Light combat aircraft

An Aero L-159 Alca, a type of light combat aircraft

A light combat aircraft (LCA) is a light, multirole jet military aircraft, commonly derived from advanced trainer designs, designed for engaging in light combat missions. The mission can either be in a light strike or attack missions, reconnaissance, interdiction roles or trainer roles. They are typically slower than larger multirole or strike aircraft such as the American F-18, F-15E Strike Eagle, or Russian Mig-29. Most light combat aircraft are only capable of subsonic speeds, although some are capable of reaching Mach 1+. An LCA will typically be equipped with bombs, gun pods, or short-range air-to-air missiles used for COIN or CAS missions. Some aircraft have been developed to integrate more advanced armaments such as smart bombs, air to ground missiles, ECM pods (Electronic Countermeasure), and electronic targeting systems for better mission capability. However, these aircraft are usually used for self-defense or anti-hostile aircraft/helicopter missions, not for air-defense missions typically carried out by lightweight fighters. Some LCAs are capable of air-to-air combat or point air defense missions if equipped with multi-mode radar systems. Still, the majority cannot perform these missions due to their small design and limited capabilities. LCAs are often used to patrol the skies and implement border patrol or air policing.

List of active light combat aircraft

Country	Manufacturer	Aircraft	Introduced	Variants	Development	Photo
United States	Northrop Corporation	F-5	1962	Canadair CF-5 Shaped Sonic Boom Demonstration Northrop F-20 Tigershark	Designed as a multirole light combat aircraft
Iran	HESA	Azarakhsh	1997	HESA Saeqeh HESA Kowsar	Designed as a multirole light combat aircraft, derived from the F-5
India	Hindustan Aeronautics Limited	HAL Tejas	2015	Navy variant LCA Mark 1A	Mark-1 to be developed into Mark-1A
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-346FA/FT	2004	M-346 trainer	Improved and modified M346FA/FT for multirole fighter and attack missions
		MB-339C	1979	A/B	C variant modified and upgraded
Republic of Korea	Korea Aerospace Industries	TA-50	2005	T-50	2nd variant, evolution from the T-50 AJT, modified and upgraded
		FA-50	2012		3rd variant, evolution from the T-50 AJT
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
China Pakistan	Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China,Pakistan Aeronautical Complex(PAC)	JF-17	2007	JF-17B, C	Designed as a light multi-role combat aircraft.
China	Hongdu	L-15	2010	A, AW, B, Z, JL-10	Designed as an advanced trainer and light combat aircraft.
	Guizhou Aircraft Industry Corporation	FTC-2000G		FTC-2000, JL-9	Designed as an advanced trainer and light combat aircraft.
Russia	Yakovlev	YAK-130	1996	YAK-131	Designed as an advanced trainer and light combat aircraft.

See also

• Light fighter