Alpha Jet A

This page is about the strike fighter Alpha Jet A. For other versions, see Alpha Jet (Family).

Alpha Jet A

◄G.91 R/3

◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1

Alpha Jet A

◄G.91 R/3

◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1

Germany

VI Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.0	8.7	9.0

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:160 000

Purchase:450 000

Show in game

Description

The Alpha Jet A is a rank VI German strike aircraft with a battle rating of 9.0 (AB/SB) and 8.7 (RB). It was introduced in Update "Alpha Strike".

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 0 m1 019 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude12 200 m

Engine2 х SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-C6

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight7 t

The aircraft's design focuses on ease of maintenance, reliability, and the capability to perform a wide range of missions from training to light strike operations.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,005	996	12200	30.7	31.6	40.2	37.1	1,000
Upgraded	___	___		__._	__._	__._	__._

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
X	✓	✓	✓	✓	_

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	390	___	___	___	~__	~__

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< ___	< ___	< ___	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-C6		2	_,___ kg		___ kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel
295 kg	Jet		_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg	_,___ kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (___%/WEP)
Condition	100%	___%/WEP	_m fuel	__m fuel	__m fuel	MGW
Stationary	1160kgf	___ kgf	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__
Optimal	___ kgf (_ km/h)	___ kgf (_ km/h)	_.__	_.__	_.__	_.__

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear390 km/h

The Alpha Jet, primarily designed as a trainer and light attack aircraft, emphasizes agility, speed, and versatility. While it's not heavily armored like dedicated ground attack aircraft, its design includes several features aimed at enhancing survivability in hostile environments.

Survivability Features

1. Speed and Maneuverability: One of the Alpha Jet's key survivability features is its inherent speed and maneuverability, allowing it to evade enemy fire, perform quick escape maneuvers, and minimize time spent in enemy air defense zones.
2. Low Visibility Tactics: The aircraft can fly at low altitudes, following the terrain (terrain masking), to avoid radar detection and reduce exposure to anti-aircraft systems. This low-level flight capability is critical for survivability during light attack missions.
3. Electronic Countermeasures (ECM): Though not initially designed with advanced electronic warfare capabilities, many Alpha Jets have been upgraded or modified by their operators to include ECM systems. These can include radar warning receivers, chaff and flare dispensers to counter radar-guided and infrared-guided missiles, respectively. Such modifications significantly improve the aircraft's survivability in contested airspace.

Armour

The Alpha Jet does not have extensive armor plating due to its primary role as a trainer and secondary role as a light attack aircraft. Adding heavy armor would compromise its speed, range, and maneuverability, which are crucial for its mission profiles.

Operational Tactics for Survivability

In combat scenarios, Alpha Jet operators would rely on tactical flying, using the aircraft's speed and agility to its advantage, rather than depending on armor for protection. For attack missions, using surprise, rapid ingress and egress routes, and low-altitude flight profiles helps in avoiding detection and engagement by enemy defenses.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 954 → 4 005

RB8 616 → 11 683

SB9 960 → 13 505

Total cost of modifications140 700

223 000

Talisman cost2 400

Crew training130 000

Experts450 000

Aces2 200

Research Aces890 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

110 / 330 / 600 %

214 / 214 / 214 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Compressor Research: 5 700 Cost: 9 000 220 New boosters Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 610 Engine Research: 15 000 Cost: 24 000 570	Fuselage repair Research: 5 700 Cost: 9 000 220 Airframe Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 610 Wings repair Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 340 Cover Research: 15 000 Cost: 24 000 570	Flares/Chaff Research: 5 700 Cost: 9 000 220 bk_27_belt_pack Research: 5 700 Cost: 9 000 220 M116A2 Research: 5 700 Cost: 9 000 220 G-suit Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 340 bk_27_new_gun Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 340 LAU-5003 B/A Research: 8 800 Cost: 14 000 340 Type 25C Research: 15 000 Cost: 24 000 570

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)	EEGS

Offensive armament

The Alpha Jet A is armed with:

• 60 x countermeasures

Suspended armament

Default weapon presets

1 x 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon (150 rpg) + 2 x 310 l drop tanks 1 x 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon + 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (3,000 lb total) 1 x 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon + 6 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (3,000 lb total) 1 x 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon + 6 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 bombs (1,500 kg total) 1 x 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon + 6 x 250 kg SAMP Type 25 200 bombs (1,500 kg total) 1 x 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon + 4 x M116A2 incendiary bombs 1 x 27 mm Mauser BK27 cannon + 114 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets

Usage in battles

Primarily, the German Air Force used the Alpha Jet in a training capacity, preparing pilots for more advanced aircraft. However, it was also deployed for light attack roles, which included close air support and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft's design allowed for a variety of armaments to be fitted, including cannons, rockets, and bombs, enabling it to adapt to different combat situations.

Pros and cons

The German Alpha Jet has served as a multi-role aircraft that balanced cost-effectiveness and versatility with certain operational limitations. Its role in military aviation history is marked by its success as a training aircraft and its utility in light attack missions, despite its limitations in armament, armor, and advanced avionics.

Pros:

• Modern aircraft with SAS, Sight customization and good cockpit visibility, good for SB that are rare skills at his BR.

Cons:

• Does not have radar or RWR;
• Does not have IR missiles for air combat or guided weapons for CAS.

History

By 1969, both Germany and France had a need for a new generation of jet trainer aircraft to replace their existing inventory of T-33 and Fouga Magister aircraft. It was decided that a collaboration between Dornier and Dassault-Breguet, with the latter first being two separate companies who later merged, had the best potential for a joint TA (Trainer Attack) aircraft over other competing manufacturers and won out the contest with the TA501.

This aircraft was to satisfy the Luftwaffe’s need to also replace their G.91 aircraft in the attack role, while the Armée de l'Air’s needs were mostly on the training gap that the Anglo-French Jaguar was initially intended to cover, but ended up being a more advanced supersonic conversion / strike aircraft. As such, two distinct versions of what would be the Alpha Jet were formed. The A - Appui / Attack and the E - Ecole / Trainer versions. These would be produced in sub assemblies in Germany, France and also Belgium.

The first prototype would take to the skies in October 1973 and after many more years of testing and trials, the Alpha Jet would enter French and German service in 1979, going on to be a success story of collaboration between nations. While it still serves to this day with France, the aircraft has also been a huge export success, with multiple nations from Belgium, Portugal and Thailand operating the type, as well as it also being popular with private company operators who use them as aggressor training aircraft in the UK, America and Canada.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

• Alpha Jet (Family)
• Alpha Jet E

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• [Devblog] Alpha Jet A & E: Alpha Strike!

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