Lasta 95

Lasta 95
Lasta 95 P2
Role	Military Training Aircraft/General Aviation Aircraft
Manufacturer	UTVA
Designer	Military Technical Institute Belgrade
First flight	Lasta 1 Prototype: September 2, 1985 Lasta 95: February 26, 2009
Introduction	August 5, 2010, with the Iraqi Air Force
Status	Operational
Primary users	Serbian Air Force Iraqi Air Force
Number built	37
Unit cost	$700,000 (2010 base price)

The Lasta 95 is a light military trainer aircraft produced by Utva Aviation Industry. It is a tandem two-seater low-wing trainer with a metal airframe. The aircraft is capable of basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument and tactical flying, as well as basic training in use of weapons. The first prototype of Lasta 1 flew on 2 September 1985, while the first prototype of the current version, Lasta 3 flew on February 26, 2009. Lasta in Serbian is the swallow.

The Lasta was originally developed to be a replacement of the Utva 75 and, partially, Soko G-2 Galeb, which had been the most commonly used trainer aircraft of the Yugoslav Air Force up until 1991. The first prototype Lasta 1 was completed by the spring of 1985. Following completion of the initial testing phase, the first flight was achieved on September 2, 1985. In January 1989, design of a modified version – Lasta 2 was started, following changes in Yugoslav Air Force requirements. Lasta 2 was lighter, with shorter fuselage and a new electronics system including fire control Ferranti ISIS D-282. By the early 1990s Utva, and her partners, have produced enough parts for the completion of 10 pre-production airframes. During the 1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, all five existing prototypes were destroyed during the bombing of Utva Aviation Industry (a sixth prototype survived with damage and was donated to the Aviation Museum at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport).

In 2006 development of the Lasta was restarted. The new version was known as the Lasta 95 and followed basic concepts of Lasta 2, with updates due to newer available technology. In 2009 it was announced that Iraq will purchase 20 of these trainer aircraft.

With its specifications and updated avionics, the aircraft will ensure full pilot training for all elements of airplane application including:

It is possible to install ejection seats, but with higher cost and weight of the airplane. It is also possible that new containers with armaments and sensors would be developed for Lasta 95, as well as a proposed turboprop version of the aircraft with more advanced training and combat capabilities.