Article Posted on : - May 24, 2011

Czech L-159 combat aircraft

MOSCOW (BNS): Iraq is ready to buy L-159 combat aircraft from Czech Republic which it had offered for sale earlier this month, according to a Russian news agency report.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said Iraq will buy the light attack aircraft after talks with his Czech counterpart, Prime Minister Petr Necas, who is currently on a visit to Baghdad, a Ria Novosti report said.

The Czech Republic had earlier announced its plans to offer Iraq 24 L-159 combat aircraft and help Baghdad to modernize its helicopter fleet, according to reports.

The single-seat L-159 ALCA is a light multi-role combat aircraft designed for a variety of air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance missions.

The jet was developed in the late 1990s by Aero Vodochody on the basis of the proven airframe design and aerodynamic configuration of the L39 Albatros and L59 family of combat trainers.

The aircraft is equipped with advanced multi-mode radar for all-weather, day-and-night missions and can carry a wide range of NATO-standard payloads including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and laser guided bombs.