L-159 ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft)

L-159 ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft)

From: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/l-159.htm

Another development of the successful L-39 series is the L-159 ALCA. On the basis of the L-39, Aero developed the L-139 trainer with Allied Signal TFE731 engine and digital avionics as well as the L-59 with the DV-2 powerplant. The L-139 Albatross 2000, which first flew on May 10, 1993, was a straight forward development customized with a Allied Signal (Garret) 4,080 lb thrust, TFE-731-4-1T engine and US avionics to meet the basic and advance training requirement for the US Air Force/Navy, Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS). However, it failed to be nominated, so the project was terminated.

The latest extrapolation is the L-159 ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft) for the Czech air force, which flew in August 1997. The L-159 is designed to carry a number of Western weapons systems, including the AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile , Maverick air-to ground missile and laser-guided bombs. AERO Vodochody will deliver 72 L-159 light attack aircraft to the Czech Air Force by the year 2002. At the same time the company will continue its effort to secure the aircraft’s export on the global market. The L159 advanced subsonic jet trainer and light attack fighter is currently in full production at Aero Vodochody’s facility in the outskirts of Prague.

In May 1998 Boeing Ceská s.r.o. agreed to purchase 35.2% of the Aero Vodochody’s share capital for CZK 950 million (approximately U.S.$32 million). Around 200 subcontractors from all over the Czech Republic are taking part in the L 159 project headed by Aero Vodochody. The largest number of companies (58) is based in Prague. 26 companies are from Northern Moravia, 14 companies from Northern Bohemia, and 10 companies from Southern and Western Bohemia. 28 companies are based in Central Bohemia, Eastern Bohemia and Southern Moravia.

In April 2002, on behalf of and support to AERO Vodochody's pursuit of overseas markets, the Boeing Company, minority shareholder of Aero, successfully obtained an export authorization in the form of a data marketing license for the L-159 aircraft to India under US export licensing regulations for marketing and sales of military equipment. The license allowed Aero to provide sufficient technical data to the Ministry of Defense of India to make a decision to purchase L-159 aircraft. Furthermore it allowed for in-country (in-India) flight demonstrations of that aircraft. This follows a decision by the US Government to ease the sanctions for military sales to that country.

A total of 19 L159 Alca aircraft have been delivered to the Czech Air Force Base Namest nad Oslavou in May 2002. Czech pilots receive fully functional aircraft that are comparable with NATO standards and their training can begin immediately. The first test flight of the new L159 B, advanced jet training aircraft from AERO Vodochody took place on Saturday, 1 June 2002.

In May 2002 the new Czech defence minister, Jaroslav Tvrdik, announced that the Ministry of Defence may dispose of up to half of the 72 Aero Vodochody L-159 ALCA light combat and training aircraft it has on order. Although the Czech government is obligated to purchase 72 aircraft, given the economic situation the MoD may sell up to 36 aircraft because the Czech Air Force will not be able to afford them. In 1998, the government signed a contract with Aero Vodochody and Boeing for 72 L-159 aircraft. The contract was signed in US dollars and since then the value of the Czech koruna compared to the dollar has fallen, substantially increasing the cost of the procurement. Currently the Czech government will have to pay approximately Kcs30 billion ($764.3 million) for the project.


MAIN FEATURES:
Latest generation Honeywell/ITEC F124-GA-100 turbofan engine (Max. thrust 28 kN)
7 pylons - 6 under wing and 1 under the fuselage centreline
Head-Up Display, Head-Down Displays, Multi mode pulse Doppler Radar
Radar Warning Receiver and Countermeasures Dispensers
HOTAS Controls
OBOGS (On-Board Oxygen Generating System), OBIGGS (Fuel tanks inerting system)
APU, 0-0 Ejection Seat

Aero L-159 Alca

Sumber : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aero_L-159_Alca

 

Aero L 159 ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft) is a Czech-built multi-role combat aircraft. It is in service with the Czech Air Force.

Operational history

Czech Air Force is the sole operator.

The Austrian Air Force, Bangladesh Air Force, Indonesian Air Force, Hungarian Air Force, Bolivian Air Force, Israeli Air Force and Spanish Air Force have expressed some interest in the aircraft.

Variants

L-159A

The L 159A is a single-seat light multi-role combat aircraft designed for a variety of air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft is equipped with a multi-mode Doppler Grifo-L radar (a variant of the Grifo-F x-band multi-mode, pulse-doppler radar),[3] for all-weather, day and night operations. It can carry a wide range of NATO standard stores including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and laser guided bombs. The L-159A is in operational service with the Czech Air Force and in production.

L-159B

The L-159B is a two-seat derivative of the L159A primarily designed for Advanced and Operational/Lead-In Fighter Training. The L-159B configuration can also be tailored to customer specific requirements and adapted to needs of basic training as well as combat missions including air-to-Ground, patrol and reconnaissance missions.

Note: only one prototype (made by Aero Vodochody)

 

L-159T1

The L-159T1 is a two-seat trainer derivative used by the Czech air Force. All L-159T1 are modified L-159A airframes taken from storage. First flight 8 March 2007.

 

Operators

 Czech Republic

Czech Air Force - 24 L-159A and 4 L-159T1

Specifications (L-159A)

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General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot

Length: 12.72 m (41 ft 8 in)

Wingspan: 9.54 m (31 ft 3 in)

Height: 4.87 m (16 ft)

Empty weight: 4,350 kg (9,590 lb)

Max takeoff weight: 8,000 kg (17,637 lb)

Powerplant: 1× Honeywell/ITEC F124-GA-100 turbofan, 28 kN (6,280 lbf)

 

Performance

Maximum speed: 955 km/h

Range: 1,570 km (848 nm, 970 m)

Service ceiling: 13,200 m (43,300 ft)

Rate of climb: 68 m/s (9,950 ft/min)

 

Armament

Guns: ZVI Plamen PL-20 2×20mm gun pod

Hardpoints: 7, 3 under each wing and 1 under the fuselage holding up to 2340 kg (5,159 lb)

Missiles:

Air-to-air: AIM-9M Sidewinder, IRIS-T, AIM-132 ASRAAM

Air-to-surface: AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM

Bombs: various laser-guided and unguided bombs GBU, CBU

Avionics

Grifo-F Radar