LED light unit for an aircraft, the LED light unit having a desired light intensity distribution (LI des,ver, LI des,hor), emitted from the LED light unit in operation, wherein the LED light unit comprises: a support portion, a light source having at least one LED, the light source being arranged on the support portion and having a source-side light intensity distribution (Ll SS), and a refractive optical element having an inner surface and an outer surface, with at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface being non-spherical, the refractive optical element being arranged over the light source and being attached to the support portion, wherein the desired light intensity distribution (LI des,ver, LI des,hor) is defined by at least two cross-sectional light intensity distributions, the at least two cross-sectional light intensity distributions comprising a first desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LI des,ver) in a first cross-sectional plane and a second desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LI des,hor) in a second cross-sectional plane, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface of the refractive optical element are shaped such that they jointly transform the source-side light intensity distribution (LI SS) into the desired light intensity distribution (Ll des,ver, Ll des,hor), characterised in that the first desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LIdes,ver) and/or the second desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LIdes,hor) is an envelope curve enveloping a plurality of light intensity values required by light intensity regulations, wherein the inner surface of the refractive optical element has a circular shape in the first cross-sectional plane, with the outer surface of the refractive optical element being shaped in the first cross-sectional plane such that the inner surface and the outer surface transform the source-side light intensity distribution (LI SS) in the first cross-sectional plane into the first desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LI des,ver), and wherein the outer surface of the refractive optical element has a circular shape in the second cross-sectional plane, with the inner surface of the refractive optical element being shaped in the second cross-sectional plane such that the inner surface and the outer surface transform the source-side light intensity distribution (LI SS) in the second cross-sectional plane into the second desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LI des,hor). a support portion, a light source having at least one LED, the light source being arranged on the support portion and having a source-side light intensity distribution (Ll SS), and a refractive optical element having an inner surface and an outer surface, with at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface being non-spherical, the refractive optical element being arranged over the light source and being attached to the support portion, wherein the desired light intensity distribution (LI des,ver, LI des,hor) is defined by at least two cross-sectional light intensity distributions, the at least two cross-sectional light intensity distributions comprising a first desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LI des,ver) in a first cross-sectional plane and a second desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LI des,hor) in a second cross-sectional plane, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface of the refractive optical element are shaped such that they jointly transform the source-side light intensity distribution (LI SS) into the desired light intensity distribution (Ll des,ver, Ll des,hor), characterised in that the first desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LIdes,ver) and/or the second desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LIdes,hor) is an envelope curve enveloping a plurality of light intensity values required by light intensity regulations, wherein the inner surface of the refractive optical element has a circular shape in the first cross-sectional plane, with the outer surface of the refractive optical element being shaped in the first cross-sectional plane such that the inner surface and the outer surface transform the source-side light intensity distribution (LI SS) in the first cross-sectional plane into the first desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LI des,ver), and wherein the outer surface of the refractive optical element has a circular shape in the second cross-sectional plane, with the inner surface of the refractive optical element being shaped in the second cross-sectional plane such that the inner surface and the outer surface transform the source-side light intensity distribution (LI SS) in the second cross-sectional plane into the second desired cross-sectional light intensity distribution (LI des,hor).