Will Develop and Manufacture Advanced Jet Trainer for the
Global Market
Aviation Technology Group (ATG) and
Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) have signed a strategic
cooperative agreement for the design, development, and manufacture
of an Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT). The AJT is an innovative concept
based on ATG's two-seat jet, the Javelin, and is optimally suited
for a variety of advanced military training and support
requirements. Integration of the Javelin prototype is in its final
stages and handoff to flight operations is scheduled for this
month.
The ATG and IAI partnership is a cooperative development process
which also includes joint global marketing, engineering and
co-production of the Javelin AJT. The agreement maximizes
commonality between the Javelin civil aircraft and the military
advanced jet trainer. It also utilizes long term IAI's proven
experience in commercial and military aircraft certification.
Final assembly of the aircraft will take place in New Mexico and
Israel allowing increased logistical flexibility. IAI will invest
equity and matching funds in ATG for the advanced trainer
derivative and the aircraft will be the central element of an
integrated system that includes flight simulators, ground-base
training systems, and maintenance and logistics
infrastructures.
The dual-engine Javelin AJT will optimize aircraft performance
during advanced and pre-operational training, allowing pilot
trainees to better develop data analysis, information management,
decision-making, and situational awareness skills.
The Javelin AJT will perform in the class of 0.90 Mach/500
knots. It is based on a light small dimension platform
approximately 6,000 lbs, (2,700 kg). Maneuverability matches the
requirements of advanced and pre-operational ("lead-in") pilot
training. In the Javelin AJT the cockpit and avionics will be
compatible with the display and operation of systems in fourth and
fifth generation fighters including the F-15, F-16, Mig-29,
Sukhoi-30, Rafale and Eurofighter. Systems will include embedded
simulations of combat scenarios, sensors data, simulated operation
of weapons and self-defense systems, and mission planning and
debriefing capabilities.
"We evaluated options to develop a next-generation trainer
aircraft and concluded that a strategic co-development partnership
with ATG was most cost effective option," said Moshe Keret,
President and CEO of IAI. "The Advanced Jet Trainer will
incorporate low-risk design and technologies of great interest to
air forces around the world seeking pilots' training
solutions."
"IAI's faith and commitment to the Javelin program validates
ATG's core value proposition. Using a modular, core platform, we
are able to offer jets at a price to performance ratio that cannot
be matched," said George Bye, Chairman and CEO of ATG. "We are
committed to build upon our progress in the civil sector by
entering the advanced training market with IAI. The Javelin AJT
concept allows flight training units to improve training
effectiveness while simultaneously reducing budgets."
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