two-seaters and three will be dismantled into spare parts.
Aero Vodochody will subsequently rebuild three one-seaters from the military's reserves into three two-seaters for the armed forces.
By the end of November 2017, the military would have 24 aircraft, including 16 one-seaters and eight two-seaters.
The Czech Republic has tried to sell the redundant L-159s for many years.
Last July, the Defense Ministry and Aero Vodochody signed a contract on the basis of which Aero would sell some redundant L-159s to the U.S. company Draken International.
praguepost

Aero Vodochody in Talks with Thailand over L-39 Replacement

Czech aircraft maker Aero Vodochody is in negotiations with the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) to supply replacements for at least four Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros jet trainers.
Aero is offering its L-159 ALCA or L-39NG as replacement aircraft.
The RTAF currently operates a total of 36 L-39ZA/ART, most of which were westernised with Israeli avionics and are capable of firing Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
The bulk of these aircraft were procured during the early to mid-1990s. However, a smaller number of unwesternised L-39s were acquired during the 1980s and are approaching the end of their service lives.
defense-studies

Czech government approves L-159 sale to Iraq

The Czech Ministry of Defence (MoD) will allow the sale of 15 Aero Vodochody L-159 ALCA light attack and training aircraft to Iraq, it announced on 27 August.
The MoD reached an agreement with Czech aircraft maker Aero Vodochody to transfer 11 surplus Army of the Czech Republic (ACR) L-159A aircraft held in storage and another four L-159 aircraft in active service with the ACR including two 2-seater L-159B models.
janes

Iraq Eyes Czech Mi 24 helos To Combat ISIL Militants

The Czech Republic is in talks to sell Russian-built Mil Mi-24 helicopters to the Iraqi Defense Ministry.
Currently, the Czech Air Force operates 17 Mi-24 helos. Of these, seven aircraft could be sold to the Iraqi government, according to Czech ministry officials.
The minister said that, in addition to the helos, the Iraqi government has expressed interest in purchasing Aero L-159 light combat aircraft.
Should the deal go through, the helos will be modernized and Iraqi pilots will undergo training in the Czech Republic. The copters are to be used to bolster Iraqi efforts to combat Sunni insurgents in the country’s north, where militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) captured several cities this month.
The twin-engine aircraft is a combat helo with transport capabilities. It is enabled with a maximum speed of 310 kilometers per hour, has a load capacity of 2.4 tons, and a flight range of 750 kilometers, according to data from the Czech Defense Ministry. The aircraft is manufactured by the Moscow Mil helicopter plant.
defensenews

Korea exports 24 FA-50 light attack aircraft to Iraq

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a contract to sell 24 FA-50 light attack aircraft to Iraq.
South Korea defense contractor is set to deliver the jets between October 2015 and October 2016.
Kai has sold 16 T-50 supersonic trainers to Indonesia, 40 KT-1 basic trainers to Turkey and 20 KT-1s to Peru.
In the competition, the KAI product beat BAE Systems’ Hawk-128, Russian Yakovlev’s Yak-130 and Czech aircraft producer Aero Vodochody’s L-159.
With Iraq being scheduled to import 36 F-16s from next year, the Korean light attack plane was seen as the best option to bridge the air power vacuum, while nurturing pilots.
The FA-50 was developed in Korea as a possible replacement for the Air Force’s F-5E/F when the aging fighters are retired.
KAI is set to try to continue the winning vibe in its sales pitch for other countries including the Philippines, Botswana and eventually, the United States.
In the U.S. Air Force’s trainer competition, aimed at replacing its fleet of T-38s.
The FA-50, which was first unveiled in January 2006, is a light combat version of the T-50 supersonic trainer that was co-developed with Lockheed Martin.
koreatimes

L-159s could be sold to Poland

The Czech Republic is hoping to sell its L-159 Alca fighter aircraft to Poland, just months after an expected deal with Iraq apparently fell through.

praguepost

Four bid in Polish AJT contest

Four contractors met the 2 April deadline to submit bids in Poland's advanced jet trainer (AJT) contest, the nation's defence ministry has revealed.
They are: Czech Aero Vodochody, which is offering the L-159T1; Alenia Aermacchi, with the M-346 Master; BAE Systems, with the Hawk AJT; and Lockheed Martin UK, probably pitching the T-50 Golden Eagle, which was developed jointly by Lockheed and Korea Aerospace Industries.
flightglobal

Iraq buys 28 Czech L-159s

The Governments of the Republic of Iraq and the Czech Republic have announced that the Iraqi Government has ordered 28 L-159 light attack aircraft.

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Iraq advances negotiations for Czech L-159 trainers

Iraq will enter into a new phase of "intense negotiations" over a possible acquisition of Aero Vodochody L-159 advanced light combat aircraft, says the Czech Republic government.

A delegation of Iraqi officials, headed by prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, visited Aero Vodochody's Odolena Voda site on 12 October, the day after al-Maliki met with Czech counterpart Petr Nečas in Prague.

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Iraqi PM's Prague visit likely to focus on fighter deal

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will head a government delegation to the Czech Republic on Thursday, with a potential arms deal involving several dozen Czech-made subsonic jet fighters likely to figure on the agenda.

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NOTICIAS DE LA FUERZA AEREA BOLIVIANA (FAB)

COMPRA DE K-8 KARAKORUM
La fuerza aérea boliviana va a comprar 6 K-8 Karakorum de fabricación china para la FAB (Fuerza Aérea Boliviana), para ser usados en la lucha contra el narcotráfico. Estos reemplazarán a T-33, que quedan en servicio en la Fuerza Aérea.
La FAB había intentado adquirir 6 L-159 sobrantes de la Fuerza Aérea Checa. Aunque oficialmente no se llegó a un acuerdo en la financiación, la realidad es que la compra fue vetada por los EE.UU.Los aviones portan aviónica avanzada Honeywell, tecnología que los Estados Unidos no quieren transferir a países que no sean firmes aliados, por lo que el K-8 fue considerado como la mejor opción.
Otra compra vetada a Bolivia por los EE.UU, ha sido la de Helicópteros UH1-H Iroquois de la Fuerza Aérea Brasileña.
Otros países que han optado por el K-8 Karakorum son:
Egipto (120), Ghana (3), Birmania, Myammar (12), Namibia (4), Pakistán (120), China (200), Sri Lanka (6), Sudán (12), Tanzania (6), Venezuela (18 bajo pedido), Zambia (8), Zimbabwe (12)
+info:

http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/?p=4746



(K-8 Fuerza Aérea de Ghana)

BOLIVIA AMPLÍA SU FLOTA DE BAE 146
Un nuevo BAE 146 ha sido adquirido por la FAB. El avión fue previamente operado por Flightline, y partió el 14 de septiembre desde Essex, siguiendo ruta por Islandia, Groenlandia, Nueva Escocia, donde fue recogido por una tripulación boliviana, Bermudas, Martinica y Brasil.
La FAB ha adquirido un total de 7 unidades a traves de la empresa canadiense Tronos Jet, unos a través de Leasing y otros mediante venta directa. De la flota actual, uno se encuentra en Essex, Reino Unido, como fuente de repuestos, y otro está almacenado en La Paz, donde Tronos Jet está trabajando para convertirlo en cisterna en vuelo. Una vez conseguido esto, se espera convertir otra unidad