Editing Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet (section)

===West Germany / Germany===
[[File:Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet A, Germany - Air Force AN1990606.jpg|thumb|A German Air Force Alpha Jet prior to landing at [[RAF Fairford]], [[Gloucestershire]], [[England]], 1991]]
The [[German Air Force|Luftwaffe]] decided to use the Alpha Jet mainly in the light strike role, preferring to continue flight training in the southwestern United States on American trainer types instead of performing training in Germany, although Germany also used Alpha Jets based at [[Beja (Portugal)|Beja]], Portugal for weapons training.<ref name="AIjun84 p270,6">Braybrook 1984, pp. 270, 276.</ref> On 12 April 1978, the first production German Alpha Jet performed its maiden flight, deliveries commenced in March 1979. It was designated the ''Alpha Jet A'' (the "A" standing for ''Appui Tactique'' or "Tactical Support") or ''Alpha Jet Close Support'' variant.<ref name="Janes 82 p105"/> The Luftwaffe obtained a total of 175 aircraft up to 1983, the type was used to replace the [[Aeritalia G.91|Fiat G91R/3]] fleet.<ref name="Alpha Jet"/><ref name = "flight 1978"/>

In 1985, West Germany began a comprehensive upgrade program, known as the ''Improved Combat Efficiency'' (ICE) program, for their Alpha Jet fleet; these upgrades were to involve the installation of a [[MIL-STD-1553|Mil Spec 1553B]] databus, new sensors integrated with the navigation/attack systems, modernized electronic countermeasures suite, measures to minimize the aircraft's radar and infrared signatures, protection measures around the fuel system, and new armaments such as the [[AGM-65 Maverick]].<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%201240.html "Luftwaffe outlines Alpha Jet update."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803105424/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%201240.html |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 27 April 1985. p. 8.</ref><ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%201329.html "Dassault-Breguet Dornier Alpha Jet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803101049/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%201329.html |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 1 August 1987. p. 27.</ref> In 1988, it was announced that the ICE program has been cancelled.<ref name = "flight 1988">[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%202532.html "Dassault-Breguet Dornier Alpha Jet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803100002/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1989/1989%20-%202532.html |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 19 August 1989. p. 38.</ref> A more austere upgrade program did proceed in its place, which integrated the [[AIM-9 Sidewinder|AIM-9L Sidewinder]] [[air-to-air missile]] and navigation computer upgrades, along with several minor airframe and equipment refinements, such as the addition of a jettisonable [[gun pod]].<ref name = "flight 1988 36">[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1988/1988%20-%202118.html "Dassault-Breguet Dornier Alpha Jet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803102704/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1988/1988%20-%202118.html |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 13 August 1988. p. 36.</ref>

During the 1991 [[Gulf War]], 18 German Alpha Jets were deployed to Turkey alongside 6 [[Italian Air Force|Italian]] [[Aeritalia F-104S Starfighter|F-104s]] and [[Belgian Air Component|Belgian]] [[Dassault Mirage 5|Mirage 5s]] under a [[NATO]]-based operation to protect Turkey against potential Iraqi attacks.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.freedomanatomy.com/en/missioni/ace-guard/ | title=Ace Guard }}</ref>

In 1992, the Luftwaffe began to phase out their Alpha Jet A aircraft, reserving 45 for lead-in fighter training. In 1993, a total of 50 were passed on to Portugal to replace the [[Northrop T-38 Talon]] and [[Fiat G.91]] fleets, with five of these used for spares.<ref name="Stijger p128-9">Sijger 1994, pp. 128–129.</ref> The rest of the Luftwaffe's Alpha Jets were gradually phased out, the last leaving service in 1998, and customers were sought to buy them.<ref>Barrie, Douglas. [https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1992/1992%20-%200865.html "Germany nears Alpha Jet deal."] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160803105945/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1992/1992%20-%200865.html |date=2016-08-03}} ''Flight International'', 7 April 1992. p. 17.</ref><ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1994/1994%20-%201666.html "Dassault-Breguet Dornier Alpha Jet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803104130/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1994/1994%20-%201666.html |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 19 July 1994. p. 40.</ref> In October 1995, the German military offered 42 Alpha Jets to Poland for 143 million PLN.<ref>Michta 2016, pp. 70-71.</ref> In 1999, 25 Alpha Jets were sold to Thailand at 1 million baht ($27,000) each, replacing the [[North American OV-10 Bronco]] in the border patrol role;<ref name = "thai buy">[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/thailand-wants-f-16s-and-shrinks-alpha-jet-plan-54907/ "Thailand wants F-16s and shrinks Alpha Jet plan."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803112705/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/thailand-wants-f-16s-and-shrinks-alpha-jet-plan-54907/ |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 11 August 1999.</ref> while the British [[Defence Evaluation and Research Agency]] obtained 12 as chase aircraft and flight test platforms due to a shortage in available [[BAE Systems Hawk]] aircraft for the role.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-buys-ex-german-air-force-alpha-jets-55092/ "UK buys ex-German air force Alpha Jets."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803103742/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-buys-ex-german-air-force-alpha-jets-55092/ |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 18 August 1999.</ref>

Germany was keen to sell the retired Alpha Jets quickly since they were reported as costing around DM100,000 ($55,000) to keep in storage each month.<ref name = "thai buy"/> Fairchild-Dornier received a US$43 million contract to refurbish a number of the aircraft and provide support to the end users. Apparently 32 more, including two spares hulks, were sold to the [[United Arab Emirates]], though details are unclear.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uae-closes-on-alpha-jet-purchase-58802/ "UAE closes on Alpha Jet purchase."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160803100428/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uae-closes-on-alpha-jet-purchase-58802/ |date=2016-08-03 }} ''Flight International'', 24 November 1999.</ref> Several were also  sold to private owners, such as those used by the Austrian-based ''Flying Bulls'' flight demonstration team, which flies a range of classic aircraft.<ref name = "flying bulls">[http://www.flyingbulls.at/en/fleet/alpha-jet/ "Alpha Jet."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611003616/http://www.flyingbulls.at/en/fleet/alpha-jet/ |date=2016-06-11 }} ''The Flying Bulls'', Retrieved: 30 May 2016.</ref>