Avioane Craiova SA, Gherceşti

Developed by AVIONE CRAIOVA-S.A. in co-operation with Elbit Systems. Consists of the installation of advanced navigation and weapon delivery system and associated equipment. Design and production of prototype-demonstrator aircraft took place within three months. First test flight took place on 22 May 1997. The prototype-demonstrator aircraft was exhibited at the Paris Air Show in June 1997 and then the Farnborough Air Show in September 1998. The upgrade is designed for both existing and new-build Romanian Air Force IAR-99 SOIM for use as Lead in Fighter Trainer and Close Air Support (CAS).
AVIOANE CRAIOVA S.A. was established in 1972 for developing, manufacturing and providing product support of military aircraft to Romanian Air Force.
The company began by co-operating with former Yugoslavia and developing the joint project of the ground attack aircraft IAR-93 (around than 200 aircrafts were built and entered in service since than).

During the 1980's, an advanced jet trainer IAR-99 was designed in co-operation with the National Institute for Aerospace, manufactured inhere; the aircraft is still currently in production and in Romanian Air Force service, as a modernized version IAR 99 SOIM. Designed, manufactured in Avioane's own facilities and certified with MoD's Flight Test Centre flight test facilities, it is a proof of the company's outstanding capabilities as an ideal partner in aircraft development and manufacture.