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AERO VODOCHODY

Strategic expansions in full flight

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019 will not only see Aero Vodochody enter the third pivotal year of its 2016-incepted decade-long strategic vision, but it will see the Czech manufacturer celebrate its 100th anniversary; a milestone which will be commemorated through a host of product innovations and network expansions. 100 years in any sector is worthy of commemoration of course, but to span numerous challenging historical and regional events, and to come out the other side as a marketleading entity is testament to the light jet trainer aircraft producer’s fortitude and business acumen.

Beginnings

Aero was founded on 25th February 1919 with its administrative seated in Prague’s Old Town and its production plant located in Prague-Bubeneč. From the very beginning, Aero focused on development and production of aircraft and aircraft parts, as well as aircraft repairs. As early as 1919, Aero launched its first in-house produced aircraft, the Aero A-1. Soon, the Ministry of Defence ordered mass production of the aircraft. Designed for military pilot training, Aero A-1 foresaw what would become a typical product of the company in the distant future.

Expansion

More powerful training aircraft types followed, and after production had been moved to new facilities in the Prague district of Vysočany, the basis for a new family of reconnaissance, bomber and training biplanes was laid down by the Aero A-11 and A-12. Military pilots soon became famous for breaking records and winning races in Aero aircraft. Aero, at that time a private enterprise owned by Dr. Vladimir Kabeš, became the main contractor for the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Public Works (civil aviation).

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Soaring for a Century As Aero Vodochody prepares for its 100th anniversary celebrations, the Company is commemorating its heritage and prestige via a host of new products and innovative upgrades Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Thomas Arnold

The first foreign customers soon followed suit, starting with Finland. Between the two world wars, Aero achieved a number of Czechoslovak firsts: it built a prototype of the first indigenous fighter airplane, designed the first dedicated cabin transport aircraft, the first twin-engine aircraft, the first seaplane with indigenously designed floats, introduced a braced high-wing monoplane, and also

pioneered a practical design of a wooden cantilever wing structure.

War production

The enhanced capabilities of the company were fully utilised and later developed during the German occupation, when Aero produced stressed-skin semi-monocoque structures with full jigging for reconnaissance and training missions

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(Focke-Wulf Fw 189 and Siebel Si 204). Immediately after the war ended, the nationalised Aero continued in the production and repairs of aircraft. Modified German aircraft types were manufactured for the Czechoslovak Air Force as well as civil aviation. Shortly after the war, a new remarkable indigenous type had been introduced - the high-performance, twin-engine, all-metal Aero 45 four-seater.

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ATLAS

Ad van c e d T r ai n i n g Light At t ac k S ys t e m

Iridium

Beyond Line of Sight • Voice • Data • Imagery Line of Sight • Voice • Data • Video

Mesh network

Link 16 network

DCAS (Digital Close Air Support) Live Virtual Constructive Training (LVCT)

Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK)

Radar & Sensor Integration

Stores Management System • A-10 and F-16 weapons solution algorithms Weapons Integration

• Missiles – AGM-176 Griffin – AGM-117 Hellfire – AIM-9 • Gun • 2.75” Rockets – Non-Precision – Precision (APKWS)

• Bombs – GBU-12/58 – MK-81 – MK-82 – BDU-33 – Pyro

• Low Cost AESA Radar • Simulated Radar • EO/IR Integrated Sensor • Laser Designation • Simulated Sensor

State-of-the-Art EFIS/EICAS

Fully Integrated Cockpit with Flight Display • Helmet Mounted Display for High off boresight tactical applications and weapons modes (CCIP/CCRP) • Display provides all weapons modes for Missiles, Bombs. Rockets and Guns • Up front controller for tandem seat aircraft

TACTICAL DISPLAY Situational Awareness • Moving Map – Datalink Overlays – Threat Overlays – Close Air Support Overlays – Self Protection Overlays • Radar Display • Missile Warning • Radar Warning • Calculated Dynamic Threat Distance

• Radar Display – Air to Air / Air to Ground / SAR / Weather – Real / Simulated • Sensor Display – EO / IR – Air to Air Search • Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) • Stores Management System

Live Virtual Constructive Training Enabled Avionics

ATLAS Hardware • Mission computer • LoS/BLoS datalink radio • Handheld datalink radio • Upfront controller/Universal Management Unit • Helmet-mounted display (HMD) • Stores Management Unit (SMU) • HOTAS

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The Jet Age

In 1953, new facilities designed entirely for jet aircraft production were built in Vodochody and started operation in the same year. The production, in which several Czechoslovak aviation plants were involved, focused on a large-scale series production of MiG-15 aircraft built under a license and its derivatives. The supersonic MiG-19 and MiG-21 aircraft were manufactured by Aero throughout the 1960s and 1970s, paving the way in production capabilities to indigenous jet trainer programs - the L-29 Delfin and the L-39 Albatros.

Indigenous jet trainers

In the second half of the 1950s, the need for jet trainer aircraft became more and more urgent. Concentrated efforts in developing an optimised airframe and indigenous jet engine within the Czechoslovak aircraft industry resulted in the maiden flight of the L-29 in 1959. The definitive step

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on Aero’s way to mass production of jet trainers took place in the summer of 1961 near Moscow: the L-29 Delfin won comparative testing of three different prototypes and was declared the most suitable trainer in Eastern Bloc countries. Production and deliveries continued smoothly for the ten following years, after which the second generation, a more powerful and more efficient L-39 had been developed. Production of the L-39 occupied Aero’s workshops and assembly halls during 1970s and 1980s. A number of air forces around the world still utilise the excellent tutoring quality of this affordable airplane. The L-39 Albatros family expanded considerably in the course of time, forming a perfect basis for further development. The advent of 1990s brought incorporation of western avionics and standards as well as the use of more powerful American engines and global equipment, and with it a start of a new chapter in the life of the Company.

Modern history

In 2000, Aero set off in a new direction and entered into its first cooperation program - the entire S-76 helicopter ready for installation of dynamic parts for the American company Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. As of January 4, 2007, the private equity group Penta Investments became a sole shareholder of Aero and in the same year successfully finished its restructuring process. Aero has opened its doors to the global market and has begun acquiring additional cooperation programs, including the first risksharing programmes. The company has thus become a top-class partner of leading aerospace manufacturers. Stabilisation of the company allowed it to return to the tradition of development and production of jet aircraft – in 2014, Aero announced start of development of L-39NG, new generation of legendary jet trainer.

orsight, Inc., headquartered in Ogden, Utah, USA, is working closely with Aero Vodochody Aerospace (AVA) to provide Advanced Trainer Light Attack System (ATLAS) avionics suites for the L-39NG aircraft. ATLAS brings the latest exportable US technology in agile communications, datalinks, sensors, threat protection, situational awareness capability and advanced weapons integration to the L-39NG.

Borsight’s Software Engineering team leverages the latest in Agile software, Sprint/ Scrum, development practices, to develop high quality, efficient software and mission systems at an accelerated pace. Our software products include:

Established in 2008, Borsight is AS9100D certified for design and development of aircraft systems. Since its founding, Borsight has been in continual growth in both personnel and facility growth. Slated to complete its six-facility campus in 2020, the Borsight campus is directly supporting the latest threat protection and situational awareness capability for USAF Air Mobility Command needs.

• Goliath AR (Augmented Reality) providing moving maps, live-video, imaging, augmented reality, real-time video georectification, line-of-sight and beyond-lineof-sight datalinks and more

Borsight’s products utilised in the ATLAS system includes several unique hardware products to fill customer needs including: • TAURUS Mission Assembly: collection of modular mission components that provides the core capabilities of a tactical airborne mission system • Line of Sight (LOS) Wideband datalink module: High speed data, voice, and video transmission and reception supporting a mesh architecture • Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS): Datalink: Dedicated SATCOM module which ensures global reachback for voice and data • Universal Management Unit (UMU): Display controller and system management unit for cockpit avionics and is the bridge between primary flight components and non-flight avionics utilising its multitude of standard and non-standard electrical interfaces • Portable Mission Display (PMD): Nextgeneration ruggedised portable cockpit display currently utilised for real-time mission control, network and communication interface, and electronic flight bag

• Tactical Airborne Mission Software Suite (TAMSS) on multiple platforms bringing modern datalink and situational awareness capabilities to these aircraft

• ATLAS which integrates mission displays, datalinks, helmet mounted displays, sensors, precision weapons and more into a single situational aware tactical mission suite. This system can be utilising for training and provides the additional Live Virtual Training (LVT) utilizing the ATLAS datalink capability Borsight recognises the importance and the ever-increasing need to protect information systems. Our team of in-house cybersecurity professionals continually analyse, identify and patch system-wide vulnerabilities to protect themselves as well as the systems they develop for their customers. Combining Borsight’s breadth of experience and its utilisation of exportable tactical mission system technology to Aero Vodochody’s latest incarnation of the L-39NG, will provide a much needed training and light attack aircraft with unparalleled capability at a price that fills the gap between the turboprop class and the high performance jet class of aircraft currently being produced around the world.

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The new leadership

The Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Giuseppe Giordo summarises: “Over the years Aero have manufactured and delivered more than 6,000 aeroplanes and our fleet has accumulated more than 13 million flight hours, to further highlight Aero’s industry significance. “From this point of strength, we are working with more than 40 different operators around the world, and still have 650 aircraft operational across this footprint.” With this in mind, Aero embarked on its new strategic vision to reinforce Aero’s role of aircraft original manufacturer positioning on the market as a leading player in the training and light attack segment. “Before Penta acquired Aero Vodochody in 2007, the company had been fully controlled by the Czechoslovakian Government. The private shareholders arrival kick-started

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GENESYS AEROSYSTEMS

enesys Aerosystems is a new company that you’ve known a long time.

You may recognise us as the people who pioneered the world’s first FAA-certified 3D Synthetic Vision EFIS and GPS/WAAS navigator. Or you may fly one of the 40,000 autopilot systems we’ve shipped over the past 35 years. You also may be familiar with our customers, like Aero Vodochody Aerospace, Agusta Westland and Bell Helicopters, to name but a few.

Achieving milestones in both production and training

T +1 817 215 7600 E info@genesys-aerosystems.com

www.genesys-aerosystems.com

the journey on the way to the 2016 milestone where these shareholders decided to produce proprietary aircraft again, and to reinforce its position on the international market. “In 2016 we started a very detailed strategic plan for the Company which covered the next 10 years of activity. And since compiling this, we have begun implementing it across a range of considerations including business arms, strategic investments, partnership building and human resources.” Giordo explains: “The main strategic goal we have is to come back as a globally leading aircraft manufacturer in areas of jet trainers and light attack airplanes; without abandoning our aerostructure strand of the business. “Our portfolio now concentrates on programmes where significant technological advancements are required. On the aerostructure side this includes producing components for the Embraer KC-390; fully-

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assembled and equipped wing fixed leading edges for the Bombardier Cseries; and our involvement on the helicopter side of the business, mainly with the Sikorsky Black Hawks.”

L-39NG & F/A-259 Striker

The future of Aero Vodochody is now called the L-39NG. “It is the most cost-effective solution of all private trainer jets in the market, and we are estimating a market potential over the next 10 years of more than 1,000 airplanes which will see us capture at least 10 percent of the market,” says Giordo. “The L-39NG is a product that is proved to be very attractive to customers, leveraging the success of the wider L-39 fleet of which we have already produced almost 3,000 aircrafts.” The product’s appeal derives from a merging between the traditional fleet’s already refined characteristics, and a host of new infrastructural, design and

SABCA GROUP

ith strong shareholders (Dassault Group and GKN Aerospace/Fokker) and soon celebrating its first century in aerospace, SABCA, a Belgian company, has within its Group, 1,100 highly motivated employees mastering all skills from design, manufacturing, qualification and aftersales support. The SABCA group has four plants located in Belgium and Morocco. The Group focuses its activities on the following Centres of Excellence: • Integrated Assemblies • Actuation Systems • MRO&U of platforms and equipment • UAS These activities place the Group as a strong partner to promote quality services and allows collaboration with such esteemed customers like Aero Vodochody Aerospace. T +32 2 729 5511 E info@sabca.be

www.sabca.be

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PRECISION PERFORMANCE. PROVEN EXPERIENCE. PERSONALIZE ATTENTION.

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CHEMETALL Lift-off with Chemetall! Chemetall is a leading supplier of choice for aerospace specialty chemicals – and your one-stop supplier for aircraft OEM and MRO companies. The Surface Treatment global business unit of BASF’s Coatings division offers approved and eco-friendly technologies and process for all airframe, aircraft operation and aero-engine OEM and maintenance applications. Our well-known Ardrox®, Naftoseal®, Tech Cool® and Oakite® brands stand for high quality and innovation. They are globally available, offer product reliability and are used in all important sections of the market. Expect more from Chemetall – and congratulations to Aero Vodochody on its 100-year anniversary.

Customisable quality

www.chemetall.com

technological tweaks to bring the L-39 into the next era. The L-39NG aircraft is a modern and effective trainer designed as a unified, comprehensive training system for modern air forces. The L-39NG is based on the aerodynamic concept of the current L-39, but utilises the latest technologies and equipment. Power is provided by the modern Williams International FJ44-4M engine. The aircraft’s avionics are prepared to train future pilots of 4th and 5th generation aircraft and can be tailored to the customer’s requirements. Integration of the new engine and the latest avionics already been certified on the original L-39 airframe. Configuration with original airframe and the new engine and avionics is named L-39CW. The L-39CW will provide an immediate solution for current operators by upgrading existing platforms with the new engine and new avionics (still 600 aircraft flying around the world). The L-39CW configuration is

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already fully certified. The production of the first pre-serial L-39NG aircraft is scheduled for certification at the end for 2019 andthe first delivery will be in the first quarter of 2020. “We signed contract for the first four aircraft with Senegal in April 2018. At Farnborough Air show we announced additional total agreements for 28 L-39NG and 6 L-39CW training aircraft from US firm RSW and European company SkyTech. By signing those new agreements, we are achieving a backlog of up to 38 aircraft to be delivered between 2020 and 2022,” Giordo says. “The market is aware of the positive characteristics of the L-39NG – whether they choose the full aircraft or just an integration of the core systems initially – and the product is on track to help us reach our milestones set out in the 2016 strategic plan.” The second programme driving Aero’s success at present is the F/A259 Striker, a multirole aircraft for close air support, counter-insurgency

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Technological Capabilities: Machining, Deburring and Straightening, Surface treatments certified by Embraer and Airbus, CMM, NDT and Assemblies for Aerostructures.

Inmapa Aeronautica is a specialist company who manufacture metallic parts and assemblies for aircraft structures. Inmapa Aeronautica is able to mill large (up to 10m), medium and small parts using high speed 5-axis machine. With more than 120.000h machining capacity available, Inmapa Aeronautica offers a full service to its clients from raw material acquisition to finished product delivery at customers warehouse. For rfq: rfqaeronautica@inmapa.com Info: luis.diaz@inmapa.com

www.inmapa.com

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operations and border patrolling with interception capabilities. The F/A259 Striker combines the robustness and effectiveness of its successful predecessor, the L-159 Alca, with the latest advances in avionics and aircraft systems technology from Israeli company IAI, which is Aero’s new international partner. Complete with the most modern radar, guidance systems, and a host of additional, technologically advanced solutions, it is a spinoff from the L-159 series, which has been used over the past two years by the Iraqi air force in its fight against Isis. Giordo notes: “They have had excellent results in terms of performance and based on the Iraqi experience we have a lot of requests from other countries to adapt the L-159 for them. Additional great reference is from American private company Draken International using L-159s as a trainer and teaching pilots from US Air Force and other national air forces.

“The F/A-259 is one of very few products to be able to respond to the demands of a fighter attack aircraft and it can perform same as fourth or even fifth generation fighters when it comes to certain missions. It is lighter, with much cheaper operating costs than alternatives, making the market very responsive to the product.”

A more competitive position

Aero has an uncanny knack of realising its own strengths and limitations and subsequently finding the most optimum solutions, products and market approach to maximise businessAero understands that investments and progression can’t be a lone-journey. Strategic partner of the L-39NG project is a strong Czech investment and defence company Omnipol, and strategic partner of the F/A-259 Striker is Israeli IAI, a world leader in both the defense and commercial markets, delivering stateof-the-art technologies and systems

“At Aero, the characteristic and realisation is that no programme can be done alone, and as such it is important to form partnerships also with the right operators, suppliers and even local SMEs,” Giordo says. “So, one of our strategic goals has been to identify and secure these right strategic partnerships with big operators around the aeronautical world, in order to move our products into a more competitive position. “Through this strategy we have aligned ourselves with leaders in numerous respective fields of electronics or avionics etc, as we well as through training provisions, to ensure the correct industrial partner is in place for all aspects of our operations, in each location we serve.”

Heritage for the future

Giordo goes on to pinpoint this aspect of human resources as one of Aero’s key differentiators setting the business apart from market

“It is our historical heritage that is different from any Company in Europe”

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Precision • Top Quality • Stability Our company STROJCAR s.r.o. has built up its status as a proven and high-quality supplier in the aerospace and automotive industry. We build on the high level of expertise, skills and experience of a team of top employees as well as on modern technologies, creating the conditions for further growth of competitiveness and quality of production with the aim of constantly increasing the satisfaction of our customers.

+420 553 624 384 | strojcar@strojcar.cz | www.strojcar.cz

competitors at present. “The Czech Republic’s unemployment rate is almost zero so it’s not easy to find and keep the requisite skills in this market. This is why we continue to invest in HR though, making the leadership structure as refined as possible, while also partnering with technical schools, universities and institutes to try and attract young talent into the Company. “Once people are in we then spend a lot of time and effort in developing their capabilities; not only from a technical standpoint but in evolving their mentalities to focus not just on the Czech market but on all markets that are pertinent to Aero’s operations. “It helps to form a nice bridge for potential customers too when they see we have hard-working, innovative, local personnel who are here and ready to influence the international market.”

Further alluding to high levels of operational performance and engineering expertise, he remains as confident as ever in realising the business’s strategic vison on the eve of its centenary.

“It’s of course easier to say than to do, but as we celebrate 100 years in the industry, I’d love to have achieved the aforementioned results across our product offering and strategic structure goals,” he concludes. “If these are achieved then it means we will be showing the world that we are back in the position of the region’s biggest manufacturer of jet trainer aircraft. “Being a smaller company with private shareholders, we have an infrastructure that facilitates quick decision making and effective relationship building as part of this journey. But most importantly, it will reflect the heritage that is both present and significant within the Company, and indeed the country. For Czech people, they don’t have the sea to look at, so they look to the air. The air is part of this country’s DNA, and so is Aero Vodochody.”

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U Letiště 374 250 70 Odolena Voda Czech Republic Tel: +420 255 761 111  info@aero.cz