IAI and Aero partnership on F/A-259 Striker

Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero in partnership with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has launched a new version of the L-159 light-attack trainer aircraft, the F/A-259 Striker. New avionics and a wet-wing capability have been introduced and this is being pitched for the US Air Force’s OA-X light-attack aircraft competition, Even though the USAF had already invited Textron Aviation and Sierra Nevada/Embraer to take part in an evaluation exercise with their Beechcraft AT-6 and A-29 Super Tucano respectively, Giuseppe Giordo, President and CEO of Aero, believes the USAF “cannot afford the risk of flying with turboprops.” “We do believe that US pilots need to have the best assets in close air support missions. This is not a developmental airplane. It has been used in a operational war environment and can perform many roles.”

The F/ A -259 Striker combines the“robustness and effectiveness” of its successful predecessor, the L-159 Alca, with the latest advances in avionics and aircraft systems technology. With benefits of a wet wing, F/A-259 Striker provides ‘superior’ performance, ‘great’ maneuverability and long range. IAI Lahav Division general manager Benjamin Cohen states, “Our cooperation with Aero Vodochody offers the USAF impressive proven performance of the F/A-259 with new innovative IAI systems to provide customers with aircraft that meet their OA-X requirements.”