AFTER STOPPING Polish defence ministry plans to buy about 40 secondhand Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jets from Germany, the Warsaw Government has redirected funds for the deal to support the PZL-Mielec Iryda jet trainer programme.
According to PZL-Mielec, three new Irydas in the M-93K configuration, are now expected to be ordered and the 12 aircraft already flying with the Polish air force pilot-training school at Deblin, will be upgraded. The Government has made Pzl42 million ($16.6 million) available for this work.
The plan breathes new life into the Iryda programme, which would have been killed by the Alpha Jet purchase, threatening the future of Mielec by taking away 35% of its production work. Polish defence minister Zbigniew Okonski told parliament on 1 December that the Iryda was too expensive and did not meet air force needs, but was later overruled by Premier Jozef Oleksy. Iryda chief designer Marek Potapowicz says that Okonski was "badly advised" by the military in his statements.
The first five I-22 Irydas - which were delivered to Deblin with twin 10kN (2,250lb)-thrust PZL-5 turbojets and were later found to be under-powered - are now to be refitted with 15kN IL K-15s, bringing them up to M-93K standard. An avionics upgrade - criticised earlier by the Polish defence ministry as too expensive - is also to be carried out.
No avionics supplier has formally been announced, although Mielec has carried out an extensive evaluation of a package from SAGEM, and says that the military has completed its evaluation of avionics options. Sources close to the manufacturer now say that AlliedSignal, Elbit, Israel Aircraft Industries, Rockwell-Collins and Sextant Avionique have also been pushing their own proposals.
The avionics and engine upgrades are to be carried out in 1996, says Potapowicz. A further aerodynamic upgrade, including the addition of new high-lift devices is now planned for 1997.
Source: Flight International
