Aero L-159

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Aero L-159
Aero L-159
Aero L-159A "Alca"
Type:
Design country:

Czech RepublicCzech Republic Czech Republic

Manufacturer:

Aero

First flight:

2nd August 1997

Number of pieces:

72

Aero L-159, Radom AirShow 2005
An Aero L-159T-1

The L-159 from the Czech company Aero was developed as the successor to the Aero L-39 Albatros. As a training aircraft and light ground attack aircraft , it should continue the success of its predecessors. The program started on October 10, 1992, when the Czech government issued a corresponding request.

development

The first prototype, a two-seater , flew for the first time on August 4, 1997. The single-seater followed on August 18, 1998. The avionics system comes from Rockwell Collins and is equipped with a FIAR -Grifo-L Doppler radar and the ARC-182 radio. The glass cockpit has a HUD and HOTAS as well as 0/0 ejection seats of the type VS-2, a Czech in-house development. The data transfer within the machine takes place via the MIL-STD-1553 data bus. In addition to an INS , GPS is also used for navigation . The equipment also includes DME , VOR / ILS and an IFF transponder. In order to be independent of ground facilities, an APU of type PBS SAFIR 5F with 7.5 kW electrical power, a hydraulic output of 5.7 l / min at 19 bar and a compressed air volume of 25 kg / s at 3.5 bar is installed.

The Czech Republic initially ordered 70 machines for the equivalent of around 715 million US dollars , which were delivered between April 2000 and December 2003. In addition, two two-seaters were later ordered, but the two-seaters ultimately emerged from existing single-seaters. The active fleet was reduced to 24 machines in 2007. For the remaining 47 machines, 14 single-seaters have a contract with Draken International that includes an option to purchase up to 14 additional machines. In addition, 15 L-159A aircraft were sold to the government in Baghdad during the Iraq crisis in 2014 for the equivalent of 27 million euros.

variants

L-159A
Single-seat version with additional designation ALCA for advanced light combat aircraft, for example advanced light combat aircraft , built in 70.
L-159B
Two-seat version for advanced training, first flight June 1st, 2002, 1 copy built.
L-159T1
Two-seat version for advanced training, first flight (serial number 6069) March 8, 2007, 10 copies, converted L-159A.
L-159T2
Two-seat version for advanced training (in contrast to the mirrored instruments of the second seat of the L-159T1 two independent instruments)

operator

Czech RepublicCzech Republic Czech Republic
Czech Air Force : 23 (19 L-159A, 4 L-159T1) - more stored machines to be sold
SpainSpain Spain
EADS-CASA : 3 - as partial compensation for the acquisition of the CASA C-295 for the Czech Air Force
United StatesUnited States United States
Draken International: 14 (L-159A) - ordered in 2014 (machines are partly used as spare parts dispensers, + option for another 14), delivery from the end of 2014
IraqIraq Iraq
Iraqi Air Force : 15 (L-159A) - ordered in 2014 (+ 12 L-159T1 orders)

Technical specifications

Three-sided tear
Parameter Data
crew 1
length 12.73 m
span 9.54 m
height 4.78 m
Wing area 18.8 m²
Empty mass 4160 kg
Max. Takeoff mass 8000 kg
Climb performance 47 m / s
Top speed 936 km / h
Service ceiling 13,200 m
Range m additional tanks 2,530 km
Engine a Honeywell F124-GA-100 engine with 28 kN thrust

Armament

L-159 with a ZVI Plamen PL-20
Gun loading of 2,700 kg at seven external load stations
Air-to-air guided missile
  • 2 × RB 74 (Swedish license production of the Raytheon AIM-9M "Sidewinder") - infrared guided for short distances
Air-to-surface guided missile
Guided bombs
Unguided bombs
External container
  • 2 × drop-off additional tanks for 350 liters of kerosene
  • 2 × PL-20 machine gun container ZVI Plamen with 2 x 20 mm automatic cannon ZPL 20

See also

Web links

Commons : Aero L-159  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Flugrevue.de: Draken International buys Aero L-159 , accessed on August 30, 2014
  2. Albania and the Czech Republic deliver weapons to Iraq. (No longer available online.) AFP, Aug 28, 2014, archived from the original on Sept. 4, 2014 ; accessed on August 28, 2014 .
  3. Report on infodefensa.com from April 21, 2009 , accessed on June 28, 2014 (Spanish)
  4. Report on ceskatelevize.cz of July 30, 2012 , accessed on June 28, 2014 (Czech)
  5. Message ( memento of July 26, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) on janes.com of July 16, 2014, accessed on July 18, 2014 (English)
  6. reuters.com: Czech firm says planning sale of 12 L-159 fighter jets to Iraq , April 7, 2014. Retrieved on 31 August 2014 (English)
  7. reuters.com: Czech combat jets sale will take time: defense minister , April 8, 2014, accessed on August 31, 2014 (English)