NationStates Jolt Archive


F-26 Locust Stealth Multi-role Fighter – with SVTOL and EMP

Geneticon
14-03-2006, 23:18
The F-26 Locust Stealth Multi-role Fighter – with SVTOL

ATTN: This is a creation and product of the GAFE (Geneticon Armed Forces Engineering) (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=479386). All business may be done here (OOC: in this thread), but all sales are recorded there.

F-26 Picture (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/BAES_FOAS_Concept.JPG)

Overview:

For several years now, with the new production of several armaments in Geneticon, President Keith Johnson had been asking for a fighter that could perform expert stealth missions, while being quite effective at air-to-air combat at the same time. With these words, the F-26 Locust was created. An improvement on the F-22 Raptor, this fighter not only is equipped to take out other fighters, but also to decimate land targets.... both of which it does with excellent precision.

The prototype was named the GG-279 Hornet, which was worked on for approximately nine years, and when it was finally perfected, was renamed the F-26 Locust.

Airframe:

The main feature of the Locust is its sleek design which allows it to slip in and out of tight situations with the greatest of ease. Its wingspan is very shallow at the front of the aircraft, but spreads out much more the farther back you go. This gives the fighter an aerodynamic flow which allows it to maneuver at greater speeds and make incredible aerial maneuvers. In addition, this incredible shape allows the locust to be far more stealthy than even the F-22 could be.

The Locust is smaller than the F-22, making it lighter and consequently quicker.

This kind of design is even more advanced than the Raptor was, creating nearly no drag, and allowing the Locust to hit high speeds, even with a full payload. The airframe was created to withstand extreme heat from friction, and not one of the tested ships had problems with withstanding these elements, as this was one of the first improvements made on the fighter..

The plane is made out of composites, filled in with ferrites, which make the plane extremely hard to detect and radar. A small ammount of metal material is used to make the plane, to avoid the problem of the aircraft falling apart in midair. The specific makeup between metal/composites/ferrites is confidential, but it is clear that radars have a difficult time detecting such low metallic material.

The hull is not armored, as this would destroy stealth capability. This makes a direct hit from a missile virtually impossible to survive, but this also has its advantages, making the fighter far less expensive, and at the same time increasing it's speed considerably.

Finally, the entire hull is covered in a coat of Radar absorbing paint (RAM) which contains carbonyl iron ferrite that makes the plane look like a wave of heat, instead of an energy piece. This is yet another of the extreme precautions taken to make this plane as stealthy as possible.

Propulsion:

The Locust is propelled by the new dual F121-PW-110 turbofans with afterburners. This new engine was designed specifically for the locust, and delivers a thrust of approximately 60,000 lbf. With this intense power, and the swift design, the Locust is known to be able to reach a maximum speed of Mach 2.74 without it’s afterburners. With the afterburners, it can reach speeds of over Mach 3, making the Locust one of the fastest fighters known.

The drawback to these engines is that the increased thrust makes the engine heavier than would be expected of a typical aircraft, but the thrust was improved to compensate for it’s sheer weight and size. These dual engines are top of the line. One key advantage of these engines is their ability to perform as well at climbing, and higher altitudes, as it does as diving and low attitudes. This makes the maneuverability of the F-26 exceptional.

The Locust is somewhat efficient with fuel. It can maintain flights for approximately 7 hours at maximum speed before having to refuel, giving it a huge range. The downside of this is the fact that the afterburners may only be used once per trip, as that is all the fuel for the afterburners that the plane may carry.

One optional, and rather incredible, feature of the F-26 is its Short Vertical Takeoff and Landing Function (SVTOL). With improvements made from the F-22, making the aircraft lighter, the SVTOL was tested and perfected in the F-26. Although significant pilot training is required to take advantage of this technology, it is highly important to the design of the Locust, as it allows the plane to takeoff from very short runways and small carriers. In this way, it acts much like the Harrier. All of this is a result of its light design.

The SVTOL system works just like it's brother-plane, the F-35. It has a lift fan, which is operated by an internal drive shaft, and the engines are able to shift donward, giving the F-26 just enough lift to get off the ground in a short amount of space.

With this amount of engine power being unleashed, it is nearly impossible to upkeep this engine without cool-off time. If the fighter makes a standard mission (7 hours), then it must take at least 3 hours to cool-off before it can undergo another mission.

Electronic Capability:

The Locust uses similar electronic radar technology as its younger sibling, the F-22. It uses the AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. This is one of the best radar available in the field, creating sweeping scans that pick up even the smallest objects. One of the best features of this radar is it’s small size, which allows the fighter to be lighter. In addition, the AN/APG-81 has been improved to give the Locust a 360 degree field of vision, rather than the normal 120 degree view. This is a result of the mechanical steering that has been added to the AESA. With this steering, the pilot can move the attena around fully, giving him a 360 field of vision. Although not always practical, it can be occasionally useful.

The AESA allows the Locust to pick up targets from long-range, giving the Locust an advantage over other aircraft, and somewhat of a first strike ability. In addition, the scan itself is nigh impossible to detect, and in order to avoid interception the AESA changes frequencies a thousand times a second. And that’s not all, the AESA is also equipped with its own attack capability, which will overload enemy sensors, disabling them.

Unlike it’s Raptor counterpart, the F-26 Locust has a new computer system. Geneticon uses state-of-the-art computers in nearly every capacity, and this fighter was no different. When the Locust was being created, Geneticon scientists worked tirelessly to create a computer that would be specifically adapted to the F-26. The result was the Locust Wing Integrated Processor (LWIP). The LWIP was specifically designed for the Locust’s duties, and only one of them is necessary aboard the fighter. The LWIP is able to process 15 billion instructions a second, and holds 2 Gigabytes of memory.

The fighter itself has three cockpit displays which constantly run info across the screen for the pilot to handle. These displays also have touch screen capability for simple orders… giving the pilot great control of his aircraft and the flick on his hand. While this is an interesting addition, the pilot also has the traditional hand controls if he wishes to use them instead. In addition, on board word commands ensure that the pilot’s touch screen commands are correct.

Finally, the Locust uses an Low Probability of Interception (LPI) Radar to detect it’s targets, making it very difficult to in turn be detected.

ECM/EMP:

The Locust employs only two different forms of ECM, often relying more on its maneuverability to escape destruction, rather than the ECM.

The first form the typical disruptive flare and chaff. The flare is launched by the Locust to distract incoming enemy missiles. When it goes off, it creates a huge amount of light and heat, which will drive heat seeking missiles towards the flare, rather than the F-26. In the same way, chaff can be laid down by the Locust, which will attempt to confuse the missile, giving it more than just the Locust as a target.

The second (and more effective) ECM of the Locust is Geneticon Guided Missile Jamming System (GGMJS). This system was tested in the lab for all nine years of the production of the Locust, and although a rather effective piece of technology, it continues to undergo further improvement. In fact, in the years to come, Geneticon is planning on creating the AGGJMS, an Advanced version of the current one.

The GGMJS attacks both the attacking aircraft and missile. It first scans the two objects and detects the devices that need to be dealt with. For an aircraft, this is typically the targeting system. For a missile, it could be any number of things. The GGMJS will typically attack the aircraft before the missile is even launched, hoping to not have to deal with the missile. Once the GGMJS is enabled, it detects the targeting system of the enemy fighter, and specifically jams that electronic. Without the ability to fire properly, the aircraft almost always will miss its target. When the missile does get a lock, the GGMJS then specifically scans and attempts to jam the incoming missile, and has an efficiency rating of jamming 7 out of every 10 missiles. With this weaker than expected efficiency, the Geneticon scientists are working to create a better system against the missiles. But they also claim that if the Locust pilot takes advantage of the GGMJS before the missile is fired, they have utilized it correctly.

The Locust can also use the GGMJS against ground-base anti-aircraft guns. The draw-back of the GGMJS is that it makes the fighter much easier to detect on radar, and using the GGMJS will destroy the advantage of stealth for the moment it is used.

In addition to this ECM technology, the Locust also employs a very small Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) against its enemies. This broadband, high-intensity, short-duration burst of electromagnetic energy attacks the enemy’s electronic systems. Occasionally the EMP can be used to just disrupt normal life in a city, but it is more effective when used against an enemy military target. Against another fighter or anti-aircraft gun, the EMP can be utilized very well.

The idea for the fighter-based EMP was an original design of a Geneticon scientist, and they worked on the idea for over eleven years until it was perfected to the point where it is now.

The EMP is actually employed by the fighter itself as a shockwave, which can only hit targets up to 3000 feet away. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to use, and only experienced pilots will be able to take advantage of its function. A ground attack with the EMP is even more difficult to correctly employ.

The EMP system aboard the fighter releases a large amount of electromagnetic energy that takes only one one-thousandth of a second before its effects are realized. Because of the extreme strain on the fighter to make use of this system, the Locust typically can be damaged in the process, and the GGMJS and AESA have been known rarely to vaporize under the Locusts own EMP attack. But after countless testing missions, it was found that the on board systems of the Locust were only damaged 0.06% of the times when the EMP was used. Still, the risk exists, and a Locust pilot must decide whether taking out the enemy’s electronics is worth risking damage to his own systems.

Weapons and Armament:

The F-26 Locust is outfitted as a multi-task fighter, which allows it to attack enemy ground-based targets, as well as those in the air.

It’s main armament is air-to-air attack missiles which are concealed on the inside hull of the fighter to avoid radar detection. This rack can house up to 4 AIM-120C AMRAAMs and 2 AIM-9 Sidewinders. Although this is the max it can carry of these missiles, it typically carries less, as the more it carries the heavier it will be. Also, the more it carries the greater the chance is of detection.

More importantly the Locust carries dual M61A2 Vulcan 20 mm Gatling guns, each with 500 rounds. This improvement was made on the F-22, to give the Locust air superiority in the heat of a modern dogfight.

In addition to these main systems, the Locust can carry up to 2 Advanced JDAM bombs, which can do a heck of a lot of damage in a small time. The Geneticon scientists worked on the JDAM, and created a more advanced version that not only is guided towards its target, but can totally avoid jamming from enemy systems. This makes the AJDAM a hugely accurate bomb, which can deliver a payload of 1000 pounds on its enemy. It also has bunker busting material which allows no enemy to go unscathed.

The firing system of the Locust is one of the most accurate in the world. Geneticon private experimenters came up with an idea that would improve the systems. The Sidewinders were equipped with scanners that would skip to guidance from the main ob-board Locust targeting system if several heat signatures suddenly appeared (this is an ECCM). In addition, the experimenters created a system where the Locust could revert all electronic power to a single target. This system, known as Target Analysis Processing (or TAP), is state-of-the-art. With the flip of a switch or a touch, the pilot can enable the TAP, which reverts all electronic energy to focus on a specific target.

All missiles and bombs on board the F-26 are equipped with RTAP (Reverting Target Analysis Processing), which are enabled the instant TAP is. When RTAP kicks in, the bombs/missiles get all information direct from the targeting computer, which is in a state of TAP. In the state of TAP, the fighter is able to concentrate on a single target unhindered by any known ECM. This makes the missiles/bombs using RTAP almost always hit their targets. The only draw-back with TAP is that the fighter can only focus on one target at a time with TAP, making a several aircraft dogfight or several target bombing run a bad time to use TAP.

The Gatling guns use a unique targeting system that the fighter must learn to master. Instead of electronic targeting, the plane itself lock onto the target, which the pilot can set on something called Automatic Fighter Positioning (AFP). When using AFP, the fighter actually locks on to the enemy craft’s frequency (much like a guided missile would) and maintains a course that has a direct relationship with the enemy aircraft. This AFP puts the pilot in position to fire the guns, which require all of his concentration, as the timing must be absolutely right to hit. A good pilot, who is trained to use these guns, will be extremely effective.

Specifications:

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 60 ft
• Wingspan: 42 ft 6 in
• Height: 15 ft 6 in
• Wing area: 880 ft²
• Empty weight: 24,750 lb
• Loaded weight: 40,000 lb
• Maximum gross takeoff weight: 50,000 lb
• Powerplant: dual F121-PW-110 turbofans with afterburners, 60,000 lb each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.74
• Cruise speed: Mach 1.86
• Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (20,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 20,000 m/min.

Armament

• 2× M61A2 Vulcan 20 mm Gatling guns with 500 rounds
• 4× AIM-120C AMRAAM
• 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder
• 2× 1,000 lb AJDAM

Price:

Variant 1: F-26 Locust Stealth Multi-role Fighter, with SVTOL – 120 million
Variant 2: F-26 Locust Stealth Multi-role Fighter, without SVTOL – 110 million
Variant 3: F-26 Locust Stealth Multi-role Fighter, with SVTOL, without EMP – 90 million
Variant 4: F-26 Locust Stealth Multi-role Fighter, without SVTOL, without EMP – 80 million
Isochronous
14-03-2006, 23:22
I need 1,000 Variant I fighters. $100 billion will be wired when you're ready.
MelekTaus
14-03-2006, 23:35
OOC: Umm, not to rain on your parade, but an aircraft with non-metallic componants, even with low drag, would normally be ripped apart by high speeds unless you had some seriously strong polymer products.

But the main thing is. How do you get VSTOL ability in your aircraft? Does the engine act like in the Harrier, with adjustable side 'nossles', or is it like the JSF, with the ability to turn its rearward engine point downwards, with the addition of a lift fan at the front?

You haven't explained those elements, nor how the hell you can carry so much stuff internally, while still having a 'thin' plane with low drag profile.
Geneticon
14-03-2006, 23:45
OOC: Umm, not to rain on your parade, but an aircraft with non-metallic componants, even with low drag, would normally be ripped apart by high speeds unless you had some seriously strong polymer products.

But the main thing is. How do you get VSTOL ability in your aircraft? Does the engine act like in the Harrier, with adjustable side 'nossles', or is it like the JSF, with the ability to turn its rearward engine point downwards, with the addition of a lift fan at the front?

You haven't explained those elements, nor how the hell you can carry so much stuff internally, while still having a 'thin' plane with low drag profile.

Thank you for your input... I will update this soon to explain the makeup, SVTOL, and size.
Geneticon
14-03-2006, 23:45
I need 1,000 Variant I fighters. $100 billion will be wired when you're ready.

*Confirmed*

Final Price is 120 billion, you can still easily afford it.

Delivery is 4 NS years.
MelekTaus
14-03-2006, 23:51
Thank you for your input... I will update this soon to explain the makeup, SVTOL, and size.

OOC:Thank you. But I still say in comparison to the Joint Combat Aircraft, which can carry quite the payload, as well as retain good stealth qualities, this aircraft is obsolete in design to be fast, and stealthy at the expense of fighting power. The advances on missile technology means it's better to be nicely armoured d use such things as decoys and chaff than to try and be 100% 'invisible', which is an expensive endevour in research, and technology, areas. But hey, it's fairly decent aircraft, just needs some refinement.
The Macabees
14-03-2006, 23:57
[OOC: The EMP will not only knock out enemy installations, but the fighter's own sensor systems, while enemy ground installations will no doubt be semi-hardened.]
MelekTaus
15-03-2006, 00:02
[OOC: The EMP will not only knock out enemy installations, but the fighter's own sensor systems, while enemy ground installations will no doubt be semi-hardened.]

OOC:Agreed, one point I'd missed as well. But some kind of EMP bomb, or EMP emmiting device might be usefull for taking out enemy RADAR installations, or something, if destruction isn't in orde, it's fortified against conventional weaponry, or if you want to capture them. But such things are theoretical, and not very practical.
Isselmere
15-03-2006, 00:05
OOC: Four radar arrays would be required for 360-degree coverage.

EDITED because it was nasty.
MelekTaus
15-03-2006, 00:09
OOC: How have you managed to obtain 360-degree radar coverage with a single frontal radar array? 120-degrees is the best that can be expected.

OOC: I think, the best idea is to do as I did with the VSTOL idea, to suggest /how/ he can obtain such things, not badger the poor guy.

Ok, one idea would be to sacrifice the stealth with a TRAM like device top and bottom of the nose, from the old Intruders, incorperating RADAR for a 360 radius.... But that would efy the whole point of this aircraft.

It's lovely idea, but... One annalogy I'll make is that it's a half baked siuffle (or how ever it's spelt). It has the basic ingrediants for a masterpiece, but because of how it's been mixed, and cooked, it hasn't risen quite yet... It's a good idea, but in practical terms is far from perfect.
Isselmere
15-03-2006, 00:18
OOC: I think, the best idea is to do as I did with the VSTOL idea, to suggest /how/ he can obtain such things, not badger the poor guy.
OOC: Absolutely right to admonish me on that, and I corrected my poor behaviour somewhat.
MelekTaus
15-03-2006, 00:21
OOC: Absolutely right to admonish me on that, and I corrected my poor behaviour somewhat.
OOC: Thank you for being gentlemanly enough to change your post. Hopefully, we can help this guy get a decent design that really does do justice to his idea.
McKagan
15-03-2006, 00:43
[OOC: Ok, I've got a question. The F/A-22 can only carry four missiles. You mention this plane as being SMALLER than the F/A-22 and carrying something like TWELVE missiles. I don't think the F/A-22 could do that even if it carried them under the wings, which would in turn decrease manuverability, speed, and stealth. You've got a nice design, it's just a bit overarmed in my opinion]
Zyme
15-03-2006, 00:55
with the increaced heat signature given off by the large engines, wouldn't that make this thing massivley supseptable to heat seeking missiles, and would give off a sizeable radar signature
Geneticon
15-03-2006, 01:04
with the increaced heat signature given off by the large engines, wouldn't that make this thing massivley supseptable to heat seeking missiles, and would give off a sizeable radar signature

Heat, yes would make this craft extremely sucetable to heat seeking missles, thus the need for the GGMJS and flares.

Thank you all for your input... this is the first draft (and my first attempt at making an pretty much original design)... so it's going to be a bit rough.

The first thing I will do is cut down the armament, I think you all are right saying it's a little too heavy.
Usea-Jason
15-03-2006, 01:39
How is this fighter in close range ingagements,if it dose worst that out Su-37's then why do we need a interceptor?
Geneticon
15-03-2006, 01:40
It's dual Gatlin guns and AFP make it a top notch close range fighter.
Commonalitarianism
15-03-2006, 03:17
We will provide you with specialized materials which can easily make a stealth plane which you are describing. The price of course is some of your stealth planes. We have access to this type of material. Bioceramics twice as strong as any regular ceramic cultured from abalone, carbon nanotube production facilities, bioengineered silkworms which spin a spiderweb filament like thread 10x stronger than steel. We also have access to large amounts of industrial diamonds which we can melt into diamond films.

Regards,

Strategos Sharp
Geneticon
15-03-2006, 03:19
We will provide you with specialized materials which can easily make a stealth plane which you are describing. The price of course is some of your stealth planes. We have access to this type of material. Bioceramics twice as strong as any regular ceramic cultured from abalone, carbon nanotube production facilities, bioengineered silkworms which spin a spiderweb filament like thread 10x stronger than steel. We also have access to large amounts of industrial diamonds which we can melt into diamond films.

Regards,

Strategos Sharp

Thank you for you offer, although we have many materials already.

What do you propose?
Geneticon
15-03-2006, 13:07
*Updated*
Geneticon
16-03-2006, 17:23
bump... any comments?
Strathdonia
16-03-2006, 18:02
Unfortuantly from your breif description of you defensive coutner measure it would seem that you would still be hidieously vunerable to IR tracking.

Unless of course you have crammed in a Directed Infra Red Counter Measures (DIRCM) system that you so far haven't mentioned, but those a very much short range last ditch systems.

As for Guns get rid of the Vulcans and fit a pair of BK-27s: faster firing in the first 0.5secs of a burst (and no burst should exceed that length) about 1/3 of the weight and firing much more powerful ammo.
Geneticon
16-03-2006, 18:04
Unfortuantly from your breif description of you defensive coutner measure it would seem that you would still be hidieously vunerable to IR tracking.

Unless of course you have crammed in a Directed Infra Red Counter Measures (DIRCM) system that you so far haven't mentioned, but those a very much short range last ditch systems.

As for Guns get rid of the Vulcans and fit a pair of BK-27s: faster firing in the first 0.5secs of a burst (and no burst should exceed that length) about 1/3 of the weight and firing much more powerful ammo.

I will check up on the IR tracking and ECMs to counter it, and see what can be done.

I will also check into these BK-27s... they seems better, and maybe I will make the switch.

Thanks for your input!
Velkya
18-03-2006, 00:50
(OOC: It's an excellent first start, though I've got my own designs so I'm not going to purchase it. ;) )
Animarnia
18-03-2006, 01:30
OOC:
hmm as has been pointed out, your engines would make the plane very trackable by heat seeking missiles and radar facilitys, which seems to defeat the purpose of the craft. how about some form of heat supression like that used on the F-117A/B2-Spirit I think if memory serves, they use a grill engine but I can't be sure...

another option is smaller engines that put out less of a heat signuture, like the Harrier, if what your trying to design here is like a stealth harrier

An excelent first draft however.
Geneticon
06-04-2006, 15:58
bump.