Presently the
training aircraft market is overloaded. The British BAE systems transnational
giant advances the Hawk training aircraft jet modification and American giant
Raytheon T-6 turboprop aircraft. The Lockheed Martin company resumed the
production of IA.63 Pampa Argentine training aircraft and work with South Korea
on the T-50 project. The Brazilians from Embraer company to settle their own
EMB-312 development. Everything is not very simple in Europe. The Italian
Aermacchi company transports from one aero show to another M-346 aircraft, Czech
Aero Vodochody impetrate somebody to buy its L-159, and here on the way the
Dassault/Saab co-brothers from the European Union excite the European Community
by the transonic training aircraft, EADS Deutschland company
Mako High-Energy Advanced Trainer (HEAT) supersonic training aircraft,
and EADS-CASA company transonic training aircraft project.
Market situation
In one word the low demand and
production overage exist at the training aircraft (TA) market. From the part of
the suppliers the oversupply of the TA and light attack aircraft exists,
generally because its too simple to design and construct this type of aircraft.
As a result new national projects appear, which have small volumes of
production, high price of the aircraft, and few export orders.
The same situation is with demand. The TA demand decreased because of the
reduction of the Armed Forces all over the world, and also the requirements to
the pilots preparation changed. The possession of the information and control
aircraft systems now have a priority against the flight experience, and the
initial flight experience is gained on the ground.
But the biggest factor, which cardinally reduces the TA demand is the aspiration
of many countries to use jointly training fleet.
Togetheroralone
The creation of individual TA park and training of the flight staff are
necessary to perform national security, although under some conditions the
studying process can be transmitted outwardly, saving the budget finances for
developing and construction of new combat aircraft and other emergency state
programs. Singapore, for example, performs the initial pilot training in
Australia, and refreshing courses in Canada, according to the NFTC program
(NATO
Flight Training in Canada).
Our inquiry
The initiator of thee NTFC program
was Ministry of Defense, Canada. In the early 1990 it addressed to the
interested structures to find the source, which gives the possibility to reduce
defense expenses at 25%. In 1994 one of the countrys biggest company Bombardier
Aerospace Defence System Division offered the Ministry of Defense its services
to create and support flight-training program of NATO pilots on the territory of
Canada (NATO Flight Training in Canada reduced by NFTC). This program further
was chosen by the Canadian Ministry of Defense as priority. Due to NTFC, the
Ministry of Defense didnt have enough finances to reequip its aged individual
TA park at that time, had a possibility to train practically free of charge the
flight personnel for the Canadian Ministry of Defense. In October 1997 the
Treasury of Canada approved the signing of agreement between Ministry of
Finances and Bombardier company to finance this program.
The program, estimated for $3.3
billions, offers the NATO countries and other countries to perform initial study
and military pilots refreshing courses on the Canadian territory. The Canadian
Ministry of Defense considers NFTC as a fractional approach to study military
personnel, based on the partnership of the country with industry. According to
the 20 years state contract, the industry headed by the Bombardier company
provides the program with air craft, simulators, study materials, airfields, and
also its occupied with aircraft maintenance and other services. According to
the contract, study program of the pilot-fighter is accessible both for the
Canadian AF pilots and for the NATO countries pilots, willing to participate in
it.
The military
bases of the Canadian AF- Moose Jaw and Cold Lake were provided for performing
training. The government gave the license to use abovementioned bases of Milit-Air
non-commercial organization with single aim to train flight personnel. Milit-Air
company was entitled to buy TA, simulators, and other equipment. Bombardier
company was appointed the notified agent of the Milit-Air company for talks and
for equipment procurement. Besides it, Milit-Air gave the Bombardier company
right to use the procured equipment for training. By means of separate contract,
Milit-Air company leased the Bombardiers equipment. Under the agreement with
the government, Bombardier company took upon itself the ground preparation of
pilots, aircraft, equipment, infrastructure maintenance, and the government took
upon itself the obligation to pay for the study process during 20 years not
depending from the fact, whether the Canadian pilots groups is not completed.
However, the agreement allows Canada to sell the part of its useless places to
other countries.
For about $1.3 billions from NTFC
budget were spent to buy simulators and new fleet consisting of 48 TA.
Practically $1.5 billions are already spent for maintenance of the aircraft and
simulators, management of Moose Jaw base and instructors training. Nowadays
under NTFC program, pilots from Canada, Great Britain, Italy, Singapore, Hungary
and Denmark study it.
Great Britain sends pilots to study
NTFC program, and also starts the development of MFTS individual project
(Military Flying Training System), which is accessible for foreign pilots. Even
Israel with its orthodox approach to its security plans to train pilots abroad.
The development of training bases and
the application of single AT park in the countries with big zones, opened for
flights and with great experience of aviation application (similar to the USA,
Canada, Australia) becomes more and more popular. Jordan develops its own
military flight school, which is already preparing students at the Middle East
for flights on F-5 aircraft, and in future it hopes to pass to F-16 training.
Some European countries,
showing interest to the NFTC program, in December 2001 moved their own program -
Advanced
European
Jet
Pilot
Training
(AEJPT),
which is going to start in December 2010. The Eurotrainer TA will be used in it.
Evidently, AEJPT program with its Eurotrainer can become the competitor for the
NFTC and MFTS with their Hawk orientation. In April 2003,
12 European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands,
Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland started to choose Eurotrainer. The Dassault/Saab
single engine subsonic project,
M-346
two-engine
TA of the Aermacchi company,
the
Mako High-Energy
Advanced Trainer
(HEAT)
supersonic project of EADS Deutschland company and EADS-CASA
single
engine
transonic
project.
Its improbable, that all 12 countries choose the common project, till the
moment when AEJPT program becomes the nationwide European program, the European
countries will use the old-fashioned existent TA park or will use TA services of
the USA and study programs of other countries.
Projects and
prospects
To orient
better at the market, we shall try to show the state of affairs and prospects of
the separate projects advanced by leading firms, training aircraft (TA)
manufacturers.
Aero Vodochody
Czech
enterprise Aero Vodochody-
is the L-39 initial training AT manufacturer, which is one of the most popular
AT in the
countries of former socialist camp,with
the introduction into the NATO it remained without work. NATO already had its
excellent flying desks and nobody didn't aspire to place the new player them
into the market. Marketing miscalculations of the company also had an effect.
Positioned initially as TA turbojet ofinitial
training, L-39 with rather thick direct wing, good for the educational purposes,
in its further development (L-59 and L-159) could not be reconstructed up to
easy attack aircraft, and it was bought in the limited quantity, only for needs
of the Czech Air Forces, Tunis and Egypt Air Forces. New avionics and
Honeywell F124 engine, and also
equipment of the plane, which are the units of armament suspension, have
strongly increased the cost of the project, and the entering into the NATO with
its orientation on Hawk, apparently, has even more lowered the demand for Czech
AT. The deterioration of prospects also shows the withdrawal from the company
structure, one of leading shareholders, Boeing Cheska, happened in October, 2004
Aermacchi
Having boughtat $77
million price documentation for ATYak-130
of the
Yak design bureau,
Aermacchi
company has created on its basis the training aircraft, given it a name of
M-346. It is necessary to give due, that the firm has not gone on the Chinese
variant when the design documentation is blindly copied, but took for a basis
external contours of Yak-130 aircraft, practically has completely transformed a
design of internal elements of a glider (airframe), and also has cardinally
changed the form of nose
part. Two Honeywell F124 turbojet engines give to the plane double advantage in
the thrust/weight ratio, in comparison with the same parameters of competitors.
Excellent aerodynamic characteristics, quadruple digital duplication of control
systems enable the plane to carry out flight at corners of attack up to 40,
peculiar only to the newest models of light fighters. Possibility of the M-346
aircraft, used as AT, and also the price of about $17 million strongly decrease
the capabilities of the Italian project to take a leading place in AEJPT
program, however, its support by the government of Italy allows it to hope, that
since 2007 (certification date of the Italian Air Forces) the plane will be used
as AT
of the Italian Air Forces.
Lockheed
Martin
Lockheed
Martin Aircraft Argentina after a long break again started to produce the IA.63
plane, now known as B-63. This TA was equipped with modern avionics of Elbit
Company, engines of Honeywell and the possibility to mount armament. In - 63
aircraft is one of the few TAwith
the reasonable price. Its deliveries to the Argentina Air forces have already
begun.
One more
program of Lockheed Martin is the jointprojectwithKorean
Aerospace Industries, which is the project of T-50 supersonic training aircraft.
The project was started under the order of the Air Forces of South Korea with
the purpose to develop TA,after
training on which the pilot could confidently proceed to
piloting modern combat aircraft, such as F-16, F-15, F-22 and F-35 JSF. The
basic role in the work is allocated to the Korean side, and Lockheed Martin is
responsible for technical expert appraisal of the program, development of
avionics and monitoring systems.
The Air Forces of South Korea have already ordered 98 planes and their first
deliveries in educational divisions will begin in 2005. Export potential,
optimistically estimated by the Korean side in 600-1000 machines, is correctly
denied by the market employees from Lockheed
Martin and they estimated this figure as 150-200 planes. Apparently,
outside of South Koreathis
project
will have the limited demand.
Raytheon
In
the 1990's PC-9 light turbo-propeller training aircraft made
by Swiss company Pilatus was chosen as the prototype for creation of TA park
consisting of 700 machines for USAF an Navy pilots initial training under the
program - Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (Jpats). After license
execution made by company Raytheon under name T-6A, Texan 2 aircraft became the
basic TA of the West and, apparently, it'll remain the most claimed aircraft in
the nearest decades. Till this moment the export orders for it were not so
impressing, T-6A victory in NFTC program guarantees to it steady position in the
market of AT park common use. T-6 aircraft was put up for a tender to
participate in MFTS program, for which the plane of initial training is
required.
Pilatus
As to PC-9 TA (prototype of T-6A aircraft), its share in the market was
considerably reduced. Now company Pilatus should be content with small sales of
PC-9 aircraft and license payments to Raytheon company for producing
-6
aircraft. PC-9 modernized version under mark PC-21 with pilot cabin made in JSF
ergonomics should help the Swiss manufacturer to survive
during next several years. Before the putting up for tender for completing MFTS
program, the Swiss showed the interest to participate in it with PC-21 aircraft.
Certification of this plane is expected in December, 2004.
Embraer
Victory
in T-6 aircraft in Jpats program has made Tucano TA
of the Embraer company the second, the most demanded turbo-propeller TA
in the world. Making the certain successes in the past, now Tucano TA as though
compressed
between dominant in market T-6 aircraft and various small-scale projects of
other manufacturers. To compete with Raytheon, Embraer company started to
produce the lengthened version of EMB-314 Super Tucano aircraft with PT6A-67
turbo-propeller engine of Pratt and Whitney Canada company and with the "glass"
control panel made
by Elbit company. Embraer has already received the first export order from
Dominican Republic. It is the third applicant, after T-9 and PC-21 to
participate in MFTS program however the Great Britain can decide to modernize
its own park consisting of 80 Tucano (purchased at Short Brothers company in the
80's). In case of failure, the Embraer will always have Brazilian market, on
which "314-th" will be always on demand as flying
desk for pilot preparation to transit to ALX light fighter.
AVIC
I and AVIC II
The Chinese markets at which with desire all manufacturers of training planes
glance in hope to attach its pupils, as always is under way. The Chinese
are not afraid of borrowings and even more have put in the category of a state
policy reception of the western technologies and their adaptation to local
conditions using minimal means and for minimal time. Therefore almost all jet AT
producing now in the country are collected under licenses or by means of other
countries. This, however, has not prevented China to sell in 1999 to Egypt 80 K8
aircraft in K8E modification, having organized there not only co-production, but
also the center of
their maintenance service.
Now the park of jet
training
planes of the largest Asia country consists of subsonic planes, K8 and JL8. In
the beginning of 2005 the first flight of JQ-5J transonic TA is expected and
this aircraft is planned to replace the park of old-fashioned JJ-6 aircraft. But
the hottest struggle inflames for supersonic projects. AVIC I offers the project
of JL-9 single engine aircraft (earlier named FTC-2000) in which the
primogenitor of the MiG-21 is traced, and AVIC II - is the project of L-15
two-engine aircraft, primary goal of which - is the training of pilots for the
Chinese park of Su-27 and Su-30MK
aircraft. The part of advisory works on outline designing and optimization of
L-15 design carries out the design bureau, named after A.S.Jakovlev, and at the
initial stage the Ukrainian
-222-25
and Slovak DV-2F are considered to be mounted. It's difficult to say, which
plane will be accepted by the Chinese Air Forces as the basic supersonic TA.
Most likely, both will be accepted, as at first, these projects are financed
from the state budget, and, second, they are intended for pilots training on
different types of planes. JL9 aircraft- for perspective modifications of
J7/MiG-21 (FC-1 and LFC-16) families, and L-15 aircraft - for Su-27
and Su-30
(and also their modifications, the producing of which the Chinese experts, most
likely, without the help of Russia, will master in the nearest years).
Supersonic Chinese TA
will not be widely demanded at the world market
and if they are trying to penetrate into it, they will find there the worthy
competitor in the person of South Korean
-50
aircraft.
BAE
Systems
After appreciable success in the beginning of 2000 when the agreement on
delivery of 24 Hawk 115 TA for a complete set of NFTC program was signed, BAE
Systems could not find for a long time customers for the machines. At this
period it directed all its efforts to create the programs similar to NFTC, in
Australia for the Asian market and in Bahrein for Middle East. A basis of their
complete set would become the same Hawk.
For expansion
of the nomenclature, the company has offered to the market
the Hawk 200 light attack plane at the same time, but it had no great demand
because of the high price, subsonic speed and relatively low combat load. A
number of unsuccessful projects have complicated the position of the company,
however in
the
middle of 2003 BAE Systems has received from the government of the Great Britain
the tender for MFTS program acquisition. The initial order for 20 planes (with
option
for 24) has allowed it to keep the manufacture, which was on the verge of a
stop. The given order and the MFTS start have even more strengthened the British
leadership in TA manufacture. The same year, the company had the new success - a
prize in the tender on TA delivery for the Air Forces of India (66 planes). The
first 24 planes will be assembled in Great Britain, and the others 42 aircraft -
under the license, in India on the areasof
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
Having
purchased the new Hawk, Australia and Southern Africa decided to buy or not to
buy. Now Hawk TA is used in 17 countries.
Yakovlev
design bureau
Works on the demostrator development, which is the Yak-130 subsonic maneuverable
TA, have begun in Yakovlev design bureau
in the beginning of 1990s. As there was no financing on the part of the state,
practically all design documentation was developed using own means of design
bureau. Later Aermacchi Italian company has joined the project, cooperation with
which, however, was not long and was finished by sale of the design
documentation on account of liquidation of Russian financial debts to Italy.
After parting with Italians, the plane was modified according to the
requirements of the Russian Air Forces: aerodynamics is improved, the wing is
amplified (strengthened), the form of the fuselage nose
parts is changed, all western avionics
was replaced to home-produced, instead of Slovak engines AI-222-25 were offered
the engines of
the
Ivchenko-Progress state enterprise, which batch production accustom is mastered
in Zaporozhye on the areas of Open Society Motor Sich and in Moscow on Salute enterprise.
Up to the end of 2004 the fourth flight sample will be made in Nizhni Novgorod
on an aircraft factory - Sokol, and will be sent to the production tests. The
first flights of serial TA, which took place in April, this year, have confirmed
the declared settlement characteristics. In 2005 the test flights will begin in
the military sphere, and in 2006 - the first deliveries to the Air
Forces of Russia. The Russian Air Forces have declared about the order for two
hundred TA. Under the general agreement with Sukhoi company, Yak-130
will be offered to the countries, where deliveries of military planes with mark
"Su",
and basically these are the country of South-East Asia and Africa. Basically,
Yak-130
can find the buyer in Europe. The dispersed
earlier by many mass media, the application for the arrangement between
Aermacchi
and Yakovlev design bureau, which concerns the division of the sale market (Aermacchi
advances M - 346 in the countries of the NATO, and design bureau
- in the countries of the CIS, in other countries, they are competitors) and it
was not fastened documentary, and at present the sides are free in a choice of
customers.
Now AT park of initial training is provided mainly with Jak-52 planes
in military schools. The question on their removal from operation is not solved
yet, however obsolescence of TA park, and also the aspiration of the Air Forces
to receive cheaper, economic and safe plane, forces manufacturers to improve
flight techniques. Project Su-49
of design bureau named after Sukhoi participated in Russian competition,
concerning the choice of TA project
of initial training with the piston engine along with Yak-152
project. Sukhoi won. However Yak-152
has chances to replace the TA park in other countries. In Ukraine speak about
the possibility to replace the planes Yak-52 and L-39 on Yak-152
and Yak-130,
and in case of joining to the Yak-152 program, Hundu company,
which is included in concern AVIC II, Yak aircraft can become the base for
initial training of pilots in Chinese
People Republic.
The
conclusion
TA
market is very specific. At rather small sales volumes - the order is $1-2
billion per one year - it is characterized by a plenty of small-scale national
projects with a small export potential. Aspiration of some states to sharing
park of training
planes is economically expediently. The means saved on development or purchases
of TA, countries - participants of programs can direct
on financing of other urgent state projects. For training military pilots in a
number of the countries in case of their government participation and the
private capital participation, study programs are created: in Canada - NFTC, in
the Great Britain - MFTS, in Europe - AEJPT, similar projects already work or
will start to function in the nearest years in Australia, Jordan and Bahrein.
Joint TA parks provide much more efficiency of plane use, than national.
Besides, the training process transfer to the hands of private structures with
good aviation reputation (at the guaranteed state order for preparation of
pilots) not only allows to save public funds, but also involves private
investments in the industry and creates new workplaces.
Perhaps, even in Russia, with its rich aviation experience, huge spaces, a
plenty of the closed air stations, on the basis of one of leading aviation
enterprises, the national program of park sharing will be created, it concerns
the best native produced TA,
on which the pilots of the countries, which use the Russian military aviation
techniques, can be trained.
Czech
enterprise Aero Vodochody
-
is the L-39 initial training AT manufacturer, which is one of the most popular
AT in the
countries of former socialist camp,
with
the introduction into the NATO it remained without work. NATO already had its
excellent flying desks and nobody didn't aspire to place the new player them
into the market. Marketing miscalculations of the company also had an effect.
Positioned initially as TA turbojet of
initial
training, L-39 with rather thick direct wing, good for the educational purposes,
in its further development (L-59 and L-159) could not be reconstructed up to
easy attack aircraft, and it was bought in the limited quantity, only for needs
of the Czech Air Forces, Tunis and Egypt Air Forces. New avionics and
Honeywell F124 engine, and also
equipment of the plane, which are the units of armament suspension, have
strongly increased the cost of the project, and the entering into the NATO with
its orientation on Hawk, apparently, has even more lowered the demand for Czech
AT. The deterioration of prospects also shows the withdrawal from the company
structure, one of leading shareholders, Boeing Cheska, happened in October, 2004
After appreciable success in the beginning of 2000 when the agreement on
delivery of 24 Hawk 115 TA for a complete set of NFTC program was signed, BAE
Systems could not find for a long time customers for the machines. At this
period it directed all its efforts to create the programs similar to NFTC, in
Australia for the Asian market and in Bahrein for Middle East. A basis of their
complete set would become the same Hawk. 
Works on the demostrator development, which is the Yak-130 subsonic maneuverable
TA, have begun in Yakovlev design bureau