Kotterdam
07-10-2003, 20:05
My product list is getting long enough to justify independant threads for the ground, air, and naval storefronts. All products are for sale at the listed price. No advertising other products in this thread, or telling me how they are better. If you have a request for something you don't see here, telegram me the requirements, and I will design it for you. If you would do your own math, it would be greatly appreciated.
FIGHTERS
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/f-15-eagle7-s.jpg
F-15H Eagle
Designed to improve the capabilities of the F-15C Eagles already in service, as well as to consolidate the air-superiority role into a minimum number of aircraft. The Su-37W aircraft currently serving were intended primarily as a stop-gap measure. The F-15H is the intended aircraft. Agile, fast, and heavily armed, the F-15H is the equal of nearly any fighter in the world. It is also exceptionally easy to maintain.
The majority of its parts are off-the-shelf, with the new Wide-Angle Tactical Radar System, or WATRS coming from the Su-37W. The WATRS system is not a single radar system, but rather a series of independant transmit/recieve modules built around a single powerful module in the nose with a range of 241 kilometers, or 150 miles, and a coverage of 200 degrees. Also, the engines are the same Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofans as are included in the F-22 and the F-23 fighters, with two-dimensional thrust vectoring to improve maneuverability.
Even though the engines, the radar, and a number of electronic systems have been replaced, the F-15H still maintains many parts in common with the existing F-15C and the -15E aircraft. This leads to a greater availability of parts, as well as reducing overall maintenance costs. Rather than buying two different sets of spare parts, the same unit can be used on either aircraft. Also, the cannon and the engines are shared with the F-23B Black Widow II, and the F-22 Raptor granting the same advantages to countries that already use either of those aircraft.
The new supercooled infrared search and track system by Longfield Electronics allows the F-15H to track targets without the use of its radar by their infrared signals. Capable of tracking targets from all aspects, it adds an extra degree of lethality to this already dangerous fighter.
As with any fighter, however, the firepower of this aircraft is crucial to the success of the design. A warplane is useless without weapons, and the F-15H is far from useless. Besides its M61A2 Vulcan cannon, the F-15H is equipped with fifteen hardpoints, three of them wet. In a standard offensive air superiority role, it would not be unusual to find an F-15G carrying four AIM-9X Sidewinders on two twin-mount rails, six AIM-120 AMRAAMs, two AGM-88 HARMs for dealing with SAM sites and, the first aircraft to do so since the F-14, four AIM-54C Phoenix missiles. This, combined with its agility and speed, make the F-15H a lethal aircraft indeed.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: All-Weather Tactical Fighter
Contractors:
Vega Aerospace Consortium
McDonnell-Douglas Corporation
Power Plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofans with two-dimensional thrust vectoring.
Length: 20.50 m (67 ft 3 in)
Height: 5.69 m (18 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 16.10 m (52 ft 10 in)
Speed:
Supercruise - 1,811 km/h (1,125 mph/Mach 1.5)
Afterburner - 3,018 km/h (1,875 mph/Mach 2.5+)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 34,019 kg (75,000 lbs)
Range: 4,000 km ferry range with two conformal and three external fuel tanks
Armament:
1 x M61A2 20mm, six-barrel rotary cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition
15 x External hardpoints (Three Wet)
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics WATRS LPI Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x Longfield Electronics SCIRSTS Supercooled Infrared Search and Track System
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Targeting Pod
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Navigation Pod
1 x AN/ALC-135 Tactical Electronic Warfare System
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $45.8 million
http://www.globalaircraft.org/photos/planephotos/su-37_1.jpg
Su-37W Super Flanker
Originally given the task of simply westernizing the successful Su-37 Super Flanker, the VAC cooperated with the Sukhoi Design Bureau to replace the fighter's systems and bring it in-line with the western fighters already in service with the DKA. The resulting aircraft, however, has been found to be superior to the baseline design. Especially impressive is the new suite of electronics.
Especially impressive is the new Wide-Angle Tactical Radar System, or WATRS. (Pronounced "Waters"). The WATRS system is not a single radar system, but rather a series of independant transmit/recieve modules built around a single powerful module in the nose. These modules form an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system similar to the NORA system under development by Ericsson Microwave Systems. WATRS has a range of 241 kilometers, or 150 miles, and a coverage of 200 degrees.
As well, the WATRS is not simply a radar. It offers a complete range of electronic warfare and jamming capabilities, as well as the added versitility of a data transfer system, allowing similarily equipped fighters to share tactical and strategic information. As well, the WATRS is also a multi-role system, functioning equally well in ground attack mode as it does in its long-range air combat role. Designed to engage tanks, fighters, and cruise missiles with equal ease, it is a potent system.
Longfield Electronics has also contributed its new Rear Facing Search, Track, and Targeting Radar/Optronic Fire Control and Surveillance system to replace the similar NO-12 unit from the original design. Created specifically for the project, the RFSTT system covers the 160 degree blind spot of the WATRS unit out to a range of ninety kilometers, or fifty-six miles. This grants the Su-37W a full 360 degree radar coverage, as well as the ability to target and fire upon aircraft behind it, whether through the use of command-guided or aft-facing missiles.
The new supercooled infrared search and track system by that very same company allows the Su-37W to track targets without the use of its radar by their infrared signals. Capable of tracking targets from all aspects, it adds an extra degree of lethality to this already dangerous fighter.
In a further advancement, a combination of fly-by-light controls and an improved two-dimensional thrust vectoring system renders the already maneuverable Su-37 even more so. As well, the pilot's seat has been set at a 30 degree angle, much like that of the F-16, allowing the pilot to withstand the increased G-pressures of this added maneuverability.
Yet another feature adds to the survivability of this aircraft. While, like other western fighters, it is quite capable of ejecting flares and chaff should missiles be fired at the fighter, it also includes an FOTD unit. FOTD stands for Fiber Optic Towed Decoy. The FOTD takes its inspiration from a system designed for the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Functioning by emitting a signal like that of a threat radar. Towed at varying distances behind the fighter, it causes radar-homing missiles to engage it rather than the fighter by emitting a signal more powerful than the radar return of the aircraft, causing the missile to target it instead. Deployed only when under fire, the FOTD will obviously only function until it is destroyed, although there is a high chance that a missile confused by it will miss both the decoy and the fighter.
The fighter is also available in a naval version with folding wings.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: All-Weather Multi-Role
Contractors:
Vega Aerospace Consortium
Sukhoi Design Bureau
Power Plant: Two Saturn/Lyul'ka AL-31FU afterburning turbofans with two-dimensional thrust vectoring.
Length: 21.94 m (72 ft)
Height: 6.84 m (22 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 15.16 m (49 ft 9 in)
Speed: 2,500 km/h (1,553 mph/Mach 2.35)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 34,000 kg (74,960 lbs)
Range: 3,800 km ferry range with four external fuel tanks
Armament:
1 x Oerlikon KAD 20mm 20-mm, single-barrel cannon with 225 rounds of ammunition
14 x External hardpoints capable of handling 18,075 lbs of ordinance
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics WATRS LPI Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar
1 x Longfield Electronics RFSTT Radar/Optronic Fire-Control and Surveillance System
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x Longfield Electronics SCIRSTS Supercooled Infrared Search and Track System
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Targeting Pod
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Navigation Pod
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $45.8 million
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/yf23roll-s.jpg
F-23B Black Widow II
Although it was defeated by the F-22 Raptor in the US Air Force's ATF competition, the Dominion of Kotterdam nonetheless decided that the YF-23 would make an excellent base for their stealth fighter. Cooperating with the Vega Aircraft Consortium, Northrop and McDonell-Douglas, that long-time supplier of the DKAF began work on improving the design. An extra bay for two more Sidewinders was worked into the design, granting it a more potent air-to-air punch. Other than that, the most major change was to the control systems, changing them from fly-by-wire to fly-by-light in a move designed to grant the design marginally better maneuverability.
More agile, and more stealthy, both to radar and to infrared than the F-22, the F-23B also has the advantage of superior range over the former fighter. The improved payload can be augmented even further by the six optional wing hardpoints, three per wing, four out of six being wet. Because of their effect on the Black Widow II's radar signature, they are almost never used on aggressive missions where stealth matters. Only on CAP missions are they used, and even then, only during relatively safe situations.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Stealth All-Weather Multi-Role
Secondary Function: Tactical Strike
Contractor(s): Northrop/McDonnell-Douglas/Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: 2 Pratt and Whitney YF119 turbofan engines
Length: 67 feet, 5 inches (20.6 meters)
Height: 13 feet, 11 inches (4.3 meters)
Wingspan: 43 feet, 7 inches (13.3 meters)
Speed:
Supercruise - Mach 1.58
With Afterburner - Mach 1.8
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 64,000 pounds (29,029 kilograms)
Range: 800 nautical miles without external tanks or air-to-air refueling.
Armament:
One internally mounted M-61A2 20mm 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition; 4 AIM-9X Sidewinders; internal bay capable of carrying either 4 AIM-120C AMRAAMs, or two AMRAAMs and two JDAMs, or two AMRAAMs and two AGM-88 HARMs, or two AMRAAMs and two AGM-84 Harpoons; 6 under-wing hardpoints each capable of mounting one AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, or AGM-84 Harpoon
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $34.2 million
ATTACK AIRCRAFT
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/ac-130h-DF-ST-88-02994-s.jpg
AC-130K Super Spooky
With the C-130K's cargo capacity of more than double that of a standard C-130, it was only natural that an advancement on the AC-130 concept would come from the design. The AC-130K is the result of that advancement, carrying firepower in excess even of that carried by the AC-130U Spooky.
The ALFREDO, or Advanced Long-range Fire-control Radar Engagement and Direction Optronics system from Longfield Electronics aids the airborne gunners in picking out their targets and engaging them up to the maximum range of their weapons. ALFREDO is sufficiently accurate to allow the engagement of a single car on a busy highway with any of the airborne weapons. As with earlier models, however, the AC-130K also excels at area saturation attacks over extended periods in all weather.
All but one weapon system aboard the AC-130K are off-the-shelf designs, with only the LAU-162 rocket launcher being a new design. The LAU-162 fires the 2.75in Hydra-70 unguided rocket, and is fed via a specially designed linkless ammunition feed system. It launches the rockets pneumatically, with the rockets igniting outside the aircraft to prevent the rocket blast from causing damage to the inside of the aircraft. These unguided rockets further augment the already formidable firepower of the AC-130.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Four Kielly-Caesar R111-KC-51 Heracles Superprop Engines
Length: 34.25 m (112 ft 5 in)
Height: 11.4 m (38 ft, 3 in)
Wingspan: 43.9 m (144 ft 0 in)
Speed: 650 km/h (404 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 69,274 kg (152,723 lbs)
Range: 3,080 nm unrefueled, unlimited with midair refueling.
Armament:
1 x LW155 Lightweight 155mm howitzer
1 x LAU-162 2.75in Hydra-70 Rocket Launcher
2 x GAU-12 25mm Equaliser Six-Barrel Rotary Cannons
2 x L60 40mm Bofors cannon
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics WATRS LPI Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar
1 x Longfield Electronics ALFREDO Target Acquisition Radar/Optronic Fire Control System
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x AN/AAQ-24 Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/ALQ-161A Defensive Avionics System
1 x AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD)
Crew: 14
Unit Cost: $61 million
A-24 Corsair III
For an aircraft manufacturer known for its unorthodox approach, the A-24 Corsair III is surprisingly conventional in its design. A conventional low delta-wing design with downward sloping swept horizontal tail surfaces and a single high vertical tail. Small and extremely agile, it is not the fastest fighter around, but retains exceptional low-level maneuverability, making it a terrific strike aircraft.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Light All-Weather Multi-Role
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: One Kielly-Caesar L21-KC-211 afterburning turbofan
Length: 42 feet, 7 inches
Height: 18 feet, 3 inches
Wingspan: 31 feet, 11 inches
Speed: 925 miles per hour (Mach 1.2)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 68,000 pounds
Range: 3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Armament:
One internally mounted M-61A2 20mm 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 560 rounds of ammunition; 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders, 4 under-wing and fuselage hardpoints capable of mounting the AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-140 ADAAM, MK81 250-lb bomb, MK82 500-lb bomb, MK83 1,000-lb bomb, GBU-12 500-lb LGB, GBU-16 1,000-lb LGB, GBU-32 and GBU-35 1,000-lb JDAM, GBU-30 and GBU-38 500 JDAM, CBU-24/B Cluster Bomb, MK-20 Rockeye Cluster Bomb, BLU-111 500-lb penetrator, BLU-110 1,000-lb penetrator, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-65 Maverick
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $14.8 million
AV-19 Lightning II
Mission
The mission of the Vega Aerospace Consortium AV-19 Lightning II is to attack and destroy surface targets, escort helicopters, and to conduct air operations as needed. The Lightning II's missions include, but are not limited to:
- Close Air Support using conventional and specific weapons.
- Deep air support, to include armed reconnaissance and air interdiction, using conventional and specific weapons.
- Offensive and defensive antiair warfare. This includes combat air patrol, armed escort missions, and offensive missions against enemy ground-to-air defenses
Requirements for the Lightning II call for the aircraft to be able to conduct operations at night and in all weather. The Lightning II includes air intercept radar capable of tracking targets out to fifty miles, Forward Looking Infrared systems (FLIR). It is quite capable of operating and delivering ordinance at night, and conducting extended operations through the use of aerial refueling. It is designed to operate from carriers and other suitable seagoing platforms, advanced bases, expeditionary airfields, and remote tactical landing sites.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Close Air Support
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Two Kielly-Caesar L12-KC-100 vectored thrust augmented turbofans
Length: 49 feet, 4 inches
Height: 12 feet, 2 inches
Wingspan: 30 feet, 6 inches
Speed: 925 miles per hour (Mach 1.2)
Maximum Weight for Short Takeoff: 38,000 pounds
Maximum Weight for Vertical Takeoff: 35,000 pounds
Range: 1,100 miles
Armament:
One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to 16,000 pounds (13,000 pounds for Vertical Take Off) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing pylon stations, including low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 2.75-inch (6.99 centimeters) rockets; illumination flares; AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile); AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles; and Lightning II Laser Guided Munition Targeting Pod.
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $25.8 million
BOMBERS
EB-52C Megafortress
A true child of the Cold War, the venerable B-52 Stratofortress bomber is possibly one of the largest offensive aircraft ever built. Saddled with the moniker "BUFF", or Big Ugly Fat Fellow, the B-52 has been overshadowed by developments in Surface-to-Air Missiles and by stealth technologies that render this behemoth nearly obsolete. Fortunately for the BUFF, however, this wasn't the end.
The EB-52C is a completely reworked aircraft, designed from the ground up for a new purpose. Although not stealthy by any stretch of the imagination, the EB-52C incorporates many stealth features, like radar absorbing materials worked into the skin and cockpit glass, reworked engine cowlings, a radar-transparent composite fiber twin tail set at a forty-five degree angle instead of the single, massive steel tail, and swept control surfaces, amongst many other measures. As well, the newly-designed Prairie-Phantom system has been incorporated into the EB-52C's construction.
Prairie-Phantom works through the use of a series of conduits designed to absorb and dissipate radar energy harmlessly. As mentioned above, this does not make the EB-52C stealthy by any stretch of the imagination. It does, however, combine with the other features to give the aircraft a radar cross-section approximately the size of that offered by an F-15 Eagle. It serves the role of a heavy bomber, as well as a strike coordinator and AWACS aircraft. The EB-52C can deal with threats by engaging them with its cannons and air-to-air missiles, as well as defending itself through the use of its FIM-92V SADAMs, shooting down inbound missiles. All in all, the EB-52C is one of the most advanced aircraft in the Dominion's arsenal.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Heavy Bomber
Contractors:
Vega Aerospace Consortium
Boeing Military Airplanes
Power Plant: Eight Pratt & Whitney TF-30P-414 turbofan engines
Length: 159 feet, 4 inches (48.5 meters)
Height: 32 feet, 6 inches (9.92 meters)
Wingspan: 185 feet (56.4 meters)
Speed: 650 miles per hour
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 498,000 pounds (225,889 kilograms)
Range: Unrefueled 8,800 miles (7,652 nautical miles)
Armament:
2 x Turreted M61A2 20mm, six-barrel rotary cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition each
2 x Turreted SADAM Launchers
12 x External AAM Hardpoints
60,000 lbs of Munitions Carried Internally
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics APY-7 AESA-NORA LPI Airborne Warning Radar
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x Longfield Electronics SCIRSTS Supercooled Infrared Search and Track System
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/ALE-50 AAED Advanced Airborne Expendable Decoy
1 x AN/ALQ-155 Jammer Power Management System
1 x AN/ALQ-122 False Target Generator
1 x AN/ALQ-149 Communications Jammer
1 x AN/AAQ-6 FLIR Electro-optical viewing system
1 x AN/AVQ-22 Low-light TV Electro-optical viewing system
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Targeting Pod
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Navigation Pod
1 x Prairie-Phantom Radar Avoidance System
6 x AN/ALE-24 Chaff Dispensers
12 x AN/ALE-20 Infra-Red Flare Dispensers
Crew: Nine (Two pilots, one Weapon Systems Officer, one Radar Systems Officer, one Electronic Warfare Officer, four Airborne Controllers)
Unit Cost: $350.8 million
B-4A Feuersturm
Similar in design to the B-1B Lancer, or the Tu-160 Blackjack, the B-4A Feuersturm, or "firestorm" is similarily a high-speed, heavy bomber designed to blast its way through enemy defenses at supersonic speeds and deliver its payload almost before the enemy knows it's there.
Making use, like its predecessors, of variable-geometry wings, the B-4A mounts five Kielly-Caesar augmented afterburning turbofans, two in each wing junction, and one in the tail, to grant its superb maximum speed and payload. It also has the unique ability to carry Air-to-Air missiles in the form of six of Kotterdam's ADAAM missiles. Although the ADAAM is standard, the Feuersturm can make use of the AIM-54C Phoenix, or the AIM-120 AMRAAM in its place. In fact, just about any radar-guided AAM can be substituted in a pinch.
Equipped with a powerful radar capable of tracking targets up to one hundred and fifty miles out, and exceptional, almost fighter-like maneuverability, the B-4A is not as easy a target as the lumbering B-52 bombers of an earlier age, even though it has a similar payload. To further improve its survivability, the B-4A includes powerful jammers similar in strength to those aboard the B-52. Between its speed, firepower, range, and agility, the B-4A Feuersturm will rapidly become indispensible to any airforce including this highly-capable aircraft.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Long-Range Multi-Role Heavy Bomber
Secondary Function: Long-Range Naval Interdiction Aircraft
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Five Kielly-Caesar L30-KC-504 augmented afterburning turbofans
Length: 152 ft (46.33 m)
Height: 34 ft (10.36 m)
Wingspan:
Swept: 80 feet (24.38 m)
Forward: 140 feet (42.67 m)
Speed: 1,320 mph (Mach 2.0)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 477,000 pounds (214,650 kilograms)
Range:
4,000 miles unrefueled with full weapons load.
Unlimited with mid-air refueling
Armament:
6 AIM-140 ADAAMs carried externally; 2 AGM-88 HARMs carried externally; Internal weapons bay capable of carrying 80,000 lbs of munitions including (but not limited to) the AGM-86 Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), Mk82 conventional bomb, CBU 87, CBU 89, and CBU 97 cluster bombs, Mk62 and Mk65 Quick Strike Mines, WCMD cluster bombs, JDAM smart bombs, GBU-27 smart bombs, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, and the AGM-154 JSOW, although just about any ground-attack munition can be used in the place of these.
Although the munitions discussed up to this point have all been conventional, the Feuersturm is capable of carrying the B83 strategic nuclear gravity bomb, as well as the B61 series of nuclear bombs. Additionally, the ALCM can mount the W-80 nuclear warhead in place of its conventional warhead. The Dominion of Kotterdam would like to state that it is not engaging in the sale of nuclear weapons. The Feuersturm bomber does not come equipped with any of the above weapons, nor does the sale of the bomber, or its production rights include the plans for the aforementioned weapons.
Crew: Four
Unit Cost: $257.8 million
AWACS AIRCRAFT
http://www.zap16.com/images/F-WWBA.jpg
E-340 Sentinel
The E-340 Sentinel is an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft based off the successful Airbus A340-200, providing all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications (c3) capabilities to commanders of air defense forces through the use of advanced electronics. As proven in Desert Storm, the presence of an air battle command and control aircraft can tip the scales of an engagement in favour of the defending forces.
Incorporating the new APY-7 AESA-NORA Low Probability of Intercept Airborne Warning Radar, the E-340 maintains a full three hundred and sixty degrees of coverage out to a range of approximately 250 miles through a system of multi-axis internal active electronically scanned array radar antennae mounted inside the fuselage rather than as a large, rotating radome atop the aircraft. It can detect, track, and identify low-flying enemy and friendly aircraft by using a phenomenon known as Doppler shift to distinguish moving targets from ground clutter and accurately gauge their speed. Between its power, and its frequency agility, it is extremely jam resistant, making it capable of functioning in the presence of heavy electronic countermeasures.
The AESA-NORA suite expands on a concept put forth by Ericsson Microwave Systems (http://www.ericsson.com/microwave/products_sensors_nora.shtml) for a radar that was, as the acronym says, not only a radar, "but also a complete electronic warfare system including jamming and data communication". The AESA-NORA suite is capable of interfacing with nearly any airborne high-capacity tactical and strategic data-transfer system, as well as providing jamming capabilities on par with nearly any other system in existance.
Also, the AESA-NORA suite is capable of switching rapidly from longwave radar search mode to shortwave radar fire control mode. This, combined with the data communication capabilities of the system, allows it to guide Air-to-Air missiles. Escorting aircraft can fly with their search radars off, relying on information from the AESA-NORA, and engage targets with active and semi-active radar guided missiles, all while remaining under EMCON and protected by the guiding aircraft as it jams all but its own radar frequencies. A crew of eighteen mission specialists analyzes the information gathered by the powerful radar, and guide the accompanying aircraft to their targets.
A large part of the decision to go with the A340-200 as the platform for the SPY-7 radar had to do with survivability. Specifically, the Boeing 767 has two engines, as does the A330-200, another Airbus aircraft under consideration, and the L-1011 Tristar had three. The Airbus A340-200 has four engines, meaning that loss of one engine doesn't result in the loss of half the aircraft's thrust, as in the case of the 767, or the A330-200, or even a third of the thrust, as with the L-1011. Further measures were employed to increase the aircraft's survivability, such as the installation of flare and chaff cartridge dispensers, and the inclusion of Ericsson's MIDIS system.
Ericsson Microwave System's MIDIS (http://www.ericsson.com/microwave/products_sensors_midis.shtml), or Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information System is a highly modular and multi-functional defensive information system designed for both air- and ground-based applications. In this case, it is configured to provide Electronic Support Measures (ESM), function as a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), grant Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) capabilities, as well as secondary Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) and high-capability data link communications to back up the capabilities already provided by the APY-7 AESA-NORA.
On top of the APY-7 and the MIDIS, the E-340 also mounts the AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System to alert it to inbound missile launches, as well as the AN/ALQ-212 ATIRCM Infrared Jammer to protect it from IR missiles, and the AN/ALE-50 AAED towed decoy to do the same for radar guided missiles. In the case of the AN/ALE-50, this is done by transmitting a missile guidance signal more powerful than the radar return off the E-340 to lure the missile into engaging the towed decoy instead of the aircraft. This would most likely result in the missile missing entirely, as the towed decoy is an extremely small target to hit, or in the worst case, would result in the destruction of the decoy, an outcome far preferable to the loss of the aircraft.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Airborne Warning And Control System
Contractor:
Vega Aerospace Consortium
Airbus Military Aircraft
Power Plant: Four CFM International CFM56-5C4 High-Bypass Turbofans
Length: 194 feet, 10 inches (59.39m)
Height: 54 feet, 9 inches (16.7m)
Wingspan: 197 feet, 1 inch (60.3m)
Speed: 523 miles per hour (842 km/h, Mach 0.86)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 606,300 pounds (275 Metric Tonnes)
Range: 9,196 miles (8,000 nm, 14,800 km) without mid-air refueling.
Armament:
None
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics APY-7 AESA-NORA LPI Airborne Warning Radar
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/ALE-50 AAED Advanced Airborne Expendable Decoy
4 x M-130 General Purpose Countermeasure Cartridge Dispensers
60 x M206 Flare Decoy Cartridges
60 x Chaff Cartridges
Crew: Two flight crew and up to eighteen mission crew
Unit Cost: $320 million
CARGO AIRCRAFT
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/c130_4s.jpg
C-130K Super Hercules
Ordered to modernize the C-130 aircraft already in service with the DAF, the Vega Aerospace Consortium took what began as a simple replacement of the engines and almost completely redesigned the aircraft. The new C-130K Super Hercules has a cargo bay that is fifteen feet longer, thanks to the addition of spacer sections, a greater wingspan, and a superior payload to earlier versions of this aircraft. Survivability has been improved due to the addition of a whole new suite of countermeasures and electronic warfare equipment. All and all, the C-130K is rapidly living up to its name.
As with any cargo aircraft, the C-130K's payload is its most important feature, and where the aircraft really shines. In fact, were it not for volume restraints, one could carry the components for a second complete C-130 within the C-130K with weight to spare. This comes largely due to a redesigned wing, and more powerful engines that grant the aircraft a far greater lifting capacity than it had before. It can now quite comfortably carry an MAFV-1 medium tank, or two IFV-2 Normandy Infantry Fighting Vehicles without overloading itself. As well, the cargo bay has been redesigned to make effective use of the improved lifting capacity, with spacers added to increase the cargo bay length by almost half, and the landing gear moved further apart to eliminate the bottleneck present amidships in earlier C-130 aircraft.
The radar on the C-130K has been replaced with the same WATRS unit employed on the VAC/Sukhoi Su-37W Super Flanker. This grants the C-130K an impressive two-hundred degrees of radar coverage out to the full range of 150 miles. The avionics suite is primarily off-the-shelf hardware in an attempt to reduce maintenance costs. The Defensive Avionics System, for instance, is the same ECM suite as employed on the B-1B bomber, for instance, and the DIRCM unit is destined for use on the MC-130 Combat Talon aircraft.
None of these upgrades would have been of any use without the specially designed Heracles engines made by Kielly-Caesar. These so-called "Superprop" engines are an enhancement of the JTAGG-III engine core architecture, and give the C-130K a dramatic increase in thrust and fuel efficiency. Similar engines are intended to be used in the design of the jointly designed Exodus aircraft.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Cargo and Troop Transport
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Four Kielly-Caesar R111-KC-51 Heracles Superprop Engines
Length: 34.25 m (112 ft 5 in)
Height: 11.4 m (38 ft, 3 in)
Wingspan: 43.9 m (144 ft 0 in)
Speed: 650 km/h (404 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 69,274 kg (152,723 lbs)
Range: 4,000 nm unrefueled with full payload and reserve tanks, unlimited with midair refueling.
Armament:
None
Cargo: 35,000 kg (77,162 lbs)
Bay Length: 15.24 m (55 ft 0 in)
Bay Height: 2.74 m (9 ft 0 in)
Bay Width: 3.13 m (10 ft 3.2 in)
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics WATRS LPI Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x AN/AAQ-24 Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/ALQ-161A Defensive Avionics System
1 x AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD)
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $46.1 million
HELICOPTERS
http://cybersluagh.com/lynn/AH-67A.jpg
AH-67A Wolverine
The AH-67A Wolverine continues the VAC's tradition of oddly-configured aircraft with its utter lack of a tail rotor to help it maintain stability. Rather, it has a pair of coaxially-mounted, counter-rotating main rotors that cancel out each other's torque. This configuration results in a maneuverable attack helicopter with a very a heavy payload. The AH-67A is no normal attack helicopter, however. It is configured much like the RAH-66 Comanche in that it is a stealth helicopter.
Constructed with Radar Absorbant Materials and low radar cross-section hull geometry, the AH-67A is an extremely stealthy vehicle for a helicopter. As well, it has a significantly smaller infrared signature, relative to the AH-64 Apache or even the Comanche, thanks to troughs that mix the turboshaft's jet exhaust with cold exterior air. Combined with the extensive suite of infrared countermeasures, and a hardened inner skin, the AH-67A has an extremely high survivability rate compared with other attack helicopters.
As well, crew survivability is improved by a number of measures. First amongst these is a layer of armour enclosing the crew compartment. The crew compartment will withstand multiple direct hits from 15 x 115mm heavy machine gun rounds, as well as fragments from 30mm cannons. Direct cannon hits, however, cannot be defended against easily. As well, in case of catastrophic damage, the AH-67A has a crew ejection system. Explosive bolts blow the rotors free, and then a pair of so-called "zero-zero" ejection seats jettison the crewmembers. Zero-zero ejection seats are so named because they are capable of safely ejecting crewmembers at zero altitude and zero forward velocity.
The Wolverine's armament surpasses that of the only similar craft, the RAH-66 Comanche by a fair margin. It even surpasses that of the AH-64D Apache Longbow, although that comes at the expense of airspeed. Two optional stub wings capable of being jettisoned mid-flight to improve the aircraft's radar cross-section mount the bulk of the aircraft's firepower, carrying two Stinger missiles at either wingtip, and carrying two hardpoints underneath. This, combined with the internal weapons bay allows for a superb weapons load, allowing for the same versatility as the AH-64D. Mounting a similar mast-top radar array, it is capable of firing over hills, much like the other helicopter, and is capable of engaging two separate targets with laser-guided missiles simultaneously using its roof- and chin-mounted target designators.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Close Air Support in day, night or marginal weather conditions.
Contractors: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Two Kielly-Caesar T480-KC-011C turboshaft engines
Length: 16.81 m (55 ft 2 in)
Height: 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in)
Rotor Diameter: 5.64 m (18 ft 6 in)
Speed: 248 km/h (154 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 7,269.72 kg (16,027 lbs)
Range: 500 km (310.69 mi) on internal fuel
Armament:
1 x Retractable M230 30mm Automatic Cannon
8 x Internally-Stored AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
-or-
1 x Retractable M230 30mm Automatic Cannon
8 x Internally-Stored FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
-or-
1 x Retractable M230 30mm Automatic Cannon
4 x Internally-Stored FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
4 x Internally-Stored AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
-Optional External Stores-
2 x M261 Nineteen-Tube Hydra-70 Rocket Launchers
4 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
8 x AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
-or-
4 x M261 Nineteen-Tube Hydra-70 Rocket Launchers
4 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
-or-
4 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
16 x AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
-or-
2 x M261 Nineteen-Tube Hydra-70 Rocket Launchers
12 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics Millimeter-Wave AESA Fire Control Radar
1 x Longfield Electronics Roof-Mounted Laser Target Designator and Optronic Fire-Control System
1 x Longfield Electronics Chin-Mounted Laser Target Designator and Optronic Fire-Control System
1 x AN/ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated RF Countermeasures (SIRFCM)
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/AVS-7, Aviation Night Vision Imaging System/Heads Up Display (ANVIS/HUD)
Crew: One pilot, one weapon system operator
Unit Cost: $23.1 million
UH-71A Python
The UH-71A Python offers an odd profile for a transport aircraft. It employs an attack-style cockpit and a chin-mounted weapon turret. As well, while the weapon systems operator can fly the aircraft from his position, he is more a gunner than a copilot. Extensively armed, the UH-71A is designed to perform overt or covert resupply, fire support, and medevac missions across a wide range of weather conditions.
Designed with a very redundant systems architecture, the UH-71A is extremely durable and reliable. Prime amongst the UH-71A's requirements was the ability to withstand the kind of damage that downed two UH-60 Black Hawks in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 and crippled another. Although the armour carried by the helicopter has been increased, more powerful engines has resulted in an overall increase in airspeed. As well, the tail-rotor gearbox, the piece of hardware that was damaged and caused the loss of the two aircraft, has been shifted sligthly in location to reduce its vulnerability to ground fire. On top of all this, the gearbox has been redesigned to allow the aircraft to disengage and fly up to five miles before having to crash land.
The armour and the redundant systems architecture means the UH-71A is extremely resistant to small arms fire, as well as medium-calibre explosive projectiles. Moreover, an improved resistance to man portable surface to air missiles, like the Stinger, and improvised weapons such as the RPGs used in Mogadishu has been accomplished. While such weapons would still likely do catastrophic damage, the aircraft is likely to be able to escape to a safer location before systems failiure forces a crash landing.
While durability is certainly a laudable requirement, a transport helicopter is useless without a practical payload. The UH-71A can transport up to eleven fully equipped soldiers to and from their objective. It can airlift a 155mm howitzer suspended beneath it, and carry thirty rounds within itself. In short, it is capable of every mission the UH-60 was and, with the additional armaments and electronics, a few Sikorsky's designers never dreamed of for a multi-role, light lift helicopter. As well as its durability requirements, however, the utility version of the H-71 series had a requirement that it be cheaper than either the SH-71A or the MH-71A, a requirement it meets handily.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Multi-Role Utility Helicopter
Contractors: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Two Kielly-Caesar T470-KC-011 turboshaft engines
Length: 19.96 m (65 ft 6 in)
Height: 5.39 m (17 ft 8 in)
Rotor Diameter: 16.61 m (54 ft 6 in)
Speed: 306 km/h (190 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 10,000 kg (22,046 lbs)
Range: 820 km (510 mi), unlimited with mid-air refueling
Armament:
1 x GAU-19/A .50 BMG Rotary Machine Gun
2 x M134 7.62 x 51mm Minigun
2 x M261 Hydra 70 Rocket Launchers
2 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
Combat Systems:
1 x AN/ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated RF Countermeasures
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/AVS-7, Aviation Night Vision Imaging System/Heads Up Display (ANVIS/HUD)
Crew: One pilot, one weapon system operator, one flight engineer, one door gunner
Passengers: 11 infantrymen
Unit Cost: $11.6 million
MH-71A Python
The MH-71A Python offers an odd profile for a transport aircraft. It employs an attack-style cockpit and a chin-mounted weapon turret. As well, while the weapon systems operator can fly the aircraft from his position, he is more a gunner than a copilot. Extensively armed, the MH-71A is designed to perform overt or covert infiltration, exfiltration, fire support, and resupply missions for special operations forces across a wide range of environmental conditions, as well as CSAR and medevac missions. As such, the MH-71A is an extremely durable, and dependable aircraft.
Designed with a very redundant systems architecture, prime amongst the MH-71A's requirements was the ability to withstand the kind of damage that downed two UH-60 Black Hawks in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 and crippled another. As a result, armour was thickened compared with that on the UH-60, although more powerful engines have resulted in an overall increase in airspeed. As well, the tail-rotor gearbox, the piece of hardware that was damaged and caused the loss of the two aircraft, has been shifted sligthly in location to reduce its vulnerability to ground fire. On top of all this, the gearbox has been redesigned to allow the aircraft to disengage and fly up to five miles before having to crash land.
The armour and the redundant systems architecture means the MH-71A is extremely resistant to small arms fire, as well as medium-calibre explosive projectiles. Moreover, an improved resistance to man portable surface to air missiles, like the Stinger, and improvised weapons such as the RPGs used in Mogadishu has been accomplished. While such weapons would still likely do catastrophic damage, the aircraft is likely to be able to escape to a safer location before systems failiure forces a crash landing.
While durability is certainly a laudable requirement, a transport helicopter is useless without a practical payload. The MH-71A can transport up to eleven fully equipped soldiers to and from their objective. It can airlift a 155mm howitzer suspended beneath it, and carry thirty rounds within itself. In short, it is capable of every mission the UH-60 was and, with the additional armaments and electronics, a few Sikorsky's designers never dreamed of for a multi-role, light lift helicopter.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Infiltration, exfiltration, fire support, and resupply of special operations forces in day, night or marginal weather conditions.
Contractors: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Two Kielly-Caesar T470-KC-011 turboshaft engines
Length: 19.96 m (65 ft 6 in)
Height: 5.39 m (17 ft 8 in)
Rotor Diameter: 16.61 m (54 ft 6 in)
Speed: 306 km/h (190 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 10,000 kg (22,046 lbs)
Range: 820 km (510 mi), unlimited with mid-air refueling
Armament:
1 x M230 30mm Automatic Cannon
2 x M134 7.62 x 51mm Minigun
2 x Four-Pylon Hellfire II Launchers
2 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
Combat Systems:
1 x Longbow Fire Control Radar
1 x Longfield Electronics Laser Target Designator and Optronic Fire-Control System
1 x AN/ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated RF Countermeasures
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/AVS-7, Aviation Night Vision Imaging System/Heads Up Display (ANVIS/HUD)
Crew: One pilot, one weapon system operator, one flight engineer, one door gunner
Passengers: 11 infantrymen
Unit Cost: $13.1 million
FIGHTERS
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/f-15-eagle7-s.jpg
F-15H Eagle
Designed to improve the capabilities of the F-15C Eagles already in service, as well as to consolidate the air-superiority role into a minimum number of aircraft. The Su-37W aircraft currently serving were intended primarily as a stop-gap measure. The F-15H is the intended aircraft. Agile, fast, and heavily armed, the F-15H is the equal of nearly any fighter in the world. It is also exceptionally easy to maintain.
The majority of its parts are off-the-shelf, with the new Wide-Angle Tactical Radar System, or WATRS coming from the Su-37W. The WATRS system is not a single radar system, but rather a series of independant transmit/recieve modules built around a single powerful module in the nose with a range of 241 kilometers, or 150 miles, and a coverage of 200 degrees. Also, the engines are the same Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofans as are included in the F-22 and the F-23 fighters, with two-dimensional thrust vectoring to improve maneuverability.
Even though the engines, the radar, and a number of electronic systems have been replaced, the F-15H still maintains many parts in common with the existing F-15C and the -15E aircraft. This leads to a greater availability of parts, as well as reducing overall maintenance costs. Rather than buying two different sets of spare parts, the same unit can be used on either aircraft. Also, the cannon and the engines are shared with the F-23B Black Widow II, and the F-22 Raptor granting the same advantages to countries that already use either of those aircraft.
The new supercooled infrared search and track system by Longfield Electronics allows the F-15H to track targets without the use of its radar by their infrared signals. Capable of tracking targets from all aspects, it adds an extra degree of lethality to this already dangerous fighter.
As with any fighter, however, the firepower of this aircraft is crucial to the success of the design. A warplane is useless without weapons, and the F-15H is far from useless. Besides its M61A2 Vulcan cannon, the F-15H is equipped with fifteen hardpoints, three of them wet. In a standard offensive air superiority role, it would not be unusual to find an F-15G carrying four AIM-9X Sidewinders on two twin-mount rails, six AIM-120 AMRAAMs, two AGM-88 HARMs for dealing with SAM sites and, the first aircraft to do so since the F-14, four AIM-54C Phoenix missiles. This, combined with its agility and speed, make the F-15H a lethal aircraft indeed.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: All-Weather Tactical Fighter
Contractors:
Vega Aerospace Consortium
McDonnell-Douglas Corporation
Power Plant: Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 afterburning turbofans with two-dimensional thrust vectoring.
Length: 20.50 m (67 ft 3 in)
Height: 5.69 m (18 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 16.10 m (52 ft 10 in)
Speed:
Supercruise - 1,811 km/h (1,125 mph/Mach 1.5)
Afterburner - 3,018 km/h (1,875 mph/Mach 2.5+)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 34,019 kg (75,000 lbs)
Range: 4,000 km ferry range with two conformal and three external fuel tanks
Armament:
1 x M61A2 20mm, six-barrel rotary cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition
15 x External hardpoints (Three Wet)
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics WATRS LPI Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x Longfield Electronics SCIRSTS Supercooled Infrared Search and Track System
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Targeting Pod
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Navigation Pod
1 x AN/ALC-135 Tactical Electronic Warfare System
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $45.8 million
http://www.globalaircraft.org/photos/planephotos/su-37_1.jpg
Su-37W Super Flanker
Originally given the task of simply westernizing the successful Su-37 Super Flanker, the VAC cooperated with the Sukhoi Design Bureau to replace the fighter's systems and bring it in-line with the western fighters already in service with the DKA. The resulting aircraft, however, has been found to be superior to the baseline design. Especially impressive is the new suite of electronics.
Especially impressive is the new Wide-Angle Tactical Radar System, or WATRS. (Pronounced "Waters"). The WATRS system is not a single radar system, but rather a series of independant transmit/recieve modules built around a single powerful module in the nose. These modules form an Active Electronically Scanned Array radar system similar to the NORA system under development by Ericsson Microwave Systems. WATRS has a range of 241 kilometers, or 150 miles, and a coverage of 200 degrees.
As well, the WATRS is not simply a radar. It offers a complete range of electronic warfare and jamming capabilities, as well as the added versitility of a data transfer system, allowing similarily equipped fighters to share tactical and strategic information. As well, the WATRS is also a multi-role system, functioning equally well in ground attack mode as it does in its long-range air combat role. Designed to engage tanks, fighters, and cruise missiles with equal ease, it is a potent system.
Longfield Electronics has also contributed its new Rear Facing Search, Track, and Targeting Radar/Optronic Fire Control and Surveillance system to replace the similar NO-12 unit from the original design. Created specifically for the project, the RFSTT system covers the 160 degree blind spot of the WATRS unit out to a range of ninety kilometers, or fifty-six miles. This grants the Su-37W a full 360 degree radar coverage, as well as the ability to target and fire upon aircraft behind it, whether through the use of command-guided or aft-facing missiles.
The new supercooled infrared search and track system by that very same company allows the Su-37W to track targets without the use of its radar by their infrared signals. Capable of tracking targets from all aspects, it adds an extra degree of lethality to this already dangerous fighter.
In a further advancement, a combination of fly-by-light controls and an improved two-dimensional thrust vectoring system renders the already maneuverable Su-37 even more so. As well, the pilot's seat has been set at a 30 degree angle, much like that of the F-16, allowing the pilot to withstand the increased G-pressures of this added maneuverability.
Yet another feature adds to the survivability of this aircraft. While, like other western fighters, it is quite capable of ejecting flares and chaff should missiles be fired at the fighter, it also includes an FOTD unit. FOTD stands for Fiber Optic Towed Decoy. The FOTD takes its inspiration from a system designed for the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Functioning by emitting a signal like that of a threat radar. Towed at varying distances behind the fighter, it causes radar-homing missiles to engage it rather than the fighter by emitting a signal more powerful than the radar return of the aircraft, causing the missile to target it instead. Deployed only when under fire, the FOTD will obviously only function until it is destroyed, although there is a high chance that a missile confused by it will miss both the decoy and the fighter.
The fighter is also available in a naval version with folding wings.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: All-Weather Multi-Role
Contractors:
Vega Aerospace Consortium
Sukhoi Design Bureau
Power Plant: Two Saturn/Lyul'ka AL-31FU afterburning turbofans with two-dimensional thrust vectoring.
Length: 21.94 m (72 ft)
Height: 6.84 m (22 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 15.16 m (49 ft 9 in)
Speed: 2,500 km/h (1,553 mph/Mach 2.35)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 34,000 kg (74,960 lbs)
Range: 3,800 km ferry range with four external fuel tanks
Armament:
1 x Oerlikon KAD 20mm 20-mm, single-barrel cannon with 225 rounds of ammunition
14 x External hardpoints capable of handling 18,075 lbs of ordinance
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics WATRS LPI Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar
1 x Longfield Electronics RFSTT Radar/Optronic Fire-Control and Surveillance System
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x Longfield Electronics SCIRSTS Supercooled Infrared Search and Track System
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Targeting Pod
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Navigation Pod
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $45.8 million
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/yf23roll-s.jpg
F-23B Black Widow II
Although it was defeated by the F-22 Raptor in the US Air Force's ATF competition, the Dominion of Kotterdam nonetheless decided that the YF-23 would make an excellent base for their stealth fighter. Cooperating with the Vega Aircraft Consortium, Northrop and McDonell-Douglas, that long-time supplier of the DKAF began work on improving the design. An extra bay for two more Sidewinders was worked into the design, granting it a more potent air-to-air punch. Other than that, the most major change was to the control systems, changing them from fly-by-wire to fly-by-light in a move designed to grant the design marginally better maneuverability.
More agile, and more stealthy, both to radar and to infrared than the F-22, the F-23B also has the advantage of superior range over the former fighter. The improved payload can be augmented even further by the six optional wing hardpoints, three per wing, four out of six being wet. Because of their effect on the Black Widow II's radar signature, they are almost never used on aggressive missions where stealth matters. Only on CAP missions are they used, and even then, only during relatively safe situations.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Stealth All-Weather Multi-Role
Secondary Function: Tactical Strike
Contractor(s): Northrop/McDonnell-Douglas/Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: 2 Pratt and Whitney YF119 turbofan engines
Length: 67 feet, 5 inches (20.6 meters)
Height: 13 feet, 11 inches (4.3 meters)
Wingspan: 43 feet, 7 inches (13.3 meters)
Speed:
Supercruise - Mach 1.58
With Afterburner - Mach 1.8
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 64,000 pounds (29,029 kilograms)
Range: 800 nautical miles without external tanks or air-to-air refueling.
Armament:
One internally mounted M-61A2 20mm 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 500 rounds of ammunition; 4 AIM-9X Sidewinders; internal bay capable of carrying either 4 AIM-120C AMRAAMs, or two AMRAAMs and two JDAMs, or two AMRAAMs and two AGM-88 HARMs, or two AMRAAMs and two AGM-84 Harpoons; 6 under-wing hardpoints each capable of mounting one AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-9 Sidewinder, or AGM-84 Harpoon
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $34.2 million
ATTACK AIRCRAFT
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/ac-130h-DF-ST-88-02994-s.jpg
AC-130K Super Spooky
With the C-130K's cargo capacity of more than double that of a standard C-130, it was only natural that an advancement on the AC-130 concept would come from the design. The AC-130K is the result of that advancement, carrying firepower in excess even of that carried by the AC-130U Spooky.
The ALFREDO, or Advanced Long-range Fire-control Radar Engagement and Direction Optronics system from Longfield Electronics aids the airborne gunners in picking out their targets and engaging them up to the maximum range of their weapons. ALFREDO is sufficiently accurate to allow the engagement of a single car on a busy highway with any of the airborne weapons. As with earlier models, however, the AC-130K also excels at area saturation attacks over extended periods in all weather.
All but one weapon system aboard the AC-130K are off-the-shelf designs, with only the LAU-162 rocket launcher being a new design. The LAU-162 fires the 2.75in Hydra-70 unguided rocket, and is fed via a specially designed linkless ammunition feed system. It launches the rockets pneumatically, with the rockets igniting outside the aircraft to prevent the rocket blast from causing damage to the inside of the aircraft. These unguided rockets further augment the already formidable firepower of the AC-130.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Four Kielly-Caesar R111-KC-51 Heracles Superprop Engines
Length: 34.25 m (112 ft 5 in)
Height: 11.4 m (38 ft, 3 in)
Wingspan: 43.9 m (144 ft 0 in)
Speed: 650 km/h (404 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 69,274 kg (152,723 lbs)
Range: 3,080 nm unrefueled, unlimited with midair refueling.
Armament:
1 x LW155 Lightweight 155mm howitzer
1 x LAU-162 2.75in Hydra-70 Rocket Launcher
2 x GAU-12 25mm Equaliser Six-Barrel Rotary Cannons
2 x L60 40mm Bofors cannon
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics WATRS LPI Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar
1 x Longfield Electronics ALFREDO Target Acquisition Radar/Optronic Fire Control System
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x AN/AAQ-24 Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/ALQ-161A Defensive Avionics System
1 x AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD)
Crew: 14
Unit Cost: $61 million
A-24 Corsair III
For an aircraft manufacturer known for its unorthodox approach, the A-24 Corsair III is surprisingly conventional in its design. A conventional low delta-wing design with downward sloping swept horizontal tail surfaces and a single high vertical tail. Small and extremely agile, it is not the fastest fighter around, but retains exceptional low-level maneuverability, making it a terrific strike aircraft.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Light All-Weather Multi-Role
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: One Kielly-Caesar L21-KC-211 afterburning turbofan
Length: 42 feet, 7 inches
Height: 18 feet, 3 inches
Wingspan: 31 feet, 11 inches
Speed: 925 miles per hour (Mach 1.2)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 68,000 pounds
Range: 3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks
Armament:
One internally mounted M-61A2 20mm 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 560 rounds of ammunition; 2 AIM-9X Sidewinders, 4 under-wing and fuselage hardpoints capable of mounting the AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-140 ADAAM, MK81 250-lb bomb, MK82 500-lb bomb, MK83 1,000-lb bomb, GBU-12 500-lb LGB, GBU-16 1,000-lb LGB, GBU-32 and GBU-35 1,000-lb JDAM, GBU-30 and GBU-38 500 JDAM, CBU-24/B Cluster Bomb, MK-20 Rockeye Cluster Bomb, BLU-111 500-lb penetrator, BLU-110 1,000-lb penetrator, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-65 Maverick
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $14.8 million
AV-19 Lightning II
Mission
The mission of the Vega Aerospace Consortium AV-19 Lightning II is to attack and destroy surface targets, escort helicopters, and to conduct air operations as needed. The Lightning II's missions include, but are not limited to:
- Close Air Support using conventional and specific weapons.
- Deep air support, to include armed reconnaissance and air interdiction, using conventional and specific weapons.
- Offensive and defensive antiair warfare. This includes combat air patrol, armed escort missions, and offensive missions against enemy ground-to-air defenses
Requirements for the Lightning II call for the aircraft to be able to conduct operations at night and in all weather. The Lightning II includes air intercept radar capable of tracking targets out to fifty miles, Forward Looking Infrared systems (FLIR). It is quite capable of operating and delivering ordinance at night, and conducting extended operations through the use of aerial refueling. It is designed to operate from carriers and other suitable seagoing platforms, advanced bases, expeditionary airfields, and remote tactical landing sites.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Close Air Support
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Two Kielly-Caesar L12-KC-100 vectored thrust augmented turbofans
Length: 49 feet, 4 inches
Height: 12 feet, 2 inches
Wingspan: 30 feet, 6 inches
Speed: 925 miles per hour (Mach 1.2)
Maximum Weight for Short Takeoff: 38,000 pounds
Maximum Weight for Vertical Takeoff: 35,000 pounds
Range: 1,100 miles
Armament:
One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to 16,000 pounds (13,000 pounds for Vertical Take Off) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing pylon stations, including low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 2.75-inch (6.99 centimeters) rockets; illumination flares; AGM-88 HARM (High-speed Anti-Radiation Missile); AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles; and Lightning II Laser Guided Munition Targeting Pod.
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $25.8 million
BOMBERS
EB-52C Megafortress
A true child of the Cold War, the venerable B-52 Stratofortress bomber is possibly one of the largest offensive aircraft ever built. Saddled with the moniker "BUFF", or Big Ugly Fat Fellow, the B-52 has been overshadowed by developments in Surface-to-Air Missiles and by stealth technologies that render this behemoth nearly obsolete. Fortunately for the BUFF, however, this wasn't the end.
The EB-52C is a completely reworked aircraft, designed from the ground up for a new purpose. Although not stealthy by any stretch of the imagination, the EB-52C incorporates many stealth features, like radar absorbing materials worked into the skin and cockpit glass, reworked engine cowlings, a radar-transparent composite fiber twin tail set at a forty-five degree angle instead of the single, massive steel tail, and swept control surfaces, amongst many other measures. As well, the newly-designed Prairie-Phantom system has been incorporated into the EB-52C's construction.
Prairie-Phantom works through the use of a series of conduits designed to absorb and dissipate radar energy harmlessly. As mentioned above, this does not make the EB-52C stealthy by any stretch of the imagination. It does, however, combine with the other features to give the aircraft a radar cross-section approximately the size of that offered by an F-15 Eagle. It serves the role of a heavy bomber, as well as a strike coordinator and AWACS aircraft. The EB-52C can deal with threats by engaging them with its cannons and air-to-air missiles, as well as defending itself through the use of its FIM-92V SADAMs, shooting down inbound missiles. All in all, the EB-52C is one of the most advanced aircraft in the Dominion's arsenal.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Heavy Bomber
Contractors:
Vega Aerospace Consortium
Boeing Military Airplanes
Power Plant: Eight Pratt & Whitney TF-30P-414 turbofan engines
Length: 159 feet, 4 inches (48.5 meters)
Height: 32 feet, 6 inches (9.92 meters)
Wingspan: 185 feet (56.4 meters)
Speed: 650 miles per hour
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 498,000 pounds (225,889 kilograms)
Range: Unrefueled 8,800 miles (7,652 nautical miles)
Armament:
2 x Turreted M61A2 20mm, six-barrel rotary cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition each
2 x Turreted SADAM Launchers
12 x External AAM Hardpoints
60,000 lbs of Munitions Carried Internally
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics APY-7 AESA-NORA LPI Airborne Warning Radar
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x Longfield Electronics SCIRSTS Supercooled Infrared Search and Track System
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/ALE-50 AAED Advanced Airborne Expendable Decoy
1 x AN/ALQ-155 Jammer Power Management System
1 x AN/ALQ-122 False Target Generator
1 x AN/ALQ-149 Communications Jammer
1 x AN/AAQ-6 FLIR Electro-optical viewing system
1 x AN/AVQ-22 Low-light TV Electro-optical viewing system
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Targeting Pod
1 x AN/AAQ-14 LANTIRN Navigation Pod
1 x Prairie-Phantom Radar Avoidance System
6 x AN/ALE-24 Chaff Dispensers
12 x AN/ALE-20 Infra-Red Flare Dispensers
Crew: Nine (Two pilots, one Weapon Systems Officer, one Radar Systems Officer, one Electronic Warfare Officer, four Airborne Controllers)
Unit Cost: $350.8 million
B-4A Feuersturm
Similar in design to the B-1B Lancer, or the Tu-160 Blackjack, the B-4A Feuersturm, or "firestorm" is similarily a high-speed, heavy bomber designed to blast its way through enemy defenses at supersonic speeds and deliver its payload almost before the enemy knows it's there.
Making use, like its predecessors, of variable-geometry wings, the B-4A mounts five Kielly-Caesar augmented afterburning turbofans, two in each wing junction, and one in the tail, to grant its superb maximum speed and payload. It also has the unique ability to carry Air-to-Air missiles in the form of six of Kotterdam's ADAAM missiles. Although the ADAAM is standard, the Feuersturm can make use of the AIM-54C Phoenix, or the AIM-120 AMRAAM in its place. In fact, just about any radar-guided AAM can be substituted in a pinch.
Equipped with a powerful radar capable of tracking targets up to one hundred and fifty miles out, and exceptional, almost fighter-like maneuverability, the B-4A is not as easy a target as the lumbering B-52 bombers of an earlier age, even though it has a similar payload. To further improve its survivability, the B-4A includes powerful jammers similar in strength to those aboard the B-52. Between its speed, firepower, range, and agility, the B-4A Feuersturm will rapidly become indispensible to any airforce including this highly-capable aircraft.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Long-Range Multi-Role Heavy Bomber
Secondary Function: Long-Range Naval Interdiction Aircraft
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Five Kielly-Caesar L30-KC-504 augmented afterburning turbofans
Length: 152 ft (46.33 m)
Height: 34 ft (10.36 m)
Wingspan:
Swept: 80 feet (24.38 m)
Forward: 140 feet (42.67 m)
Speed: 1,320 mph (Mach 2.0)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 477,000 pounds (214,650 kilograms)
Range:
4,000 miles unrefueled with full weapons load.
Unlimited with mid-air refueling
Armament:
6 AIM-140 ADAAMs carried externally; 2 AGM-88 HARMs carried externally; Internal weapons bay capable of carrying 80,000 lbs of munitions including (but not limited to) the AGM-86 Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM), Mk82 conventional bomb, CBU 87, CBU 89, and CBU 97 cluster bombs, Mk62 and Mk65 Quick Strike Mines, WCMD cluster bombs, JDAM smart bombs, GBU-27 smart bombs, AGM-84 Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, and the AGM-154 JSOW, although just about any ground-attack munition can be used in the place of these.
Although the munitions discussed up to this point have all been conventional, the Feuersturm is capable of carrying the B83 strategic nuclear gravity bomb, as well as the B61 series of nuclear bombs. Additionally, the ALCM can mount the W-80 nuclear warhead in place of its conventional warhead. The Dominion of Kotterdam would like to state that it is not engaging in the sale of nuclear weapons. The Feuersturm bomber does not come equipped with any of the above weapons, nor does the sale of the bomber, or its production rights include the plans for the aforementioned weapons.
Crew: Four
Unit Cost: $257.8 million
AWACS AIRCRAFT
http://www.zap16.com/images/F-WWBA.jpg
E-340 Sentinel
The E-340 Sentinel is an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft based off the successful Airbus A340-200, providing all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications (c3) capabilities to commanders of air defense forces through the use of advanced electronics. As proven in Desert Storm, the presence of an air battle command and control aircraft can tip the scales of an engagement in favour of the defending forces.
Incorporating the new APY-7 AESA-NORA Low Probability of Intercept Airborne Warning Radar, the E-340 maintains a full three hundred and sixty degrees of coverage out to a range of approximately 250 miles through a system of multi-axis internal active electronically scanned array radar antennae mounted inside the fuselage rather than as a large, rotating radome atop the aircraft. It can detect, track, and identify low-flying enemy and friendly aircraft by using a phenomenon known as Doppler shift to distinguish moving targets from ground clutter and accurately gauge their speed. Between its power, and its frequency agility, it is extremely jam resistant, making it capable of functioning in the presence of heavy electronic countermeasures.
The AESA-NORA suite expands on a concept put forth by Ericsson Microwave Systems (http://www.ericsson.com/microwave/products_sensors_nora.shtml) for a radar that was, as the acronym says, not only a radar, "but also a complete electronic warfare system including jamming and data communication". The AESA-NORA suite is capable of interfacing with nearly any airborne high-capacity tactical and strategic data-transfer system, as well as providing jamming capabilities on par with nearly any other system in existance.
Also, the AESA-NORA suite is capable of switching rapidly from longwave radar search mode to shortwave radar fire control mode. This, combined with the data communication capabilities of the system, allows it to guide Air-to-Air missiles. Escorting aircraft can fly with their search radars off, relying on information from the AESA-NORA, and engage targets with active and semi-active radar guided missiles, all while remaining under EMCON and protected by the guiding aircraft as it jams all but its own radar frequencies. A crew of eighteen mission specialists analyzes the information gathered by the powerful radar, and guide the accompanying aircraft to their targets.
A large part of the decision to go with the A340-200 as the platform for the SPY-7 radar had to do with survivability. Specifically, the Boeing 767 has two engines, as does the A330-200, another Airbus aircraft under consideration, and the L-1011 Tristar had three. The Airbus A340-200 has four engines, meaning that loss of one engine doesn't result in the loss of half the aircraft's thrust, as in the case of the 767, or the A330-200, or even a third of the thrust, as with the L-1011. Further measures were employed to increase the aircraft's survivability, such as the installation of flare and chaff cartridge dispensers, and the inclusion of Ericsson's MIDIS system.
Ericsson Microwave System's MIDIS (http://www.ericsson.com/microwave/products_sensors_midis.shtml), or Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information System is a highly modular and multi-functional defensive information system designed for both air- and ground-based applications. In this case, it is configured to provide Electronic Support Measures (ESM), function as a Radar Warning Receiver (RWR), grant Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) capabilities, as well as secondary Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) and high-capability data link communications to back up the capabilities already provided by the APY-7 AESA-NORA.
On top of the APY-7 and the MIDIS, the E-340 also mounts the AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System to alert it to inbound missile launches, as well as the AN/ALQ-212 ATIRCM Infrared Jammer to protect it from IR missiles, and the AN/ALE-50 AAED towed decoy to do the same for radar guided missiles. In the case of the AN/ALE-50, this is done by transmitting a missile guidance signal more powerful than the radar return off the E-340 to lure the missile into engaging the towed decoy instead of the aircraft. This would most likely result in the missile missing entirely, as the towed decoy is an extremely small target to hit, or in the worst case, would result in the destruction of the decoy, an outcome far preferable to the loss of the aircraft.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Airborne Warning And Control System
Contractor:
Vega Aerospace Consortium
Airbus Military Aircraft
Power Plant: Four CFM International CFM56-5C4 High-Bypass Turbofans
Length: 194 feet, 10 inches (59.39m)
Height: 54 feet, 9 inches (16.7m)
Wingspan: 197 feet, 1 inch (60.3m)
Speed: 523 miles per hour (842 km/h, Mach 0.86)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 606,300 pounds (275 Metric Tonnes)
Range: 9,196 miles (8,000 nm, 14,800 km) without mid-air refueling.
Armament:
None
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics APY-7 AESA-NORA LPI Airborne Warning Radar
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/ALE-50 AAED Advanced Airborne Expendable Decoy
4 x M-130 General Purpose Countermeasure Cartridge Dispensers
60 x M206 Flare Decoy Cartridges
60 x Chaff Cartridges
Crew: Two flight crew and up to eighteen mission crew
Unit Cost: $320 million
CARGO AIRCRAFT
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/images/c130_4s.jpg
C-130K Super Hercules
Ordered to modernize the C-130 aircraft already in service with the DAF, the Vega Aerospace Consortium took what began as a simple replacement of the engines and almost completely redesigned the aircraft. The new C-130K Super Hercules has a cargo bay that is fifteen feet longer, thanks to the addition of spacer sections, a greater wingspan, and a superior payload to earlier versions of this aircraft. Survivability has been improved due to the addition of a whole new suite of countermeasures and electronic warfare equipment. All and all, the C-130K is rapidly living up to its name.
As with any cargo aircraft, the C-130K's payload is its most important feature, and where the aircraft really shines. In fact, were it not for volume restraints, one could carry the components for a second complete C-130 within the C-130K with weight to spare. This comes largely due to a redesigned wing, and more powerful engines that grant the aircraft a far greater lifting capacity than it had before. It can now quite comfortably carry an MAFV-1 medium tank, or two IFV-2 Normandy Infantry Fighting Vehicles without overloading itself. As well, the cargo bay has been redesigned to make effective use of the improved lifting capacity, with spacers added to increase the cargo bay length by almost half, and the landing gear moved further apart to eliminate the bottleneck present amidships in earlier C-130 aircraft.
The radar on the C-130K has been replaced with the same WATRS unit employed on the VAC/Sukhoi Su-37W Super Flanker. This grants the C-130K an impressive two-hundred degrees of radar coverage out to the full range of 150 miles. The avionics suite is primarily off-the-shelf hardware in an attempt to reduce maintenance costs. The Defensive Avionics System, for instance, is the same ECM suite as employed on the B-1B bomber, for instance, and the DIRCM unit is destined for use on the MC-130 Combat Talon aircraft.
None of these upgrades would have been of any use without the specially designed Heracles engines made by Kielly-Caesar. These so-called "Superprop" engines are an enhancement of the JTAGG-III engine core architecture, and give the C-130K a dramatic increase in thrust and fuel efficiency. Similar engines are intended to be used in the design of the jointly designed Exodus aircraft.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Cargo and Troop Transport
Contractor: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Four Kielly-Caesar R111-KC-51 Heracles Superprop Engines
Length: 34.25 m (112 ft 5 in)
Height: 11.4 m (38 ft, 3 in)
Wingspan: 43.9 m (144 ft 0 in)
Speed: 650 km/h (404 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 69,274 kg (152,723 lbs)
Range: 4,000 nm unrefueled with full payload and reserve tanks, unlimited with midair refueling.
Armament:
None
Cargo: 35,000 kg (77,162 lbs)
Bay Length: 15.24 m (55 ft 0 in)
Bay Height: 2.74 m (9 ft 0 in)
Bay Width: 3.13 m (10 ft 3.2 in)
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics WATRS LPI Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar
1 x Ericsson Multifunction Integrated Defensive Information Systems (MIDIS)
1 x AN/AAQ-24 Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/ALQ-161A Defensive Avionics System
1 x AN/ALE-55 Fiber Optic Towed Decoy (FOTD)
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $46.1 million
HELICOPTERS
http://cybersluagh.com/lynn/AH-67A.jpg
AH-67A Wolverine
The AH-67A Wolverine continues the VAC's tradition of oddly-configured aircraft with its utter lack of a tail rotor to help it maintain stability. Rather, it has a pair of coaxially-mounted, counter-rotating main rotors that cancel out each other's torque. This configuration results in a maneuverable attack helicopter with a very a heavy payload. The AH-67A is no normal attack helicopter, however. It is configured much like the RAH-66 Comanche in that it is a stealth helicopter.
Constructed with Radar Absorbant Materials and low radar cross-section hull geometry, the AH-67A is an extremely stealthy vehicle for a helicopter. As well, it has a significantly smaller infrared signature, relative to the AH-64 Apache or even the Comanche, thanks to troughs that mix the turboshaft's jet exhaust with cold exterior air. Combined with the extensive suite of infrared countermeasures, and a hardened inner skin, the AH-67A has an extremely high survivability rate compared with other attack helicopters.
As well, crew survivability is improved by a number of measures. First amongst these is a layer of armour enclosing the crew compartment. The crew compartment will withstand multiple direct hits from 15 x 115mm heavy machine gun rounds, as well as fragments from 30mm cannons. Direct cannon hits, however, cannot be defended against easily. As well, in case of catastrophic damage, the AH-67A has a crew ejection system. Explosive bolts blow the rotors free, and then a pair of so-called "zero-zero" ejection seats jettison the crewmembers. Zero-zero ejection seats are so named because they are capable of safely ejecting crewmembers at zero altitude and zero forward velocity.
The Wolverine's armament surpasses that of the only similar craft, the RAH-66 Comanche by a fair margin. It even surpasses that of the AH-64D Apache Longbow, although that comes at the expense of airspeed. Two optional stub wings capable of being jettisoned mid-flight to improve the aircraft's radar cross-section mount the bulk of the aircraft's firepower, carrying two Stinger missiles at either wingtip, and carrying two hardpoints underneath. This, combined with the internal weapons bay allows for a superb weapons load, allowing for the same versatility as the AH-64D. Mounting a similar mast-top radar array, it is capable of firing over hills, much like the other helicopter, and is capable of engaging two separate targets with laser-guided missiles simultaneously using its roof- and chin-mounted target designators.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Close Air Support in day, night or marginal weather conditions.
Contractors: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Two Kielly-Caesar T480-KC-011C turboshaft engines
Length: 16.81 m (55 ft 2 in)
Height: 4.78 m (15 ft 8 in)
Rotor Diameter: 5.64 m (18 ft 6 in)
Speed: 248 km/h (154 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 7,269.72 kg (16,027 lbs)
Range: 500 km (310.69 mi) on internal fuel
Armament:
1 x Retractable M230 30mm Automatic Cannon
8 x Internally-Stored AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
-or-
1 x Retractable M230 30mm Automatic Cannon
8 x Internally-Stored FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
-or-
1 x Retractable M230 30mm Automatic Cannon
4 x Internally-Stored FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
4 x Internally-Stored AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
-Optional External Stores-
2 x M261 Nineteen-Tube Hydra-70 Rocket Launchers
4 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
8 x AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
-or-
4 x M261 Nineteen-Tube Hydra-70 Rocket Launchers
4 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
-or-
4 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
16 x AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles
-or-
2 x M261 Nineteen-Tube Hydra-70 Rocket Launchers
12 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
Combat Systems:
1 x Longfield Electronics Millimeter-Wave AESA Fire Control Radar
1 x Longfield Electronics Roof-Mounted Laser Target Designator and Optronic Fire-Control System
1 x Longfield Electronics Chin-Mounted Laser Target Designator and Optronic Fire-Control System
1 x AN/ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated RF Countermeasures (SIRFCM)
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/AVS-7, Aviation Night Vision Imaging System/Heads Up Display (ANVIS/HUD)
Crew: One pilot, one weapon system operator
Unit Cost: $23.1 million
UH-71A Python
The UH-71A Python offers an odd profile for a transport aircraft. It employs an attack-style cockpit and a chin-mounted weapon turret. As well, while the weapon systems operator can fly the aircraft from his position, he is more a gunner than a copilot. Extensively armed, the UH-71A is designed to perform overt or covert resupply, fire support, and medevac missions across a wide range of weather conditions.
Designed with a very redundant systems architecture, the UH-71A is extremely durable and reliable. Prime amongst the UH-71A's requirements was the ability to withstand the kind of damage that downed two UH-60 Black Hawks in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 and crippled another. Although the armour carried by the helicopter has been increased, more powerful engines has resulted in an overall increase in airspeed. As well, the tail-rotor gearbox, the piece of hardware that was damaged and caused the loss of the two aircraft, has been shifted sligthly in location to reduce its vulnerability to ground fire. On top of all this, the gearbox has been redesigned to allow the aircraft to disengage and fly up to five miles before having to crash land.
The armour and the redundant systems architecture means the UH-71A is extremely resistant to small arms fire, as well as medium-calibre explosive projectiles. Moreover, an improved resistance to man portable surface to air missiles, like the Stinger, and improvised weapons such as the RPGs used in Mogadishu has been accomplished. While such weapons would still likely do catastrophic damage, the aircraft is likely to be able to escape to a safer location before systems failiure forces a crash landing.
While durability is certainly a laudable requirement, a transport helicopter is useless without a practical payload. The UH-71A can transport up to eleven fully equipped soldiers to and from their objective. It can airlift a 155mm howitzer suspended beneath it, and carry thirty rounds within itself. In short, it is capable of every mission the UH-60 was and, with the additional armaments and electronics, a few Sikorsky's designers never dreamed of for a multi-role, light lift helicopter. As well as its durability requirements, however, the utility version of the H-71 series had a requirement that it be cheaper than either the SH-71A or the MH-71A, a requirement it meets handily.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Multi-Role Utility Helicopter
Contractors: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Two Kielly-Caesar T470-KC-011 turboshaft engines
Length: 19.96 m (65 ft 6 in)
Height: 5.39 m (17 ft 8 in)
Rotor Diameter: 16.61 m (54 ft 6 in)
Speed: 306 km/h (190 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 10,000 kg (22,046 lbs)
Range: 820 km (510 mi), unlimited with mid-air refueling
Armament:
1 x GAU-19/A .50 BMG Rotary Machine Gun
2 x M134 7.62 x 51mm Minigun
2 x M261 Hydra 70 Rocket Launchers
2 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
Combat Systems:
1 x AN/ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated RF Countermeasures
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/AVS-7, Aviation Night Vision Imaging System/Heads Up Display (ANVIS/HUD)
Crew: One pilot, one weapon system operator, one flight engineer, one door gunner
Passengers: 11 infantrymen
Unit Cost: $11.6 million
MH-71A Python
The MH-71A Python offers an odd profile for a transport aircraft. It employs an attack-style cockpit and a chin-mounted weapon turret. As well, while the weapon systems operator can fly the aircraft from his position, he is more a gunner than a copilot. Extensively armed, the MH-71A is designed to perform overt or covert infiltration, exfiltration, fire support, and resupply missions for special operations forces across a wide range of environmental conditions, as well as CSAR and medevac missions. As such, the MH-71A is an extremely durable, and dependable aircraft.
Designed with a very redundant systems architecture, prime amongst the MH-71A's requirements was the ability to withstand the kind of damage that downed two UH-60 Black Hawks in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993 and crippled another. As a result, armour was thickened compared with that on the UH-60, although more powerful engines have resulted in an overall increase in airspeed. As well, the tail-rotor gearbox, the piece of hardware that was damaged and caused the loss of the two aircraft, has been shifted sligthly in location to reduce its vulnerability to ground fire. On top of all this, the gearbox has been redesigned to allow the aircraft to disengage and fly up to five miles before having to crash land.
The armour and the redundant systems architecture means the MH-71A is extremely resistant to small arms fire, as well as medium-calibre explosive projectiles. Moreover, an improved resistance to man portable surface to air missiles, like the Stinger, and improvised weapons such as the RPGs used in Mogadishu has been accomplished. While such weapons would still likely do catastrophic damage, the aircraft is likely to be able to escape to a safer location before systems failiure forces a crash landing.
While durability is certainly a laudable requirement, a transport helicopter is useless without a practical payload. The MH-71A can transport up to eleven fully equipped soldiers to and from their objective. It can airlift a 155mm howitzer suspended beneath it, and carry thirty rounds within itself. In short, it is capable of every mission the UH-60 was and, with the additional armaments and electronics, a few Sikorsky's designers never dreamed of for a multi-role, light lift helicopter.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Infiltration, exfiltration, fire support, and resupply of special operations forces in day, night or marginal weather conditions.
Contractors: Vega Aerospace Consortium
Power Plant: Two Kielly-Caesar T470-KC-011 turboshaft engines
Length: 19.96 m (65 ft 6 in)
Height: 5.39 m (17 ft 8 in)
Rotor Diameter: 16.61 m (54 ft 6 in)
Speed: 306 km/h (190 mph)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 10,000 kg (22,046 lbs)
Range: 820 km (510 mi), unlimited with mid-air refueling
Armament:
1 x M230 30mm Automatic Cannon
2 x M134 7.62 x 51mm Minigun
2 x Four-Pylon Hellfire II Launchers
2 x FIM-92A Stinger ATAS Missiles
Combat Systems:
1 x Longbow Fire Control Radar
1 x Longfield Electronics Laser Target Designator and Optronic Fire-Control System
1 x AN/ALQ-211 Suite of Integrated RF Countermeasures
1 x AN/ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM)
1 x AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS)
1 x AN/AVS-7, Aviation Night Vision Imaging System/Heads Up Display (ANVIS/HUD)
Crew: One pilot, one weapon system operator, one flight engineer, one door gunner
Passengers: 11 infantrymen
Unit Cost: $13.1 million