Alpha Jet
Notes: This is
an aircraft that is a trainer during peacetime and a light strike aircraft
during wartime. It is used by
Belgium, Egypt, France, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria, Qatar, Togo, Portugal,
Germany, and Cameroon. The
aircraft's two-seat version is used as a trainer or FAC aircraft, but during
wartime strike missions, the back seat is removed and replaced by an electronics
suite that gives it a radar warning receiver and ECM.
Of its five hardpoints, only the wings' 4 hardpoints may be used for drop
tanks. The fuselage station is
normally used by a gun pod, as the aircraft has no internal guns, but it may be
used for other stores.
The Alpha Jet
ACAS adds a laser rangefinder in a modified nose, as well as inertial navigation
and a computerized attack system.
The Alpha Jet 2 uses a more powerful engine and is capable of air-to-air combat
with heat-seeking missiles. The
Alpha Jet Lancier (Also known as the Alpha Jet 3) adds radar, a multifunction
display, a laser rangefinder, an internal cannon, and integral smart munition
delivery capability, as well as expanding air-to-air combat capability.
German aircraft use the Mauser autocannon, while French Lanciers use the
DEFA autocannon.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Alpha Jet E |
$5,036,570 |
AvG |
2.5 tons |
8 tons |
2 |
10 |
FLIR |
Enclosed |
Alpha Jet A |
$16,541,810 |
AvG |
2.5 tons |
8.09 tons |
1 |
12 |
FLIR |
Enclosed |
Alpha Jet ACAS |
$16,951,730 |
AvG |
2.5 tons |
8.11 tons |
1 |
12 |
FLIR |
Enclosed |
Alpha Jet 2 |
$17,532,260 |
AvG |
2.55 tons |
9.02 tons |
1 |
12 |
FLIR |
Enclosed |
Alpha Jet Lancier |
$25,638,074 |
AvG |
2.55 tons |
10.34 tons |
1 |
16 |
FLIR, Radar (75 km) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Armor |
Alpha Jet E/A/ACAS |
2000 |
500 (130) |
NA
125 6/3
60/30 |
2160 |
1368 |
13700 |
FF3
CF4 RF3
T2 W3 |
Alpha Jet 2/Lancier |
2061 |
515 (130) |
NA
129 6/3
60/30 |
2160 |
1568 |
13700 |
FF3
CF4 RF3
T2 W3 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
Alpha Jet E |
None |
550/495m Hardened Runway |
+2 |
5 Hardpoints |
None |
Alpha Jet A |
Radar Warning Receiver, ECM 2 |
550/495m Hardened Runway |
+2 |
5 Hardpoints |
None |
Alpha Jet ACAS |
Radar Warning Receiver, ECM 2, Inertial
Navigation |
550/495m Hardened Runway |
+3 |
5 Hardpoints |
None |
Alpha Jet 2 |
Radar Warning Receiver, ECM 2, Inertial
Navigation, HUD |
550/495m Hardened Runway |
+3 |
5 Hardpoints |
None |
Alpha Jet Lancier |
Radar Warning Receiver, ECM 3, Inertial
Navigation, HUD, Flare/Chaff
(34/25), IR Uncage, Laser Designator (6km) |
550/495m Hardened Runway |
+4 |
5 Hardpoints, 1x27mm Mauser or 30mm DEFA |
300x27mm or 30mm |
AMX
Notes: This is a
joint project of Italy and Brazil.
It was designed to replace the G.91 in Italian service and to provide a
high-speed attack capability to Brazilian forces.
The aircraft has a day-night capability and is very stable at low speeds
as well as high speeds. Brazilian
aircraft have two 30mm cannons, while Italian versions have a 20mm Vulcan.
The two wingtip hardpoints may only be used for air-to-air missiles or
drop tanks.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Brazilian |
$31,346,010 |
AvG |
3.8 tons |
12 tons |
1 |
20 |
Radar (40 km) |
Shielded |
Italian |
$32,924,920 |
AvG |
3.8 tons |
12.95 tons |
1 |
20 |
Radar (50 km) |
Shielded |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Armor |
(Both) |
1828 |
457 (130) |
NA
114 8/4
50/25 |
4175 |
2760 |
15200 |
FF3
CF3 RF3
T2 W3 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
Brazilian |
Flare/Chaff (30/20), ECM 2, Secure
Radios, All-Weather Flight, RWR |
1178/982m Hardened Runway |
+3 |
2x30mm DEFA, 7 Hardpoints |
400x30mm |
Italian |
Flare/Chaff (35/35), ECM 2, IRCM 1,
Secure Radios, All-Weather Flight, RWR |
600/500m Hardened Runway |
+3 |
20mm Vulcan, 7 Hardpoints |
400x20mm |
AV-8B Harrier II
Notes: The
Harrier is a VSTOL multirole aircraft able to perform as both a fighter and
attack aircraft. It is used by
Britain, the US Marines, Italy, India, and Spain.
It has a raised cockpit for superior visibility, a composite material
wing for lightness and strength, and a redesigned nose with air-to-air/ground
radar. The aircraft has an ejection
seat and is capable of in-flight refueling.
When performing VIFF flight, the Harrier has an especially high heat
signature, and attacks with heat-seeking missiles are one level easier.
VSTOL flight may only be performed by removing 2.4 tons from the cargo
capacity or fuel of the Early Model or 1.1 tons from the Late Model.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Early Model |
$42,448,420 |
AvG |
6 tons |
14.06 tons |
1 |
30 |
Radar (60 km) |
Enclosed |
Late Model |
$47,467,730 |
AvG |
6 tons |
14.06 tons |
1 |
34 |
FLIR (30 km), Radar (70 km) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Armor |
Early Model |
1845 |
462 |
NA
116 9/5
60/40 |
4200 |
6577 |
15200 |
FF6
CF6 RF6
W5 T5 |
Late Model |
2118 |
530 |
NA
133 9/5
60/40 |
4200 |
7629 |
15240 |
FF6
CF6 RF6
W5 T5 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
Early Model, USMC |
All-Weather Flight, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/25), RWR |
450/16m (VSTOL) or 450/505m
(Conventional) Primitive Runway |
+2 |
25mm GAU-12/A, 9 Hardpoints |
300x25mm |
Early Model, Non-USMC |
All-Weather Flight, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (40/25), RWR |
450/16m (VSTOL) or 450/505m
(Conventional) Primitive Runway |
+2 |
2x25mm ADEN, 9 Hardpoints |
200x25mm |
Late Model |
All-Weather Flight, Flare/Chaff
Dispensers (50/30), RWR, Inertial Navigation |
450/16m (VSTOL) or 450/505m
(Conventional) Primitive Runway |
+3 |
25mm GAU-12; 9 hardpoints |
300x25mm |
Notes: The Hawk
is a trainer and light strike aircraft used by the UK, Abu Dhabi, Dubai,
Finland, Indonesia, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland,
Zimbabwe, Australia, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Canada, and South Africa.
It is also used by the US Navy as a trainer (the T-45 Goshawk).
It is an unsophisticated, but cheap aircraft, with a limited capability.
The fuselage hardpoint is normally fitted with a gun pod, since the Hawk
has no internal gun.
Twilight 2000
Notes: In the Twilight War, the US Navy modified some T-45 Goshawks for the
strike role. Other countries often
used 2-seat Hawks as FAC aircraft.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Hawk 50 |
$1,676,430 |
AvG |
3.08 tons |
5.7 tons |
2 |
8 |
None |
Enclosed |
Hawk 100 |
$4,978,450 |
AvG |
3 tons |
9.1 tons |
2 |
12 |
FLIR (60 km) |
Enclosed |
Hawk 200 |
$17,255,750 |
AvG |
3 tons |
9.1 tons |
1 |
12 |
Radar (50 km), FLIR (60 km), Image
Intensification (4.5 km) |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Armor |
Hawk 50 |
2076 |
519 (135) |
NA
130 9/5
60/40 |
2400 |
2314 |
15240 |
FF3
CF3 RF3
T2 W3 |
Hawk 100 |
2076 |
519 (135) |
NA
130 9/5
60/40 |
2400 |
2534 |
13545 |
FF3
CF3 RF3
T2 W3 |
Hawk 200 |
2034 |
509 (135) |
NA
127 9/5
60/40 |
2400 |
2534 |
13715 |
FF3
CF3 RF3
T2 W3 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
Hawk 50 |
None |
550/495m Hardened Runway |
+1 |
5 Hardpoints |
None |
Hawk 100 |
RWR, Laser Designator (4.5 km) |
550/495m Hardened Runway |
+3 |
5 Hardpoints |
None |
Hawk 200 |
RWR
Flare/Chaff (50/40), Laser Designator (5 km) |
550/495m Hardened Runway |
+4 |
2x25mm ADEN, 7 Hardpoints |
200x25mm |
IAR-93B/J-22 Orao
Notes: This is a
strike aircraft jointly produced by Romania and Yugoslavia.
The factory in then-Yugoslavia (now Bosnia) was dismantled in 1992 and
never reassembled after that, but the Romanian factory continued to produce
Oraos. This is a light aircraft
with a limited weapons load, but it is cheap and easy to produce.
There is also an unarmed variant with cameras for reconnaissance.
An unusual feature of this aircraft is its ability to fire only two
cannons at a time, if desired; this is normally done to conserve ammunition.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The Romanian factory manufacturing the Orao (and some other aircraft) was
put out of action permanently by air strikes in 1999.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$4,405,520 |
AvG |
2.8 tons |
11.08 tons |
2 |
11 |
None |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Armor |
2040 |
510 (115) |
NA
128 9/5
90/50 |
3240 |
2224 |
12500 |
FF4
CF4 RF3
T3 W3 |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
None |
950/600m Hardened Runway |
+1 |
4x23mm Autocannons, 5 Hardpoints |
400x23mm |
Notes: This is
an attack aircraft produced by an international effort of France and Britain.
It is also used by Ecuador, India, Nigeria, and Oman.
Two of its seven hardpoints are unusual; they are on top of the wing, to
be used by air-to-air missiles.
Three of its hardpoints may be used for drop tanks in addition to weapons.
Two seat versions of this aircraft exist.
This aircraft was a standout in the 1991 Gulf War, in Indian attacks on
Kashmir and Kurdistan, and in the Twilight War.
Though they were supposed to be replaced by the Eurofighter 2000
(Typhoon), the continual delays and budgetary problems with the Typhoon program
mean that the Jaguar still keeps soldiering on.
The pilot has an ejection seat, and the aircraft is capable of in-flight
refueling.
Vehicle |
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
Mk 804 Engines |
$9,186,100 |
AvG |
4.76 tons |
15.7 tons |
1 |
20 |
None |
Enclosed |
Mk 811 Engines |
$9,284,170 |
AvG |
4.76 tons |
15.7 tons |
1 |
20 |
None |
Enclosed |
Mk 106 Engines |
$9,554,120 |
AvG |
4.76 tons |
15.7 tons |
1 |
22 |
None |
Enclosed |
Vehicle |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Jaguar |
Mk 804 Engines |
3398 |
850 (140) |
NA
212 8/4
80/40 |
4200 |
4720 |
13700 |
FF4
CF4 RF3
T3 W4 |
Mk 811 Engines |
3524 |
881 (140) |
NA
220 8/4
80/40 |
4200 |
4899 |
13700 |
FF4
CF4 RF3
T3 W4 |
Mk 106 Engines |
3874 |
969 (140) |
NA
242 8/4
80/40 |
4200 |
5393 |
13700 |
FF4
CF4 RF3
T3 W4 |
Vehicle |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
(All) |
Flare/Chaff (50/40), RWR, Secure Radios,
Laser Designator (60 km) |
1250/785m Hardened Runway |
+2 |
2x30mm autocannons, 7 hardpoints |
300x30mm |
Notes: This basic
trainer/light attack aircraft is a joint product of China and Pakistan.
Pakistan built large numbers of them and used them in conflicts against
Indian forces throughout the Twilight War.
Like most aircraft of its class, it is an unsophisticated aircraft with a
light weapon load, being primarily a trainer with secondary strike capability.
Twilight 2000
Notes: China only began ordering the K-8 just before the Twilight War, and few
were available to Chinese forces.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$1,674,270 |
AvG |
943 kg |
4.33 tons |
2 |
10 |
None |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Armor |
1590 |
398 (100) |
NA
99 6/3
60/30 |
1855 |
1598 |
13600 |
FF3
CF3 RF3
T2 W3 |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
None |
440/400m Hardened Runway |
+1 |
23mm autocannon, 4 hardpoints |
200x23mm |
Tornado IDS
Notes: This is
the strike version of the Tornado multirole aircraft.
It was a joint venture of Germany, Britain, and Italy, and is in service
with those countries and with Saudi Arabia.
The Tornado is a variable geometry aircraft with automatic sweep; the
wings change their angle of sweep in response to changes in airspeed.
The crew has ejection seats and the aircraft is capable of in-flight
refueling. Up to 4 of its
hardpoints may be used for drop tanks.
Price |
Fuel Type |
Load |
Veh Wt |
Crew |
Mnt |
Night Vision |
Radiological |
$63,955,770 |
AvG |
9 tons |
27.95 tons |
2 |
36 |
Radar (90 km), FLIR (60 km), Thermal
Imaging (30 km) |
Enclosed |
Tr Mov |
Com Mov |
Mnvr/Acc Agl/Turn |
Fuel Cap |
Fuel Cons |
Ceiling |
Armor |
4676 |
1169 (130) |
NA
292 9/6
90/60 |
8000 |
4316 |
19800 |
FF6
CF6 RF6
W5 T5* |
Combat Equipment |
Minimum Landing/Takeoff
Zone |
RF |
Armament |
Ammo |
Flare/Chaff (75/50), RWR, Deception
Jamming (200 km), HUD, IR Uncage, TFR (30 km), Look-Down Radar, Track
While Scan, Laser Designator (60 km), ECM 3, IRCM 2 |
760/500m Hardened Runway |
+4 |
2x27mm autocannons, 9 hardpoints |
400x27mm |
*The cockpit has a Kevlar
antispalling liner and has an AV of 7.