Light combat aircraft
- This article refers to a class of aircraft. For India's (LCA) Light Combat Aircraft programme see HAL Tejas.
A Light combat aircraft is a light multirole military aircraft most coming from advanced trainers that have been modified or designed for engaging in light combat missions, either in light strike or attack missions, reconnaissance or interdiction roles while some keeping its trainer role.[1][2] They are also slower than their bigger counterparts capable only of subsonic speed though some are capable of reaching mach 1+.[3] Although equipped with either guns or short range air-to-air missiles[4] it is usually for self defense purpose or anti-helicopter missions not for air defense as lightweight fighters do, though some are capable of air combat missions due to integrated or have variants capable of carrying powerful multi-mode radar systems,[5][6][7] most LCAs don't have such due to their small limited design or are less powerful. However they can still be used to patrol the skies and implement border patrol or air policing.[8][9][10] These aircraft are usually smaller and more lightly armed than the bigger multirole or strike aircraft such as the American F-18, F-15E Strike Eagle or Russian Mig-29. Most LCAs are armed with either bombs, rockets or gun pods used for COIN or CAS missions. Some aircraft have been developed to integrate more advanced armaments such as smart bombs and air to ground missiles and electronic targeting systems for better mission capability.[11][12][13]
Gallery
Active
| Country | Manufacturer | Aircraft | Introduced | Variants | Development | Photo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Czech Republic |
Aero Vodochody | L-159 ALCA | 2000 | L-159T1,T2,A/B | Designed as a multirole light combat aircraft derived from the L-59 |
|
 Germany  France |
Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France |
Alpha jet MS2, ATS | 1973 | Jet A/B,2 | MS and ATS variant modified and upgraded | 
|
 Italy |
Alenia Aermacchi | M-346 | 2004 | 
| ||
| MB-339C | 1979 | A/B | C variant modified and upgraded | 
| ||
 Republic of Korea |
Korea Aerospace Industries | TA-50 | 2005 | T-50/FA-50 | 2nd variant, evolution from the T-50 AJT, modified and upgraded | 
|
 United Kingdom |
BAE Systems MAS Division | BAE Hawk 200 | 1976 | Hawk 100 | Developed and re-designed from Hawk trainer, upgraded weapons and sensors for air-to-air, air-to-ground and maritime roles | 
|
 Yugoslavia |
Aeronautical Technical Institute | G-4MD Super Galeb | 1983 | G-4/S | 4M variant modified and upgraded | 
|
 India |
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited | HAL Tejas | 2015 | Navy variant | Mark1 to be developed into Mark2 and Mark3 | File:LCA Tejas.jpg |
References
- ^ Reed Business Information Limited. "PICTURES: KAI rolls out first production T/A-50". flightglobal.com.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Wright 1992, p. 251
- ^ "The Aermacchi M-346 advanced trainer breaks the sound barrier. After 50 years an all-Italian aircraft flies at Mach 1" (PDF) (Press release). Alenia Aermacchi. 2008. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
- ^ "[사진] 국산 초음속 경공격기 "발사"". joinsmsn.com.
- ^ "Aero L-159 Alca" (pdf).
- ^ Reed Business Information Limited. "T/A-50 makers plan Israeli pitch". flightglobal.com.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ "British Aerospace Hawk 100 & Hawk 200". militaryaviation.eu.
- ^ http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/czech-l-159s-cheap-to-good-home-03494/
- ^ http://www.military-today.com/aircraft/dornier_alpha_jet.htm
- ^ http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/p005614.pdf
- ^ T-50 Golden Eagle Jet Trainer and Light Attack Aircraft, South Korea. Air Force Technology.
- ^ "국방일보". dema.mil.kr.
- ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/08/11/310538/serbian-air-force-targets-fleet-modernisation.html
