International Turbine Engine (ITEC), a joint venture between AlliedSignal and the Aero Industry Development Center of Taiwan, is supplying its F124-100 turbofan engine to power the Czech L-159 combat aircraft which is being developed by Aero Vodochody. The engine, rated at 30kN, is a non-after-burning version of the TFE1042-70 (F125) developed for the Taiwanese Indigenous Defence Fighter.
ITEC is to ship the first engines to the Czech Republic this year, ahead of the L-159's first flight, due in April 1996, although ITEC is thought to be pressing for this to be speeded up.
The F124 is also being offered as an alternative to the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour, which powers the British Aerospace Hawk trainer, despite not being selected for US Navy McDonnell Douglas/British Aerospace T-45A Goshawk trainers.
Source: Flight International