Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet

The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced jet trainer co-manufactured by Dassault Aviation of France and Dornier Flugzeugwerke of Germany. It was developed specifically to perform trainer and light attack missions, aiming to surpass the capabilities of the first generation of jet trainers. Following a competitive selection process, a design submitted by a team comprising Breguet Aviation, Dassault Aviation, and Dornier Flugzeugwerke, initially designated as the TA501, was selected and subsequently produced as the Alpha Jet.

Both the French Air and Space Force and the German Air Force procured the Alpha Jet in large numbers. France primarily used it as a trainer aircraft, while Germany employed it as a light attack platform. In the 1990s, due to post-Cold War military cutbacks, Germany retired its fleet of Alpha Jets and resold many of these aircraft to both military and civilian operators. The Alpha Jet has been adopted by numerous air forces worldwide and has seen active combat use by some operators.

In the early 1960s, European air forces began to consider their requirements for the coming decades, including the need for a new generation of jet-powered trainer aircraft to replace models like the US-built Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star and the French-built Fouga Magister. Britain and France initiated a collaborative program to develop a supersonic jet aircraft intended for dual roles: trainer and light attack aircraft. This collaboration resulted in the SEPECAT Jaguar, an excellent aircraft that evolved into a full-sized, nuclear-capable strike fighter. However, the Jaguar’s complexity and mission profile made it unsuitable for general training purposes, leaving the initial requirement unmet.

In 1967, France entered into discussions with West Germany to collaborate on a new subsonic trainer aircraft. West Germany was eager to participate, aiming to enhance joint training operations and strengthen political ties with France. France valued this cooperation, wanting to counteract Germany’s preference for American aircraft. By 1968, a joint specification was produced, specifying a subsonic trainer. In July 1969, a joint development and production agreement was signed, committing both nations to purchasing 200 aircraft each, with domestic assembly in their respective countries.

Germany proposed that the aircraft be built in two distinct versions: an inexpensive trainer for France and a close air support platform for Germany. This proposal was accepted by France. The decision was made to use the French-built Larzac engine, with France financing its development. Three groups submitted proposals in response to the requirement: Dassault, Breguet, and Dornier with the TA501; VFW-Fokker with the VFT-291; and SNIAS/MBB with the E.650 Eurotrainer. All designs were powered by twin SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac turbofan engines, a choice influenced by the German Air Force’s preference for twin-engine reliability.

On July 23, 1970, the TA501 was declared the winner. By February 1971, the project definition phase was completed, and an integrated design team was established in Saint-Cloud, Paris. Four prototypes were authorized, with Dassault designated as the lead company. The first French prototype flew in October 1973, followed by the first German prototype in January 1974. By the end of 1974, all four prototypes were airborne. These prototypes were used for various testing aspects: flight envelope exploration, French trainer equipment fit, and German close air support equipment evaluation.

Manufacturing of Alpha Jet sub-assemblies was divided among France (Dassault), Germany (Dornier), and Belgium (SABCA), with each country performing final assembly and checkout in separate facilities. Dassault had the largest assembly line, capable of producing up to 15 aircraft per month, while Dornier’s line had a maximum rate of six aircraft per month. None of the three sources duplicated component manufacturing: Dassault-Breguet produced the front and center fuselage, Dornier constructed the wing, tail, and rear fuselage, and SABCA manufactured the nose and flaps. Approximately 4,500 people in Germany and an equal number in France were involved in manufacturing.

Early export customers like Belgium and Egypt performed final assembly of their Alpha Jet E aircraft domestically. In 1978, Dassault and the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) signed a license manufacturing agreement for Alpha Jets, with Egyptian assembly in Helwan. Dassault also partnered with Lockheed to market the Alpha Jet in the US, where it was considered for the US Navy’s VTXTS advanced trainer program but ultimately lost to the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk.

The first production Alpha Jet flew on November 4, 1977, with deliveries beginning in September 1978. The prototypes continued to serve as testbeds for further development, including composite graphite-epoxy wings and improved engines. French and German Alpha Jets were visually distinguishable by their nose designs: rounded for French trainers and pointed for German attack variants.

In 1980, development began on an “Alternate Close Support” version featuring advanced avionics and equipment. Cameroon and Egypt were among the buyers, with Egypt assembling most of their aircraft domestically. The Alpha Jet 2, or Alpha Jet NGEA (Nouvelle Generation Appui/Ecole), incorporated advanced avionics and more powerful Larzac 04-C20 engines. This variant was aimed at integrating digital navigation and attack systems. While no new-build aircraft were produced, existing Egyptian Alpha Jets were upgraded to this standard. A prototype appeared at the 1982 Farnborough Airshow.

The Alpha Jet 3, also known as “Lancier,” was proposed for all-weather ground attack, anti-shipping, and anti-helicopter missions. It featured twin cockpit multifunction displays (MFDs), radar options, FLIR, laser targeting, and a countermeasures suite. A prototype was flown, likely an upgraded original Alpha Jet prototype. In 1985, Dornier announced its own third-generation Alpha Jet upgrade, focusing on avionics and man-machine interface improvements. This included multiple HUDs for instructors and students, aiming to meet the needs of modern fighter aircraft training.

In 1988, Dassault proposed a naval variant, the Alpha Jet Maritime 3, to the French Naval Aviation. This variant featured strengthened landing gear, an arrestor hook, and advanced avionics for compatibility with next-generation carrier fighters.

The Alpha Jet’s airframe was designed for simplicity and performance, with fixed leading edges and air intakes. It used fully powered controls with dual-hydraulic systems and a load-factor limited dynamic feel system. The cockpit was pressurized for comfort during training, and the aircraft was designed for quick turnaround times with features like pressurized single-point refueling and ladder-less cockpit entry/exit.

The Alpha Jet was versatile, serving different roles for France and Germany. French aircraft were used primarily as trainers, while German aircraft were equipped for ground attack, ECM, and reconnaissance. German Alpha Jets featured additional avionics, fuel systems, brakes, nosewheel steering, an arrestor hook, and different ejection seats. The Alpha Jet is powered by twin SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac turbofan engines, developed specifically for the aircraft. The Larzac 04 engine, providing 2,970 lb of thrust, was adopted after initial development. An upgraded version with 10% more thrust was introduced in the 1980s.

The original Alpha Jet had basic avionics, making it simple and exportable. Later upgrades added glass cockpits and advanced systems. German Alpha Jets had additional avionics for attack roles, including Doppler radar and extra hardpoints. The Alpha Jet could carry nearly 5,000 lb of munitions and equipment on five hardpoints, with options for gun pods containing either a 30 mm DEFA cannon or a 27 mm Mauser BK-27 cannon.

In conclusion, the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet has a rich history marked by international collaboration, versatile design, and adaptability to various roles and upgrades. Its development reflects the evolving needs of European air forces and the broader global market for trainer and light attack aircraft. The Alpha Jet remains a significant aircraft in the history of military aviation, demonstrating the successful integration of multinational engineering and manufacturing efforts.