05.07.2005 17:28
SECOND LEASE OF LIFE FOR AIRCRAFT

Joint Ukraine-Israel defense industry projects are gaining in relevance. Presently, a solid foundation is there for mutually beneficial cooperation between Ukrainian aircraft building companies and Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) of Israel, the latter maintaining cooperative relations with companies in as many as 80 countries worldwide.

As far as Ukraine is concerned, the Israeli vector of cooperation appears interesting and highly promising. For the first thing, the Israeli projects employ state-of-the-art defense technologies, and are adjusted to the standards of the North Atlantic Alliance, membership in which is so much sought by Ukraine. Secondly, Israel is one of few states to have declared its readiness to transfer some technologies to Ukraine, and also to take part in projects to help it organize the manufacture of weapons and military hardware at its own factories. Thirdly, by working together with Israel, not only could Ukraine upgrade military equipment for its own army, but also to come jointly with Israel to third markets.

In promoting its projects in this country IAI is closely cooperating with LR Group Ltd., which has its resident office here in Ukraine. LR Group Ltd. says that all the potentialities are there for effective cooperation between IAI and Ukrainian defense manufacturers. And all the effort does not have to begin from a scratch, as the work already carried out provides a firm foundation for a broader Ukrainian-Israeli engagement in high-tech projects.

An example of IAI’s successful operation in Ukraine is an upgraded L-39 trainer aircraft, developed and flight tested by its LAHAV division. For that project, up-to-date equipment was made available by the Israeli partner at no cost. The upgrade includes fitting the aircraft with an open-architecture mission training suite, enabling performance in various training programs. The L-39 modernization program would provide the Ukrainian Air Force with aircraft to support combat training requirements for the MiG-29 and Su-27 fighters.

One more area of cooperation that looks highly promising is modernization of the Ukraine-developed Antonov An-32 airplane using an integrated avionics-and-display (IAD) system designed by the Israeli partner. The IAD system – deemed to be a huge step forward in terms of the concept and configuration of avionics – has been developed within the framework of a large-scale development program for the new Indian helicopter ALH. Using the IAD system allows operational capabilities of various types of aerial vehicles to enhance dramatically. The technology transforms each individual piloting operation into specifying signals for transmission to all mission systems, thereby enabling integration of all the flight data into a single control-and-display system.

A similar technology has also been developed by LAHAV for tactical transport aircraft, among them the An-32 light-duty military transport. The An-32, developed by Antonov Design Bureau in Kyiv in 1983, was exported to 22 countries worldwide. Over 300 such transports are currently in operation. The technological lifespan remaining in the airplanes allows for them to be kept operational for a further 10-15 years. But the time itself and new situation in the world make new demands upon cargo aircraft. To meet these demands, the An-32 needs a comprehensive modernization, in which India, operating a fleet of 105 such planes, shows a particular interest. Cooperation between Antonov and IAI could give a second lease of life to those airplanes. The upgrade is aimed at extending service life of the planes, enhancing their operational capabilities, easing workloads on the crew and reducing maintenance costs.

This modernization concept is now being discussed between Antonov, Aviant aircraft building factory in Kyiv and IAI. For the prospective program, LAHAV joined forces with Aviant and Antonov to create an operational cockpit demonstrator for the An-32. The concept implemented in the demonstrator inside a real An-32 cockpit was demonstrated to the military attaché at the Indian Embassy in Kyiv to receive his positive assessment. The IAD system is a more advanced technology even compared to what is embodied in the upgraded An-32 cockpit demonstrator. If the Ukrainian government makes a decision to upgrade the An-32 for advancing the aircraft on export markets, LAHAV would help Antonov and Aviant to develop, integrate and supply a set of avionics for that program.

Note

Israel Aircraft Industries was founded as Bedek Aviation in 1953, five years after the foundation of the State of Israel. Working in close cooperation with the Israel Air Force (IAF) for satisfying its needs, the company was contributing to the defense potential of the young state that was at continuous war with enemies from without. Beginning in the 1950s, IAI has concentrated on the modernization, improvement and modification of military and civil airplanes and helicopters, as well as air engines and electronic mission systems. IAI-IAF engagement is driving the development of new and further improvement of the existing high-tech items and systems.

In the years since foundation, IAI has made the best use of its experience and knowledge on securing Israel for promoting its products on export markets. As a result, the company has secured for itself a status of the world leader in the markets for the modernization and re-equipment of aircraft, and design and development of unmanned aerial vehicles, military communication facilities and electronic systems. The company’s most recent designs relate to outer space. These are the Ofeq observation satellite, the AMOS communications satellite and the Shavit space launch system. IAI’s LAHAV division enjoys a pre-eminent position in the market for upgrading military aircraft piloting systems.

LAHAV’s prime lines of business include the development and integration of the most advanced avionics and weapons systems for combat, transport and trainer aircraft, as well as helicopters, both military and civilian; development of system software and user-machine interfaces; cockpit development; design and development of aerospace systems; the building of integrated maintenance-and-repair facilities.