MassPwnage
02-04-2006, 16:42
The ASF-08:
Background: The ASF-08 fighter was based off of the W.M.D Inc. Seagull, a rather odd looking contraption that tried to blend stealth and a high combat perfomance in such a fashion that it was both unstealthy and aerodynamically unsound. In fact, the Seagull was so bad, that the President of MP Ordnance Corporation was noted as saying "This thing's so bad, it was probably designed by a lawyer." That meant that the boys and girls in R&D had to be dragged back to work (kicking and screaming for the most part). That was the story of the original ASF-08. Unfortunately though, the first generation ASF-08s did not satisfy the board members at MP Ordnance Corp, mainly because the R&D team assigned to develop it was too busy sniffing the construction glue used to make the wind tunnel models. So, after changing to a non-toxic glue, MP Ordnance Corp. decided to try again. The ASF-08V2 was developed after many thousands of gallons of espresso and packets of ramen noodles were consumed by the R&D people.
Picture: A really sexy picture of the ASF-08 Spirit Dragon V2 can be seen here:
http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=asf086jb.png
Role and Performance Summary: The role of the ASF-08 is to act as an air superiority fighter, meaning that its job is to destroy enemy planes. Well, the ASF-08 does its job really, really, really well (What, we're not Dat' Pizdy Corporation, you think our advertising department actually does more than sit around and leech money from the company payroll?). The ASF-08 can outrun, outfly, outshoot and outrange nearly everything the competition has to offer, which is a good thing, because we're about 15 trillion dollars in debt to Starbucks, thanks to all those late nights so we really need you to buy this plane. And also, we need to compensate the families of our test pilots, because we really didn't figure out the ASF-08 could pull such ridiculously high G-Loads until our 40th dead pilot at least. So buy this plane. Yea.
Overview: The ASF-08 is technologically advanced. Very, very technologically advanced. It's so technologically advanced that we can overcharge for the damn thing without you, the customer noticing.... Ok, you did not see that last statement. Anyway, the ASF-08 is really very advanced. Its high performance electronics allow it to search out, target, track and destroy targets at extremely long ranges, while its high powered engines and aerodynamically superior body allows it to run rings around other planes with ease. Now enough of this random advertising crap. Let's get to the technological aspects.
Construction: The main frame of the ASF-08 V2 is constructed from a series of creep and heat fatigue titanium/aluminum beta strength ribs reinforced along its joints with very small amounts of nanocrystalline heavy metals such as blended metal WCo heavy alloys in order to add additional strength. The skin is constructed mostly out of advanced heat resistant carbon and boron-fiber reinforced thermoplastics bonded to a light, yet very strong aluminum/lithium shell (used on the space shuttle). The leading edges and nose of the ASF-08 are reinforced with radar absorbing carbon resins, cobalt superalloys combined with carbon epoxy glues and polymer infused silicon carbide. Packets of aerogel are injected into some of the dead spaces in the ASF-08 in order to absorb heat and deaden sound, while kevlar based radar absorbent materials lie below that as well, in order to absorb and greatly reduce radar signatures from the plane. The bottom of the plane is reinforced with some titanium carbide and boronated steel in order to better surive crashes, while the area near the engine ports are made out of cobalt superalloys, radar absorbent carbon glazes and aerogels in order withstand the high temperatures, reduce radar signature and dissipate heat over a wider area better.
The wings have a great deal of metallic honeycomb (mostly cobalt superalloy and and polymer infused ceramics in their construction. Both the metallic honeycomb and the polymer infused ceramics can bend and warp, making the wings highly aeroelastic and giving them a high aspect to weight ratio. This allows for thinner, stronger and lower drag wings and results in a much greater ease of control for the ASF-08. The wings are also coated with carbon absorbing anti radar glaze and stuffed internally with kevlar honeycombing.
"But aren't ceramics heavy?"-The Macabees
Well, to answer your question. Yes ceramics are very heavy. That's why the ASF-08's ceramics are dipped in motel metals. The molten metal gets into the gaps between the ceramic molecules and bonds with them to form a new composite that is both extremely dense and light, because the original ceramic piece swells to many times its original volume without significant gain in weight. Also, the ceramic composite is extremely tough because it takes on some of of the properities of the metal it is dipped in. The ASF-08 uses silicon carbide dipped in molten titanium/vanadium alloys in its wings in order to maintain toughness and flexibility.
The fuel tanks of the ASF-08 are guarded by directional blowout devices that make the fuel tanks explode away from the cockpit and by spectra fiber swaddling that prevents smaller fragments from breaking into them. Also the engines and intakes protect the fuel tanks. They can absorb blows that might otherwise blow up the tanks.
The cockpit window is layered with a blend self shading gold film to protect against the sun, and is made out of aluminum oxynitrides reinforced with laminates of thermoplastic polycarbonates.
Aerodynamics: The ASF-08 V2 flies through the air slicker than..... Well yea, it's aerodynamic like that. What, with its thin, low aspect aeroelastic wings, foreplane canards and tail section, it's air channeling surfaces and other features, the ASF-08 V2 is one of the best platforms ever in terms of maneuverability.
Starting with the front of the aircraft, the plane utilizes 2 aeroelastic frontal canards behind the nose, which have air channeling surfaces cut on them in order to channel air into the ASF-08's four air intakes.
Behind the air intakes, are the wings. The wings are twin diagonally rebated and cropped delta wings with a very flat cross section to reduce drag. The tail section consists of 2 diagonal tailplanes, similar to the wings.
The entire design is inherently unstable and when coupled with the fly by light system, optimized control algorithms, high thrust to weight ratio, aeroelastic surfaces and aerodynamically efficient airframe, it offers unparalleled maneuverability.
Overall, the ASF-08 is a very low drag, high lift vehicle that can pull off high angle of attack maneuvers.
Powerplant: The ASF-08 utilizes a continuously variable bypass pulse detonation/turbofan hybrid with a multi-helicial set of coiled detonation tubes in order to lengthen the distance in which the detonation to deflagration reaction takes place.
The Helios series engines used in the ASF-08 operates by using turbofans to draw air into the pulse detonation engines. The air is then mixed with fuel and detonated inside the PDE portion of the engine. At higher speeds, when enough air is entering the engine on its own, the turbofan stops running and lets the PDE take over on its own.
The engine also uses pressurized air based thrust vectoring in order to control the direction of the thrust and allow for high maneuverability.
But given that the engines have to endure massive heat and strain, they are made from the most advanced materials science can offer.
Starting from the intakes, which are made out of metal injected ceramics in order to take the friction, we have the fan, which is made out of the same ceramic material as the intakes and wings and is made in a single piece, and the inlet spike, which is made out of Ti/Co superalloy and coated with heat resistant ceramics. Moving further back down, we have the compression chamber and PDE tubes, which are made from a mix of cobalt superalloys, carbon fiber laminates and a thin coating of plasma deposited nanocrystalline tungsten heavy alloy.
The exit nozzles are made from metal inejcted ceramic carbides that are much lighter than regular high performance exit nozzles fashioned from tungsten.
The entire engine housing lined with packets of aerogels and thymonel-8 capillary piping that absorb and distribute excess heat and deaden sound from the engines.
Vibration is absorbed by ultra lightweight refractory ceramic foams, which also has the benfit of absorbing even more heat from the engines.
Control: The ASF-08 controlled by a centralized fly by light fiber optic system that takes both control input from the pilot and feedback from the various sensors and control surfaces around the airplane. The system is linked to an system display integrator which uses a holographic model to project all relevant data into the helmet in a single, easy to read display that also shows a composite of the outside environment according to the sensors on the exterior of the aircraft. The helmet itself is wired to several motion sensors, allowing the pilot to aim at a point on the display simply by looking at it. This way, the pilot can set mission waypoints, designate targets to destroy etc.
Internally, what the pilot sees is the a 3d composite map of the world outside, assembled by the plane's sensors. Both hostile and friendly objects are marked with a target number designation, its range, velocity, bearing and potential type. Friendlies are also marked with the name of the pilot, the mission of the pilot, what the pilot is currently doing, and the status of the plane and pilot. If the pilot requests it, flight data, such as velocity, altitude, fuel capacity, engine load etc. can be placed displayed at the touch of a button and will disappear when the button is released. This way, the cluttered byzantine nightmare that defined the controls of previous generation Pwnage planes is replaced by a single joystick with 5 buttons.
In the event of failure of the primary control system, a second backup fly by light system is activated. The second system is a closed loop, EMP hardened system, which, although not allowing for sensor input, allows the pilot to land the plane safely without crashing it into the nearest mountain/slab of pavement/body of water etc.
The plane also has an autopilot system, which, when activated, takes input from flight sensors in order to maintain level flight and avoid obstacles. The autopilot system can drastically reduce pilot fatigue over long flights or combat air patrols.
Audio input is recieved via a pair of comfortable headphones (which also help to prevent uncomfortable pressure-related ear pain), and output via throat a mounted headset.
Avionics: The central unit of the ASF-08's avionics set is the Bocos Minotaur II command and control computer, which compiles and directs sensor feedback into the control system for the pilot's display. The Bocos Minotaur II creates the composite images displayed in the to the pilot. Wired to the Bocos Minotaur II are the following sensor systems.
Series V MAESA: The Series V Most Advanced Electronically Scanned Array active radar is an electronically scanned, ultra high resolution, wideband inverse synthetic apeture radar. The MAESA is mounted as a series of finger sized transmitters in the nose and in two rear pods on the ASF-08, offering full 360 degree coverage of the surrounding environment, as well as 60 degrees up and down. The nose cone radar can be mechanically steered for ever greater coverage.
MAESA is rated as VLPI, Very Low Probablity of Intercept, due to its long pulse, wide band, frequency modulated signal, and low sidelobe energy.
As a bonus, MAESA can act as a radar reciever, a radar jammer, or a communications mast, all by changing the operation settings in the radar controls.
The MAESA has a search range of approximately 575 kilometers, and a track range of 400 kilometers for fighter targets and a search/track range of 650/525 kilometers for bomber sized targets. Ground scan range is approximately 330 kilometers, and ground penetration range is 105 kilometers.
Infernus ODLIR: The ASF-08 is equipped with the Infernus Omni-Directional Infrared system, which depends on a series of 4 recievers mounted on the ASF-08 to provide 360 degree video quality infrared/thermal imaging for the ASF-08. The software modules on the Infernus system package allow it to differentiate between decoys and actual engine signatures on airplanes, and as such, can override the less advanced sensors on air to air missiles if the need arises. Also, Infernus is capable of ground imaging for targeting strikes.
Search Range: 120km
Track Range: 77km
Search (Ground): 75km
Track (Ground): 55km
SLG 2 LIDAR/LADAR: The LIDAR/LADAR on the ASF-08 is threaded through a long fiber optic cable. The laser generally used is a high powered chemically amplified and pulsed blue/green doppler laser which measures photonic response time in order to calculate the distance of a target. An alternate infrared laser can be threaded through a second fiber optic cable, which gives an alternative to the blue/green default.
Search Range: 160km
Track Range: 125km
Search (Ground): 90km
Track (Ground): 70km
D75 Digital Cameras: D75 250 megapixel ultra-high resolution digital cameras are mounted on the ASF-08 in order gather light for the optional visual camoflague or to take reconaissance photos of the area. The cameras have 50x optical zoom and more than 200x digital zoom, making excellent for taking air to ground photos, especially if the airplane is flying at a slow speed.
DG-221 Inertial Reference System: The DG-221 is responsible for keeping track of the ASF-08's position relative to the earth. This is done via several components. They are as follows.
Odometer: Keeps track of how far the plane has flown
Altimeter: Keeps track of how high up the plane is.
Compass: Keeps track of where the plane is traveling
Gyroscope Kit: A set of laser gyroscopes feeding back into the control system keeps track of what angle the plane is positioned at.
D-Series Navigation Suite: The D-Series navigation suite works with the DG-221 inertial reference system, GPS systems, friendly input and predownloaded maps in order to determine the plane's position at any given point. The navigation system can also control the autopilot system in the plane so that the burden of navigation can be taken off the pilot.
MPCN-1 CNSS Communications System: The communications system of the ASF-08 allows it unparalled communication abilities. It consists of two dial an output bandshifting broadband communcations transmitters that allow for real-time video and information sharing among Pwnage military forces. Also the CNSS has the Blackjack encyrption module which uses 4096 bit high powered encryption in order to make it nearly impossible for field units to crack the ASF-08's communications. A distributed computing adapter on the MPCN-1 allows for Pwnage military forces to exponentially multiply battlefield processing ability.
FC3S-4 Fire Control System: The FC3S-4 is the ASF-08 (and every other Pwnage vehicle's) fire control system. Its processors can keep track of more than 500 targets at once and maintain relevant data on them, in order to engage any of the targets at any given time. With distributed computing, the number of targets grows immensely. The FC3S-4 is linked to all of the sensors on the ASF-08, including the control computer that determines what the pilot sees. According to sensor data, it rapidly calculates a firing solution and then updates this as necessary up to the last possible second right up until actual weapon discharge.
Shotra V Electronic Interrogation System: The Shtora V Electronic Interrogation System is responsible for determining friend or foe. As well as holding a copy of the ASF-08's own IFF signature (a second copy is stored in the communcations system and a third in the backup control system), it determines what the nature of other IFF signatures are and sends the results to the control system and fire control computer.
Stealth: The ASF-08 is stealthy. Really stealthy. Here are some reasons why.
*Carbon: Carbon threaded thermoplastics and heatproof carbon glazes are used heavily in the ASF-08, absorbing a great deal of enemy radar.
*Flat shape: The ASF-08 has a rather flat aspect, with no angle on the plane greater than 34 degrees.
*RAM: RAM coats every potential irregular surface, such as the armament doors, engine ports and refuling ports.
*Heat distribution and absorption: Excess heat from the engines is absorbed by the aerogel and capillary piping surrounding the engines and tucked into the dead spaces of the ASF-08
*Silent: ASF-08 is specially shaped to flatten out the N-wave that the sonic boom makes, making it much quieter than airplanes that move at a comparable speed.
Weapons:
Chaingun: The ASF-08 has a single railgun assisted 25x200mm ETC chaingun capable of firing 3100 rounds per minute. It holds 400 rounds for its cannon and uses combustible casings in order to save weight. The cannon lies behind a retractable RAM coated door, and the edges of the cavity made the retracting door are also coated with RAM. The chaingun is capable of phenomenal muzzle velocities, making the ASF-08 be able to hit a moving target with amazing precision.
Bays: The ASF-08 has a rather small internal weapons carriage, due to the fact that it has sacrificed weapons capacity for speed, stealth and aerodynamic performance, the ASF-08 has 6 internal bay slots with 2 RAM lined doors. Each internal bay slot can carry:
4 small AAMs (Within 150 kg)
2 Medium AAMs (Within 300 kg)
1 Heavy AAM (Within 600kg)
Or 1x JDAM
Or 1/2 of a small anti-ship missile.
MP Air to Air Weapons:
ATA3ALR-VI "Phoenix"= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Long Range, Version 6.
Function: Beyond Visual Range Long Ranged Air to Air Missile.
Engine: Variable Flow Ducted Rocket Ramjet with thrust vectoring.
Launch mass: 410 kg
Length: 4.4 m
Diameter: .4m
Wing Composition: Low drag aeroelastic wings with trellised control surfaces.
Wingspan: .8m
Normal Speed: Mach 5.4
Terminal Speed: Mach 6
Range: 350 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 40 km
Warhead: 50kg ONC, blast fragmentation warhead.
Fuse: Laser proximity fuse, radio proximity fuse, contact fuse.
Guidance: Inertial, with self accquiring guidance mechanism. LPI, high moving target indicator, electronically scanned array synthetic apeture radar, long ranged LPI detecting passive radar, thermal/IR imaging.
ECCM: Anti-jamming microprocessors, target radar tracking. 3rd order EM noise supressors, anti-EW computer systems.
Price: $1.3 million.
Launch Platforms: ASF-06, ASF-08, ISF-08, MRF-05 Luna
ATA3ALR-VI "PhoenixS"= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Long Range, Version 6. Scramjet Powered.
Function: Hypersoar Killer, Air Battleship Killer.
Engine: Supersonic Combustion Ramjet with Rocket Booster.
Launch mass: 600 kg
Length: 4.8 m
Diameter: .3m
Wing Composition: Low drag aeroelastic wings with carbon nanotube reinforced edges.
Wing span: .7m
Normal Speed: Mach 13
Terminal Speed: Mach 15
Range: 600 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 48 km
Warhead: 75 kg ONC behind hardened tungsten carbide kinetic impact nose (designed to puncture air battleship armor)
Fuse: Laser and Radio Proximity Fuses. Contact fuse.
Guidance: Guidance: Inertial, with self accquiring guidance mechanism. LPI, high moving target indicator, electronically scanned array synthetic apeture radar, long ranged LPI detecting passive radar, thermal/IR imaging.
ECCM: None.
Price: $3.8 million
Launch Platforms: ASF-08, ISF-08
ATA3ASR-XV "Ghost"= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Short Range, Version 15.
Function: Short Ranged Air-To-Air Missile.
Engine: Gel Fueled Rocket Motor.
Launch mass: 130 kg
Length: 3.3m
Diameter: .1m
Wing Composition: Low drag aeroelastic wings with trellised control surfaces.
Wing span: .4m
Normal Speed: Mach 4
Terminal Speed: Mach 5.1
Range: 60 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 30 km
Warhead: 10kg ONC, blast fragmentation warhead.
Fuse: Laser proximity fuse, radio proximity fuse,
Guidance: Thermal/IR, millimetric wave radar, LADAR.
ECCM: None.
Price: $99,000
Launch Platforms: Any MP fighter or interceptor and some helicopters.
ATA3AMR-2= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Medium Range, Version 2.
Function: Medium Range AAM.
Engine: Air Breathing Ramjet with hybrid solid fuel rocket booster. Thrust vectoring available.
Launch mass: 325kg.
Length: 3.88 m
Diameter: .2m
Wing span: .3m
Normal Speed: Mach 5
Terminal Speed: Mach 6
Range: 250 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 35km
Warhead: 30kg ONC, blast fragmentation warhead.
Fuse: Laser proximity fuse, mechanical contact fuse.
Guidance: Inertial, with self accquiring guidance mechanism. LPI, high moving target indicator stealth burnthrough radar, passive radar, thermal/IR imaging.
ECCM: Anti-jamming microprocessors, LPI defeating targeting radar tracking. 3rd order EM noise supressors, anti-EW computer systems.
Price: $900,000
Launch Platforms: Any Pwnage Fighter, Strike or Interceptor Aircraft. Modified bombers as well.
ATA3ALR-VIA "Backspike"= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Long Range, Version 6. AWACS Killer
Function: Beyond Visual Range Long Ranged Air to Air Missile, Radar and EW killer.
Engine: Variable Flow Ducted Rocket Ramjet with thrust vectoring.
Launch mass: 560 kg
Length: 4.8 m
Diameter: .6m
Wing Composition: Low drag aeroelastic wings with trellised control surfaces.
Wingspan: 1 m
Normal Speed: Mach 4.7
Terminal Speed: Mach 5
Range: 550 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 40 km
Warhead: 20kg ONC, hit to kill warhead.
Fuse: Radio Proximity fuse, contact fuse.
Guidance: Inertial, with self accquiring guidance mechanism. LPI, high moving target indicator, electronically scanned array synthetic apeture radar, long ranged LPI detecting passive radar, thermal/IR imaging. Advanced algorithms to filter out the presence of AWACS aircraft judging by strength of radar signal.
ECCM: Anti-jamming microprocessors, target radar tracking. 3rd order EM noise supressors, anti-EW computer systems.
Price: $3.3 million.
Launch Platforms: ASF-06, ASF-08, ISF-08, MRF-05 Luna
Countermeasures: The ASF-08 is equipped with a wide battery of electronic and other types of countermeasures that help to ensure its survivability against all enemies
Safety: The ASF-08 is quite safe. The cockpit area is hardened in order to help the pilot survive crashes, there are chemical fire extinguishers all around the cockpit, the engines have backflow valves to prevent engine fires from reaching the fuel tanks, and the ejection seat is advanced enough that it can self right if the plane is pointing towards the ground. Also the plane has its own pilot survival kit, which includes basic communication devices, some food, a carbine capable of piercing military body armor, a silenced pistol, a survival knife and an entrenchment tool.
Statistics:
ASF-08 Spirit Dragon V2
Type: Air Superiority Fighter/Interceptor
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 11m
Length: 18m
Height: 3.56m
Empty weight: 13,500 kg
Weapon Payload: 3,600 kg
Fuel weight: 10,000kg
Combat Weight: 27,100 kg
Maximum take-off weight: 40,000 kg
Engines: 2x MP Ordnance Corp. Helios PDE/Turbofan Hybrid Engines with counterflow 3d thrust vectoring.
Engine rating: 311 kN (70,000 lbs.)
Construction by Weight:
Titanium Superalloys: 15%
Ceramics: 15%
Aerogel: 10%
Cobalt Superalloys: 20%
Aluminum/Lithium: 11%
Advanced Composites: 19%
Other: 10%
Maximum speeds:
Sea Level: Mach 2
Supercruise at Altitude: Mach 2.9
Maximum Speed at 25,000m: Mach 4.6 (HAH! Take that F-67!)
Climb rate: 28,000 meters per minute
Stall speed: 100 km/h
Maximum combat altitude: 32,307m
Maximum test altitude: 41,000m
Internal Bay Slots: 6
Internal Bay Slot Capacity: 600kg.
Gun: 25x200mm Rail Assissted Chaingun
Rate of Fire: Up to 1800 rounds per minute
Gun Ammunition: 600 rounds.
Airstrip take-off: Under 200m
Airstrip landing: Under 200m
Ferry range: 8,000 km
Combat range: 4,000 km
G Limit: +16/-11 Gs (Warning: Known to kill pilots.)
Inflight Refueling: Access ports on both top and bottom of plane.
Oxygen Generation: 2 generators, one main and one backup.
Avionics:
-MPOC Series V VLPI MAESA multi-role Synthetic Apeture Radar.
- MPCN All-Weather Navigation System with integrated tactical positioning system.
--MPOC SLG 2 chemical doped Blue-Green Pulsed LADAR with fiber optic range extension.
- MPOC 'Infernus' Multi-role ODLIR
- MPCN-D75 Digital Cameras.
- MPOC DG-221 Inertial reference system
- FC3S-4 Fire Control Computer
--BOCOS Minotaur II Command and Control Computer.
- MPOC D3AF Control Suite.
-MPOC AP-5 Autopilot System
-Shtora V Electronic Interrogation System.
-MPCN-1 CNSS Communications Suite
ECM:
-MPOC AR-222 ALPI, VLPI, NPI detecting passive radar.
-MPOC 'Domus' Laser warning receiver
-MPOC 'Fireflame' Infrared and Laser Dazzler
--W.M.D Inc. Point Radar Jamming
--Shtora V Electronic Interrogation System.
Countermeasures:
-MPOC AADS-20 Decoy Launchers
-MPOC DG-33 Active Radar Cancellation
-MPOC Microwave based Anti-Missile Killer
Stealth and suppression:
-Carbon based RAM on all leading edges and corners.
-Aerogel and microcapillary based exhaust cooling systems
-Low observable engine ports
-Dog toothed angles for bouncing radar waves away from the plane.
-Nose and some of wings shaped for reducing sonic boom.
-Optional LED based optical camoflague.
Safety:
-Spectra swaddled fuel tanks that blow out away from the cockpit.
-Armored ejection pod.
-Automatic activation of autopilot if pilot loses conciousness.
-MPOC inert liquid based engine fire extinguishers.
Production costs: $140 million per unit
Cost: $205 million per unit.
What this thing would cost in real life: $1 billion
Background: The ASF-08 fighter was based off of the W.M.D Inc. Seagull, a rather odd looking contraption that tried to blend stealth and a high combat perfomance in such a fashion that it was both unstealthy and aerodynamically unsound. In fact, the Seagull was so bad, that the President of MP Ordnance Corporation was noted as saying "This thing's so bad, it was probably designed by a lawyer." That meant that the boys and girls in R&D had to be dragged back to work (kicking and screaming for the most part). That was the story of the original ASF-08. Unfortunately though, the first generation ASF-08s did not satisfy the board members at MP Ordnance Corp, mainly because the R&D team assigned to develop it was too busy sniffing the construction glue used to make the wind tunnel models. So, after changing to a non-toxic glue, MP Ordnance Corp. decided to try again. The ASF-08V2 was developed after many thousands of gallons of espresso and packets of ramen noodles were consumed by the R&D people.
Picture: A really sexy picture of the ASF-08 Spirit Dragon V2 can be seen here:
http://img501.imageshack.us/my.php?image=asf086jb.png
Role and Performance Summary: The role of the ASF-08 is to act as an air superiority fighter, meaning that its job is to destroy enemy planes. Well, the ASF-08 does its job really, really, really well (What, we're not Dat' Pizdy Corporation, you think our advertising department actually does more than sit around and leech money from the company payroll?). The ASF-08 can outrun, outfly, outshoot and outrange nearly everything the competition has to offer, which is a good thing, because we're about 15 trillion dollars in debt to Starbucks, thanks to all those late nights so we really need you to buy this plane. And also, we need to compensate the families of our test pilots, because we really didn't figure out the ASF-08 could pull such ridiculously high G-Loads until our 40th dead pilot at least. So buy this plane. Yea.
Overview: The ASF-08 is technologically advanced. Very, very technologically advanced. It's so technologically advanced that we can overcharge for the damn thing without you, the customer noticing.... Ok, you did not see that last statement. Anyway, the ASF-08 is really very advanced. Its high performance electronics allow it to search out, target, track and destroy targets at extremely long ranges, while its high powered engines and aerodynamically superior body allows it to run rings around other planes with ease. Now enough of this random advertising crap. Let's get to the technological aspects.
Construction: The main frame of the ASF-08 V2 is constructed from a series of creep and heat fatigue titanium/aluminum beta strength ribs reinforced along its joints with very small amounts of nanocrystalline heavy metals such as blended metal WCo heavy alloys in order to add additional strength. The skin is constructed mostly out of advanced heat resistant carbon and boron-fiber reinforced thermoplastics bonded to a light, yet very strong aluminum/lithium shell (used on the space shuttle). The leading edges and nose of the ASF-08 are reinforced with radar absorbing carbon resins, cobalt superalloys combined with carbon epoxy glues and polymer infused silicon carbide. Packets of aerogel are injected into some of the dead spaces in the ASF-08 in order to absorb heat and deaden sound, while kevlar based radar absorbent materials lie below that as well, in order to absorb and greatly reduce radar signatures from the plane. The bottom of the plane is reinforced with some titanium carbide and boronated steel in order to better surive crashes, while the area near the engine ports are made out of cobalt superalloys, radar absorbent carbon glazes and aerogels in order withstand the high temperatures, reduce radar signature and dissipate heat over a wider area better.
The wings have a great deal of metallic honeycomb (mostly cobalt superalloy and and polymer infused ceramics in their construction. Both the metallic honeycomb and the polymer infused ceramics can bend and warp, making the wings highly aeroelastic and giving them a high aspect to weight ratio. This allows for thinner, stronger and lower drag wings and results in a much greater ease of control for the ASF-08. The wings are also coated with carbon absorbing anti radar glaze and stuffed internally with kevlar honeycombing.
"But aren't ceramics heavy?"-The Macabees
Well, to answer your question. Yes ceramics are very heavy. That's why the ASF-08's ceramics are dipped in motel metals. The molten metal gets into the gaps between the ceramic molecules and bonds with them to form a new composite that is both extremely dense and light, because the original ceramic piece swells to many times its original volume without significant gain in weight. Also, the ceramic composite is extremely tough because it takes on some of of the properities of the metal it is dipped in. The ASF-08 uses silicon carbide dipped in molten titanium/vanadium alloys in its wings in order to maintain toughness and flexibility.
The fuel tanks of the ASF-08 are guarded by directional blowout devices that make the fuel tanks explode away from the cockpit and by spectra fiber swaddling that prevents smaller fragments from breaking into them. Also the engines and intakes protect the fuel tanks. They can absorb blows that might otherwise blow up the tanks.
The cockpit window is layered with a blend self shading gold film to protect against the sun, and is made out of aluminum oxynitrides reinforced with laminates of thermoplastic polycarbonates.
Aerodynamics: The ASF-08 V2 flies through the air slicker than..... Well yea, it's aerodynamic like that. What, with its thin, low aspect aeroelastic wings, foreplane canards and tail section, it's air channeling surfaces and other features, the ASF-08 V2 is one of the best platforms ever in terms of maneuverability.
Starting with the front of the aircraft, the plane utilizes 2 aeroelastic frontal canards behind the nose, which have air channeling surfaces cut on them in order to channel air into the ASF-08's four air intakes.
Behind the air intakes, are the wings. The wings are twin diagonally rebated and cropped delta wings with a very flat cross section to reduce drag. The tail section consists of 2 diagonal tailplanes, similar to the wings.
The entire design is inherently unstable and when coupled with the fly by light system, optimized control algorithms, high thrust to weight ratio, aeroelastic surfaces and aerodynamically efficient airframe, it offers unparalleled maneuverability.
Overall, the ASF-08 is a very low drag, high lift vehicle that can pull off high angle of attack maneuvers.
Powerplant: The ASF-08 utilizes a continuously variable bypass pulse detonation/turbofan hybrid with a multi-helicial set of coiled detonation tubes in order to lengthen the distance in which the detonation to deflagration reaction takes place.
The Helios series engines used in the ASF-08 operates by using turbofans to draw air into the pulse detonation engines. The air is then mixed with fuel and detonated inside the PDE portion of the engine. At higher speeds, when enough air is entering the engine on its own, the turbofan stops running and lets the PDE take over on its own.
The engine also uses pressurized air based thrust vectoring in order to control the direction of the thrust and allow for high maneuverability.
But given that the engines have to endure massive heat and strain, they are made from the most advanced materials science can offer.
Starting from the intakes, which are made out of metal injected ceramics in order to take the friction, we have the fan, which is made out of the same ceramic material as the intakes and wings and is made in a single piece, and the inlet spike, which is made out of Ti/Co superalloy and coated with heat resistant ceramics. Moving further back down, we have the compression chamber and PDE tubes, which are made from a mix of cobalt superalloys, carbon fiber laminates and a thin coating of plasma deposited nanocrystalline tungsten heavy alloy.
The exit nozzles are made from metal inejcted ceramic carbides that are much lighter than regular high performance exit nozzles fashioned from tungsten.
The entire engine housing lined with packets of aerogels and thymonel-8 capillary piping that absorb and distribute excess heat and deaden sound from the engines.
Vibration is absorbed by ultra lightweight refractory ceramic foams, which also has the benfit of absorbing even more heat from the engines.
Control: The ASF-08 controlled by a centralized fly by light fiber optic system that takes both control input from the pilot and feedback from the various sensors and control surfaces around the airplane. The system is linked to an system display integrator which uses a holographic model to project all relevant data into the helmet in a single, easy to read display that also shows a composite of the outside environment according to the sensors on the exterior of the aircraft. The helmet itself is wired to several motion sensors, allowing the pilot to aim at a point on the display simply by looking at it. This way, the pilot can set mission waypoints, designate targets to destroy etc.
Internally, what the pilot sees is the a 3d composite map of the world outside, assembled by the plane's sensors. Both hostile and friendly objects are marked with a target number designation, its range, velocity, bearing and potential type. Friendlies are also marked with the name of the pilot, the mission of the pilot, what the pilot is currently doing, and the status of the plane and pilot. If the pilot requests it, flight data, such as velocity, altitude, fuel capacity, engine load etc. can be placed displayed at the touch of a button and will disappear when the button is released. This way, the cluttered byzantine nightmare that defined the controls of previous generation Pwnage planes is replaced by a single joystick with 5 buttons.
In the event of failure of the primary control system, a second backup fly by light system is activated. The second system is a closed loop, EMP hardened system, which, although not allowing for sensor input, allows the pilot to land the plane safely without crashing it into the nearest mountain/slab of pavement/body of water etc.
The plane also has an autopilot system, which, when activated, takes input from flight sensors in order to maintain level flight and avoid obstacles. The autopilot system can drastically reduce pilot fatigue over long flights or combat air patrols.
Audio input is recieved via a pair of comfortable headphones (which also help to prevent uncomfortable pressure-related ear pain), and output via throat a mounted headset.
Avionics: The central unit of the ASF-08's avionics set is the Bocos Minotaur II command and control computer, which compiles and directs sensor feedback into the control system for the pilot's display. The Bocos Minotaur II creates the composite images displayed in the to the pilot. Wired to the Bocos Minotaur II are the following sensor systems.
Series V MAESA: The Series V Most Advanced Electronically Scanned Array active radar is an electronically scanned, ultra high resolution, wideband inverse synthetic apeture radar. The MAESA is mounted as a series of finger sized transmitters in the nose and in two rear pods on the ASF-08, offering full 360 degree coverage of the surrounding environment, as well as 60 degrees up and down. The nose cone radar can be mechanically steered for ever greater coverage.
MAESA is rated as VLPI, Very Low Probablity of Intercept, due to its long pulse, wide band, frequency modulated signal, and low sidelobe energy.
As a bonus, MAESA can act as a radar reciever, a radar jammer, or a communications mast, all by changing the operation settings in the radar controls.
The MAESA has a search range of approximately 575 kilometers, and a track range of 400 kilometers for fighter targets and a search/track range of 650/525 kilometers for bomber sized targets. Ground scan range is approximately 330 kilometers, and ground penetration range is 105 kilometers.
Infernus ODLIR: The ASF-08 is equipped with the Infernus Omni-Directional Infrared system, which depends on a series of 4 recievers mounted on the ASF-08 to provide 360 degree video quality infrared/thermal imaging for the ASF-08. The software modules on the Infernus system package allow it to differentiate between decoys and actual engine signatures on airplanes, and as such, can override the less advanced sensors on air to air missiles if the need arises. Also, Infernus is capable of ground imaging for targeting strikes.
Search Range: 120km
Track Range: 77km
Search (Ground): 75km
Track (Ground): 55km
SLG 2 LIDAR/LADAR: The LIDAR/LADAR on the ASF-08 is threaded through a long fiber optic cable. The laser generally used is a high powered chemically amplified and pulsed blue/green doppler laser which measures photonic response time in order to calculate the distance of a target. An alternate infrared laser can be threaded through a second fiber optic cable, which gives an alternative to the blue/green default.
Search Range: 160km
Track Range: 125km
Search (Ground): 90km
Track (Ground): 70km
D75 Digital Cameras: D75 250 megapixel ultra-high resolution digital cameras are mounted on the ASF-08 in order gather light for the optional visual camoflague or to take reconaissance photos of the area. The cameras have 50x optical zoom and more than 200x digital zoom, making excellent for taking air to ground photos, especially if the airplane is flying at a slow speed.
DG-221 Inertial Reference System: The DG-221 is responsible for keeping track of the ASF-08's position relative to the earth. This is done via several components. They are as follows.
Odometer: Keeps track of how far the plane has flown
Altimeter: Keeps track of how high up the plane is.
Compass: Keeps track of where the plane is traveling
Gyroscope Kit: A set of laser gyroscopes feeding back into the control system keeps track of what angle the plane is positioned at.
D-Series Navigation Suite: The D-Series navigation suite works with the DG-221 inertial reference system, GPS systems, friendly input and predownloaded maps in order to determine the plane's position at any given point. The navigation system can also control the autopilot system in the plane so that the burden of navigation can be taken off the pilot.
MPCN-1 CNSS Communications System: The communications system of the ASF-08 allows it unparalled communication abilities. It consists of two dial an output bandshifting broadband communcations transmitters that allow for real-time video and information sharing among Pwnage military forces. Also the CNSS has the Blackjack encyrption module which uses 4096 bit high powered encryption in order to make it nearly impossible for field units to crack the ASF-08's communications. A distributed computing adapter on the MPCN-1 allows for Pwnage military forces to exponentially multiply battlefield processing ability.
FC3S-4 Fire Control System: The FC3S-4 is the ASF-08 (and every other Pwnage vehicle's) fire control system. Its processors can keep track of more than 500 targets at once and maintain relevant data on them, in order to engage any of the targets at any given time. With distributed computing, the number of targets grows immensely. The FC3S-4 is linked to all of the sensors on the ASF-08, including the control computer that determines what the pilot sees. According to sensor data, it rapidly calculates a firing solution and then updates this as necessary up to the last possible second right up until actual weapon discharge.
Shotra V Electronic Interrogation System: The Shtora V Electronic Interrogation System is responsible for determining friend or foe. As well as holding a copy of the ASF-08's own IFF signature (a second copy is stored in the communcations system and a third in the backup control system), it determines what the nature of other IFF signatures are and sends the results to the control system and fire control computer.
Stealth: The ASF-08 is stealthy. Really stealthy. Here are some reasons why.
*Carbon: Carbon threaded thermoplastics and heatproof carbon glazes are used heavily in the ASF-08, absorbing a great deal of enemy radar.
*Flat shape: The ASF-08 has a rather flat aspect, with no angle on the plane greater than 34 degrees.
*RAM: RAM coats every potential irregular surface, such as the armament doors, engine ports and refuling ports.
*Heat distribution and absorption: Excess heat from the engines is absorbed by the aerogel and capillary piping surrounding the engines and tucked into the dead spaces of the ASF-08
*Silent: ASF-08 is specially shaped to flatten out the N-wave that the sonic boom makes, making it much quieter than airplanes that move at a comparable speed.
Weapons:
Chaingun: The ASF-08 has a single railgun assisted 25x200mm ETC chaingun capable of firing 3100 rounds per minute. It holds 400 rounds for its cannon and uses combustible casings in order to save weight. The cannon lies behind a retractable RAM coated door, and the edges of the cavity made the retracting door are also coated with RAM. The chaingun is capable of phenomenal muzzle velocities, making the ASF-08 be able to hit a moving target with amazing precision.
Bays: The ASF-08 has a rather small internal weapons carriage, due to the fact that it has sacrificed weapons capacity for speed, stealth and aerodynamic performance, the ASF-08 has 6 internal bay slots with 2 RAM lined doors. Each internal bay slot can carry:
4 small AAMs (Within 150 kg)
2 Medium AAMs (Within 300 kg)
1 Heavy AAM (Within 600kg)
Or 1x JDAM
Or 1/2 of a small anti-ship missile.
MP Air to Air Weapons:
ATA3ALR-VI "Phoenix"= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Long Range, Version 6.
Function: Beyond Visual Range Long Ranged Air to Air Missile.
Engine: Variable Flow Ducted Rocket Ramjet with thrust vectoring.
Launch mass: 410 kg
Length: 4.4 m
Diameter: .4m
Wing Composition: Low drag aeroelastic wings with trellised control surfaces.
Wingspan: .8m
Normal Speed: Mach 5.4
Terminal Speed: Mach 6
Range: 350 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 40 km
Warhead: 50kg ONC, blast fragmentation warhead.
Fuse: Laser proximity fuse, radio proximity fuse, contact fuse.
Guidance: Inertial, with self accquiring guidance mechanism. LPI, high moving target indicator, electronically scanned array synthetic apeture radar, long ranged LPI detecting passive radar, thermal/IR imaging.
ECCM: Anti-jamming microprocessors, target radar tracking. 3rd order EM noise supressors, anti-EW computer systems.
Price: $1.3 million.
Launch Platforms: ASF-06, ASF-08, ISF-08, MRF-05 Luna
ATA3ALR-VI "PhoenixS"= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Long Range, Version 6. Scramjet Powered.
Function: Hypersoar Killer, Air Battleship Killer.
Engine: Supersonic Combustion Ramjet with Rocket Booster.
Launch mass: 600 kg
Length: 4.8 m
Diameter: .3m
Wing Composition: Low drag aeroelastic wings with carbon nanotube reinforced edges.
Wing span: .7m
Normal Speed: Mach 13
Terminal Speed: Mach 15
Range: 600 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 48 km
Warhead: 75 kg ONC behind hardened tungsten carbide kinetic impact nose (designed to puncture air battleship armor)
Fuse: Laser and Radio Proximity Fuses. Contact fuse.
Guidance: Guidance: Inertial, with self accquiring guidance mechanism. LPI, high moving target indicator, electronically scanned array synthetic apeture radar, long ranged LPI detecting passive radar, thermal/IR imaging.
ECCM: None.
Price: $3.8 million
Launch Platforms: ASF-08, ISF-08
ATA3ASR-XV "Ghost"= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Short Range, Version 15.
Function: Short Ranged Air-To-Air Missile.
Engine: Gel Fueled Rocket Motor.
Launch mass: 130 kg
Length: 3.3m
Diameter: .1m
Wing Composition: Low drag aeroelastic wings with trellised control surfaces.
Wing span: .4m
Normal Speed: Mach 4
Terminal Speed: Mach 5.1
Range: 60 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 30 km
Warhead: 10kg ONC, blast fragmentation warhead.
Fuse: Laser proximity fuse, radio proximity fuse,
Guidance: Thermal/IR, millimetric wave radar, LADAR.
ECCM: None.
Price: $99,000
Launch Platforms: Any MP fighter or interceptor and some helicopters.
ATA3AMR-2= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Medium Range, Version 2.
Function: Medium Range AAM.
Engine: Air Breathing Ramjet with hybrid solid fuel rocket booster. Thrust vectoring available.
Launch mass: 325kg.
Length: 3.88 m
Diameter: .2m
Wing span: .3m
Normal Speed: Mach 5
Terminal Speed: Mach 6
Range: 250 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 35km
Warhead: 30kg ONC, blast fragmentation warhead.
Fuse: Laser proximity fuse, mechanical contact fuse.
Guidance: Inertial, with self accquiring guidance mechanism. LPI, high moving target indicator stealth burnthrough radar, passive radar, thermal/IR imaging.
ECCM: Anti-jamming microprocessors, LPI defeating targeting radar tracking. 3rd order EM noise supressors, anti-EW computer systems.
Price: $900,000
Launch Platforms: Any Pwnage Fighter, Strike or Interceptor Aircraft. Modified bombers as well.
ATA3ALR-VIA "Backspike"= Air to Air, Anti-Aircraft Attack, Long Range, Version 6. AWACS Killer
Function: Beyond Visual Range Long Ranged Air to Air Missile, Radar and EW killer.
Engine: Variable Flow Ducted Rocket Ramjet with thrust vectoring.
Launch mass: 560 kg
Length: 4.8 m
Diameter: .6m
Wing Composition: Low drag aeroelastic wings with trellised control surfaces.
Wingspan: 1 m
Normal Speed: Mach 4.7
Terminal Speed: Mach 5
Range: 550 km
Flying altitude: 100m to 40 km
Warhead: 20kg ONC, hit to kill warhead.
Fuse: Radio Proximity fuse, contact fuse.
Guidance: Inertial, with self accquiring guidance mechanism. LPI, high moving target indicator, electronically scanned array synthetic apeture radar, long ranged LPI detecting passive radar, thermal/IR imaging. Advanced algorithms to filter out the presence of AWACS aircraft judging by strength of radar signal.
ECCM: Anti-jamming microprocessors, target radar tracking. 3rd order EM noise supressors, anti-EW computer systems.
Price: $3.3 million.
Launch Platforms: ASF-06, ASF-08, ISF-08, MRF-05 Luna
Countermeasures: The ASF-08 is equipped with a wide battery of electronic and other types of countermeasures that help to ensure its survivability against all enemies
Safety: The ASF-08 is quite safe. The cockpit area is hardened in order to help the pilot survive crashes, there are chemical fire extinguishers all around the cockpit, the engines have backflow valves to prevent engine fires from reaching the fuel tanks, and the ejection seat is advanced enough that it can self right if the plane is pointing towards the ground. Also the plane has its own pilot survival kit, which includes basic communication devices, some food, a carbine capable of piercing military body armor, a silenced pistol, a survival knife and an entrenchment tool.
Statistics:
ASF-08 Spirit Dragon V2
Type: Air Superiority Fighter/Interceptor
Crew: 1
Wingspan: 11m
Length: 18m
Height: 3.56m
Empty weight: 13,500 kg
Weapon Payload: 3,600 kg
Fuel weight: 10,000kg
Combat Weight: 27,100 kg
Maximum take-off weight: 40,000 kg
Engines: 2x MP Ordnance Corp. Helios PDE/Turbofan Hybrid Engines with counterflow 3d thrust vectoring.
Engine rating: 311 kN (70,000 lbs.)
Construction by Weight:
Titanium Superalloys: 15%
Ceramics: 15%
Aerogel: 10%
Cobalt Superalloys: 20%
Aluminum/Lithium: 11%
Advanced Composites: 19%
Other: 10%
Maximum speeds:
Sea Level: Mach 2
Supercruise at Altitude: Mach 2.9
Maximum Speed at 25,000m: Mach 4.6 (HAH! Take that F-67!)
Climb rate: 28,000 meters per minute
Stall speed: 100 km/h
Maximum combat altitude: 32,307m
Maximum test altitude: 41,000m
Internal Bay Slots: 6
Internal Bay Slot Capacity: 600kg.
Gun: 25x200mm Rail Assissted Chaingun
Rate of Fire: Up to 1800 rounds per minute
Gun Ammunition: 600 rounds.
Airstrip take-off: Under 200m
Airstrip landing: Under 200m
Ferry range: 8,000 km
Combat range: 4,000 km
G Limit: +16/-11 Gs (Warning: Known to kill pilots.)
Inflight Refueling: Access ports on both top and bottom of plane.
Oxygen Generation: 2 generators, one main and one backup.
Avionics:
-MPOC Series V VLPI MAESA multi-role Synthetic Apeture Radar.
- MPCN All-Weather Navigation System with integrated tactical positioning system.
--MPOC SLG 2 chemical doped Blue-Green Pulsed LADAR with fiber optic range extension.
- MPOC 'Infernus' Multi-role ODLIR
- MPCN-D75 Digital Cameras.
- MPOC DG-221 Inertial reference system
- FC3S-4 Fire Control Computer
--BOCOS Minotaur II Command and Control Computer.
- MPOC D3AF Control Suite.
-MPOC AP-5 Autopilot System
-Shtora V Electronic Interrogation System.
-MPCN-1 CNSS Communications Suite
ECM:
-MPOC AR-222 ALPI, VLPI, NPI detecting passive radar.
-MPOC 'Domus' Laser warning receiver
-MPOC 'Fireflame' Infrared and Laser Dazzler
--W.M.D Inc. Point Radar Jamming
--Shtora V Electronic Interrogation System.
Countermeasures:
-MPOC AADS-20 Decoy Launchers
-MPOC DG-33 Active Radar Cancellation
-MPOC Microwave based Anti-Missile Killer
Stealth and suppression:
-Carbon based RAM on all leading edges and corners.
-Aerogel and microcapillary based exhaust cooling systems
-Low observable engine ports
-Dog toothed angles for bouncing radar waves away from the plane.
-Nose and some of wings shaped for reducing sonic boom.
-Optional LED based optical camoflague.
Safety:
-Spectra swaddled fuel tanks that blow out away from the cockpit.
-Armored ejection pod.
-Automatic activation of autopilot if pilot loses conciousness.
-MPOC inert liquid based engine fire extinguishers.
Production costs: $140 million per unit
Cost: $205 million per unit.
What this thing would cost in real life: $1 billion