Aero L-159 ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft)

History of the Aero L-159 ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Fighter)

The Aero L-29 Delfin (NATO: "Maya") started a long lineage of indigenous light attack/advanced trainer aircraft in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic). The design of the Aero Vodochody dates back to the First World War (1914-1918), when attention was paid to the production of German aircraft until the end of the war in 1918. The following year, the first purely aeronautical design appeared "Ae 01".

The company survived the turbulent years between the two world wars, and despite being influenced first by Germany - and then the Soviet Union - at the end of World War II (1939-1945), it still stands.

Often overlooked in Western military discussions, Czechoslovakia has one of the most advanced (and traditional) military industries, producing top-notch small arms and aircraft to meet the needs of modern militaries. The Aero L-159 ALCA ("Advanced Light Combat Aircraft") was one of the last developments to become the advanced branch of the capable L-59 "Super Albatross" that entered service in 1986. ALCA completed its maiden flight on August 4. It was officially adopted by the Czech Air Force in 1997 and in April 2000. Production spanned from 1997 to 2003, during which time 72 examples were produced in two different formats.

The Czech Air Force is the main operator of the aircraft.

The origins of the L-159 can be traced back to 1992, when Aero Vodochody began developing a new, state-of-the-art, advanced trainer with light-impact capabilities. The aircraft's design approach will be more traditional, easy to maintain and provide classrooms in the air. The premium trainer/light aircraft category has long been a hot and sometimes lucrative market for airlines as the world needs to buy modern aircraft on tight budgets. Not only would such an aircraft allow virtually any country to train a new generation of pilots, it could also provide a combat platform for weapons delivery to local stocks.

The L-159 and similar aircraft played a rather niche role in all purchased F-15s, F-16s, MiG-29s and Su-27s.

The L-159 retains its established aeronautical appearance, with a sharp nose cone assembly, raised fuselage spine and low wing attachments. The sloping nose allows for excellent forward and side-to-side visibility from a minimally framed headliner. The cockpit is forward amidships, while the hull houses the required radar, avionics suite and a single turbofan unit.

The engines were drawn in by two crescent-shaped air intakes mounted on either side of the fuselage, just aft of the cockpit. The wings are mounted low and straight in their general design, and their tips are covered by striking, streamlined pods. The fin is relatively short, tapering at the engine exit ring, while the fin consists of a vertical fin with a lower fin surface.

The landing gear is fully retractable and consists of two single-wheel main legs and a single-wheel front leg. There are seven notable mount points - a single attachment point under the fuselage and three attachment points under the wings (each wing), which can hold up to 5,160 pounds of external ammunition.

The L-159 supports the American AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-132 ASRAAM air-to-air missiles, as well as the popular and proven AGM-65 Maverick. Standard gun bays are 2 x 20mm ZVI Plamen PL-20 series. Unlike other trainers, the L-159 is equipped with a radar ("Grifo-L").

The family of aircraft is powered by American-built Honeywell F124-GA-100 turbofan engines that produce more than 6,330 pounds of thrust. This arrangement provides the airframe with a top speed of 580 mph (although speeds may be closer to 600 mph), forcing the plane to remain subsonic, but at a lower cost in both acquisition and long-term maintenance. The range is 975 miles and the combat radius is 350 miles.

The listed operating limit is 43,300 feet and the climb rate is approximately 12,220 feet per second.

There are two variants of the L-159, primarily the single-seat L-159A mount as a multi-role combat platform. This variant can be equipped with various weapon options to meet mission requirements, and the radar installation allows for all-weather/day or night use as required. Weapon options include a full range of modern homing/guided missiles and laser-guided munitions, as well as cannons and rocket pods. The L-159B is the ultimate advanced trainer/light strike platform, accommodating two people (usually a student in training and an instructor), and is basically the same structure and interior layout as the A-Model, except for space requirements, including a second cockpit.

While intended as an advanced jet trainer, this version can also be used as a dedicated combat platform, taking advantage of the "two heads is better than one" advantage not found in other modern single-seat types. The Czech Air Force uses the L-159T1 designation to denote the existing inventory of single-seat L-159A cradles that have been converted to the more useful two-seat L-159B form.

The L-159BQ designation was intended to denote a two-seat trainer designed for the nascent Iraqi Air Force. On October 12, 2012, the Iraqi government and the Czech Republic announced a $1 billion purchase of 28 of these fighter jets 24 of which were newly built by Aero and the remaining 4 from Czech Air Force inventory.

As of March 2014, the Iraqi Air Force will also field some 30 Lockheed F-16 Fighting Falcons, with the official Air Force due sometime in 2020. Iraq has not had a formal air force since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Specification

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Production

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Performance

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Changes