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Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet
The Alpha Jet seires of aircraft is the premiere advanced flight trainer for a variety of European countries.
By Staff Writer
The Alpha Jet series of aircraft was a joint Franco-German initiative to produce a highly-advanced tactical trainer with close-support capabilities. The French firm of Dassault-Breguet generated the initial evaluation model under the designation of TA501 which was accepted for further development by both France and Germany.
The Alpha Jet was of a basic aircraft design meant to train pilots on the intricacies of jet-powered flight and weapons delivery. The twin-engine fighter-bomber proved to be quite nimble and features a high-mounted, swept-wing monoplane design. A single rudder sat above the two engine exhausts at rear and the pilot had good visibility out of the large glass canopy.
Germany saw the value of the system as a trainer and a close support weapon in extreme circumstances and fielded it as such with the Alpha Jet A produced by the German firm of Dornier. The German Alpha Jets were fitted with Doppler radar navigation systems and an advanced navigation / attack function suite capable of fulfilling the close-support requirement that the German Air Force was seeking. Ultimately, the series was removed from frontline service at late as the 1990s with several models being sold to Portugal and the United Kingdom. As such, Germany is no longer a user of the Alpha Jet system.
In all, over 500 Alpha Jets in various makes and models were produced for a few export customers. The system is still proven to provide the needed live experience to her pilots by the versatility of the small aircraft. An advanced and updated version - known as the Alpha Jet NGEA - exists and brings the system up to par with current generation strike aircraft.
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No Reproduction Without Permission • Corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com
Last Revision: 5/6/2009
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| Specifications for the Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet A |
 Dimensions: |
Length: 43.41ft (13.23m)
Width:29.89ft (9.11m)
Height: 13.75ft (4.19m)
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| Performance: |
About MACH |
Max Speed: 621mph (999kmh; 539kts)
Max Range: 362miles (583km)
Rate-of-Climb: 12,000ft/min (3,658m/min)
Service Ceiling: 47,999ft (14,630m; 9.1miles)
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| Structure: |
Accommodation: 2
Hardpoints: 5
Empty Weight: 7,871lbs (3,570kg)
MTOW: 16,755lbs (7,600kg)
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| Powerplant: |
| Engine(s): 2 x SNECMA / Tubomecha Larzac 04-C20 turbofan engines generating 3,175lbs of thrust each. |
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| Armament Suite: |
1 x 27mm cannon
Mission specific ordnance amounting to 5,511lbs. Armaments can include any of the following:
1 x 30mm DEFA centerline cannon pod
1 x 27mm Mauser centerline cannon pod
Dumb / Iron Bombs
Air-to-Surface Rocket Pods
AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
Matra Magic air-to-air missiles
AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles
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| Pictures of the Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet |
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Aircraft Quick Profile |
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| 1978 |
Designation: Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet
Classification Type: Advanced Trainer / Close-Support Aircraft
Contractor: Dassault - France / Dornier - Germany
Country of Origin: France
Production Total: 522 |
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Operators: Belgium, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Egypt, France, Germany, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Qatar, Thailand, Togo and the United Kingdom.
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| Variants |
TA501 - Initial Design Model submitted by Dassault-Breguet.
Alpha Jet E "Ecole" - Initial French-produced Prototype Model Designation.
Alpha Jet A "Appui-tactique" - Initial German-produced Prototype Model Designation.
Alpha Jet 2
Alpha Jet NGEA "New Generation Attack / Trainer" - Fitted with HUD, CRT displays and built-in laser rangefinder; system provision for Matra Magic air-to-air missiles.
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