Aircraft

EADS is understood to have ordered 10 Javelin very light jets (VLJ) from US manufacturer Aviation Technology Group (ATG) to meet a requirement to provide training services for the French navy.

© ATG

The French navy appears set to train in the Mk 10 Javelin

If confirmed, the deal – which covers the Javelin Mk10 civil standard – will mark the first sale of the developmental VLJ, military variants of which are also proposed.

ATG and its development partner Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) plan to manufacture a further four Javelin prototypes from January 2007 to support flight testing by civilian and military pilots. IAI plans to manufacture two military variants of the aircraft: a Williams FJ33-4-powered Mk20 basic trainer and an advanced Mk30 version with a projected unit cost of $6-8 million. The latter will incorporate a redesigned aft fuselage, increased wing area and more powerful engines, which IAI sources say will be supplied by either Williams or Pratt & Whitney Canada.