Halberdgardia
18-11-2005, 00:58
F-150 "Ebonhawk" Advanced Fighter-Bomber
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/neotheone175/NationStates/Modern%20Tech/F-150Ebonhawk.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/neotheone175/NationStates/Modern%20Tech/F-150Ebonhawk_carrier.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/neotheone175/NationStates/Modern%20Tech/F-150Ebonhawk_carrierflightdeck.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/neotheone175/NationStates/Modern%20Tech/F-150Ebonhawk_launch.jpg
[Abstract]
With the advent of new fighter concepts such as Civitas Americae's new "missile-spamming" bomber-escort craft, the Tu-161 "Black Widow," the Halberdgardian Air Force realized that, despite being a capable force with access to some of the most advanced aircraft available, even its best strike fighters could not come close to matching the payload of the Tu-161. Realizing that other nations might seek to capitalize on this new concept of "cramming" massive loads of ordnance into new aircraft designs, the Halberdgardian Department of Defense saw the need to beat those other powers to the punch. After tentative discussions with Sarzonian aerospace engineers at the newly-consolidated Portland Iron Works, it was decided that the two nations would cooperate on a joint project to develop an advanced fighter-bomber that incorporated some of the best Sarzonian technology available, as well as some of the best technology of all the aircraft fielded by the Halberdgardian Air Force. The result was the F-150 "Ebonhawk," planned to be fielded by both nations' air forces.
[Airframe]
With both Halberdgardian and Sarzonian forces having clashed with the highly-capable Doomingslandian air force in the past, both sides sought to incorporate their knowledge of the aforementioned foe into design elements for the Ebonhawk. As such, the Ebonhawk's airframe is a switchblade design, allowing the pilot to switch between forward-swept wings for optimal maneuverability in dogfight scenarios, and a swept-back configuration for optimal stability when engaging ground targets. The Ebonhawk's computer oversees the stability of the craft, especially when in forward-swept wing configuration, by making rapid adjustments to the canards and other control mechanisms.
The airframe itself is composed of two elements: a ten-millimeter layer of Kevlar to stop small arms fire, with a fifteen-millimeter layer of aluminum-titanium alloy underneath the Kevlar provide additional strength. The aircraft's stealthy qualities are enhanced by judicious use of Brewster's Angle construction throughout the airframe. To further increase the Ebonhawk's stealthiness, the designers emulated one of the design features found on the Tyrandis TSF-616 "Eidolon" fighter; the canopy is manufactured of an advanced polycarbonate, backed by a rubber insulation layer and a thin strip of an indium-tin alloy. Traditionally, the cockpit has been the most problematic area for advanced stealth designers; because RADAR waves passes through the canopy as if it were transparent, an especially strong signal will bounce back to its receiver because any aircraft interior contains angles and shape that generate a substantial return. The InSn coating allows over 98.5% of visible light to pass through to the pilot, but will appear on RADAR as a semi-metallic surface, thus further reducing the Ebonhawk's already small radar cross-section.* However, the Ebonhawk's stealth qualities are estimated to be enhanced tenfold by the use of a special material** over the layer of Kevlar. The material is still highly classified, but is said to further reduce RADAR signature by fifty percent, as well as preventing visual acquisition at long range. This makes the Ebonhawk an estimated five to ten times as stealthy as the F-117/A Nighthawk, thus making the Ebonhawk one of the stealthiest craft in use by the Halberdgardian Air Force to date.
[Propulsion]
Several designs were considered for the engines of the Ebonhawk, but the number of myriad designs was drastically reduced when supersonic velocities became a design requirement. Initially, it was decided that the Ebonhawk would be powered by two pulse-detonation engines. However, when it was realized that the massive infrared signature produced by the pulse-detontation process would negate any attempt at stealth, the design was taken back to the drawing board. Eventually, however, Tylon Aerospace Industries proposed a new ramfan design, dubbed the Union-281-2005, that would maintain the thrust of the original engines without the massive infrared signature. This design was accepted, and so the Ebonhawk is powered by two Union-281-2005 ramfan engines, fitted with heat suppressors to drastically reduce infrared signature, for a combined thrust of one hundred thirty thousand pounds.
[Flight Control and Electronics]
The Ebonhawk features an advanced Fly-by-Optics control system for enhanced response time, better control, and increased reliability.
The Ebonhawk Advanced RADAR Tracking System (EARTS), an upgraded AN/APG-77 AESA RADAR unit, serves as the main component of the Ebonhawk's sensor suite, with a range of three hundred twenty kilometers. Additionally, the EARTS contains a module similar to the one employed by Tylon Aerospace Industries' new SUF-5 Lion; this module cycles through a wide range of frequencies twice a second, so as to prevent the EARTS from being jammed. An APG-100 Advanced Long Range Millimetric Wave Radar is utilized for for air-to-ground detection. The EARTS is also augmented by a LIDAR/LADAR suite, with a range of thirty and seventy kilometers, respectively, complemented by an APG-120 Advanced LIDAR/LADAR Receiver. Finally, an IRTS-1 Infrared Scanning System rounds out the electronics package.
The Ebonhawk fields multiple Sarzonian avionics technologies. Chief among these is the AHDS-1 Helmet-Mounted HUD System, which allows for the pilots of the aircraft to simply look at the target to achieve a lock. When the AHDS-1 is used in conjunction with an advanced new voice-command system, the pilot has unparalleled capabilities when receiving, integrating, and utilizing in-flight information to his best advantage. The aircraft’s superb sensor suite allows for up to one hundred twenty enemy aircraft to be tracked at any given time via a SCS-1 Mobile Super Computer System, which gives the aircraft nearly-unmatched processing power, and for eight of them to be targeted and engaged simultaneously at ranges exceeding eighty miles. When used in conjunction with an AWACS aircraft, the Ebonhawk becomes even more lethal. This allows for the aircraft to effectively engage and destroy hostile aircraft at ranges limited only by the missiles carried in her bays, and can do this without switching on the EARTS, as to prevent RADAR-seeking equipment from picking up on the emissions generated by the aircraft.***
Finally, to augment the craft's deadliness when compared with the Tu-161 "Black Widow," a system similar to the Tu-161's Inter-/Intra-Flight Data Link, dubbed the Ebonhawk Data Distribution System (EDDS), was incorporated into the design. Utilizing a system with 4096-bit encryption, analogous to a far more secure version of commercial Wi-Fi, the EDDS can securely broadcast targeting, flight, RADAR, and LIDAR/LADAR data to other aircraft within a ten-mile radius. The EDDS is augmented by a line-of-sight laser communication system that serves as an alternative to the wireless system.
[Armament]
Despite the other advanced features of the Ebonhawk, the armament is perhaps the most fearsome of all the aircraft's components. Two internal weapon bays house the Ebonhawk's ordnance, and each bay is capable of holding up to thirty-six air-to-air missiles or air-to-ground missiles (short-, medium-, long-, or extreme-long-range) on a rotary launcher. The launcher is modular not only in that it can hold Sarzonian AAM/ATGM equivalents as well as any other ordnance of similar dimensions, but can be removed entirely, and instead replaced with eight internal hardpoints for dedicated air-to-surface munitions, or one Massive Ordnance Air Burst (MOAB) weapon (or similarly-sized equivalent). Each hardpoint is capable of holding one two-thousand-pound bomb, for a dedicated-bomber configuration capable of carrying thirty-two thousand pounds of ordnance. Optionally, at the cost of stealthiness, each wing can be fitted with four hardpoints, each capable of holding one standard one-thousand-pound bomb, or similarly-sized equivalent, bringing the Ebonhawk's dedicated-bomber configuration's maximum payload to forty-thousand pounds of ordnance. The hardpoints are also capable of carrying extra fuel tanks or jamming modules.
Additionally, one 32mm ETC cannon, much like the one mounted in some of the most recently-produced Sarzonian aircraft, is mounted internally in the nose of the aircraft. Borrowing a stealth-enhancing design from the SZ-19 "Predator" interceptor aircraft, the cannon is covered by a small hatch when not firing, to prevent radar detection. The cannon can fire high-explosive or armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot rounds for ground attack roles, in addition to regular rounds.
The Ebonhawk is also fitted with an electronic-warfare suite, composed of a radar-jamming module (calibrated so as not to impede on the frequencies in use by the Ebonhawk itself), a communications-jamming module, and a limited PSYOPS-broadcast capability. The electronic-warfare suite has a range of approximately one hundred fifty kilometers.
Finally, to round out the countermeasures suite, the Ebonhawk is fitted with chaff and flares. A new flare design increases threat-elimination rates by utilizing a multi-stage burst design, whereby three charges are mounted on one flare. When the flare is fired, the first charge explodes, confusing the missile. One second later, the second charge goes off, further deceiving the missile, with the third and final charge fully diverting the missile away from the aircraft and towards the massive infrared signature of the flare.
[F-150A/S "Strikehawk"]
A dedicated air superiority variant of the Ebonhawk, designated the F-150A/S "Strikehawk," has also been designed. The F-150A/S features many of the same elements as the Ebonhawk, but is smaller and lighter. This was accomplished by reducing the payload from two weapons bays to one. The "Strikehawk" retains the Ebonhawk's rotary launcher and optional wing-mounted hardpoints, but the rotary launcher cannot be removed in favor of hardpoints. However, it is still capable of mounting ATGMs, making it capable of serving as a strike fighter in a pinch.
[Export]
The domestic versions of the Ebonhawk and Strikehawk as described above will not be offered for sale. However, an export version of both aircraft has been designed. The chief difference between the two versions is that the specialized stealth-enhancing material used on the domestic version's airframe is not present in the export version, and has instead been replaced with radar-absorbing material.
Additionally, sales of both models have been limited to twenty-five units per customer (except close allies); that is, up to a maximum of fifty aircraft may be purchased by any one nation. Production rights will not be sold under any circumstances.
F-150 "Ebonhawk" Specifications -- Domestic Version
Length: 40 m
Wingspan: 34 m
Height: 7 m
Propulsion: 2 x Tylon Aerospace Industries Union-281-2005 ramfan engines (130,000 lbs maximum thrust)
Empty Weight: 40,000 kg
Maximum Weight: 75,000 kg
Normal Payload: 13,500 kg
Range: 7,500 km without refueling; limited only by crew endurance with in-air refueling
Maximum Payload: 40,000 lbs. (dedicated-bomber configuration with optional eight wing-mounted hardpoints)
Supercruise: Mach 2
Maximum Speed: Mach 3
Maximum Altitude: 40,000 m
Crew: Two
Price: $175 million
F-150A/S "Strikehawk" Specifications -- Domestic Version
Length: 28 m
Wingspan: 26 m
Height: 6 m
Propulsion: 2 x Tylon Aerospace Industries Union-281-2005 ramfan engines (130,000 lbs maximum thrust)
Empty Weight: 25,000 kg
Maximum Weight: 60,000 kg
Normal Payload: 6,750 kg
Range: 7,500 km without refueling; limited only by crew endurance with in-air refueling
Maximum Payload: 20,000 lbs. (with optional eight wing-mounted hardpoints)
Supercruise: Mach 2.3
Maximum Speed: Mach 3.2
Maximum Altitude: 40,000 m
Crew: One
Price: $175 million
* [OOC: The text regarding the canopy was taken from Tyrandis' write-up for his TSF-616 "Eidolon." (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9449160&postcount=22)]
** [OOC: The "special material" on the airframe is the ErininArms Shapeshifter Skin-1, as detailed here (http://s7.invisionfree.com/AoH_Official_Board/index.php?showtopic=89).]
*** [OOC: The text about the AHDS-1 and the SCS-1 was taken from Sarzonia's write-up for the SZ-19 "Predator" interceptor from Avalon Aerospace Corporation (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=365142).]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/neotheone175/NationStates/Modern%20Tech/F-150Ebonhawk.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/neotheone175/NationStates/Modern%20Tech/F-150Ebonhawk_carrier.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/neotheone175/NationStates/Modern%20Tech/F-150Ebonhawk_carrierflightdeck.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/neotheone175/NationStates/Modern%20Tech/F-150Ebonhawk_launch.jpg
[Abstract]
With the advent of new fighter concepts such as Civitas Americae's new "missile-spamming" bomber-escort craft, the Tu-161 "Black Widow," the Halberdgardian Air Force realized that, despite being a capable force with access to some of the most advanced aircraft available, even its best strike fighters could not come close to matching the payload of the Tu-161. Realizing that other nations might seek to capitalize on this new concept of "cramming" massive loads of ordnance into new aircraft designs, the Halberdgardian Department of Defense saw the need to beat those other powers to the punch. After tentative discussions with Sarzonian aerospace engineers at the newly-consolidated Portland Iron Works, it was decided that the two nations would cooperate on a joint project to develop an advanced fighter-bomber that incorporated some of the best Sarzonian technology available, as well as some of the best technology of all the aircraft fielded by the Halberdgardian Air Force. The result was the F-150 "Ebonhawk," planned to be fielded by both nations' air forces.
[Airframe]
With both Halberdgardian and Sarzonian forces having clashed with the highly-capable Doomingslandian air force in the past, both sides sought to incorporate their knowledge of the aforementioned foe into design elements for the Ebonhawk. As such, the Ebonhawk's airframe is a switchblade design, allowing the pilot to switch between forward-swept wings for optimal maneuverability in dogfight scenarios, and a swept-back configuration for optimal stability when engaging ground targets. The Ebonhawk's computer oversees the stability of the craft, especially when in forward-swept wing configuration, by making rapid adjustments to the canards and other control mechanisms.
The airframe itself is composed of two elements: a ten-millimeter layer of Kevlar to stop small arms fire, with a fifteen-millimeter layer of aluminum-titanium alloy underneath the Kevlar provide additional strength. The aircraft's stealthy qualities are enhanced by judicious use of Brewster's Angle construction throughout the airframe. To further increase the Ebonhawk's stealthiness, the designers emulated one of the design features found on the Tyrandis TSF-616 "Eidolon" fighter; the canopy is manufactured of an advanced polycarbonate, backed by a rubber insulation layer and a thin strip of an indium-tin alloy. Traditionally, the cockpit has been the most problematic area for advanced stealth designers; because RADAR waves passes through the canopy as if it were transparent, an especially strong signal will bounce back to its receiver because any aircraft interior contains angles and shape that generate a substantial return. The InSn coating allows over 98.5% of visible light to pass through to the pilot, but will appear on RADAR as a semi-metallic surface, thus further reducing the Ebonhawk's already small radar cross-section.* However, the Ebonhawk's stealth qualities are estimated to be enhanced tenfold by the use of a special material** over the layer of Kevlar. The material is still highly classified, but is said to further reduce RADAR signature by fifty percent, as well as preventing visual acquisition at long range. This makes the Ebonhawk an estimated five to ten times as stealthy as the F-117/A Nighthawk, thus making the Ebonhawk one of the stealthiest craft in use by the Halberdgardian Air Force to date.
[Propulsion]
Several designs were considered for the engines of the Ebonhawk, but the number of myriad designs was drastically reduced when supersonic velocities became a design requirement. Initially, it was decided that the Ebonhawk would be powered by two pulse-detonation engines. However, when it was realized that the massive infrared signature produced by the pulse-detontation process would negate any attempt at stealth, the design was taken back to the drawing board. Eventually, however, Tylon Aerospace Industries proposed a new ramfan design, dubbed the Union-281-2005, that would maintain the thrust of the original engines without the massive infrared signature. This design was accepted, and so the Ebonhawk is powered by two Union-281-2005 ramfan engines, fitted with heat suppressors to drastically reduce infrared signature, for a combined thrust of one hundred thirty thousand pounds.
[Flight Control and Electronics]
The Ebonhawk features an advanced Fly-by-Optics control system for enhanced response time, better control, and increased reliability.
The Ebonhawk Advanced RADAR Tracking System (EARTS), an upgraded AN/APG-77 AESA RADAR unit, serves as the main component of the Ebonhawk's sensor suite, with a range of three hundred twenty kilometers. Additionally, the EARTS contains a module similar to the one employed by Tylon Aerospace Industries' new SUF-5 Lion; this module cycles through a wide range of frequencies twice a second, so as to prevent the EARTS from being jammed. An APG-100 Advanced Long Range Millimetric Wave Radar is utilized for for air-to-ground detection. The EARTS is also augmented by a LIDAR/LADAR suite, with a range of thirty and seventy kilometers, respectively, complemented by an APG-120 Advanced LIDAR/LADAR Receiver. Finally, an IRTS-1 Infrared Scanning System rounds out the electronics package.
The Ebonhawk fields multiple Sarzonian avionics technologies. Chief among these is the AHDS-1 Helmet-Mounted HUD System, which allows for the pilots of the aircraft to simply look at the target to achieve a lock. When the AHDS-1 is used in conjunction with an advanced new voice-command system, the pilot has unparalleled capabilities when receiving, integrating, and utilizing in-flight information to his best advantage. The aircraft’s superb sensor suite allows for up to one hundred twenty enemy aircraft to be tracked at any given time via a SCS-1 Mobile Super Computer System, which gives the aircraft nearly-unmatched processing power, and for eight of them to be targeted and engaged simultaneously at ranges exceeding eighty miles. When used in conjunction with an AWACS aircraft, the Ebonhawk becomes even more lethal. This allows for the aircraft to effectively engage and destroy hostile aircraft at ranges limited only by the missiles carried in her bays, and can do this without switching on the EARTS, as to prevent RADAR-seeking equipment from picking up on the emissions generated by the aircraft.***
Finally, to augment the craft's deadliness when compared with the Tu-161 "Black Widow," a system similar to the Tu-161's Inter-/Intra-Flight Data Link, dubbed the Ebonhawk Data Distribution System (EDDS), was incorporated into the design. Utilizing a system with 4096-bit encryption, analogous to a far more secure version of commercial Wi-Fi, the EDDS can securely broadcast targeting, flight, RADAR, and LIDAR/LADAR data to other aircraft within a ten-mile radius. The EDDS is augmented by a line-of-sight laser communication system that serves as an alternative to the wireless system.
[Armament]
Despite the other advanced features of the Ebonhawk, the armament is perhaps the most fearsome of all the aircraft's components. Two internal weapon bays house the Ebonhawk's ordnance, and each bay is capable of holding up to thirty-six air-to-air missiles or air-to-ground missiles (short-, medium-, long-, or extreme-long-range) on a rotary launcher. The launcher is modular not only in that it can hold Sarzonian AAM/ATGM equivalents as well as any other ordnance of similar dimensions, but can be removed entirely, and instead replaced with eight internal hardpoints for dedicated air-to-surface munitions, or one Massive Ordnance Air Burst (MOAB) weapon (or similarly-sized equivalent). Each hardpoint is capable of holding one two-thousand-pound bomb, for a dedicated-bomber configuration capable of carrying thirty-two thousand pounds of ordnance. Optionally, at the cost of stealthiness, each wing can be fitted with four hardpoints, each capable of holding one standard one-thousand-pound bomb, or similarly-sized equivalent, bringing the Ebonhawk's dedicated-bomber configuration's maximum payload to forty-thousand pounds of ordnance. The hardpoints are also capable of carrying extra fuel tanks or jamming modules.
Additionally, one 32mm ETC cannon, much like the one mounted in some of the most recently-produced Sarzonian aircraft, is mounted internally in the nose of the aircraft. Borrowing a stealth-enhancing design from the SZ-19 "Predator" interceptor aircraft, the cannon is covered by a small hatch when not firing, to prevent radar detection. The cannon can fire high-explosive or armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot rounds for ground attack roles, in addition to regular rounds.
The Ebonhawk is also fitted with an electronic-warfare suite, composed of a radar-jamming module (calibrated so as not to impede on the frequencies in use by the Ebonhawk itself), a communications-jamming module, and a limited PSYOPS-broadcast capability. The electronic-warfare suite has a range of approximately one hundred fifty kilometers.
Finally, to round out the countermeasures suite, the Ebonhawk is fitted with chaff and flares. A new flare design increases threat-elimination rates by utilizing a multi-stage burst design, whereby three charges are mounted on one flare. When the flare is fired, the first charge explodes, confusing the missile. One second later, the second charge goes off, further deceiving the missile, with the third and final charge fully diverting the missile away from the aircraft and towards the massive infrared signature of the flare.
[F-150A/S "Strikehawk"]
A dedicated air superiority variant of the Ebonhawk, designated the F-150A/S "Strikehawk," has also been designed. The F-150A/S features many of the same elements as the Ebonhawk, but is smaller and lighter. This was accomplished by reducing the payload from two weapons bays to one. The "Strikehawk" retains the Ebonhawk's rotary launcher and optional wing-mounted hardpoints, but the rotary launcher cannot be removed in favor of hardpoints. However, it is still capable of mounting ATGMs, making it capable of serving as a strike fighter in a pinch.
[Export]
The domestic versions of the Ebonhawk and Strikehawk as described above will not be offered for sale. However, an export version of both aircraft has been designed. The chief difference between the two versions is that the specialized stealth-enhancing material used on the domestic version's airframe is not present in the export version, and has instead been replaced with radar-absorbing material.
Additionally, sales of both models have been limited to twenty-five units per customer (except close allies); that is, up to a maximum of fifty aircraft may be purchased by any one nation. Production rights will not be sold under any circumstances.
F-150 "Ebonhawk" Specifications -- Domestic Version
Length: 40 m
Wingspan: 34 m
Height: 7 m
Propulsion: 2 x Tylon Aerospace Industries Union-281-2005 ramfan engines (130,000 lbs maximum thrust)
Empty Weight: 40,000 kg
Maximum Weight: 75,000 kg
Normal Payload: 13,500 kg
Range: 7,500 km without refueling; limited only by crew endurance with in-air refueling
Maximum Payload: 40,000 lbs. (dedicated-bomber configuration with optional eight wing-mounted hardpoints)
Supercruise: Mach 2
Maximum Speed: Mach 3
Maximum Altitude: 40,000 m
Crew: Two
Price: $175 million
F-150A/S "Strikehawk" Specifications -- Domestic Version
Length: 28 m
Wingspan: 26 m
Height: 6 m
Propulsion: 2 x Tylon Aerospace Industries Union-281-2005 ramfan engines (130,000 lbs maximum thrust)
Empty Weight: 25,000 kg
Maximum Weight: 60,000 kg
Normal Payload: 6,750 kg
Range: 7,500 km without refueling; limited only by crew endurance with in-air refueling
Maximum Payload: 20,000 lbs. (with optional eight wing-mounted hardpoints)
Supercruise: Mach 2.3
Maximum Speed: Mach 3.2
Maximum Altitude: 40,000 m
Crew: One
Price: $175 million
* [OOC: The text regarding the canopy was taken from Tyrandis' write-up for his TSF-616 "Eidolon." (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9449160&postcount=22)]
** [OOC: The "special material" on the airframe is the ErininArms Shapeshifter Skin-1, as detailed here (http://s7.invisionfree.com/AoH_Official_Board/index.php?showtopic=89).]
*** [OOC: The text about the AHDS-1 and the SCS-1 was taken from Sarzonia's write-up for the SZ-19 "Predator" interceptor from Avalon Aerospace Corporation (http://forums2.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=365142).]