Layarteb
04-06-2005, 04:03
(LNN) - Today, in an astonishing move, the Imperial Layartebian Navy have announced plans to retire all existing P-3 and EP-3 airframes. The sale of these airframes will be used to pay for the production of a new craft, the P-8 Excalibur.
Details on the Excalibur are sketchy but we have obtained some pictures from naval tests.
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/nimrod/images/Nimrod_12.jpg
XP-8A Excalibur during Harpoon II tests.
http://www.flowmaster.com/images/nimrod_mra4_1.gif
XP-8A Excalibur during torpedo trials.
From what the Ministry of Defense has released, the P-8A Excalibur will be 131 feet long, 30 feet high, and boast a 127 foot wingspan. Weights are still classified but we believe that it weighs 105,000 pounds loaded and can lift up to 250,000 pounds, including 30,000 pounds of weaponry and 111,600 pounds of fuel. It is powered by four Rolls-Royce engines, each producing around 15,500 pounds of static thrust. This would allow it to fly as fast as 510 miles per hour at altitude and 409 miles per hour at sea level. She can climb as high as 42,000 feet and has an unrefueled combat radius around 6,000 nautical miles.
For weaponry, it is capable of carrying, on eight external pylons, up to eight individual stores, probably Harpoon II missiles or the newest modification of the MK-50 Barracuda, the Mod 2, with reattack capability and a heavier warhead than the MK-50 Barracuda. For defensive purposes, it can carry up to four Sidewinder missiles on two additional pylons mounted outside of the others. Inside two bomb bays, it can carry multiple Harpoon II missiles or torpedoes.
As the P-7A Orion II is equipped with a wide variety of sensors, including an advanced ground searching radar, infrared detection systems, and magnetic detection systems, we too expect this version to carry the same, if not more advanced, sensors as well as possible passive detection systems, particularly to detect radar or radio emissions.
Reportedly, the Ministry of Defense has agreed to sell all fifty-six P-3C Orion airframes at a cost of $20 million each and all twenty-two EP-3E Aries II airframes at a cost of $25 million each.
[secret IC]
The Admiral of the Navy turned off the television and smiled. "You give them a little and they sure do make a story out of it." The Emperor was pleased as well. He had orchestrated the entire thing.
"I do believe so. So tell me, what are the real specifications on this puppy?"
"You heard it. We'll have every intelligence analyst thinking she can do so much more."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Granted this is far better than the P-3C and the P-7A, let's face it, it's not meant to do much except maritime patrol and electronic survelliance. At six thousand miles, she can patrol an area for fifteen hours without being refueled sir. With being refueled it can extend up to nineteen. We have the ability to rotate a second crew inside of the plane."
"And of it's sensors?"
"Well, as you are aware, submarines frequently pop-up to the surface to send radio transmissions, burst transmissions, to scan the surface through their periscope, to snorkel, if they are diesel-electric, or to raise their ESM masts. The passive detection suite onboard the aircraft is meant to detect burst transmissions and radio transmissions both incoming and outgoing. In addition, to that, it is set to detect the wakes of periscopes and ESM masts. Both are passive systems and do not give out any signals so detecting them is far more difficult. Trials put them able to detect the masts of a Seawolf at sixteen nautical miles, in clear skies, from an altitude of 20,000 feet."
"What about magnetic detection?"
"Well for that, the P-8 will have to fly lower, about two thousand feet maximum. A small boom will be extended out of the rear of the aircraft, much like we used on the P-3C Orion. It's effective enough to detect a submarine at a depth of 250 feet."
"Launch depth for an SLBM is 150 feet. Excellent. It is still a secondary system correct?"
"Yes it is sir. Sonar buoys will remain primary."
"And visual?"
"Much like they did previously sir. You can see a submarine from the air if it's shallow. Camera equippment on the bomb of the aircraft is meant to provide a continual feed of the water underneath for a radius of one quarter mile around the aircraft. Unfortunately though, submarines are painted to hide them from the air. They are meant to blend in with the ocean."
"Yes they are. So how is this solved?"
"Onboard computer is meant to detect shapes."
"So we have to program it with every submarine shape?"
"Not necessarily. It is meant to distinguish conning towers, cigar shapes, as in the hull, and propellers."
"What about torpedoes?"
"Well that's a toughy but yes. If a torpedo is no deeper than fifty feet it will get a glimpse of them but keep in mind the aircraft will be moving much faster than the torpedo so it won't be on the visual for very long. It's not really that important. Torpedoes are loud and make noise."
"Alright. What about the advanced sonobuoys?"
"The new ones you mean? The ones that allow them to drop below the layer?"
"Yes, those."
"It'll carry those. It can carry up to one hundred and twenty sonobuoys, twenty of which will be the advanced ones we just discussed."
"Very good. What about the Barracuda Mod 2?"
"Here's the spec sheet." He passed over a document with teh specifications of the Barracuda Mod 2.
Mark 50 Mod 2 Barracuda
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_PostWWII_mk50_pic.jpg
Weight: 850 lb.
Overall Length: 9.30 ft.
Diameter: 12.75" (324MM)
Explosive Charge: 150 lb. shaped-charge
Range: 15nm [50 knots]; 24nm [35 knots]
Maximum Speed: 50 knots
Maximum Depth: 3,000 feet
Propulsion: Close-cycle Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System
Guidance: Active or Passive SONAR with reattack capability
"Impressive. The reattack capability, we have learned from the ADCAP II."
"Yes sir we have. The torpedo is set to explode on impact. The impact is determined by a PSI rating recieved from the impact on a hull. If it goes through a countermeasure it will realize that it was not a hull and not detonate. At that point, the torpedo will send out a single active ping, being very close to the submarine it will immediately pick up the target. It will execute a six hundred yard turnaround, at minimum speed, to the bearing and do another active ping. Once the target is spotted the second time, it will go to maximum speed and attack through passive mode."
"Alright. What more do we have to discuss?"
"Nothing sir."
"Very well."
Details on the Excalibur are sketchy but we have obtained some pictures from naval tests.
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/nimrod/images/Nimrod_12.jpg
XP-8A Excalibur during Harpoon II tests.
http://www.flowmaster.com/images/nimrod_mra4_1.gif
XP-8A Excalibur during torpedo trials.
From what the Ministry of Defense has released, the P-8A Excalibur will be 131 feet long, 30 feet high, and boast a 127 foot wingspan. Weights are still classified but we believe that it weighs 105,000 pounds loaded and can lift up to 250,000 pounds, including 30,000 pounds of weaponry and 111,600 pounds of fuel. It is powered by four Rolls-Royce engines, each producing around 15,500 pounds of static thrust. This would allow it to fly as fast as 510 miles per hour at altitude and 409 miles per hour at sea level. She can climb as high as 42,000 feet and has an unrefueled combat radius around 6,000 nautical miles.
For weaponry, it is capable of carrying, on eight external pylons, up to eight individual stores, probably Harpoon II missiles or the newest modification of the MK-50 Barracuda, the Mod 2, with reattack capability and a heavier warhead than the MK-50 Barracuda. For defensive purposes, it can carry up to four Sidewinder missiles on two additional pylons mounted outside of the others. Inside two bomb bays, it can carry multiple Harpoon II missiles or torpedoes.
As the P-7A Orion II is equipped with a wide variety of sensors, including an advanced ground searching radar, infrared detection systems, and magnetic detection systems, we too expect this version to carry the same, if not more advanced, sensors as well as possible passive detection systems, particularly to detect radar or radio emissions.
Reportedly, the Ministry of Defense has agreed to sell all fifty-six P-3C Orion airframes at a cost of $20 million each and all twenty-two EP-3E Aries II airframes at a cost of $25 million each.
[secret IC]
The Admiral of the Navy turned off the television and smiled. "You give them a little and they sure do make a story out of it." The Emperor was pleased as well. He had orchestrated the entire thing.
"I do believe so. So tell me, what are the real specifications on this puppy?"
"You heard it. We'll have every intelligence analyst thinking she can do so much more."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Granted this is far better than the P-3C and the P-7A, let's face it, it's not meant to do much except maritime patrol and electronic survelliance. At six thousand miles, she can patrol an area for fifteen hours without being refueled sir. With being refueled it can extend up to nineteen. We have the ability to rotate a second crew inside of the plane."
"And of it's sensors?"
"Well, as you are aware, submarines frequently pop-up to the surface to send radio transmissions, burst transmissions, to scan the surface through their periscope, to snorkel, if they are diesel-electric, or to raise their ESM masts. The passive detection suite onboard the aircraft is meant to detect burst transmissions and radio transmissions both incoming and outgoing. In addition, to that, it is set to detect the wakes of periscopes and ESM masts. Both are passive systems and do not give out any signals so detecting them is far more difficult. Trials put them able to detect the masts of a Seawolf at sixteen nautical miles, in clear skies, from an altitude of 20,000 feet."
"What about magnetic detection?"
"Well for that, the P-8 will have to fly lower, about two thousand feet maximum. A small boom will be extended out of the rear of the aircraft, much like we used on the P-3C Orion. It's effective enough to detect a submarine at a depth of 250 feet."
"Launch depth for an SLBM is 150 feet. Excellent. It is still a secondary system correct?"
"Yes it is sir. Sonar buoys will remain primary."
"And visual?"
"Much like they did previously sir. You can see a submarine from the air if it's shallow. Camera equippment on the bomb of the aircraft is meant to provide a continual feed of the water underneath for a radius of one quarter mile around the aircraft. Unfortunately though, submarines are painted to hide them from the air. They are meant to blend in with the ocean."
"Yes they are. So how is this solved?"
"Onboard computer is meant to detect shapes."
"So we have to program it with every submarine shape?"
"Not necessarily. It is meant to distinguish conning towers, cigar shapes, as in the hull, and propellers."
"What about torpedoes?"
"Well that's a toughy but yes. If a torpedo is no deeper than fifty feet it will get a glimpse of them but keep in mind the aircraft will be moving much faster than the torpedo so it won't be on the visual for very long. It's not really that important. Torpedoes are loud and make noise."
"Alright. What about the advanced sonobuoys?"
"The new ones you mean? The ones that allow them to drop below the layer?"
"Yes, those."
"It'll carry those. It can carry up to one hundred and twenty sonobuoys, twenty of which will be the advanced ones we just discussed."
"Very good. What about the Barracuda Mod 2?"
"Here's the spec sheet." He passed over a document with teh specifications of the Barracuda Mod 2.
Mark 50 Mod 2 Barracuda
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WTUS_PostWWII_mk50_pic.jpg
Weight: 850 lb.
Overall Length: 9.30 ft.
Diameter: 12.75" (324MM)
Explosive Charge: 150 lb. shaped-charge
Range: 15nm [50 knots]; 24nm [35 knots]
Maximum Speed: 50 knots
Maximum Depth: 3,000 feet
Propulsion: Close-cycle Stored Chemical Energy Propulsion System
Guidance: Active or Passive SONAR with reattack capability
"Impressive. The reattack capability, we have learned from the ADCAP II."
"Yes sir we have. The torpedo is set to explode on impact. The impact is determined by a PSI rating recieved from the impact on a hull. If it goes through a countermeasure it will realize that it was not a hull and not detonate. At that point, the torpedo will send out a single active ping, being very close to the submarine it will immediately pick up the target. It will execute a six hundred yard turnaround, at minimum speed, to the bearing and do another active ping. Once the target is spotted the second time, it will go to maximum speed and attack through passive mode."
"Alright. What more do we have to discuss?"
"Nothing sir."
"Very well."