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Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet - Basic and advanced trainer

Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet
Dassault / Dornier Alpha Jet

Militarymedia.net - Alpha Jet was designed in the late 1960s to meet joint French-German requirements for trainer jets and light attack aircraft. It was so delayed by the establishment of a multi-national production program for the aircraft and its two power plants, that although the prototype flew on October 26, 1973, the type did not enter service for another six years.

The two initial partners purchased 350 aircraft. France received 176 E (Ecole, or trainer) versions while West Germany received the 175 A (Appui, or attack) model equipped with an advanced navigation / attack system, as well as a belly-mounted 27mm Mauser gun pod.

New coach exports were made to Belgium (33), Egypt (model Alpha Jet MS1), Ivory Coast (7), Morocco (24) Qatar (6), Nigeria (24) and Togo (5). Egypt later purchased 15 MS2 attack variants with upgraded avionics including the TMV630 laser rangefinder; seven MS2s were also supplied to Cameroon.

With the thawing of the Cold War and the transfer of German rapid jet crew training to the US, the Luftwaffe retired its Alpha Jet fleet from 1992. Of these, 50 were supplied to Portugal in 1994, while Thailand received 25 in 2000 to replace OV-10 Broncos in the role. counter-insurgency and border patrols.

Finding itself barely able to support the RAF's training needs due to a chronic shortage of Hawk trainers, Britain has also acquired a former German Jet Alpha. Twelve have been acquired, some for test flights and target facility missions, the remainder to act as spare parts sourcing.

In 2001 about 90 Alpha Jet Ice remained in service with five Armee de l'Air squadrons (three in Tours and two in Cazaux). A total of 13 aircraft complete the Patrouille de France, the national aerobatic team. Armee de l'Air is considering a possible upgrade of the 50 Alpha Jets with a new system to serve as primary trainer for the Mirage 2000-5F and Rafale, both of which have advanced glass cockpits.

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