The SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft, designed as a single universal training and combat platform, as it turned out during the tests, was not suitable for the role of a training "twin". The Anglo-French consortium did not manage to create a supersonic training aircraft of increased flight training similar to the American T-38 Talon. As a result, I went to TCB on the basis of the Jaguar fighter-bomber and was safely buried. The two-seater modifications, built approximately in a ratio of 2:10, were used mainly for training fighter-bomber pilots in combat squadrons and in test centers for testing various systems and new types of aircraft weapons. The supersonic Jaguar turned out to be too expensive and difficult for the role of TCB in the British and French air forces.
As a result, each of the parties began to independently search for ways to solve the problem. At the same time, there was a revision of views on the technical characteristics and appearance of a jet trainer aircraft. Based on the real possibilities of their budgets, the military came to the conclusion that it is possible to train pilots on relatively inexpensive subsonic vehicles. And for specialized training for each type of supersonic combat aircraft, it is more rational to use two-seat versions.
For the Royal Air Force, the Hawker Siddeley company was engaged in the creation of a jet trainer, which later became widely known under the name Hawk (English Hawk). And the French in the early 70s decided to create a jet trainer together with the Germans. The main reason for this was the desire to share financial and technical risks. In addition, French aircraft manufacturing enterprises in the late 60s and early 70s were overloaded with orders for Jaguars, Mirages and deck-based Etandars, and the German aviation industry was in dire need of aircraft orders. In the future, the Luftwaffe also needed a modern, inexpensive close air support aircraft to replace the G.91R-3 light fighter-bomber. In the first half of the 60s, the F-104G Starfighter was considered as a promising strike vehicle in Germany, but the high accident rate of this aircraft led the Germans to want a twin-engine aircraft optimized for low-altitude flights.
In 1968, the parties agreed on the technical requirements for the aircraft named - Alpha Jet (Alpha Jet). In the second half of 1969, an agreement was reached on the joint production of 400 aircraft (200 aircraft in each country). When considering the results of the competition in July 1970, preference was given to projects submitted by the French firms Dassault, Breguet and West German Dornier. On the basis of the Breguet Br.126 and Dornier P.375 projects, the Alpha Jet multipurpose subsonic aircraft was designed. The project was approved in February 1972.
Requirements for the tactical and technical characteristics of a light strike aircraft were developed based on the specifics of combat operations in the European theater of operations, where the massive use of armored vehicles and the presence of powerful military air defense were assumed. And the course of hostilities itself was to be distinguished by its dynamism and transience, as well as the need to combat airborne assault forces and block the approach of enemy reserves.
As mentioned in the second part devoted to the Jaguar fighter-bomber, in 1971 the French company Dassaul took over its competitor Breguet. As a result, aviation giant Dassault Aviation became the only manufacturer of Alpha Jet in France. The construction of the Alpha Jet in Germany was entrusted to the Dornier company.
The military departments of France and the Federal Republic of Germany ordered two prototypes each for flight and static tests from their aircraft manufacturers. The first prototype built in France took off on October 26, 1973 at the Istres test center. The German aircraft, assembled at the Dornier enterprise, took off on January 9, 1974 from the GDP in Oberpfaffenhofen. At the end of 1973, Belgium also joined the project.
Test flight of the Alpha Jet prototype
The tests lasted three years. In the course of fine-tuning, in order to obtain optimal controllability at low altitudes and a moderate approach speed, changes were made to the control system and wing mechanization. Initially, the Germans planned to use the American General Electric J85 turbojet engines that had proven themselves on the F-5 and T-38 fighter aircraft, but the French, fearing dependence on the United States for the export of aircraft, insisted on a new SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac engine of their own. To increase the rate of climb and maximum flight speed, the Larzac 04-C1 engines during the tests were replaced by the Larzac 04-C6, each with a thrust of 1300 kgf. Engine air intakes are located on both sides of the fuselage.
In the process of revision, the aircraft received a simple and reliable hydraulic control system, consisting of two redundant subsystems. The control system provides excellent piloting in all altitude and speed ranges. The test pilots noted that the plane was difficult to drive into a spin, and it exited on its own when the force was removed from the control stick and pedals. Much attention was paid to the strength of the aircraft, its maximum design overloads range from +12 to -6 units. During test flights, it was repeatedly possible to accelerate the aircraft to supersonic speed, while the Alpha Jet was adequately controlled and did not show a tendency to overturn or to be pulled into a dive.
"Alpha Jet" has a high swept wing, two-seater tandem cockpit with Martin-Baker MK.4 ejection seats. The layout and placement of the cockpit provided a good forward-downward visibility. The seat of the second crew member is located with some elevation above the front one, which provides visibility and allows independent landing.
At the same time, the aircraft turned out to be quite light, the normal takeoff weight is 5000 kg, the maximum is 8000 kg. The maximum speed at high altitude without external suspensions is 930 km / h. A combat load weighing up to 2500 kg was placed on 5 suspension nodes. Each unit located under the wing is designed for a maximum load of up to 665 kg, and the ventral unit - up to 335 kg. The combat radius, depending on the flight profile and the mass of the combat load, ranged from 390 to 1000 km. When performing reconnaissance missions, the radius of action when using outboard four fuel tanks with a capacity of 310 liters can reach 1300 km.
Initially, a fairly simple avionics were envisaged, allowing operation in conditions of good visibility and mainly during daylight hours. In the process of fine-tuning, the aircraft received a radio compass, TACAN system equipment and a set of equipment for blind landing, which made it possible to use the aircraft in bad weather conditions and at night. However, the capabilities of the sighting complex remained rather modest. An attack aircraft can only strike if there is sufficient visual visibility of targets. On the strike version, intended for the Luftwaffe, a laser rangefinder-target designator was installed. The weapon control system makes it possible to automatically calculate the point of impact when bombing, launching an NAR and firing a cannon at ground and air targets. Communication equipment included VHF and HF radio stations. The aircraft was able to be based on field unpaved airfields. It did not require sophisticated ground equipment, and the time for repeated combat missions was reduced to a minimum. To reduce the length of the landing run, the German Alpha Jet A had landing hooks that clung to brake cable systems during landing, similar to those used in deck aviation.
The French Air Force received the first production Alpha Jet E trainer at the end of 1977. In mid-1979, Alpha Jet began replacing the American T-33 trainer in training squadrons. In the same year, the French aerobatic team Patrouille de France transferred to these aircraft. Visually, the French training aircraft differed from the German light attack aircraft with a rounded nose.
Aircraft Alpha Jet E of the French aerobatic team Patrouille de France
The first production Alpha Jet A (combat), built in Germany, took off on April 12, 1978. For the West German attack aircraft, an alternative designation that did not take root was adopted - Alpha Jet Close Support Version (the version of the "Alpha Jet" for isolation of the battlefield and air support). Two-seat light attack aircraft received three light bomber squadrons and a West German training air unit stationed in Portugal at the Beja airbase.
In July 1978, Dassault signed an agreement with the American corporation Lockheed to manufacture the Alpha Jet in the United States. Franco-German TCB was supposed to be used to train pilots of carrier-based aircraft of the US Navy. Changes included reinforcing the landing gear, installing a more durable landing hook, and installing aircraft carrier landing equipment and naval communications equipment.
TCB T-45 on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69)
However, the British modified TCB Hawker Siddeley Hawk won the competition announced by the American Navy. This aircraft, designated T-45 Goshawk, was produced in the United States by McDonnell Douglas.
In total, the French and German air forces received 176 and 175 aircraft, respectively. The last aircraft were delivered to the Luftwaffe in early 1983, deliveries to the French Air Force ended in 1985. 5-6 aircraft were usually assembled per month, except for the enterprises of France and Germany, the production capacities of the Belgian company SABCA were involved in the manufacture of fuselage parts and the assembly of aircraft.
Alpha Jet 1B Belgian Air Force
Belgian Air Force from 1978 to 1980 received two batches of Alpha Jet 1B of 16 and 17 units in a training configuration, almost the same as that ordered by the French Air Force. In the mid-90s - early 2000s, all Belgian cars underwent refurbishment and modernization to the level of Alpha Jet 1B +. The aircraft received updated avionics: new navigation systems with a laser gyroscope and GPS receiver, ILS, new communication equipment for recording flight parameters. The Belgian Alpha Jet is expected to remain in service until 2018. At the moment, Belgian-owned training aircraft are based in France.
The onboard equipment and armament of the French and German vehicles differed greatly due to the fact that the Luftwaffe command had by that time abandoned the training of military pilots at home. Initially, the Germans wanted to train pilots in France, but since France at that moment withdrew from the NATO military structure, this caused a sharp reaction in the United States, and German pilots were trained overseas under the guidance of American instructors.
Front cockpit of West German Alpha Jet A
In the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany, "Alpha Jet" was mainly used as a light attack aircraft with an improved sighting and navigation system compared to French aircraft. Another notable difference of the Luftwaffe aircraft was the 27-mm Mauser VK 27 cannon (150 rounds of ammunition) in a suspended ventral container.
Armament Alpha Jet E French Air Force
On French aircraft, it was also possible to mount a 30 mm DEFA 553 cannon in a ventral pod. But in reality, vehicles with weapons in the French Air Force were practically not used. The Jaguars and Mirages were quite enough to carry out the strike missions. For this reason, the armament set of the French Alpha Jet E looked much more modest and was mainly intended for training exercises in combat use.
Light attack aircraft Alpha Jet A German Air Force
The armament placed on the external hardpoints of West German aircraft was very diverse. It can solve a wide range of tasks. The West German command, when selecting the composition of the Alpha Jet's weapons, paid great attention to the anti-tank orientation. To combat Soviet tanks, cassettes with cumulative bombs and anti-tank mines and NAR were intended. In addition to anti-tank weapons, the attack aircraft is capable of carrying suspended containers with machine guns of 7, 62-12, 7-mm caliber, aerial bombs weighing up to 450 kg, napalm tanks and even sea mines.
An early version of the armament kit for the light attack aircraft Alpha Jet A
A two-seater cockpit on a light close air support aircraft is an atypical phenomenon. This makes the aircraft heavier, reduces its flight performance and the weight of the combat load. If the second crew member was abandoned, the released mass reserve could be used to increase security or increase the capacity of the fuel tanks. A single-seat version of a light attack aircraft (Alpha Jet C) with an armored cockpit and a straight wing was considered by Dornier, but the project did not advance. In terms of its strike capabilities, the aircraft was supposed to approach the Soviet Su-25 attack aircraft. The armor protection of the single cockpit had to withstand the armor-piercing bullets of 12, 7 mm caliber. However, the overall survivability of the aircraft remained at the level of a two-seater.
This is what a single Alpha Jet C could look like.
Most likely, the Germans, having adopted a two-seater light attack aircraft, simply did not want to spend money on its alteration. On the other hand, the presence of aircraft controls in the second cockpit somewhat increases survivability, since if the main pilot fails, the second can take over. In addition, as the experience of Vietnam has shown, the chances for two-seater vehicles to avoid being hit by anti-aircraft artillery fire and to dodge an anti-aircraft missile are significantly higher. Since the pilot's field of view is significantly reduced during an attack on a ground target, the second crew member can inform about the danger in time, which gives a reserve of time to perform anti-aircraft or anti-missile maneuvers.
The light two-seater attack aircraft was well received by the technical and flight personnel. In the Luftwaffe, he became a worthy replacement for the G.91R-3 fighter-bomber. The Alpha Jet had a maximum speed comparable to its predecessor, but at the same time surpassed the G.91 in combat efficiency. In terms of maneuverability at low altitudes, the Alpha Jet significantly surpassed all combat aircraft of NATO close air support, including the American A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft.
Light attack aircraft Alpha Jet A and supersonic fighter F-104G during joint maneuvering
Test air battles with F-104G, Mirage III, F-5E, F-16A fighters showed that a light attack aircraft under the control of an experienced pilot is very difficult opponents in close air combat. In all cases, when the crew of the Alpha Jet was able to spot the fighter in time, it successfully evaded the attack by taking a turn at low speed. Moreover, if the pilot of a fighter tried to repeat the maneuver and was drawn into battle on bends, then he himself would soon come under attack. And the lower the speed, the greater the advantage of the attack aircraft in horizontal maneuverability became. With the flaps and landing gear retracted, the Alpha Jet stall begins at a flight speed of about 185 km / h. According to the characteristics of horizontal maneuverability, only the British VTOL Harrier could compete with the Alpha Jet, but with comparable combat effectiveness in operations against ground targets, the cost of operation and the preparation time for a combat mission from the Harrier were much higher.
West German light attack aircraft "Alpha Jet" and British VTOL "Harrier" during joint exercises
Good flight and operational characteristics in combination with sufficiently powerful and diverse weapons made it possible to successfully solve the tasks of direct air support for ground forces, isolating the battlefield, depriving the possibility of pulling up reserves and delivering ammunition to the enemy. Particular attention was paid to the conduct of aerial reconnaissance in the operational depth, for which containers with visual and electronic reconnaissance equipment were suspended. In addition, the Alpha Jet could be used to strike headquarters and command posts, radar and air defense systems, airfields, ammunition and fuel depots and other important military targets located in the operational depth.
High maneuverability, ease of control and the presence of an observer pilot who timely informs about threats should have ensured increased survivability when operating at low altitudes. At the same time, Western experts noted that a light attack aircraft, when operating at low altitudes, was vulnerable to sudden shelling by Soviet military short-range air defense systems: "Strela-10", "Wasp", and at medium altitudes for medium-range air defense systems "Cube" and "Circle". In addition, the real experience of military operations in the Middle East has shown that low altitude is not a defense against the ZSU-23-4 "Shilka".
An important advantage of the Alpha Jet is its good adaptability to operations from small unpaved runways. This allows attack aircraft, if necessary, to be based in the immediate vicinity of the front line, escape from the attack, and promptly respond to the requests of their troops in need of air support. Despite the seemingly modest flight performance against the background of multi-ton supersonic aircraft, the Alpha Jet fully complied with the requirements imposed on it and demonstrated very high performance in terms of the cost-effectiveness criterion.
In the mid-1980s, the Luftwaffe launched the first phase of the Alpha Jet modernization program to improve combat performance and survivability over the battlefield. Measures were taken to reduce the radar and thermal signature. The aircraft received devices for shooting heat traps, suspended containers with American jamming equipment and a new navigation system. The aircraft's survivability during combat damage was initially good. Thanks to a well-thought-out layout, a duplicated hydraulic system and spaced-out engines, even if the Strela-2 ATGM was defeated, the aircraft had a chance to return to its airfield, but the tanks and fuel lines required additional protection. After the modification of the weapon system for hitting point targets, German aircraft could use the AGM-65 Maverick laser-guided missile launcher, and use AIM-9 Sidewinder and Matra Magic missiles in defensive air combat with fighters or against helicopters.
After the collapse of the eastern bloc and the unification of Germany, the Luftwaffe was downsized. The need for a light subsonic anti-tank attack aircraft became unclear. The military department of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1992 decided to reduce more than half of the fleet of combat aircraft, leaving only 45 two-seat attack aircraft in service.
The reduction began as early as the next year. In the middle of 1993, 50 aircraft were handed over to Portugal to replace the exhausted G.91R-3, TCB G.91T-3 and T-38.
Alpha Jet A Portuguese Air Force
In 1999, Germany sold 25 Alpha Jet to Thailand for a purely symbolic $ 30,000 per unit. In the Royal Thai Air Force, two-seater attack aircraft replaced the American OV-10 Bronco. The planes were intended to conduct air patrols of the borders. Repairing aircraft, replacing communications equipment and ferrying it cost Thailand more than purchasing used machines.
Alpha Jet A Royal Thai Air Force
In 2000, the British Defense Diversification Agency (DDA), the Agency for Defense Assessment and Research, expressed a desire to acquire 12 German aircraft, due to a shortage of the Hawk trainer in the RAF. Currently, aircraft of the Alpha Jet A modification are located at the Boscom Down airbase and are used in various tests and tests of aviation equipment and ground systems. A few more aircraft were purchased by the British company QinetiQ, which specializes in defense research and development of civilian security systems.
Alpha Jet A owned by QinetiQ
The French were more careful about their "sparks" than the Germans, until now in the French Air Force there are 90 training vehicles. The aircraft has proven itself over the long years of operation; thousands of French and foreign pilots have passed flight training on it. However, such features as excellent handling, and the fact that the plane forgave even gross mistakes was not always a blessing. As you know, often, disadvantages are a continuation of advantages. Many fighter squadron commanders noted that after flying on the Alpha Jet trainer, some pilots relaxed and allowed themselves liberties, which led to accidents during flights on combat fighters.
In the mid-90s, the French Air Force investigated the Alpha Jet 3 ATS (Advanced Training System) program. This aircraft was created as an effective simulator with programmable multifunctional control and a "glass" cockpit and modernized control, communication and navigation systems. Alpha Jet 3 ATS was supposed to train pilots of modern and advanced fighters. However, the Alpha Jet was already largely obsolete, and most of the machines had a limited resource. As a result, a radical modernization was recognized as too costly, and during factory repairs, most of the French cars were brought to the level corresponding to the Belgian Alpha Jet 1B +. At present, the most likely candidate for replacing the Alpha Jet in France is the Italian M-346 Master trainer.
The favorable cost-effectiveness ratio and the possibility of using the aircraft, both as a light attack aircraft and as a training aircraft of advanced flight training, made it interesting for foreign buyers. This aircraft was bought for their air forces by 8 countries, although the cost of a combat training aircraft was not low - 4.5 million dollars in prices of the mid-80s.
However, by the beginning of the 80s, the Alpha Jeta sighting and navigation system no longer met modern requirements and the aircraft was modernized in order to increase its attractiveness for foreign customers. However, not all foreign buyers needed a light strike aircraft, Egypt in 1978 entered into an agreement with France for the supply of 30 Alpha Jet MS aircraft and bought a production license. The aircraft were assembled from kits supplied by Dassault at the Egyptian branch of the Arab Industrialization Organization, a joint venture funded by wealthy Middle Eastern monarchies - Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
In 1982, Egypt ordered 15 aircraft of the Alpha Jet MS2 modification. Most of the 45 Egyptian MS2s were not built from scratch, but converted from the Alpha Jet MS. On the modernized machine, which did not go into series production in France, the strike capabilities and flight characteristics were significantly improved. Alpha Jet MS2 received a new high-precision inertial navigation system SAGEM Uliss 81 INS, gyromagnetic compass SFIM, radar altimeter TRT, CSF "closed" communication equipment, projection indicator HUD and laser rangefinder-designator TMV 630, in the nose of the fuselage. The aircraft was equipped with more powerful Larzac 04-C20 engines with a thrust of 1440 kgf. Cameroon (7 cars) also became the recipient of this modification.
Alpha Jet MS2 Egyptian Air Force
If the first Egyptian Alpha Jet MS were intended mainly for education and training, then the Alpha Jet MS2 had its full-fledged combat aircraft sighting and navigation system. The number of suspension nodes increased to seven, and the combat load by 500 kg. In the Egyptian Air Force "Alpha Jet" replaced the hopelessly outdated MiG-17 used in the role of attack aircraft. However, time takes its toll, according to Military Balance 2016, there are currently about 40 Alpha Jet MS2 aircraft in the Egyptian Air Force. As a replacement for the exhausted Alpha Jet, the Egyptians are considering combat training aircraft: the British Hawk 200 series, the Italian M-346 and the Russian Yak-130.
The second largest park in the Middle East, Alpha Jet, is owned by the United Arab Emirates. But, unlike Egypt, the Air Force of the Emirates did not receive the new Alpha Jet, but transferred to the Luftwaffe. The main supplier of this type of aircraft was France. At various times, in addition to the above countries, Alpha Jet E aircraft were delivered to Cote d'Ivoire (7 aircraft), Morocco (24), Nigeria (24), Qatar (6), Togo (5). The Czechoslovak L-39 and the British Hawk were in sharp competition on the world arms market. Therefore, the new "Alpha Jets" were supplied mainly to countries that had strong military-political ties with France.
Unlike the Jaguar fighter-bomber, the Alpha Jet's combat career was not so intense, but he also had a chance to “sniff gunpowder”. The most interesting thing is that mainly the Alpha Jet E modification machines fought, which had limited combat capabilities in comparison with the German Alpha Jet A. The first to enter the battle were combat training aircraft of the Royal Moroccan Air Force. They attacked units of the Polisario front during the war in Western Sahara, which lasted from 1975 to 1991. One plane was shot down by anti-aircraft fire in December 1985.
Nigeria used its light attack aircraft to support the West African peacekeeping force deployed in the early 1990s in civil war-torn Liberia. The Alpha Jets of the Nigerian Air Force bombed rebel columns of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) quite effectively and fought shipping. In total, operating on communications, Nigerian attack aircraft flew about 300 sorties over several years. The aircraft repeatedly received damage from anti-aircraft fire, but there were no irreplaceable losses. According to information published in the media, they were mainly flown by "contractors" from France, Belgium and South Africa. Air supremacy thwarted a number of rebel offensive operations and impeded their supply, which ultimately led to the defeat of the NPFL, led by Charles Taylor.
Alpha Jet Nigerian Air Force
Until 2013, 13 combat training aircraft survived in the Nigerian Air Force. But practically all of them were pinned to the ground due to malfunctions. Just at this time, Islamic militants Boko Haaram intensified in the country, and the government of Nigeria had to make considerable efforts to return the stormtroopers to service. So, at the enterprises of the Nigerian company IVM, which is mainly engaged in the licensed production of cars, the release of some spare parts was organized. In addition, purchases of "Alpha Jet" were carried out all over the world, which are in varying degrees of serviceability. Some of them were restored, others became a source of spare parts.
The aircraft bought from private owners were “demilitarized”, that is, sights and weapons were dismantled from them. The Nigerians, with the help of foreign specialists, managed to return several vehicles to service, equipping them with UB-32 blocks from the 57-mm Soviet-made NAR. In September 2014, two restored Alpha Jeta, supporting the actions of the Nigerian government forces, attacked targets in the area of the city of Bama, which had been seized by extremists. At the same time, one Alpha Jet was shot down by anti-aircraft fire.
It is not known whether the "Alpha Jet" of the air forces of other countries was used in hostilities, but in the recent past, the combat aircraft of the Thai Air Force attacked armed groups of drug traffickers in the so-called "Golden Triangle" located on the border of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. With a high degree of probability, the former German Alpha Jet E could have been used in the air raids. The Egyptian Air Force also regularly takes part in operations against the Islamists in the Sinai Peninsula. Double Alpha Jet MS2, capable of staying in the air for a long time, is almost ideal for isolating the area of anti-terrorist operation.
Alpha Jet A owned by Air USA
A significant number of demilitarized Alpha Jet are exploited by private owners and civilian structures. For example, the Ames Research Center (ARC) in California, owned by NASA, has one disarmed Alpha Jet, which is used in various scientific experiments. Due to its low operating costs, affordable price and good flight performance, Alpha Jet is popular in aerobatic teams around the world and among private aviation companies providing combat training services. The most famous companies of this kind, in which the fleet of aircraft "Alpha Jet", are American Air USA, Canadian Top Aces and Discovery Air.
Alpha Jet A by Top Aces
Aircraft of private aviation companies are involved in training air defense crews and fighter pilots. They act both as simulators of air targets in interception missions and in training maneuver air battles. Often the maneuverability of the Alpha Jet aircraft puts the pilots of the F-15, F-16 and F / A-18 fighters in a very difficult position. In the opinion of the pilots of the Canadian CF-18s, it was an unpleasant discovery for them that the old subsonic "Alpha Jet" is very difficult to drive into the sight on bends.
Currently, the life path of aircraft "Alpha Jet" in the military service ends, and in the next few years they will all be written off in retirement. But, apparently, the restored planes, which are in private hands, will fly for a long time. Light attack aircraft, once a symbol of the Cold War, have now become the subject of historical heritage.
