NationStates Jolt Archive


Great Helio's Chariot! Its Phaethon!

Sileetris
28-06-2005, 04:39
These are not for sale, they are a contract design filled for Axis Nova. This is for the post-modern technology level.

RACD 113 "Phaethon" Hypersonic Strike Craft
http://tinypic.com/6gdh5l.jpg
Crew: 2; pilot, weapons officer
Max Speed: Mach 7
Max Speed w/ PFR: Mach 10.2
Powerplant:
2 Airbreathing hydrocarbon scramjets with vectored aerospike outlets, (130,000 lbs thrust each)
1 RelicAerospace Dart Swinger Shaftless Afterburning Turbojet (56,000 lbs of Thrust)
Range: 5,480 miles/8,819 km
Armament: 8x "Caladcholg" Multirole Scramjet Missiles
Sensors:
HSCDEADGR All-aspect radar
LIDAR
IR/NV
Special:
PFR system reduces friction allowing for higher speeds
Turbojet engine needed for takeoff and flight until supersonic, at which point scramjets are engaged, and then for landing
Inner surfaces of cockpit show view outside, giving 360 degree vision and HUD
EMP/NBC protection
Inner spaces filled with aerogel for superior heat insulation and anti-ballistic performance
Unit Cost: $1.5 Billion

Named for the legend of the flaming chariot of Helios, the Phaethon lives up to mythological standards using technological perfection. Just like its namesake, it can fly so high it leaves the denizens of earth cold (in this case meaning unable to engage it), while if needed it can leave scorched ruins in its wake.

Overview:
The Phaethon's role is to provide a fast platform from which to launch countermeasures to the massive swarms of firepower thrown about in modern warfare, as well as a vehicle to deliver precision munitions to important and well guarded targets. As a secondary role, the Phaethon may also be used to gather intelligence. The Phaethon carries the unique ability to avoid almost all forms of retaliation, detect all known forms of stealth systems, and utterly destroy anything.

Airframe:
Maintaining a more conventional body design rather than a waverider shape, the Phaethon visually resembles the SR-71 in many ways. That about covers the similarity between this and the cold war era plane. The skin of the plane is made of heat resistant ceramics coated with near frictionless carbon. Certain joints on the plane are made of a purpose formulated alloy that expands and contracts properly with the extreme temperatures associated with hypersonic speeds. Beneath the skin of the plane are ribs of electromagnets that deflect the cold plasma used in PFR at just the right angles and locations to reduce drag signifigantly. The interior of the plane is filled with aerogel to help isolate heat flow from the engines.

Propulsion:
In order to move so fast, the Phaethon requires a unique set of engines. The primary engines are 2 scramjets, hydrocarbon fueled, with vectorable aerospike outlets. Aerospikes are an alternate design to standard exhaust nozzles that use the force of air rushing past them to contain the flame rather than having metal panels. The advantage in this is they are efficient at all speeds and at all altitudes. To ignite, scramjets must be travelling at supersonic speeds, facilitating a need for a secondary power source. A well tested and compact RelicAerospace Dart Swinger Turbojet is situated in the middle body of the plane. Used for takeoff and landing, this engine reliably moves the plane at its more comprehensible speeds. Once up to speed it shuts off and seals up to save fuel and prevent structural damage.

PFR:
No matter how strong a material is, it has a limit before it is compromised. In hypersonic aircraft, certain areas recieve much more abuse than others, and if even one component fails, the entire craft can potentially be lost. The solution to this is to distribute the incredible forces over a wider area, but how is this possible? By expelling cold plasma along the skin of the plane, and using electromagnets to repel it, oncoming air is slowed down, alleviating some pressure on the leading edges of the plane and redistributing it to the electromagnets and the frame. Through advanced computer controls and magnet placement, PFR (plasma friction reduction) opens a new envelope of performance for the plane. Also, thanks to being sheathed in cold plasma, the plane takes on a fantastic appearance seemingly wrapped in ethereal fire.

Sensors and Electronics:
The myriad of goals the Phaethon is tasked to complete requires a complex sensor bundle; the Phaethon has what could easily be called "The Works". The HSCDEADGR all-aspect radar gives it a clear 360 view of everything, including stealth planes and ground targets. LIDAR gives it a detailed look at anything within line of sight. Infrared and color nightvision give the pilot a good look at his immediate surroundings. The whole system is run off a brand new, purpose built supercomputer that lets it pretty much have the battlefield overview usually associated with an AWACS plane. The information is presented via helmet displays and all-around screens in the cockpit.

Armament:
For such a valuable and demanding plane, a new weapon system had to be developed; the Caladcholg missile provides an exact compliment to the Phaethon's needs. Additional details below.

Survivability:
Assuming anything ever actually hits a Phaethon, which is unlikely, it has a fair chance of escaping alive. The aerogel filling the hull prevents the plane from being instantly torn apart by a sudden gap in its skin, giving the pilots a chance to slow down or eject. Because the extreme environment outside the plane prevents normal ejection systems from working, the entire cockpit has been designed to detach. With its maneuvering chutes, the cockpit module can drift many miles from where the plane was shot down to aid in avoiding capture. Once on the ground, standard procedure is to detach the radio, thermite the computer system, and break out the assault rifles kept in the survival trunk.

"Caladcholg" Multirole Scramjet Missiles
http://tinypic.com/6gdhg2.gif
Variants: 3
Max Speed: Mach 12
Powerplant: 1 Airbreathing hydrocarbon scramjet with vectored aerospike outlet, (20,000 lbs of thrust)
Range: 1,200 miles/1,931 km
Warhead: Tactical nuclear device or reconnaisance equipment
Sensors:
AtA holographic active radar
or
AtG GPS guidance with visual NV/IR/or Millimetric Radar Identification
or
Reconnaisance package with high-def digital sensor array + satellite uplink
Special: Must be launched at suitable speed (Mach 2.4+)
Unit Cost: $25 million without nuclear device

Codeveloped with the Phaethon, the Caladcholg missile is a flexible platform that cuts down the cost of munitions for such a specialty role without sacrificing performance. The trick to the Caladcholg lies in its interchangeable sensor package. Before launch, the payload and role of a missile is determined, and the appropriate equipment installed. In any case, the missile's payload will be either a tactical nuke (yield of 1.5kt), or an autonomous sensor package with a satellite uplink that allows the missile to be used as a spy drone.
Axis Nova
28-06-2005, 04:42
Excellent. As usual, Sileetris, you have outdone yourself. Making you one of our primary defense contractors was the best money Axis Nova ever spent.
Axis Nova
28-06-2005, 07:16
bump
Axis Nova
28-06-2005, 15:48
bump for morning crew
Axis Nova
28-06-2005, 16:42
Bump. C'mon people, let's see some comments. :P
Axis Nova
28-06-2005, 19:57
up
Mini Miehm
28-06-2005, 20:04
Comments.
Axis Nova
28-06-2005, 22:32
up
Shazbotdom
28-06-2005, 23:02
Tag for future Comments




(Just don't have the time now)
Axis Nova
29-06-2005, 04:48
bump
The FOE
29-06-2005, 05:40
Very impressive. It is dissapointing, however, to see such a fine PMT aircraft that is not for public sale. Would you be willing to sell, per say, an export variant?
Axis Nova
29-06-2005, 07:19
Considering this thing costs more than 5 times as much as a B-2 to build, plus is almost impossible to intercept... I'd have to say no. :p

National security reasons :)

If you're curious, the pic is in fact not that of an SR-71, but of a prototype of it that was intended as an actual interceptor as opposed to a recon aircraft.
Theao
29-06-2005, 07:26
Nice craft, though just a point of caution, the best machine in the world is worth precisely bat-shit if it doesn't have a competent pilot, and when your are tossing around 1.5 bil, you'd best make sure you have the absolute best pilots or you'll simply have a 1.5 bil 5,480 miles ranged missile.
Axis Nova
29-06-2005, 08:55
Well, obviously. I'd be putting good and reliable people aboard in any case, considering this thing is equipped with nuclear weapons (albiet small ones).
Der Angst
29-06-2005, 09:04
From: A concerned economist
To: Whom it may concern, Axis Nova
Subject: Contracts with Sileetris

"I'm curious. Have Axis Nova engineers actually checked if the planes in question have indeed been developed and are actually flying? Given Sileetris' economy (http://www.nationstates.net/cgi-bin/index.cgi/target=display_nation/nation=Sileetris), I must admit that I have certain doubts regarding Sileetris ability to develop anything more advanced than the Fokker E1 (http://perso.wanadoo.fr/asaviateurs/images/Fokker%20E.1.jpg).

"Of course, it is your risk, not mine, and I'm merely curious as of Axis Nova's precautions regarding this deal, specifically the actual existence of this planes as something above the level of a few wished-for statistics on a piece of (Cheap) paper.

"Still, I wish you luck in your endeavours, although I'm almost certain that Axis Nova would achive better results by simply working on such things all by itself, rather than letting the third world interfere with such projects, as I, personally, cannot see such interferences showing positive results, given Sileetris' apparent lack of a secondary or tertiary sector."

Sincerely,

~ Michael Schmidt, concerned economist

.
Axis Nova
29-06-2005, 09:49
(stuff)


We advise you to investigate Sileetris more closely; they have a rather unique system.
Sileetris
29-06-2005, 10:27
From: The Inspectorate, Division of Information Monitoring and Correction
To: Michael Schmidt
Subject: Misconceptions on Sileetris Economy

While your concern for the legitimacy of our business transactions has been noted, it appears the information source you rely on is innacurate with its portrayal of our economy. The standard the UN uses to make its judgements is severely skewed towards the globalizational audience; its designation is much more of a suggestion to foreign investors than a truthful representation of internal economic activity.

Our apologies for this seemingly rude intervention of communications, but it is our duty to provide accurate information in countering the spread of untruthful and misleading memes relating to Sileetris.

With utmost regards,

=The Inspectorate=
fnord
Axis Nova
29-06-2005, 21:25
up
Axis Nova
29-06-2005, 22:42
Axis Nova may be willing to allow these to be exported in limited quantities to certain countries provided that the plane is maintained by Axis Nova technicians and a self-destruct is equipped to prevent the plane being disassembled and reverse engineered.
Axis Nova
30-06-2005, 17:27
bump