Free Republic

Aero Vodochody and its new partner Israel Aerospace Industries are making a late bid to be selected for the US Air Force’s OA-X close air support programme with an advanced version of the L-159 they say could be ready for delivery from 2020. The two companies also say that – if chosen for the roughly 350-aircraft requirement – they would consider setting up a production line and supply chain for the Honeywell F124-GA-100-powered jet trainer in the USA. Although OA-X funding has not yet been agreed, the Czech airframer’s chief executive Giuseppe Giordo expects the Pentagon to open a formal...

<p>PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Defense Ministry has signed a deal to deliver 14 military airplanes to the United States in an $11 million deal.</p>

Poland may buy up to 60 L-159 light combat aircraft from the Czech plane manufacturer Aero Vodochody, company spokesman Vitezslav Kulich told AFP Wednesday. "We are in discussions about selling between two and 60 L-159s to Poland but the discussions are at an early stage and nothing will be agreed for some time," Kulich said. Poland is leading efforts to establish a joint training base for air force pilots from the Visegrad Four countries - the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia as well as Poland. All four joined the European Union on May 1. The countries' defence ministers aproved the...