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Romanian trainer/light attack aircraft From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The IAR 99[1] Șoim (Hawk) is an advanced trainer and light attack aircraft capable of performing close air support and reconnaissance missions. The IAR 99 replaced the Aero L-29 Delfin and Aero L-39 Albatros as the jet trainer of the Romanian Air Force. The aircraft is of semi-monocoque design, with tapered wings and a swept-back tail unit. A large blade-type antenna installed beneath the nose on the port side of the fuselage gives the IAR 99 trainer a distinctive appearance.
| IAR 99 | |
|---|---|
| IAR 99 of the Romanian Air Force | |
| General information | |
| Type | Advanced trainer and light attack aircraft |
| National origin | Romania |
| Manufacturer | Avioane Craiova |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Romanian Air Force |
| Number built | 28 (25 Șoim/C 3 prototip) |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1985–2008 |
| Introduction date | 1987 |
| First flight | 21 December 1985 |
The design of the aircraft started in 1975 and this would be the first jet trainer fully designed and built in Romania. In 1979 funding was approved for building the first trainer by I.Av. Craiova where the IAR 93 attack aircraft was currently built. The prototype (S-001) flew on 21 December 1985 with Lt. Col. Vagner Ștefănel at the controls.[2] S-002 served for static (ground) testing, S-003 being the second flying prototype (later re-serialled 7003).
The aircraft entered series production in 1987, with 17 aircraft delivered to the Romanian Air Force by 1989. Two were lost in the 1990s (numbers 710 and 714).
In 1990 the fall of the Eastern Bloc created new export opportunities for the aircraft, but while the aircraft had excellent aerodynamic and handling qualities, it was left behind in its class because of its obsolete avionics, with upgrading becoming a priority.
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The first upgrade attempt was made in 1990 by I.Av.Craiova together with the Texas-based Jaffe Aircraft Corporation. Aircraft 708 and 709[3] were modified by installing Honeywell avionics, while the canopy was changed to a two-piece design instead of the original one piece. This change would be retained for all subsequent aircraft. 708 took its first flight on August 8, 1990, followed by 709 on August 22. The aircraft were displayed at the 1990 Farnborough Airshow, being proposed for the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System program for the United States of America, although this work resulted in no orders. In 1991, aircraft number 712 was outfitted with Collins avionics and took part in a show in Ankara, Turkey.
Aircraft 708, 709 and 712 were reconfigured to Standard and delivered to the Romanian Air Force.
In 1996 the upgrade program of the IAR 99 was revived with the need for a lead-in trainer for the newly upgraded MiG-21 Lancer. The Israeli company Elbit was chosen as an integrator. The avionics package is compatible with 5th generation fighter systems and it is inspired by the MiG-21 Lancer upgrade but adapted to IAR 99 needs. The first upgraded IAR 99 was the 18th production aircraft (number 718), which performed its first flight on 22 May 1997.[4] The upgraded IAR 99 was displayed at Paris in 1997 and Farnborough in 1998.
On 6 August 1998, the Romanian Government approved the introduction into series production of the upgrade program for 24 IAR-99 Șoim out of which 4 were supposed to be delivered by 2001. The Romanian Ministry of National Defence signs a contract for those 24 aircraft on 20 April 2000, reducing that number to 12 on 14 December 2000.[5] Only seven of these are to be new-built (numbers 719–725), and five upgraded from existing IAR 99 (numbers 709, 711, 712, 713, 717). These were delivered between 2003 and 2008,[6] gradually replacing the L-39 Albatros' in service with the Romanian Air Force's training school.
Thus, the Romanian Air Force will have 12 IAR 99 C Șoim (upgraded) and 11 IAR 99 Standard, with 7003 remaining with Avioane Craiova SA as demonstrator aircraft.
In 2015, a consortium composed of Avioane Craiova, INCAS and CCIZ announced[7] that an enhanced version of the IAR 99 called IAR 99 TD is under development. A single airframe will be built with a new avionics suite, an engine and radar. The Leonardo Vixen 500E[8] radar was chosen and requires lengthening the nose by 900mm. A new engine which supports computer control is required to replace the 1951 designed Rolls-Royce Viper. This in turn will need a twice as big air intake.[9] A prototype is expected to be completed by 2022.[10]
In December 2020, Elbit Systems announced they were awarded the contract to upgrade the remaining 10 IAR 99 Standard airframes in service with the Romanian Air Force.[11] The upgrade, done by Avioane Craiova, was to be finished by 2024. However, due to several delays, the first aircraft was modernized in December 2023.[12]
The aircraft has a tandem-stepped dual-control cockpit equipped with Martin-Baker Mk 10 zero-zero ejection seats. The instructor's seat at the rear position is raised by 35 cm to provide better visibility. The canopy was made as a single piece (prototypes and planes 701–707), later changed to a two-piece canopy, both opening to the starboard side.
The cockpit is equipped with HOTAS control and also LCDs (Liquid Crystal Display). Both the pilot and the instructor are equipped with a DASH Display and Sight Helmet which is currently deployed on the MiG 21 Lancer. The helmet guides the onboard weapons systems to the pilot's line of sight. The visor's display confirms when target acquisition has been achieved. The visor also displays the data from the HUD (Head-Up Display). Flight and navigation data are displayed on HUD, on the helmet DASH and MFDC (color multifunction displays).
Elbit is supplying the aircraft's advanced avionics suite installed on a MIL-STD-1553B data bus. The advanced avionics suite, including communications, navigation, identification systems and the cockpit configuration, are similar to those of the MiG 21 LanceR and F-16 fighter aircraft. The IAR 99 is also equipped with video and debriefing systems.
The communication systems include VHF and UHF communications, voice-activated intercom and an IFF transponder. The flight systems include a VOR/ILS, linked VHF omnidirectional antenna radio ranger linked to the instrument landing system. Other navigation tools include distance measuring equipment (DME), an automatic direction finder (ADF), a Northrop Grumman inertial navigation system and a Trimble GPS system.
One of the best features of the aircraft's avionics is a virtual training system that allows, based on a data link system, inflight simulations of firing and air combat capabilities using two or more aircraft.
The IAR 99's electronic warfare suite is based on the Elisra Electronic Systems radar warning receiver and electronic countermeasures pod plus a chaff and flare decoy dispenser. The systems are integrated through the 1553 data bus. The radar warning receiver detects pulse-Doppler, pulse and continuous wave radar threats and provides threat identification by comparing signal characteristics against a threat database.
Data from Avioane Craiova SA,[4] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2004-05[25]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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