Alpha-JetThe Alpha Jets series of planes was a combined Franco-German initiative to create an innovative tactical trainer aircraft with close-air support warfare abilities. The French company Dassault-Breguet generated the first evaluation. Design under the classification of”TA501″ (which combined the features of two earlier German and French proposals).
The concept was approved for additional development. From the two participating countries and was finalize to become the “Alpha Jet” of the early 1970s. Since that time, the type has gone on to see service with several other countries, including Egypt, Belgium, and Thailand.
The Alpha Jet was of a traditional design intended to train new pilots in the difficulties of high-speed weapons and jet-powered flight delivery. The two-seat strike, twin-engine platform, proves an agile mount and provided a high-mounted, swept-wing aircraft design, which enables for the clearance of various ordnance types under the wings.
A single vertical tail fin has been affixed to over and between the two engine exhausts. The forward-most pilot achieves excellent clarity out of the long two-piece glass canopy. The co-pilot/instructor was seated in the rear cockpit. The undercarriage was of a tricycle configuration with two landing gear legs and a nose landing equipment leg – all retractable. Power is by a provide air of SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-C5 series turbofan motors embedded inside the middle-aft part of the fuselage. The utmost listed speed is 620 miles per hour at sea level, with a ferry range out to 1,800 miles. The recorded service ceiling is 48,000 feet with a rate-of-climb exceeding 11,200 feet per minute.
Standard Armament for the German Dornier mounts incorporates a 27mm MauserBK-27 series spinning autocannon in a fuselage centerline gun pod. The French Dassault models replace this for 30mm DEFA ventral cannon at the corresponding fuselage position.
The Alpha Jet supports the AGM-65 Maverick missile and Matra Magic II series air-to-air missiles along with AIM-9 Sidewinder. Moreover, the Alpha Jet is clear to carry traditional fall bombs, cannon pods, cluster bombs, and rocket pods around five hardpoints (5,500lb maximum load). She’s plumbed at two hardpoints for 2 x jettisonable outside fuel tanks.
Germany ran 93 such aircraft in its inventory and acknowledged the value of this machine as both an expert trainer and a close-air support weapon (the late in extreme conditions ) and fielded it as such through the Alpha Jet A models built nearby Dornier.
German Alpha Jets were using Doppler radar navigation methods and an unconventional nav-attack suite competent of meeting the close-support condition. The series was withdrawn from frontline service with the Luftwaffe in 1997 with 50 examples sold to Portugal and an additional six to the United Kingdom. As such, Germany is no longer an operator of the Alpha Jet. The French attained 99 Alpha Jet E models and still handle them on their list.
Overall, some 480 Alpha Jets in a small number of marks made for Germany and France and choose export clients. The system is an established commodity due to her sound design, reliable performance in desired roles, and derived versatility. The Alpha Jet series upgraded and enhanced on several occasions to keep it a viable battlefield system for the near future.
NAF Enhanced Alpha Jets’ Avionics To Boost Operational Safety, Reliability
The Chief of The Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has said that the continuing Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of a NAF (Nigerian Air Force) Alpha Jets incorporates substantial avionics upgrades that would improve the efficiency and effectiveness of air operations. Performed with the aircraft upon Boko Haram terrorists in the North East.
The PDM is implement at the 407 Air Combat Training Group (407 ACTG) Kainji, Niger State. Included in steps, champion to handle the emerging security challenges throughout the nation with the available resources.
Abubakar revealed this in a statement on Friday by the Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information (DOPRI), the upgrades of the aircraft avionics has been done in cooperation with partners from the US.
The CAS was attended by other senior administrators from NAF HQ and the Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Suleiman, AOC ATC. On November 21, 2019, during an inspection visit to assess the progress of the PDM in addition to other continuing projects at NAF Base Kainji.
He was informed on the improvement of production by Squadron Leader Kingsley Igwegbe, Commander 407 ACTG. Who said that the group of specializing refugees from Arlington Jets, USA, working together with NAF technicians.
And engineers, start work on making a few of the components of the airframe of the aircraft. Which sent overseas for servicing and delivery to Nigeria. For installing on the plane, while the upgrade of the avionics to match currently adequate standards was progressing steadily.
He observed, “The avionics update would not just enhance operational security. But also increase the reliability and effectiveness of the aircraft.”
He notes, “The challenges relate to the unavailability of the spares for the older system could be removed as spares readily available for prompt maintenance. And vow that the staff would continue to work tirelessly to make sure the job was finished on schedule.
About The Progress
The CAS further showed content at the amount of work done on the three Alpha Jets and praise the group of NAF technicians and engineers. For their work, commitment, and dedication in addition to the Commander 407 ACTG in ensuring progress of the job.
He requests them not to relent in their efforts at providing timely and excellent completion of this job. He emphasizes that, besides hastening the general period of the maintenance work. In addition, the in-country PDM would support the NAF employees involve in the project to construct their capacity to enable them. Ultimately execute significant facets of such high-level maintenance activities by themselves in the future.
To this end, he encouraged the employees to make the best use of the chance to improve NAF’s self-reliance. Adding that completion of this in-country PDM would raise the NAF’s Air Power employment capacity. By increasing the amount of Alpha Jet aircraft available for combat operations in several theaters of operation.
Abubakar revived that a related life extension support had taken out on three L-39ZA jets in Kano. However, an in-country PDM was successfully taken out on a C-130 Hercules aircraft in Lagos. The PDM of another C-130 is also ongoing.
Therefore, he also revealed that reactivation work on a different Mi-35P helicopter was in development is in Portharcourt while showing that, aside from making the capacity of NAF employees, these local maintenance efforts had also led to huge foreign exchange savings for the Nation.
