AERO Vodochody Aerospace
A.21
The A.21, developed by AERO Vodochody Aerospace in the early 1990s, represents the Czech firm’s most ambitious effort to modernise its legacy trainer line. Concept work began in 1991 as a joint venture with several European air forces seeking a low‑cost, high‑performance platform to replace aging piston‑engine trainers. The prototype rolled out in 1995 and entered limited production in 1998, with a total of 58 airframes delivered to Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic before the programme was halted in 2004 due to shifting defense budgets.
Key features of the A.21 include a fully composite airframe, a glass cockpit with digital flight displays, and two turbofan engines delivering 1,100 lbf each, giving a maximum speed of Mach 0.78 and a service ceiling of 42 000 ft. The aircraft is equipped with modern avionics, including NATO‑compatible data links, GPS/INS navigation and a built‑in weapons‑delivery system that allows basic air‑to‑ground training.
Its significance lies in bridging the gap between basic prop‑trainer aircraft and advanced fighter jets, offering a cost‑effective solution for pilot conversion and tactical training. The A.21 also demonstrated AERO Vodochody’s capability to integrate Western avionics into a domestically produced airframe, influencing later projects such as the L‑159 Alca.
Key features of the A.21 include a fully composite airframe, a glass cockpit with digital flight displays, and two turbofan engines delivering 1,100 lbf each, giving a maximum speed of Mach 0.78 and a service ceiling of 42 000 ft. The aircraft is equipped with modern avionics, including NATO‑compatible data links, GPS/INS navigation and a built‑in weapons‑delivery system that allows basic air‑to‑ground training.
Its significance lies in bridging the gap between basic prop‑trainer aircraft and advanced fighter jets, offering a cost‑effective solution for pilot conversion and tactical training. The A.21 also demonstrated AERO Vodochody’s capability to integrate Western avionics into a domestically produced airframe, influencing later projects such as the L‑159 Alca.