The growing global need for light attackers has spurred development of all types of low-altitude weapons delivery platforms. The F/A-259 "Striker" is one such entry, announced at Farnborough 2018. The project is a teaming of Aero Vodochody of Czechia and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) of Israel, bringing decades of defense experience to a shared design, billing F/A-259 is billed as a successor to the earlier L-159 ALCA type that failed to net any notable interest.
The F/A-259 will be used to cover a variety of roles including COunter-INsurgency (COIN), border patrol, and general attack sorties.
The new multi-role platform is being marketed with versatility and ruggedness in mind, capable of operating from forward bases from unprepared airfields and covering a plethora of over-battlefield roles. The aircraft is set to feature 4th Generation aviations along with optional AESA (Active, Electronically-Scanned Array) radar in the nose while having inherent benefits of maneuverability, range (further increased by the optional air-to-air refueling capability), and general performance for an attacker of this class. All this with the budget-conscious customer at the forefront - those requiring a lightweight, attack-minded solution at cost.
In its proposed design layout, the F/A-259 is seen with six hardpoints, three under each wing mainplane member, with a seventh positioned under fuselage centerline (presumably for a fuel tank or targeting pod). This will provide the attacker with access to a bevy of modern options including air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods, gun pods, and jettisonable fuel tanks.
The F/A-259 continues the clean, streamlined appearance of the preceding L-159 ALCA design with its low-mounted, straight monoplane wing design, single rudder fin, and excellent look-down / all-around cockpit vision. Intakes straddle the fuselage sides and aspirate the assumed turbofan engine installation in the body. A tricycle undercarriage (wheeled and retractable) round out the obvious physical features of the aircraft.
A Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD) will be an optional accessory in the cockpit for improved situational awareness. A modular approach to the cockpit will allow for some customization by the customer. A pair of oversized Mulfi-Function Displays (MFDs) will dominate the digital-centric instrument panel. Fly-by-Wire (FbW) will assist in controlling.
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July 2018 - The F/A-259 Striker was unveiled at Farnborough 2018 by Aero Vodochody.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
RADAR-CAPABLE
Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.
COUNTERMEASURES
Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.
A2A REFUELING
Capability to accept fuel from awaiting allied aircraft while in flight.
PILOT / CREW EJECTION SYSTEM
Assisted process of allowing its pilot and / or crew to eject in the event of an airborne emergency.
CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.
ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.
RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.
Length
42.0 ft (12.80 m)
Width/Span
32.0 ft (9.75 m)
Height
16.4 ft (5.00 m)
Empty Wgt
9,921 lb (4,500 kg)
MTOW
20,283 lb (9,200 kg)
Wgt Diff
+10,362 lb (+4,700 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the F/A-259 Striker production variant)
monoplane / low-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the F/A-259 Striker production variant)
Installed:
1 x Non-afterburning turbofan engine of unknown make, model, and thrust output.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the F/A-259 Striker production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Various options depending upon mission requirements. Will include air-to-air missiles, air-to-surface missiles, precision-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, rocket pods, cannon pods, and gun pods.
Also provision for jettisonable fuel tanks to enhance operating ranges and mission pods.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 7
Mounting Points
-
-
9
7
5
-
1
-
4
6
8
-
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
F/A-259 "Striker" - Base Series Designation.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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Image from official Aero Vodochody press release.
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