The IAR 99 Standard Modernized (SM) aircraft flew for the first time at the Craiova factory this week, but the tests were almost two years behind schedule in the army contract, TVR reported.

On March 13, the first flight tests of the modernized IAR 99 standard aircraft took place in Craiova. According to the contract signed with the army almost 4 years ago, this was supposed to take place in June 2022. The economy minister, who oversees the defense industry, says the huge delays were caused by a subcontractor’s failure to bring in vital US modernization equipment. Despite all efforts, even now there is no clear timetable for delivery, TVR reported in a video signed by Adeline Petrishor.

MApN, an evasive response in this long overdue contract

Last month, after the Craiova plant exceeded new delivery deadlines, TVR asked MApN what was happening with this important contract for military aviation.

“After 12 days of waiting, I received only evasive answers. For example, to the question about what measures MApN will take after new delays, the answer was “the measures provided for in the contract will be taken”, reports Adeline Petrishor.

“An answer that does not respect the law, that does not respect the person asking,” says Dumitru Borcun, professor of communication at SNSPA. “In my view, this is part of a wider series of responses by state institutions that demonstrate a complete lack of appetite for the values ​​of democracy and the rule of law. These answers mean a certain cheap trick, a very obvious strategy sewn with white threads to avoid the answer,” says Bortsiun.

Modernization of IAR-99 aircraft at Avioane Craiova: 10 aircraft for approximately €55 million

As a reminder, Avioane Craiova has not yet delivered any IAR-99 Standard Modernized (SM) MApN aircraft out of all 10 contracted aircraft for which February 2024 was the delivery deadline. In fact, the company from Craiova barely managed to produce even one plane, the test flights of which have just begun.

Initially, the first test aircraft was supposed to fly in the summer of 2022, almost two years after the contract was signed. At the time, the plant manager blamed the Israeli partner that was supposed to deliver the navigation device, but was optimistic that the test flight would take place in the first half of 2023.

Later, the company also blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the war in Ukraine, events that would make it difficult to procure spare parts. As such, the company invoked force majeure and MApN agreed to hand over to the company for six months, so the official deadline was pushed back to February 2024, when all 10 IAR-99 SM aircraft were to be delivered.

So far, Avioane Craiova has received around 98 million lei from MApN, but has yet to deliver anything.

The contract for the modernization of 10 IAR-99 aircraft to the IAR-99 SM (Modernized Standard) level was signed in August 2020 and had a four-year delivery period for the entire batch.

It is about 10 IAR-99 Standard school aircraft (in basic configuration, classic for 1989) from MApN equipment. The army also has 11 IAR-99 Şoim aircraft (upgraded with 1996-level avionics, used for MiG-21 LanceR training).

The value of the contract is 275 million lei, plus VAT, and a duration of 48 months for the delivery of all 10 upgraded devices. From this amount, Avioane Craiova collected almost 98 million lei in advance.