Aero L-159

L-159 ALCA
Czech Air Force L-159A ALCA
Role	Light attack / advanced trainer
Manufacturer	Aero Vodochody
First flight	4 August 1997
Introduction	April 2000
Status	Operational
Primary user	Czech Air Force, Iraqi Air Force
Produced	1997–present
Number built	L-159A: 72
Unit cost	US$9.5 million (2015) US$13 million (2003) US$15–17 million
Developed from	Aero L-59 Super Albatros

The Aero L-159 ALCA is a light subsonic attack jet and advanced trainer produced in the Czech Republic by Aero Vodochody. The aircraft was developed in the single-seat L-159A and two-seat L-159B versions. The Czech Air Force elected to reduce its own fleet of 72 L-159A aircraft in the 2000s and has re-sold some of these aircraft to both military and civilian operators, namely the Iraqi Air Force and Draken International. Since 2007, several redundant L-159A aircraft have been rebuilt into T1/T2 trainer derivatives. The L-159 has seen active combat use by the Iraqi Air Force against ISIS.

Development of the L-159 began in 1992 using Rockwell Collins (eventually Boeing) as the avionics integrator. The Czech Air Force ordered 72 of the aircraft in April 1995.

The maiden flight of the L-159 occurred on 4 August 1997 with a two-seat version. On 18 August 1998 the single-seat version first flew; it was completed to Czech customer specifications. April 2000 marked the first delivery of an L-159 to the Czech Air Force.

In 2009, Aero Vodochody selected V-Dot Systems (split off from Boeing) as the L-159 avionics integrator. V-Dot will replace the Honeywell multi-function displays (MFD) and upgrade the mission processors to support new functions.

The Czech Air Force is the primary operator, receiving the latest avionics upgrades. In 1995, the Czech government ordered 72 aircraft, but after review, opted to reduce the fleet size to 24 with the remaining aircraft to be placed in storage. As of 2016, the Czech Air Force has 16 L-159A and 5 L-159T1 aircraft in service.

In 2015, Iraq signed a deal for 14 L-159 aircraft (12 L-159As and 2 L-159T1s). The first two Czech L-159s were delivered to Iraq on 5 November 2015. In May 2016, L-159 aircraft were used by the Iraqi Air Force to attack ISIL positions in Fallujah. In October and November 2016, L-159 aircraft operated by Squadron No 115 were deployed in the battle against the ISIS at the Southern outskirts of Mosul.