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ALPHAJET is a two-seater, twin-engine jet aircraft, designed to perform basic flight school missions, advanced training missions and tactical support missions. Dassault-Breguet in France and Dornier in Germany jointly designed ALPHAJET to meet both countries’ need for an advanced trainer and light attack aircraft. Following a request from other countries for a trainer aircraft, the back cockpit was raised to improve visibility from the rear seat. Belgium and Egypt subsequently became part of the project. The first deliveries began around 1978 and ALPHAJET was a tremendous success (it is now used in 10 countries).

The French Air Force adopted the "flying school" version of this twin-engine jet aircraft which has been in service since January 30th, 1979 in order to train fighter pilots. Moreover, ALPHAJET’s safety record and performance have allowed it to successfully replace the Fouga-Magister in the Patrouille de France since 1981 For this purpose the only fundamental changes made to ALPHAJET were: the red, white and blue painting, the nose headlight, the removal of the useless gunsight, and a smoke-producing pod secured under the fuselage replacing the gun pod allowing a red, white and blue plume of smoke to be left in the sky.