Primarily used as a two-seat advanced jet trainer capable of light strike and reconnaissance, the Alpha Jet was developed by and produced for France and Germany in the 1970s. 500 Alpha Jets were eventually produced in total for France, Germany, Belgium and various African nations. The aircraft reached a maximum speed of 576 mph and could hold up to 5,511 pounds of armament. There were four versions of the Alpha Jet, all of which featured one 30 mm DEFA cannon.