Aero L-159 Alca

L-159 ALCA
Czech Air Force L-159 ALCA
Role	Military Advanced Light Combat Aircraft
Manufacturer	Aero Vodochody
First flight	4 August 1997[1]
Introduction	April 2000
Status	Operational
Primary user	Czech Air Force, Iraqi Air Force
Produced	1997–2003
Number built	72
Unit cost	US$9.5 million (2015) [2] US$13 million (2003) US$15–17 million
Developed from	Aero L-59 Super Albatros

The 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. It is derived from the Aero L-59 Super Albatros.

Design and development

Development of the L-159 began in 1992 using Rockwell Collins (eventually Boeing) as the avionics integrator. The Czech Air Force ordered 72 of the aircraft in April 1995.^[1]

The maiden flight of the L-159 occurred on 4 August 1997 with a two-seat version. On 18 August 1998 the single-seat version first flew; it was completed to Czech customer specifications. April 2000 marked the first delivery of an L-159 to the Czech Air Force.^[1]

In 2009, Aero Vodochody selected V-Dot Systems (split off from Boeing) as the L-159 avionics integrator. V-Dot will replace the Honeywell multi-function displays (MFD) and upgrade the mission processors to support new functions.

Operational history

The Czech Air Force is the primary operator, receiving the latest avionics upgrades.

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. Avionic upgrades are designed and developed by V-Dot Systems Inc.

There are two different configurations being used by the CzAF:

1. Using the Honeywell MFDs.

2. Using the Vdot MFDs.

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-159T1s are modified L-159A airframes taken from storage. First flight 8 March 2007.

L-159T2

The L-159T2 is a two-seat trainer derivative based on the designs of the L-159T1 and L-159A. Instead of mirroring the instruments to the rear seat like the L-159T1, the new two-seater will have independent instruments. The avionic systems will be interchangeable with the L-159A and use the same software configurations. Aero Vodochody will be using parts from the L-159B to build the L-159T2 prototype. Avionic upgrades are designed and developed by V-Dot Systems Inc.

Operators

Military operators

 Czech Republic

• Czech Air Force – in service 19 L-159As and 6 L-159T1s (remaining are in cold storage in Aero Vodochody)^[4]

 Iraq

• Iraqi Air Force - 15 L-159 aircraft purchased (10+3 L-159As and 2 L-159T1s).^[5] The first two Czech L-159s were delivered to Iraq on 5 November 2015.^[6][7]

Civilian operators

 United States

• Lewis Fighter Fleet LLC - 3 L-159As^[8] These aircraft were bought from EADS-CASA in July 2013. In 2009 EADS-CASA of Spain exchanged with the CzAF four CASA C-295 for three L-159As, two L-159T1s and 130 million Euros.^[9] Later the two L-159T1s were returned by EADS-CASA to the Czech Republic as compensation for the C-295M not meeting the counter measures requirements of the CzAF at the time of delivery.^[10] This problem has been solved by EADS-CASA three years later and the remaining three L-159As resold by EADS-CASA to Lewis Fighter Fleet LLC.
• Draken International Inc. - 21 L-159Es: a civilian U.S. company that cooperates with the U.S. Army, will buy 21 planes in total.^{[11][12][13][14]}

Accidents and incidents

On 24 February 2003 L-159A (No. 6056) crashed during weapons trials of the podded 20mm cannon "Plamen", pilot killed.^[15]

On 22 November 2012 an L-159A from the Czech Air Force (No. 6061) crashed during training flight in central Bohemia. Pilot (First Lieutenant Ondřej Sovina) was killed.^[16][17]

Specifications (L-159A)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004^[18]

General characteristics

• Crew: one (L-159A), two (L-159B, L-159T1)
• Length: 12.72 m (41 ft 8¾ in)
• Wingspan: 9.54 m^[19] (31 ft 3½ in)
• Height: 4.87 m (16 ft)
• Wing area: 18.80 m² (202.4 sq ft)
• Airfoil: NACA 64A-012
• Aspect ratio: 4.8:1
• Empty weight: 4,350 kg (9,590 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 8,000 kg (17,637 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Honeywell F124-GA-100 turbofan, 28.2 kN (6,330 lbf)

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 960 km/h (518 knots, 596 mph)
• Maximum speed: 936 km/h (505 knots, 581 mph) at sea level, clean
• Stall speed: 185 km/h (100 knots, 115 mph)
• Range: 1,570 km (848 nmi, 975 mi) max internal fuel
• Combat radius: 565 km (305 nmi, 351 mi) lo-lo-lo, gun pod, 2× Mark 82 bombs, 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder and 2× 500 L drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 13,200 m (43,300 ft)
• Rate of climb: 62 m/s (12,220 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns: provision for ZVI Plamen PL-20 2×20 mm gun pod
• Hardpoints: 7, 3 under each wing and 1 under the fuselage holding up to 2,340 kg (5,159 lb)
• Missiles: **Air-to-air: AIM-9M Sidewinder, IRIS-T, AIM-132 ASRAAM
  • Air-to-surface: AGM-65 Maverick
• Bombs: various laser-guided and unguided bombs GBU, CBU

Avionics
Grifo-L Radar

See also

Related development

• Aero L-39 Albatros
• Aero L-59 Super Albatros

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• BAE Hawk
• Yakovlev Yak-130
• Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet
• FMA IA 63 Pampa
• Kawasaki T-4

References

• Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aero L-159.

• A-159 page on AERO Vodochody's site
• Aero L-159 ALCA page on milavia.net
• Aero L-159 ALCA specs & photo at Flugzeuginfo.net
• L-159 photos at Photo-Planes.com
• L-159 avionic upgrades by Vdot Systems