NationStates Jolt Archive


Galm Project: New Fighter

Shenyang
08-01-2006, 19:31
Galm Project: SU-37-ADCAP Terminator


Vital Statistics:

Role: Air Superiority Fighter
Crew: 1 Pilot
Length: 22.183m (72.77ft)
Wingspan: 14.7m (48.22ft)
Height: 6.43m (21.09ft)
Weight:
(Empty) 18500kg (40790lbs)
(MTOW) 35000kg (77160lbs)
(Loaded) 30000kg (72000lbs)
Engines: 2 Lyulka AL-40FP Turbofans
Thrust: 47000lbs (each)
Ferry Range: 3700km (2230mi)
Service Ceiling: 59055ft
Maximum Ceiling: 69060ft
Rate of Climb: 48000ft/min
Maximum Speed: Mach 3.3 (2178mph)
Supercruising Speed: Mach 2.5 (1650mph)
Cruising Speed: Mach 1.6 (1056mph)
Optimal Cruising Speed: Subsonic
Armament:
14 hardpoints (8200kg) (19600lbs)
Gsh-30-1 30mm cannon (660rds)
Variants:
SU-37-ADCAP-L (Air Force)
SU-37-ADCAP-S (Navalized)
Price: 96 million usd

Background:
The SU-37 has been in service with the ISAF for nearly a decade, during that time it has served with distinction even as more advanced fighters were eclipsing it. Still it soldiered on. Attempting to extend its service life TAS (Tactical Air Solutions) received a government grant to initiate the Galm Project. This is a total refit of all Shenyangi SU-37 Terminators, which means complete reassembly of the existing fleet and retooling of existing plants.
TAS looked at the most successful dogfighters in recent history for inspiration of once the ADCAP got in close and the best long-range interceptors for when an ADCAP would need to reach out and touch someone with a BVR range missile.
Stealth was not a major concern for the revamped jets, with all external weapons, remaining hidden would be nigh impossible, so only a minimum of stealth materials were used. The hope was that adding some stealthy materials, the aircraft’s signature may be reduced even with external armament, but it was not a primary or indeed even secondary concern, falling into the tertiary bracket on the TAS design board.
After close to two years of development and redevelopment the ADCAP upgrade is finally ready. With this total overhaul it is hoped that the ‘King of the Flankers’ will ascend to its rightful place as King of the Skies.

Design:
The SU-37-ADCAP is on the surface almost identical to the base aircraft, the difference that is evident is a slight variation in the in the engine design in relation to the thrust-vectoring nozzle having a slightly different appearance.
However, upon closer inspection it is obvious that the SU-37-ADCAP is an all-together more lethal bird than its prestigious older brother is. Most of the aircraft’s skin is made of a super high strength composite called Phantom-II, this material is capable of taking the intense stresses caused by 15g maneuvers at speeds in excess of Mach 3, due to a near unending amount of durability. Phantom-II, though though not intended as such, does act as a weak Radar Absorbent Material or RAM. However, it is not nearly as capable as the RAM used elsewhere on the aircraft.
The skin covers a titanium skeleton that was specifically designed to be lightweight and just as strong as the aircraft’s amazing skin.
The leading edges of the wings and stabilizers, as well as the intakes, wingroots, and canards all use a variation of Phantom-II, called Phantom-S, which is a true RAM composite and is only marginally heavier, and negligibly weaker than its base material.
All this combines to make a supremely durable and somewhat flexible aircraft, leading to near unmatchable maneuverability.

Weapons:
One of the Galm Project’s requirements was that the lines of the SU-37 not be compromised, both in order to fool enemies and maintain the aircraft’s inherent elegance. As a result, the ADCAP has no more hardpoints than a standard SU-37. The only real change to the aircraft’s armament is the replacement of its original 30mm cannon with the Gsh-30-1 30mm cannon present on the SU-47 Berkut, with a fire rate of 4200rpm and 660 rounds of ammunition. This would allow for approximately 9.4 seconds of continuous fire, though this is impossible due to overheating issues when fired any longer than two or three seconds straight. A gun door, similar to that mounted to the F/A-22A Raptor, only internal, was installed to help cut down the RCS of the ADCAP, and to boost aerodynamics.

Propulsion:
The engines of previous SU-37s, though highly capable, did not allow for the 40-degree thrust vectoring that the ADCAP required, nor did it allow for the speeds that were decided upon. As a result, the original Lyulka AL-31FP turbofan engines were replaced with new Lyulka AL-40FP turbofan engines, which create a massive boost in thrust over their predecessors. They maintain the efficiency of the old engines and create completely new level of capability in a package of the same size.

Avionics and Sensors:
TAS developed a completely new and in some respects, radical avionics package for the ADCAP. They named it PANDORA; because once a pilot truly opens up the ADCAP, it releases every manner of death and pain upon its opponents. The flight controls are connected to the ADCAP Precision Fly-by-Light system. This allows the aircraft to dance in the air once the PANDORA system is ‘released.’ When the PANDORA system is inactive the fighter is extremely stable and maneuvers like a normal SU-37. However when PANDORA is active the fighter can perform all manner of maneuvers such as somersaults and cobras. The fighter is more than capable of out-flying its more radical contemporaries, such as the Doomingsland ACI-73 Aqvila. The flight controls are comprised of a flight stick on the right side, and a throttle on the left.
The ADCAP uses an advanced version of the existing Shenyangi ALRS-43A Radar array, for its forward unit, this system has been present on many Shenyangi fighters, including the F/A-1010C Broadsword. This particular model has been modified with a synthetic apperature, and redesigned to maintain LPI status well into the next decade, if not longer. It can track up to thirty separate targets at different speeds, headings, and altitudes out to a range of 379 miles
Paired with the ALRS-43A is the AMRS-56R Rearward Facing Array. This covers the aircraft’s tail to ensure that there is no flanking the ADCAP. It too is LPI-rated. The AMRS-56R has a range of 277 miles and can track just as many targets as its partner in the aircraft’s nose. Six thermal sensors are mounted to the aircraft and watch for large variations in the ambient temperature around the jet, such as those caused by a stealth jets exhausts. These systems are integrated into a combined sensors information display, that produces a completely integrated and highly effective image of what is around the aircraft. This is displayed on an MFD in the cockpit, the HUD has been enhanced to provide a much wider area where tactical imagery is displayed, providing the ADCAP with a wider Zone of Engagement off the nose than the original SU-37.
Fire control is linked into the sensor system, and immediately calculates a fire-solution for each contact based on range, velocity, and weapons available and active. In this way it allows the fighter to have a commanding knowledge of the air around it.
Navigation is provided by a GPS uplink, there by allowing commanders to know where their pilots are at all times, and allowing for pilots to have a clearer picture of where they are in relation to everything else in their high risk environment.
A completely integrated electronic warfare suite is present in a pair of wingtip pods, which provide laser and radar spike warning as well as electronic jamming. This jammer serves a very basic purpose of attempting to hide the ADCAP better using a radar disturbance which looks like a very small cloud.

Countermeasures:
The SU-37-ADCAP in addition to its electronic warfare suite is equipped with disposable countermeasures.
Flare: 26
Chaff Pod: 24

Survivability:
The ADCAP uses an advanced zero/zero ejection seat to ensure that when its time to leave a fighter in a hurry, you can get out, no questions asked.

(Production Rights are not for sale and neither are any current examples, may change in relatively near future)
(Currently 2 operational examples (SU-37-ADCAP-L numbers 000643 and 000644) in the hands of the Gelb Squadron)
(Operational examples are completely new aircraft, not rebuilt existing SU-37s)
Please disregard all posts from before 1/16/06, they are for a different aircraft design which was subsequently abandoned in favor of this design.
Space Union
08-01-2006, 21:06
I have a couple of things you might want to know about:

1) MTOW should be more around 65,000 lbs. Your current MTOW is way too low and you won't get any range with that amount or any payload worth mentioning.
2) What's the weapons payload in weight?
3) Maximum Speed: Way too high. When you go to Mach 4, without using exotic materials your airframe won't be able to take the pressure and heat or the shock waves created at Mach 4 flight.
4) Supercruise Speed: Hell no, not Mach 3+!! This thing barely makes more thrust than a F-22. I say the supercruise should be more like Mach 1.7
5) What is the normal weight of this, with fuel and normal payload weight?
Shenyang
08-01-2006, 21:25
I'll work on that, but deep down, my heart says 'great, more math...' I'll get over it and get to work.
BTW: I make nearly 10000lbs more thrust than the Raptor.
Space Union
08-01-2006, 21:42
I'll work on that, but deep down, my heart says 'great, more math...' I'll get over it and get to work.
BTW: I make nearly 10000lbs more thrust than the Raptor.

Still that doesn't make it anywhere near as much supercruise as Mach 3. I might say you could get Mach 2 in supercruise.
Tyrandis
08-01-2006, 21:49
Speeds greater than Mach 1.7 with a fixed forward-swept-wing is impossible, due to the incredible aerodynamic instability you experience. If you push it any further than that, the wings will literally shear off the aircraft.

I resolved the problem by making my fighters have variable-sweep (tucks in for high-speeds), but the system is mechanically complex and takes up huge volume.
Shenyang
08-01-2006, 21:54
For my speeds I was using the wikipedia SU-47 article as my basis for a forward swept wing making mach 2+. I'm desperately trying to keep this jet relatively small/light without going to my 'plan b', which is a whole new aircraft that I spent about twenty minutes thinking up. I could try to work in a Switchblade configuration, but then I'd have to yet again rethink my poor jet, but if I have to.

BTW: Space Union, I was just maknig the point that it isn't 'barely more than a Raptor'
Space Union
08-01-2006, 22:27
For my speeds I was using the wikipedia SU-47 article as my basis for a forward swept wing making mach 2+. I'm desperately trying to keep this jet relatively small/light without going to my 'plan b', which is a whole new aircraft that I spent about twenty minutes thinking up. I could try to work in a Switchblade configuration, but then I'd have to yet again rethink my poor jet, but if I have to.

BTW: Space Union, I was just maknig the point that it isn't 'barely more than a Raptor'

Well, for one thing than it shouldn't have those stats.
Shenyang
08-01-2006, 22:55
Wait, which part shouldn't have those stats? Could you quote the part of my previous post that says what you're telling me shouldn't be the way it is.

If you mean the light part: Its a general thing compared to say, a Doomingslandi fighter, which universally weigh more than some nations' entire airforces.

If you mean the wiki basis part: I only used it as a base line. I saw on several sites that the Berkut's maximum speed was between Mach 2 and Mach 2.4, so I pretty much added over 20000lbs of thrust and cut out about 15000lbs of weight to create those stats.

If you mean some other part: I don't have any idea, which part this has to do with.
Shenyang
17-01-2006, 00:02
Entire initial aircraft changed after quite a while deciding. Disregard all previous posts save the starting post.

(P.S. Saving space on the boards, and decided to abandon previous idea)
The Macabees
17-01-2006, 00:17
If you're interested: http://s13.invisionfree.com/The_NS_Draftroom/index.php?act=idx There are a lot of people there that can offer their input.

I don't know what the SU-47 site tells you, and I won't claim to be an aeronautical engineer [although, it is my major], but I can tell foward swept wings are not a good design for fast paced aircraft. FSW designs normally lend themselves towards greater manueverability, and greater manueverability does not translate into higher velocities - the exact opposite. Even the Su-47 is marketed to have close to what's called 'super manueverability', although with all realism in mind, it doesn't get close to it. I wouldn't really go with what the Russians say; the Europeans claim the Eurofighter is the best aircraft in service, and they're more than wrong. You have to take all sources, analyze it, and then make a decision.

Or, if your a studen of physics, run it through some rudimentary basics. For example, foward swept wings go against air current, since they are foward swept, and the air current is a force directly opposite the direction of the aircraft. Meaning, you are technically having your wings work against the air current. On the other hand, delta wings would work ideally with the air currect, since they are rear swept wings. If you read on the switchblade wing design it'll lend you more information. Delta wing configuration is meant for speed, while foward swept wing configuration is meant for greater manueverability.
Shenyang
17-01-2006, 00:27
If you're interested: http://s13.invisionfree.com/The_NS_Draftroom/index.php?act=idx There are a lot of people there that can offer their input.

I don't know what the SU-47 site tells you, and I won't claim to be an aeronautical engineer [although, it is my major], but I can tell foward swept wings are not a good design for fast paced aircraft. FSW designs normally lend themselves towards greater manueverability, and greater manueverability does not translate into higher velocities - the exact opposite. Even the Su-47 is marketed to have close to what's called 'super manueverability', although with all realism in mind, it doesn't get close to it. I wouldn't really go with what the Russians say; the Europeans claim the Eurofighter is the best aircraft in service, and they're more than wrong. You have to take all sources, analyze it, and then make a decision.

Or, if your a studen of physics, run it through some rudimentary basics. For example, foward swept wings go against air current, since they are foward swept, and the air current is a force directly opposite the direction of the aircraft. Meaning, you are technically having your wings work against the air current. On the other hand, delta wings would work ideally with the air currect, since they are rear swept wings. If you read on the switchblade wing design it'll lend you more information. Delta wing configuration is meant for speed, while foward swept wing configuration is meant for greater manueverability.

Thanks for the site, I'll use that in future designs, but I've completely redone the design to now be rebuilt SU-37 Terminators (that thrust-vectored SU-35 that crashed in Russia during a transfer accident, not the Berkut) which I have a great number of in my Air Force instead of the MOAB (Mother Of All Berkuts)
Your input is appreciated, and as for my comments about hyper-maneuverability, those are part hype and part truth, I redesigned the SU-37 to compete with many of the NS designed fighters so that I don't have to spend nearly as much money rebuilding my air force, just converting a beloved fighter.