Aero Vodochody L159A (ALCA)

Type
Light multi-role combat aircraft and lead-in trainer (L159B)

Country (Land)
Czech Republic

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Aero Vodochody
25070 Odolena Voda
Czech Republic

Phone: 0042-2/688-0041
Fax: 0042-2/823172

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1 or 2 (L159B)

Weapons (Bewaffnung): On its seven external hardpoints, the L159 can use a wide variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, including

AIM-9M Sidewinder
AGM-65 Maverick
GEC-Marconi Brimstone
Plamen 20-mm-cannon pod
bombs, cluster bombs, training bombs
rocket-pods
fuel tanks (4 x 350 l or 2 x 525 litres)
ECM-pods, recce pod

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x ITEC (AlliedSignal) F124-GA-100 turbofan with dual FADEC
Max. thrust (Schub): 1 x 28 kN (6300 lbs)
Specific fuel consumption (spezifischer Kraftstoffverbrauch): 0,083 kg/N/hr (0,81 lbs/hr/lb)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Length (Länge): 12,72 m
Height (Höhe): 4,77 m
Wing span (Spannweite): 9,54 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 4160 kg
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 1551 kg
External fuel (vier Zusatztanks): 1382 kg
Max. external load (max. Außenlast): 2340 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 8000 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. speed at sea level (max. Fluggeschwindigkeit): 936 km/h (505 KTAS) at sea level, 912 km/h (492 KTAS) at 5000 m (16400 ft) or 867 km/h (468 kts) with external stores
Max. rate of climb (Steigrate): 62,1 m/s clean, sea level or 37 m/s with 1470 kg external stores at sea level
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 13200 m (43300 ft)
Take-off run (Startrollstrecke): 440 m clean, 850 m with 1470 kg of stores
Take-off to 15 m (Startstrecke über 15-m-Hindernis): 720 m clean or 1196 m with 1470 kg of stores
Landing from 15 m (Landestrecke über 15-m-Hindernis): 992 m
Landing run (Landerollstrecke): 628 m clean or 820m with external loads
Max. range (Max. Reichweite)
    - internal fuel only (10% reserve): 1570 km (850 NM)
    - internal and external fuel (10% reserve): 2530 km (1370 NM)
Mission radius (Einsatzradius) of the single seater (Einsitzer)
    - lo-lo-lo profile attack, with two Mk.82 bombs, gun pod and fuel tanks: 555 km
    - lo-lo-lo profile attack, with two Mk.82 bombs, Sidewinders, gun pod and fuel tanks: 500 km (270 NM)
    - hi-lo-hi profile attack, with two Mk.82 bombs, Sidewinders, gun pod and fuel tanks: 705 km (380 NM)
    - air combat/aerobatics training: 85 min in area which is 56 km from base, with clean aircraft
     - air combat/aerobatics training: 48 min in area which is 56 km from base, with four Sidewinders and gun pod, two-seat trainer aircraft L159B

Endurance (Einsatzdauer): 3 h clean or over 4 h with external fuel tanks
g-limit (g-Limit): +8/-4 g
Sustained turn rate (Wenderate): 19,3 deg/sec maximum or 7,5 deg/sec with loads at 5000 m (16400 ft)
Turn radius (Wenderadius): 335 m or 912 m with external loads at 5000 m (16400 ft)

Costs (Kosten)
At the roll-out it is said that the 72 aircraft for the Czech air force are valued at 23 billion crowns (715 million US-Dollars). On the export market, the L159A is likely to cost 14 to 16 million US-Dollars, it was stated in mid-1999.

Customers (Kunden)
The Czech Government has signed a contract for 72 of the single-seat L159 ALCAs, to be delivered from the end of 1999 until 2002.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
British Aerospace Hawk
Jakowlew/Aermacchi Jak-130

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The L159, also called the ALCA (Advanced Light Combat Aircraft) is based on the previous line of Aero Vodochody trainers, like the L39, L59 and L139. Discussions on the concept with the Czech air force started in 1992, and on 10. October of that year a first specification was issued by the Government. Aero Vodochody made a presentation of the L159 to the customer on 18. February 1993, while in April of that year the defence minister and air-force chief-of-staff were also briefed.
Final specifications were issued in the second half of 1993, with development work starting in 1994. On 11. April 1995, the Czech government commited to a 25 per cent financing of the development and declared its intention to buy 72 aircraft as the future backbone of the air force, supplemented by 24-36 new supersonic fighter aircraft to be procured from the West. That order, amounting to over 700 million US-Dollars, was officially signed on 4. July 1997. It includes 175 million US-Dollars for the engines and around 300 million US-Dollars for avionics and equipment.
Roll-out ceremonies were staged at the Vodochody plant on June 12, 1997, and the first flight followed on Saturday, August 2. Chief test pilot Miroslaw Schutzer was at the controls. In the 50 minute sortie, he reached altutudes of 5000 m a speed of 670 km/h and performed maneuvres of up to 4.5g, ending the flight with a roll above the airfield. On August 4, the aircraft was presented to the Czech defence minister.
In February 1998, Venezuelan chief-of-staff Gen Jaime Padron and three test pilots were the first foreigners to fly the L159B. Also, representatives from South Africa got to fly the aircraft in June 1998, but the competing BAe Hawk was later choosen there. By that time, around 150 flight hours were on the book.
The first real, single-seat ALCA (L159A) made its maiden flight on 18 August 1998, again piloted by Miroslav Schutzner. During the 28-minute sortie, he achieved 6g and -1 g manouvres without problems. Three days later, the ALCA was presented to officials from the Czech defence ministry and the air force.
After completing the first part of gun-firing tests, the L159B on 19 April 1999 departed to norhtern Norway for several weeks of weapons tests at the Nordic Sea Test Range. Until May 28, 1999 a total of 78 sorties were completed. 45 of them were flown with the Plamen gun-pod. In 15 sorties, ALCA fired 227 CRV-7 unguided rockets. Missile firings included launches of seven AIM-9 Sidewinder and four Raytheon AGM-65 Mavericks.
In June 1999, the single-seat ALCA participated in the Paris air show. By that time, flight hours had reached 250, with functional tests of the radar outstanding.
Deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter of 1999 with five aircraft, followed by 16 in 2000, 26 in 2001 and the remaining 25 in 2002. Besides the Czech order, Aero Vodochody hopes for export business in countries like Poland, Hungary, the Baltic states and Slovakia. It needs to sell at least as much L159 as ordered by the Czech air force to make the programme profitable.
The L 159 uses mostly western equipment, which is integrated by Boeing (previously Rockwell). Among the suppliers are:

ITEC (AlliedSignal): engine
AlliedSignal: two LCD colour multifunction displays. The cockpit is NVG compatible
Flight Visions: FV-3000 stroke and raster capable head-up-display
FIAR: Grifo L radar, which has nine air-to-air and air-to-ground modes each and can track up to eight targets
Mason Electric: HOTAS controls
Honeywell: H-764G ring laser gyro INS with embedded GPS
Lear Stronics: autopilot and yaw damper
GEC Marconi: Sky Guardian 200 radar warning receiver

Operational roles stated by the manufacturer include close air support, air defence, border patrol, lead-in fighter, tactical reconnaissance, counter insurgency, anti-ship missions and weapons training.

Last updated 5 July 1999

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