History of the VTÚLaPVO

The Institute was established by decree No. 25 of Defence Ministry on 1 May 1922 and named “Aeronautics Studio Institute”. Two years later it was renamed into “Military aeronautical Institute”. In course of time its name gradually firmed into present-day form Military Technical Institute of Air Force and Air Defence “MTIAF&AD (VTÚLaPVO)” and represents a branch of LOM PRAHA, s. e., the history of which is dated since 1915.

From here it is possible to trace the roots up to beginning of industrial machinery engineering production in Praha since 1832. The Military Technical Institute´s mission, except period 1939–1945, even in the frame of the LOM PRAHA, s. e., has always been primarily directed to:

• Research, development and testing in aviation engineering and air defence branches for Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic (and earlier for the Czechoslovak Public Armed Forces (ČSLA) and more earlier for the Armed Forces of the 1st Czechoslovak republic)
• Issue of scientific and information publications
• Cooperation of the Institute with other sections of Civil Administration in aerospace development, testing, production and operation

In the fifties of the 20th century the Institute expert departments meaningly participated in preparing licence manufacturing of MiG family combat aircraft (MiG-15, MiG-15 BIS, MiG-15 UTI, MiG-19, MiG-21).

In the sixties the Institute carried out an expert supervision and control of development and testing base connected with the L-29 Delfín trainer, which was chosen as standard training aircraft of the Czechoslovak Public Armed Forces (ČSLA), and with flight simulators produced from 1965 to 1972.

In the seventies the activity of the Institute was oriented to supervision and control of development and testing base focused on the L-39 Albatros trainer system consisting of:

• the L-39 Albatros aircraft
• the KL-39 mobile testing and diagnostic device
• the TL-39 flight simulator
• the NKTL-39 training ejection seat system
• furthermore, the Institute participated in conception of flight simulator of the L-410 Turbolet light transport airplane

During the eighties the Institute was developing intensively these areas:

• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
• Mobile ground stations for air-ground communications
• Ground and on board power systems
• Upgrading Air Traffic Control stations

In the after 1989 period the MTIAF&AD held, pursuant to program of the Czech Air Force and Air Defence transformation, an eminent position in development, testing and operational research at all branches belonging to the aviation engineering, focusing primarily on:

• diagnostics development of aircraft on board systems
• effectiveness enhancement of the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• necessary modifications of air on board armament and avionics pursuant to NATO standards
• Automatic Command and Control (C2) Systems
• rescue systems and parachute devices
• ground radiotechnical support devices
• Military Air Traffic Control
• Aviation logistics

The budgetary organization VÚ 030 became allowance organization MTIAF&AD, its promoter had been the Czech Republic Ministry of Defense. Already by 2000 the MTIAF&AD has elaborated implementation studies and projects of IFF system interrogators and responders into the aircraft and Air Defence engineering. That way the Institute became an integrator for implementation of these devices into the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. In Information Technology field the Institute then became a supplier of flights operative planning systems for Air Traffic Control (ATC) Service, of combat information systems and means of battle activity control systems.

Furthermore, in that period the Institute, pursuant to new specifications of user, developed reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Sojka – III TV and TVM, Air Force mobile communication rover system (RAL), special-purpose mobile rover for Air Controller (ALENA). At Air Bases of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic the engineering air service mobile control station (MOSILS) has been serving since 1997. This device has already proved during joint exercises of the NATO Armed Forces. In 2002 the transformation of the Institute into the state enterprise was proceeding as well as the transformation of the whole scientific-research base of the Czech Republic Ministry of Defence.
Considerable area of the MTIAF&AD activity in that period also included technic assistance to units of the Czech Air Force at solving problems rising from operation of aeronautical engineering and all ground airport equipment. The MTIAF&AD scope of employment has always been, even nowadays, reliability monitoring and making expertises of air crash accidents. Tribological diagnostic laboratory has developed monitoring and evaluating system of aircraft power units amortization from their oil samples. Due to top equipment the laboratory obtained certificate for making diagnostic analyses of oil samples from manufacturer of the F-124 jet engine. This power unit has been installed in the aircraft L-159 Alca. The Institute also dealt with feasibility studies, projects, specification jobs and engineering supervision for certification bodies.

In 2002 the transformation of the Institute into the state enterprise was proceeding as well as the transformation of the whole scientific-research base of the Czech Republic Ministry of Defence. In 2003 the Institute underwent a principle change of its legal personality. By decision of Minister of Defense the Institute was integrated into the one state enterprise with LOK and LOM. At present the Institute represents branch of state enterprise LOM PRAHA.