L-159 ALCA, replacement for the Ukrainian Su-25?

On May 10, 2023, Czech President Petr Pavel announced that his country could provide Ukraine with part of its fleet of L-159s to assist in Kiev’s (then expected) counteroffensive against Russian forces.

Recall that the Aero L-159 ALCA is an advanced / pre-operational subsonic light attack fighter and trainer developed from the single-seat L-159A and two-seat L-159B, which were previously manufactured in the Czech Republic by Aero Vodochody.

It is estimated that the combat version of the aircraft could meet the needs of the Ukrainian Air Force (UkrAF) as a direct replacement and in the same ground-attack role as the Sukhoi Su-25, a type that suffered numerous losses during the war. .

On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, 299^the The Tactical Aviation Brigade (BrTA) stationed at AB Kulbakino, near Mykolaiv, had 35 Su-25s in four types, including seven two-seat operational trainers (UB and UBM1), of which 22 were airworthy and possibly combat-worthy. When the “military special operation,” as Moscow insists on calling it, launched, eight “Frogfoot” were deployed to Melitopol and Dnipro.

Russia’s armed forces failed to eliminate the Ukrainian Air Force on the ground or in the air during the early days of the war as planned, but the small fleet of Su-25s suffered at least 18 casualties during the operations.

Engineers from the Zaporozhye Aircraft Repair Plant, who had been transferred to Lviv, where similar facilities were also located, restored four Su-25s, which Skopje had supplied to Kiev and used to replace the losses of the 299^Ha BrTA. However, their limited number was not sufficient to make a significant change in the operational readiness of the brigade.

Returning to the L-159 and the allocation of Czech aircraft, if delivered to the 299th BrTA and other units of the Ukrainian Air Force, it could play an important role not only as a light attack fighter, but also as a trainer for future Ukrainian pilots who will fly the F-16s. Having them in the UkrAF could help pilot training in general as it begins to be built in the post-war period with a new generation of fighters that will have advanced electronic aids.

In such a development and at a similar time, after the end of the war, the L-159s could also have a Red Air combat unit role, similar to that of the ALCAs of the US private company Draken International, which currently operates 21 L-159Es supporting some of the most important Aerial exercises in the world are like the Red Flag in the United States. These models allow, thanks to radars and countermeasure systems, to provide realistic enemy imaging services (Aggressor) for the US Air Force, (Adversary) for the US Navy and (Red Air) for the British Royal Air Force.

As the UkrAF is expected to replace the remaining Soviet-origin MiG-29 and Su-27 interceptors/air superiority interceptors it inherited upon its formation after the break-up of the Soviet Union – by all accounts – with American F-16As in the near future, it may The L-159 proves to be one of the best alternatives to the Su-25, and in addition, its interoperability with Fighting Falcons will be even easier. The Czech aircraft can provide an excellent solution for tactical operations such as close ground support (CAS), take advantage of low-altitude flight capabilities and take advantage of guided bombs and missiles.

On the other hand, despite the above and other advantages, the fact that the L-159 is a single engine, without spotter protection/critical assemblies or armor in the cockpit, while the advanced self-protection system is also absent, the L-159 survives Life in combat is much smaller than that of the Su-25, which was designed with the main axis remaining.

However, the L-159 shows increased stability at lower speeds, an advantage deriving from its straight wing landing and trainer, while its powerful engine, which also contributes to improved flight behavior, makes it suitable for both CAS missions as well as for pursuing “special targets” such as Two Russian kamikaze drones, Shahed-131 (Jeeran-1) and Shahed-136 (Jeeran-2).

At the end of May, when the Czech offer was revealed, there were 24 L-159s in service with the Czech Air Force, including 14 L-159A, seven L-159T1s and three L-159T2s with two squadrons, 212.tl and 213. vlt.