German Alpha Jets are flown almost exclusively as single-seat close support weapons trainer, or battlefield reconnaissance aircraft. Weapons load and avionics do not match those of more advanced jets, but the Alpha Jet is maneuverable, easy to fly and simple to maintain. It’s equipment allows it to obtain great efficiency when planning and executing missions.
The Head Up Display (HUD) saves the pilot from looking down in the cockpit to read the instruments, by superimposing data on a clear plate mounted at the pilot’s eye level.
The navigation and fire control computers are rather precise and permit a great flexibility on attack missions, the use of AFA computer makes it simpler, quicker and more efficient to plan a mission. There is also other equipment that allows the crew members to have a good combat survivability.
NB. The Alpha Jet A has a ‘sharper nose’ then the Alpha Jet E
| Developing Nation: | France and Germany |
| Task: | Trainer / strike and close support |
| First Flight: | – Alpha Jet A: January 9th 1974 (D-9594) – Alpha Jet E: October 26th 1973 (F-WZRO) |
| Prototypes: | – Alpha Jet A:02/D-9594 (ff: January 9th 1974) 04/D-9595 (ff: October 11th 1974 crashed 23 January 1976) – Alpha Jet E: F-WZRO (ff: October 26th 1973) F-WZRV (ff: May 6th 1974 ) |
| First Delivery: | – French Air Force: May 4th 1979- Luftwaffe: March 20th 1980 |
| Crew: | 2 |
| Ejection seat: | |
| Wing Span: | 9,11 m |
| Length: | – Alpha Jet A: 13,23 m – Alpha Jet E: 12,29 m |
| Height: | |
| Engine (s): | – Alpha Jet A: GRTS (SNECMA Turbomeca) Lazarc 04-C20 (2x) – Alpha Jet E: GRTS (SNECMA Turbomeca) Lazarc 04-C6 (2x) |
| Weight: | 3515 kg |
| Max.Take off weight: | 6100 kg |
| Max. Speed: | 917 km/h |
| Max. Range: | – Just on internal fuel: 2780 km (1900 liters) – With extra external fuel: 4000 km (extra 600 liters) |
| Operation altitude: | 14630 m |
| Weapons: | – Mauser BK.27 cannon or DEFA 553 gun-pod- AIM-9 Sidewinder – R.550 Magic II- AGM-65 Maverick – GP Bombs – Hunting BL755 cluster bombs -Matra RL F4 – Rockets & Bomb rack SUU 20A – BLG-66 Belouga – Bombs MK82 ‘Snake Eye’ – Exercise bombs MK106 – Bombs BLU-1CB |
| Extra: |
Countries who use(d) the Alpha Jet:
| Belgium | 33 Alpha Jet E |
| Cameroon | 7 Alpha Jet MS2 |
| Egypt | 30 Alpha Jet MS1 & 15 MS2 |
| France | 175 Alpha Jet E |
| Germany | 175 Alpha Jet A |
| Ivory coast | 12 Alpha Jet E |
| Maroc | 24 Alpha Jet E |
| Nigeria | 24 Alpha Jet E |
| Portugal | 50 Alpha Jet A ** |
| Qatar | 6 Alpha Jet E |
| Thailand | 20 Alpha Jet A ** |
| Togo | 5 Alpha Jet E |
| United Kingdom | 12 Alpha Jet A ** |
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