Space Union
03-03-2006, 01:03
SuF-7 Nightmare Twin-Engine Multi-Role Fighter!
http://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov/gallery/images/images_aircraft/astovl_hi.jpg
Overview:
The SuF-7 is Space Union Aeronautics Institutions (SUAI) new double-engine multi-role fighter that is intended to replace the old SuF-3 Howler, in current Space Union Air Force service. Originally designed to be a single-engine fighter variant of the SuF/A-6 Wraith, but in the end it was decided that a more conservative design would be needed to replace the SuF-3 not the SuF-5 Lion. Together with the SuF-4, SuF-5, and the SuF/A-6, the SuF-7 will serve as Space Union’s frontline multi-role fighter for the coming decades. The SuF-7 takes up on the knowledge acquired in the Wraith Program and builds upon it, but also gets rid of many of the more complex systems to lower the cost substantially and to make it truly mass producible. The result is a deadly, state-of-the-art fighter that will send the enemy into fear and chaos at its mere sight.
Airframe:
The SuF-7 is designed to be simple in aircraft design and logistically very favorable, unlike the SuF/A-6, which is far more complex. The SuF-7’s airframe is designed so that it is streamlined and as simple as possible yet deadly. The saying goes within SUAI, “Simple but Deadly”. This logic has been adapted to the SuF-7. The airframe is designed so that the SuF-7 has an unstable platform, having a pair of stark-delta wings similar to the SuF/A-6 and F-16 (former USAF). These wings allow for optimum configuration with little drag but high lift in low-speed operations and high-speed. In front of the set of wings, the aircraft has two small canard surfaces to allow for more lift. This gives the aircraft a high lift-to-drag ratio for a fighter of its size.
Unlike past aircrafts, the SuF-7 isn’t designed with any mind of maneuverability or stealth but instead to be easily maintainable and simple. With its simple body, it is extremely streamlined to make it as aerodynamic as possible. This has allowed for raw power and speed to be used by the aircraft instead of maneuverability and stealth. The aircraft’s body, indeed, is made out of mostly composite materials like thermoplastic and carbon-reinforce plastic fiber. Thermoplastic makes up around 57% of the body, with CRPF making up 27% (mostly the wings), and the rest being made out of Thymonel superalloy, at 15%. This configuration may make the aircraft seem like a flying piece of plastic, but it makes the aircraft incredibly light for its size while also making it very durable.
Although stealth is not a key figure in the design of the SuF-7, it still is an important factor in the design of the SuF-7. Engineers purposely made the aircraft so that its body was blended and smooth, giving it maximum capability to deflect radar waves in other fashions instead of back to the radar. It also has a coating of specially designed radar-absorbing material (RAM). This allows for the SuF-7 to have a radar-cross section of less than a bee on radar. Other measures taken to make sure the aircraft was as small as possible to radar were its removal of 90 degree angles and filling up of any gaps so that radar waves didn’t bounce back to their receivers.
Another thing that the aircraft faced was its infra-red signature. To reduce that it professionals had the pipeline within the aircraft redesigned so that it moved by the outer-edges to cool them down and reduce any infra-red emitted. The engines also have had cool-mufflers installed on them so that the exhaust has been cooled down to prevent accurate and as fast locks by infra-red seeking missiles.
Propulsion/Powerplant:
The SuF-7 is powered by the same advanced engine that powered the SuF-5, the Union-200-2005 Ramfan Jet Engine. The SuF-7 utilizes only two of these and gains tremendous benefits over older, two engine fighters. For one thing the Union-200-2005 produces a thrust of 55,000 lbf. That's enough to power this beast to high speeds if needed. But the Union-200 is not designed for power, but instead for maintenance-friendliness and fuel efficient.
The Union-200 makes tremendous leaps when it comes to maintenance. Older jet engines tended to be complex and therefore much more demanding when maintenance time came. But the Union-200 tries to make sure that it has the least amount of maintenance necessary. For one thing, every part is modular. This means that using a clip, a part can be easily taken out of the engine and reinstalled. This allows for quick access to internal parts of the engine that need fixing. Another design change was that it had an automatic maintenance system inside of it. If any part isn't working correctly or has been damaged, the computer alerts the aircraft on the damaged area and unclips all the clips and makes it so that it is easy to remove the part.
Another benefit of the Union-200 is its fuel efficiency. The most dramatic way of doing so was increasing the bypass air. The amount of bypass air compared to the regular amount is rated at 0.4. This has increased the fuel efficiency to the point that it isn't a fuel hungry engine. Not only does this help keep fuel consumption down, it also gives it more power than a comparable low-bypass ramfan jet engine.
It also features supercruise ability. Supercruise is the ability to cruise at above Mach 1 without the use of afterburners. This results in more fuel-efficient engines above Mach 1 and an increase in range for the aircraft. It also features heat dampers that insert cold air into the exhaust to make it colder. It helps to avoid infra-red seeking missiles and sensors.
In an effort to design one of the most advanced powerplants to ever see the day of light, SUNACS engineers began developing a state-of-the-art propulsion system that would integrate it with the computer to make sure that the pilot had direct control over the entire powerplant along with other “neat” features. The result was the “Propulsion Emission Management System” or PEMS. PEMS is a digital electronics engine control system that hooks up with the on-board mother computer of the aircraft. PEMS allows for faster response and a more effective powerplant, which translates into being able to go to full power with each engine within 5 seconds. This gives it superb flight performance and enhances it over its competitors in the market with unmatched performance. But this is only one of the many neat features of PEMS. Another feature is the capability to shut-off one engine manually and use the other one if the pilot is ever desperately low on fuel and needs to get back home efficiently. But a more interesting feature of the engine with PEMS is it ability to track the health of the engine. The computer is automatically hooked up with the Union-200-2005s, which allows it to gain access to each part of the engine. If any engine parts malfunction, breaks down, or doesn’t work in the way intended, the computer is notified and can notify the pilot if a major problem. This allows the pilot to have on-demand status of his/her powerplant; after all it is one of the biggest parts of the design. Not only that, but PEMS keeps track of those faulty parts and when logistics check out the engines, PEMS can give a read out showing which parts malfunctioned and a full-detailed report on that. This saves logistics from having to go through the hassle of taking apart the entire engine and trying to find where something went wrong. This is another minor step taken by the design team to help our logistics friends out there.
Other than the basic design, the engines are both equipped with state-of-the-art counterflow fluid thrust vectoring capability. Counterflow fluid thrust vectoring (CFFTV) is an advanced successor to the traditional thrust vectoring nozzle. Instead of using a mechanical nozzle that moves and is complicated, a jet of air is used to change the angle of the exhaust when it leaves the engine. The result is a far less complex, costly, non-stealthy, and prone to breakdown engine. Another feature is the use of the standard supercruise ability. Because of the power of the gigantic engines, the engine is capable of supercruising past Mach 2.2. Although the exact number remains unknown, it is very high, essentially increasing the range of the bird so that nothing will escape its shadowy grasp of death and destruction. Like most aircrafts, the Union-200-2005s are equipped with afterburning nozzles, but because of varying demands, it is optional and the afterburning version is called the Union-200-2005s.
Avionics/Electronics:
The SuF-7 Nightmare’s avionics have been designed specifically for its job. They are designed to be multi-functional while also being rugged. But in order to achieve this, the avionics package had to be literally taken a different step from other aircrafts designed by SUAI. The main component of the Nightmare is its advanced AESA, VLPI radar, with over 4,000 notches called the SUR/SU-6 Multi-Frequency AESA Shadow Radar. This allows for a huge tracking and detection radius, exceeding other aircraft’s radars by far. The average detection range is around 350 km for small fighters while over 500 km for large aircrafts such as bombers and AWACS. The Shadow is capable of tracking up to 100 targets at once, ranging from air targets to ground targets.
Although the Shadow provides the SuF-7 the capability to track air targets and ground targets, in order to further establish the SuF-7’s ground-attack capability, the SuF-7 is equipped with the SUR-SU-6SA Ground Shadow synthetic aperture radar. The Ground Shadow provides the pilot incredibly detailed pictures of the ground and targets to assure that the pilot can hit them with maximum clarity. The detection and imaging range of the Ground Shadow is over 120 km on the ground.
The SuF-7 Nightmare, following the footsteps of the Wraith, has an advanced pilot-aircraft interface that allows for active pilot perception. The Nightmare’s electronics works to integrate the pilot and the aircraft into one being, instead of two beings that fight alongside. This assures that the pilot is capable of doing his/her job to the maximum effectiveness. The system is called the Human Integration Module (HIM). It works by having a set of instruments inside the helmet to monitor the health and status of the pilot. It obtains stress scans of the pilot’s brains, identifying where the pilot is most stressed, it also has brainwave scanners, health monitors, and other psychological monitoring aspects of the design. It is intended for one purpose: to make the aircraft know the pilot. Every time the pilot flies the SuF-7, the HIM watches all the information and compiles it, learning more and more about the individual pilot. The HIM gradually starts adjusting settings of the aircraft to suite the pilot more adequately so it can improve the pilot’s weaknesses and emphasis his/her strengths. This provides for drastic improvements in flight capability for the pilot and the computer to the point that the computer becomes one with the pilot and knows him/her probably better than anyone else (except maybe close relatives and friends).
In terms of flight control, the SuF-7 works by having a central supercomputer inside the aircraft. The supercomputer is capable of over 10 billion floating point operations per second, giving it lots of capability when it comes to processing power. This allows it to control the Nightmare and also operate all the systems and subsystems. The interface of the SuF-7 is similar to other fighters having a fly-by-optics control system that ensures faster response and reflexes compared to older fly-by-wire systems. The mere difference of a split second could be what determines if a pilot lives or not. Within the cockpit there is one large touch-screen made from OLED. This light-weight screen shows all the battle information he/she will need along with possible commands to give to the aircraft’s systems and computers. It also allows the pilot to touch it and enter in commands without having to press other buttons. This frees up space on the console and makes life easier, overall, for the pilot.
Other systems aboard the SuF-7 is its helmet-mounted system (HMS) that allows the information that would have been given to the pilot on a heads-up display screen come on the helmet screen. It also serves the function of making the pilot capable of targeting an enemy within-visual range and beyond-visual range much easier as the pilot doesn’t have to turn the aircraft and point the missile to shoot, instead he/she can turn their head and target the enemy or even zoom in on an incoming fighter and target them without having to get closer for you to see it. The farther away a fighter is away from an enemy, the better for the nation, pilot, and aircraft, in terms of danger threat. Other features include its data-link connections that allow it to connect with a nation’s battle net-type systems or communicate and share with each other information they have found out and/or received. Another system that is common among SUAI aircraft is its Voice Command Module (VCM) that allows the pilot to use his/her voice to enter in a command instead of pressing a button. This saves the pilot from having to use his/her hands and concentrate them on other tasks.
Countermeasures/ECM:
As for electronic countermeasures, the SuF-7 Nightmare has been designed with a suite of ECMs that make earlier aircraft look defenseless. All the measures have been ensured to elude the enemy’s sensors and weapons so that the SuF-7 has the optimal danger capability and survivability. The first component of the ECM system is the jamming system. The SuF-7’s radar is equipped with an automatic jammer system. Every time the aircraft fires off a radar signal, it fires a jamming signal right after. This way the other aircraft doesn't realise that an enemy fighter is tracking it. Not only that but a jamming system called the JYU-B is used to jam all the radars in the area except for the aircraft own. This works by having the JYU-A and the aircraft's radar/lidar/ladar system work together. They both are designed to emit radar signals on different wavelengths each time they fire off. This allows for the aircraft to not jam its own radar. The JYU-A continues to jump frequency constantly making it difficult to defeat by enemy aircraft, even with high-tech equipment on-board. Other measures include the use of chaffs and flares. High-powered flares fly out and release a huge explosion of light. This automatically is registered by any IR-Seeking enemies and is directed toward the explosion. The flare burst 3 times before dying out. This is the new generation of flares designed to defeat the new-generation of IR-Seeking missiles.
To fully protect the aircraft from the most dangerous of threats, it was designed to have the aircraft use the power of electronics and avionics to save it from being hit by missiles and give it an early warning system. For that reason, the aircraft has been designed with a Direct Emission Detection System or DEDS. DEDS works by homing on signals like radar from missiles and other aircrafts. It does this by homing on to unfamiliar signals that are determined to not be friendly. This way the the pilot will always know whose locking on to him/her. But DEDS doesn’t stop there. No it ups the anty by turning the table against the enemy. It works by using the signals to locate the enemy before devoting the SUR/SU-6 to track down the enemy. No aircraft will ever surprise the SuF-7 or even get within 20 kms of it.
To also ensure that it is well protected from almost any threat, the SuF-7 has a couple of other features. To ensure that LIDAR/LADAR equipment can’t successfully track the SuF-7, it employs laser scrambling systems that will scramble any light waves or laser beams. This ensures that the enemy can’t track the aircraft with light-oriented tracking devices. To ensure that it can also stand in any environment, the SuF-7 is capable of operating in nuclear environments because of its oxygen/carbon dioxide converter system and fuel cell, along with its airframe, which can shield the airplane a bit against radiation (long enough to get home not fight). To further this adaptibility, the SuF-7’s electronics are hardened against electromagnetic pulse weaponary, so that it won’t be taken out of the sky from a EMP.
Weapons/Armement:
No fighter is any good if it can’t carry any weapons, so engineers at SUAI began working on a weapons system that would ensure that the SuF-7 would take out all its threats along with establish its superiority. The SuF-7 Nightmare is outfitted with a 30mm autocannon mounted in its nose beneath the radar compartment. It has a firing rate of 3,100 rpm and can house around 500 rounds. But the main armament of the aircraft is its missile capability. In the middle of the aircraft, is the SuF-7’s internal weapons bays. It has a set of two of them to carry its capability. Inside, each bay has 4 hardpoints that can carry up to 1,500 kg of weaponary each. Although each hardpoint is capable of carrying 1,500 kg, in reality there isn’t enough space but this is just to ensure that these hardpoints can hold any weapon size out today. They are specifically designed to handle PIW, OMASC, and Pushkan designed munition (I buy my missiles from them so of course its going to be designed to use their weaponary) but thanks to adjustable pylons, it is capable of being customized to carry about any weaponary that has been developed or sold with little modifications to the internal design.
Each pylon is capable of carrying some of the most advanced Air-to-Air missiles known to man, especially designed by OMASC and Pushkan firms. To ensure that the air-to-air missiles are dropped out at supersonic speeds, SUNACS had to think creatively. The purpose was to launch AAM without having them being destroyed or having the bay doors open for long. To do this, a simple method was constructed called Gas-Assisted Exiting (GAE). GAE works by having a small hole in the hardpoint open up and release pressurized gas, causing the missile to shoot out of the bay doors. To make sure the bay doors aren’t destroyed in the process, they are opened just a split second before the GAE process occurs. The weapons bay also is capable of carrying air-to-ground ordance. Both bays can be configured to hold upwards to 5,000 kg in air-to-ground ordance within. This ensures that the SuF-7 can accomplish its multi-role missions. One final note, though, is that the SuF-7 can be fitted with an optional eight external hardpoints. 2 on each wing, 1 on each edge-pylon, and 2 on the fuselage. They can carry up to 2,400 kg worth of weaponary or fuel or electronics depending on mission.
The fire-control system of the SuF-7 Nightmare is by far the most advanced in the world to date thanks to the advancements made by the Advanced Electronic Division of SUAI. Using unprecedented use of advanced technologies, the system has been refined to be called the Advanced Computer Control Optical Module (ACCOM). ACCOM is powered by the aircraft’s supercomputer and is directly connected to the main systems. It works by the use of fly-by-optic infrastructure for fast reaction time and quicker analyses. ACCOM works by tracking all enemy position specified by the pilot through the use of its advanced AESA/LPI radar. It locks upon its target and continues to process it. But this is where it ends its similarity with conventional systems. It then goes on to rank all enemy objects by threat level to the aircraft, strategic location, or other assets depending on what the pilot specifies. Once it ranks it, using calculations and other perimeters that are gained through its sensors, the pilot can be given a choice on what to do. He/she can maintain a lock on the aircraft and fire off their weaponry or unengaged. But unlike other systems that do ranking, ACCOM is different in a fundamental way: it continues to evolve. Like the objective of all the avionics and electronics of the aircraft, the ACCOM works by developing around the pilot not the other way around. It proceeds to do this, by continuingly monitoring all threats that it ranks. It constantly makes sure its list is updated and fully informative for the pilot. Not only that, but the system gradually figures out over flight time with the same pilot, on his/her specific method of engaging the enemy. It then works to make it easier for the pilot to do his/her method while also leaving the option to try different methods. In this way, the pilot feels like he/she is one with the aircraft not two separate entities that are being forced to work together. After all, both object’s health relies on cooperating with each other. One last note on the ACCOM is that it excels and is designed to link up with any nearby battle network of some sort. A battle network allows the ACCOM to share information with other aircrafts and friendly forces that have this capability or can link up to the network. Not only that but it can also receive information on the entire environment, so it is always up-to-date when it comes to knowing the enemies positions. In all this way, the SuF-7 is capable of doing things that other aircrafts are not capable of to a much higher degree.
The weapons system of the SuF-7 have been designed exclusively to work in conjunction with the ACCOD system naturally. The on-board weapons managing system works closely with the ACCOD fire-control system to ensure that each weaponary is capable of hitting its target with the upmost of accuracy ever seen on the planet or in the nearby galaxy. The weapons are fully synchornized with the weapons control, which in turn is fully synchonrized with the fire-control system. This is the reason why any weapon fired from the SuF-7 is capable of hitting its target everytime no matter what.
Specifications:
Type: Multi-Role/Strike Fighter
Length: 18 m
Wingspan: 12 m
Height: 5 m
Propulsion: 2x Union-200-2005 Ramfan Jet Engine rated @ 55,000 lbf
Empty Weight: 18,000 kg
Normal Weight: 26,000 kg
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 45,000 kg
Fuel Fraction: 0.35 or 0.22
Fuel Weight: 15,750 kg
Normal Payload: 5,000 kg
Maximum Payload: 17,250 kg
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 1.1/1
Combat Range: 3,020 km
Ferry Range: 6,030 km
Operational Ceiling/Altitude: 75,000 ft
Maximum Altitude: 80,000 ft
Cruising Speed: Mach 0.8
Supercruising Speed: Mach 1.7
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.4
Limit per/number of pylon(s): 8x Internal; 8x External
Crew (List): 1/2
Price: $76 million; $78 million
Variants:
The SuF-7 Nightmare is available in the following variants:
SuF-7A - Single-Seat : $76 million
SuF-7B - Double-Seat : $78 million
SuF-7N1 - Single Seat Navalized : $85 million
SuF-7N2 - Double Seat Navalized : $87 million
Although these are the current variants, SUAI is pleased to say that if your nation would like to customize your own variant, SUAI is willing to create your own exclusive new version. This may include a different radar type that your nation prefers, a different engine (this may be possible), different avionics suites, or that kind of stuff. Just name what differences you wish and we are willing to negotiate a price for your own exclusive variant. Please feel free to request anything and we will do whatever we can to make sure you go home with a smile.
http://www.simlabs.arc.nasa.gov/gallery/images/images_aircraft/astovl_hi.jpg
Overview:
The SuF-7 is Space Union Aeronautics Institutions (SUAI) new double-engine multi-role fighter that is intended to replace the old SuF-3 Howler, in current Space Union Air Force service. Originally designed to be a single-engine fighter variant of the SuF/A-6 Wraith, but in the end it was decided that a more conservative design would be needed to replace the SuF-3 not the SuF-5 Lion. Together with the SuF-4, SuF-5, and the SuF/A-6, the SuF-7 will serve as Space Union’s frontline multi-role fighter for the coming decades. The SuF-7 takes up on the knowledge acquired in the Wraith Program and builds upon it, but also gets rid of many of the more complex systems to lower the cost substantially and to make it truly mass producible. The result is a deadly, state-of-the-art fighter that will send the enemy into fear and chaos at its mere sight.
Airframe:
The SuF-7 is designed to be simple in aircraft design and logistically very favorable, unlike the SuF/A-6, which is far more complex. The SuF-7’s airframe is designed so that it is streamlined and as simple as possible yet deadly. The saying goes within SUAI, “Simple but Deadly”. This logic has been adapted to the SuF-7. The airframe is designed so that the SuF-7 has an unstable platform, having a pair of stark-delta wings similar to the SuF/A-6 and F-16 (former USAF). These wings allow for optimum configuration with little drag but high lift in low-speed operations and high-speed. In front of the set of wings, the aircraft has two small canard surfaces to allow for more lift. This gives the aircraft a high lift-to-drag ratio for a fighter of its size.
Unlike past aircrafts, the SuF-7 isn’t designed with any mind of maneuverability or stealth but instead to be easily maintainable and simple. With its simple body, it is extremely streamlined to make it as aerodynamic as possible. This has allowed for raw power and speed to be used by the aircraft instead of maneuverability and stealth. The aircraft’s body, indeed, is made out of mostly composite materials like thermoplastic and carbon-reinforce plastic fiber. Thermoplastic makes up around 57% of the body, with CRPF making up 27% (mostly the wings), and the rest being made out of Thymonel superalloy, at 15%. This configuration may make the aircraft seem like a flying piece of plastic, but it makes the aircraft incredibly light for its size while also making it very durable.
Although stealth is not a key figure in the design of the SuF-7, it still is an important factor in the design of the SuF-7. Engineers purposely made the aircraft so that its body was blended and smooth, giving it maximum capability to deflect radar waves in other fashions instead of back to the radar. It also has a coating of specially designed radar-absorbing material (RAM). This allows for the SuF-7 to have a radar-cross section of less than a bee on radar. Other measures taken to make sure the aircraft was as small as possible to radar were its removal of 90 degree angles and filling up of any gaps so that radar waves didn’t bounce back to their receivers.
Another thing that the aircraft faced was its infra-red signature. To reduce that it professionals had the pipeline within the aircraft redesigned so that it moved by the outer-edges to cool them down and reduce any infra-red emitted. The engines also have had cool-mufflers installed on them so that the exhaust has been cooled down to prevent accurate and as fast locks by infra-red seeking missiles.
Propulsion/Powerplant:
The SuF-7 is powered by the same advanced engine that powered the SuF-5, the Union-200-2005 Ramfan Jet Engine. The SuF-7 utilizes only two of these and gains tremendous benefits over older, two engine fighters. For one thing the Union-200-2005 produces a thrust of 55,000 lbf. That's enough to power this beast to high speeds if needed. But the Union-200 is not designed for power, but instead for maintenance-friendliness and fuel efficient.
The Union-200 makes tremendous leaps when it comes to maintenance. Older jet engines tended to be complex and therefore much more demanding when maintenance time came. But the Union-200 tries to make sure that it has the least amount of maintenance necessary. For one thing, every part is modular. This means that using a clip, a part can be easily taken out of the engine and reinstalled. This allows for quick access to internal parts of the engine that need fixing. Another design change was that it had an automatic maintenance system inside of it. If any part isn't working correctly or has been damaged, the computer alerts the aircraft on the damaged area and unclips all the clips and makes it so that it is easy to remove the part.
Another benefit of the Union-200 is its fuel efficiency. The most dramatic way of doing so was increasing the bypass air. The amount of bypass air compared to the regular amount is rated at 0.4. This has increased the fuel efficiency to the point that it isn't a fuel hungry engine. Not only does this help keep fuel consumption down, it also gives it more power than a comparable low-bypass ramfan jet engine.
It also features supercruise ability. Supercruise is the ability to cruise at above Mach 1 without the use of afterburners. This results in more fuel-efficient engines above Mach 1 and an increase in range for the aircraft. It also features heat dampers that insert cold air into the exhaust to make it colder. It helps to avoid infra-red seeking missiles and sensors.
In an effort to design one of the most advanced powerplants to ever see the day of light, SUNACS engineers began developing a state-of-the-art propulsion system that would integrate it with the computer to make sure that the pilot had direct control over the entire powerplant along with other “neat” features. The result was the “Propulsion Emission Management System” or PEMS. PEMS is a digital electronics engine control system that hooks up with the on-board mother computer of the aircraft. PEMS allows for faster response and a more effective powerplant, which translates into being able to go to full power with each engine within 5 seconds. This gives it superb flight performance and enhances it over its competitors in the market with unmatched performance. But this is only one of the many neat features of PEMS. Another feature is the capability to shut-off one engine manually and use the other one if the pilot is ever desperately low on fuel and needs to get back home efficiently. But a more interesting feature of the engine with PEMS is it ability to track the health of the engine. The computer is automatically hooked up with the Union-200-2005s, which allows it to gain access to each part of the engine. If any engine parts malfunction, breaks down, or doesn’t work in the way intended, the computer is notified and can notify the pilot if a major problem. This allows the pilot to have on-demand status of his/her powerplant; after all it is one of the biggest parts of the design. Not only that, but PEMS keeps track of those faulty parts and when logistics check out the engines, PEMS can give a read out showing which parts malfunctioned and a full-detailed report on that. This saves logistics from having to go through the hassle of taking apart the entire engine and trying to find where something went wrong. This is another minor step taken by the design team to help our logistics friends out there.
Other than the basic design, the engines are both equipped with state-of-the-art counterflow fluid thrust vectoring capability. Counterflow fluid thrust vectoring (CFFTV) is an advanced successor to the traditional thrust vectoring nozzle. Instead of using a mechanical nozzle that moves and is complicated, a jet of air is used to change the angle of the exhaust when it leaves the engine. The result is a far less complex, costly, non-stealthy, and prone to breakdown engine. Another feature is the use of the standard supercruise ability. Because of the power of the gigantic engines, the engine is capable of supercruising past Mach 2.2. Although the exact number remains unknown, it is very high, essentially increasing the range of the bird so that nothing will escape its shadowy grasp of death and destruction. Like most aircrafts, the Union-200-2005s are equipped with afterburning nozzles, but because of varying demands, it is optional and the afterburning version is called the Union-200-2005s.
Avionics/Electronics:
The SuF-7 Nightmare’s avionics have been designed specifically for its job. They are designed to be multi-functional while also being rugged. But in order to achieve this, the avionics package had to be literally taken a different step from other aircrafts designed by SUAI. The main component of the Nightmare is its advanced AESA, VLPI radar, with over 4,000 notches called the SUR/SU-6 Multi-Frequency AESA Shadow Radar. This allows for a huge tracking and detection radius, exceeding other aircraft’s radars by far. The average detection range is around 350 km for small fighters while over 500 km for large aircrafts such as bombers and AWACS. The Shadow is capable of tracking up to 100 targets at once, ranging from air targets to ground targets.
Although the Shadow provides the SuF-7 the capability to track air targets and ground targets, in order to further establish the SuF-7’s ground-attack capability, the SuF-7 is equipped with the SUR-SU-6SA Ground Shadow synthetic aperture radar. The Ground Shadow provides the pilot incredibly detailed pictures of the ground and targets to assure that the pilot can hit them with maximum clarity. The detection and imaging range of the Ground Shadow is over 120 km on the ground.
The SuF-7 Nightmare, following the footsteps of the Wraith, has an advanced pilot-aircraft interface that allows for active pilot perception. The Nightmare’s electronics works to integrate the pilot and the aircraft into one being, instead of two beings that fight alongside. This assures that the pilot is capable of doing his/her job to the maximum effectiveness. The system is called the Human Integration Module (HIM). It works by having a set of instruments inside the helmet to monitor the health and status of the pilot. It obtains stress scans of the pilot’s brains, identifying where the pilot is most stressed, it also has brainwave scanners, health monitors, and other psychological monitoring aspects of the design. It is intended for one purpose: to make the aircraft know the pilot. Every time the pilot flies the SuF-7, the HIM watches all the information and compiles it, learning more and more about the individual pilot. The HIM gradually starts adjusting settings of the aircraft to suite the pilot more adequately so it can improve the pilot’s weaknesses and emphasis his/her strengths. This provides for drastic improvements in flight capability for the pilot and the computer to the point that the computer becomes one with the pilot and knows him/her probably better than anyone else (except maybe close relatives and friends).
In terms of flight control, the SuF-7 works by having a central supercomputer inside the aircraft. The supercomputer is capable of over 10 billion floating point operations per second, giving it lots of capability when it comes to processing power. This allows it to control the Nightmare and also operate all the systems and subsystems. The interface of the SuF-7 is similar to other fighters having a fly-by-optics control system that ensures faster response and reflexes compared to older fly-by-wire systems. The mere difference of a split second could be what determines if a pilot lives or not. Within the cockpit there is one large touch-screen made from OLED. This light-weight screen shows all the battle information he/she will need along with possible commands to give to the aircraft’s systems and computers. It also allows the pilot to touch it and enter in commands without having to press other buttons. This frees up space on the console and makes life easier, overall, for the pilot.
Other systems aboard the SuF-7 is its helmet-mounted system (HMS) that allows the information that would have been given to the pilot on a heads-up display screen come on the helmet screen. It also serves the function of making the pilot capable of targeting an enemy within-visual range and beyond-visual range much easier as the pilot doesn’t have to turn the aircraft and point the missile to shoot, instead he/she can turn their head and target the enemy or even zoom in on an incoming fighter and target them without having to get closer for you to see it. The farther away a fighter is away from an enemy, the better for the nation, pilot, and aircraft, in terms of danger threat. Other features include its data-link connections that allow it to connect with a nation’s battle net-type systems or communicate and share with each other information they have found out and/or received. Another system that is common among SUAI aircraft is its Voice Command Module (VCM) that allows the pilot to use his/her voice to enter in a command instead of pressing a button. This saves the pilot from having to use his/her hands and concentrate them on other tasks.
Countermeasures/ECM:
As for electronic countermeasures, the SuF-7 Nightmare has been designed with a suite of ECMs that make earlier aircraft look defenseless. All the measures have been ensured to elude the enemy’s sensors and weapons so that the SuF-7 has the optimal danger capability and survivability. The first component of the ECM system is the jamming system. The SuF-7’s radar is equipped with an automatic jammer system. Every time the aircraft fires off a radar signal, it fires a jamming signal right after. This way the other aircraft doesn't realise that an enemy fighter is tracking it. Not only that but a jamming system called the JYU-B is used to jam all the radars in the area except for the aircraft own. This works by having the JYU-A and the aircraft's radar/lidar/ladar system work together. They both are designed to emit radar signals on different wavelengths each time they fire off. This allows for the aircraft to not jam its own radar. The JYU-A continues to jump frequency constantly making it difficult to defeat by enemy aircraft, even with high-tech equipment on-board. Other measures include the use of chaffs and flares. High-powered flares fly out and release a huge explosion of light. This automatically is registered by any IR-Seeking enemies and is directed toward the explosion. The flare burst 3 times before dying out. This is the new generation of flares designed to defeat the new-generation of IR-Seeking missiles.
To fully protect the aircraft from the most dangerous of threats, it was designed to have the aircraft use the power of electronics and avionics to save it from being hit by missiles and give it an early warning system. For that reason, the aircraft has been designed with a Direct Emission Detection System or DEDS. DEDS works by homing on signals like radar from missiles and other aircrafts. It does this by homing on to unfamiliar signals that are determined to not be friendly. This way the the pilot will always know whose locking on to him/her. But DEDS doesn’t stop there. No it ups the anty by turning the table against the enemy. It works by using the signals to locate the enemy before devoting the SUR/SU-6 to track down the enemy. No aircraft will ever surprise the SuF-7 or even get within 20 kms of it.
To also ensure that it is well protected from almost any threat, the SuF-7 has a couple of other features. To ensure that LIDAR/LADAR equipment can’t successfully track the SuF-7, it employs laser scrambling systems that will scramble any light waves or laser beams. This ensures that the enemy can’t track the aircraft with light-oriented tracking devices. To ensure that it can also stand in any environment, the SuF-7 is capable of operating in nuclear environments because of its oxygen/carbon dioxide converter system and fuel cell, along with its airframe, which can shield the airplane a bit against radiation (long enough to get home not fight). To further this adaptibility, the SuF-7’s electronics are hardened against electromagnetic pulse weaponary, so that it won’t be taken out of the sky from a EMP.
Weapons/Armement:
No fighter is any good if it can’t carry any weapons, so engineers at SUAI began working on a weapons system that would ensure that the SuF-7 would take out all its threats along with establish its superiority. The SuF-7 Nightmare is outfitted with a 30mm autocannon mounted in its nose beneath the radar compartment. It has a firing rate of 3,100 rpm and can house around 500 rounds. But the main armament of the aircraft is its missile capability. In the middle of the aircraft, is the SuF-7’s internal weapons bays. It has a set of two of them to carry its capability. Inside, each bay has 4 hardpoints that can carry up to 1,500 kg of weaponary each. Although each hardpoint is capable of carrying 1,500 kg, in reality there isn’t enough space but this is just to ensure that these hardpoints can hold any weapon size out today. They are specifically designed to handle PIW, OMASC, and Pushkan designed munition (I buy my missiles from them so of course its going to be designed to use their weaponary) but thanks to adjustable pylons, it is capable of being customized to carry about any weaponary that has been developed or sold with little modifications to the internal design.
Each pylon is capable of carrying some of the most advanced Air-to-Air missiles known to man, especially designed by OMASC and Pushkan firms. To ensure that the air-to-air missiles are dropped out at supersonic speeds, SUNACS had to think creatively. The purpose was to launch AAM without having them being destroyed or having the bay doors open for long. To do this, a simple method was constructed called Gas-Assisted Exiting (GAE). GAE works by having a small hole in the hardpoint open up and release pressurized gas, causing the missile to shoot out of the bay doors. To make sure the bay doors aren’t destroyed in the process, they are opened just a split second before the GAE process occurs. The weapons bay also is capable of carrying air-to-ground ordance. Both bays can be configured to hold upwards to 5,000 kg in air-to-ground ordance within. This ensures that the SuF-7 can accomplish its multi-role missions. One final note, though, is that the SuF-7 can be fitted with an optional eight external hardpoints. 2 on each wing, 1 on each edge-pylon, and 2 on the fuselage. They can carry up to 2,400 kg worth of weaponary or fuel or electronics depending on mission.
The fire-control system of the SuF-7 Nightmare is by far the most advanced in the world to date thanks to the advancements made by the Advanced Electronic Division of SUAI. Using unprecedented use of advanced technologies, the system has been refined to be called the Advanced Computer Control Optical Module (ACCOM). ACCOM is powered by the aircraft’s supercomputer and is directly connected to the main systems. It works by the use of fly-by-optic infrastructure for fast reaction time and quicker analyses. ACCOM works by tracking all enemy position specified by the pilot through the use of its advanced AESA/LPI radar. It locks upon its target and continues to process it. But this is where it ends its similarity with conventional systems. It then goes on to rank all enemy objects by threat level to the aircraft, strategic location, or other assets depending on what the pilot specifies. Once it ranks it, using calculations and other perimeters that are gained through its sensors, the pilot can be given a choice on what to do. He/she can maintain a lock on the aircraft and fire off their weaponry or unengaged. But unlike other systems that do ranking, ACCOM is different in a fundamental way: it continues to evolve. Like the objective of all the avionics and electronics of the aircraft, the ACCOM works by developing around the pilot not the other way around. It proceeds to do this, by continuingly monitoring all threats that it ranks. It constantly makes sure its list is updated and fully informative for the pilot. Not only that, but the system gradually figures out over flight time with the same pilot, on his/her specific method of engaging the enemy. It then works to make it easier for the pilot to do his/her method while also leaving the option to try different methods. In this way, the pilot feels like he/she is one with the aircraft not two separate entities that are being forced to work together. After all, both object’s health relies on cooperating with each other. One last note on the ACCOM is that it excels and is designed to link up with any nearby battle network of some sort. A battle network allows the ACCOM to share information with other aircrafts and friendly forces that have this capability or can link up to the network. Not only that but it can also receive information on the entire environment, so it is always up-to-date when it comes to knowing the enemies positions. In all this way, the SuF-7 is capable of doing things that other aircrafts are not capable of to a much higher degree.
The weapons system of the SuF-7 have been designed exclusively to work in conjunction with the ACCOD system naturally. The on-board weapons managing system works closely with the ACCOD fire-control system to ensure that each weaponary is capable of hitting its target with the upmost of accuracy ever seen on the planet or in the nearby galaxy. The weapons are fully synchornized with the weapons control, which in turn is fully synchonrized with the fire-control system. This is the reason why any weapon fired from the SuF-7 is capable of hitting its target everytime no matter what.
Specifications:
Type: Multi-Role/Strike Fighter
Length: 18 m
Wingspan: 12 m
Height: 5 m
Propulsion: 2x Union-200-2005 Ramfan Jet Engine rated @ 55,000 lbf
Empty Weight: 18,000 kg
Normal Weight: 26,000 kg
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 45,000 kg
Fuel Fraction: 0.35 or 0.22
Fuel Weight: 15,750 kg
Normal Payload: 5,000 kg
Maximum Payload: 17,250 kg
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 1.1/1
Combat Range: 3,020 km
Ferry Range: 6,030 km
Operational Ceiling/Altitude: 75,000 ft
Maximum Altitude: 80,000 ft
Cruising Speed: Mach 0.8
Supercruising Speed: Mach 1.7
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.4
Limit per/number of pylon(s): 8x Internal; 8x External
Crew (List): 1/2
Price: $76 million; $78 million
Variants:
The SuF-7 Nightmare is available in the following variants:
SuF-7A - Single-Seat : $76 million
SuF-7B - Double-Seat : $78 million
SuF-7N1 - Single Seat Navalized : $85 million
SuF-7N2 - Double Seat Navalized : $87 million
Although these are the current variants, SUAI is pleased to say that if your nation would like to customize your own variant, SUAI is willing to create your own exclusive new version. This may include a different radar type that your nation prefers, a different engine (this may be possible), different avionics suites, or that kind of stuff. Just name what differences you wish and we are willing to negotiate a price for your own exclusive variant. Please feel free to request anything and we will do whatever we can to make sure you go home with a smile.