Hamilay
06-08-2007, 13:42
OOC: Edited a bit for storefront. This was first design evar - going to be updated.
F-48 ‘Peregrine’ Air Superiority Fighter
http://www.defesabr.com/FAB/T-50_01.jpg
F-48s in flight. Pic from Google
Development
blah all outdated now writing new one soon
The F-48, whilst primarily an air superiority fighter, is capable of performing in many different air-to-air combat situations, as the airframe and shape of the aircraft have been designed to strike an even balance between speed, stealth and manoeuverability as best as possible. The first production aircraft (F-48A) arrived at the 78th Fighter Squadron in June 2007, and the F-48 is expected to be ubiquitous by 2011, when the last of the -Flanker and -Fulcrum series are retired, with over two thousand units currently on order by the Hamilayan Air Force. Early, fully-functional combat models of the F-48B are also being assigned to Air Force units, and more are expected to be requested once further unit evaluation and testing is complete.
Role
The F-48 is designed with the role of the F-22 Raptor in mind; that is, an air superiority fighter with moderate ground attack capability, as well as electronic warfare and signals intelligence roles. Close air support features significantly in Hamilayan military doctrine, and multirole ability for all aircraft to provide ground attack support is desirable. The stealth features of the FH-48, specifically the FH-48B, allow it to perform these CAS functions as well as SEAD and air interdiction more effectively and with increased pilot safety. A carrier based version (FH-48C) was also required, due to the small variety of capable aircraft in the Hamilayan Navy’s inventory.
In the Hamilayan Air Force, the F-48A standard air superiority model is to be used in conjunction with the 48B strike variant for rapidly achieving air superiority at the outset of a conflict by stealthy destruction of enemy aircraft, air bases and anti-aircraft defences. After tactical surprise is lost, the role of the F-48A shifts to that of maintaining air superiority or continuing to fight for it if it was not achieved in the first phase, whilst the F-48B is to be used for surgical strikes against high-value, heavily defended targets, as well as air support for special forces, paratroopers or cut-off units behind enemy lines.
Airframe/Stealth
The F-48’s fuselage, wings and tail fins are built out of titanium alloy and engine components of titanium-aluminium alloy. The decision to use these particular metals was mainly due to availability- substantial deposits in Eastern Hamilay- as well as its common use in engine applications, the ability to withstand higher temperatures than composites, required for the aircraft's Mach 2.7 maximum speed, and titanium's greater strength over aluminium. Various aluminium alloys, particularly Al-Li, are used in small amounts throughout the aircraft as well. Whilst it is a capable dogfighter, as it was unsurprisingly a requirement for the air superiority role, it places less emphasis on dogfighting than its Russian bases, seen in the omission of canards and the dual tail fins.
Stealth was a concern in the F-48’s development, but was secondary to speed and manoeuvrability; hence the presence of afterburners. The aircraft primarily uses plasma stealth technology rather than conventional stealth, although it is designed to have a relatively low radar cross section regardless. The until recently experimental plasma stealth involves a cloud of ionised gas being produced around the aircraft to disrupt electromagnetic waves sent by radar systems. The aircraft's plasma stealth system has the ability to alter temperature, density and composition (to a point) to effectively deal with flexible enemy radar. Although there are some disadvantages to plasma stealth, such as the visibility of the plasma itself, the F-48 is an all-weather aircraft, and the glow emitted by plasma is less visible when flying in daytime conditions. The technology has high hopes amongst the Hamilayan Ministry of Defence for the future. The plasma is generated specifically around the tail fins, the engines and their air intakes as well as around the weapon pylons; the most radar-detectable surfaces of the aircraft.
Engine[
The F-48 is a twin-engine fighter, using two Horizon Aerospace FF-488 turbofan engines. These provide 62,000 pound force of thrust each, giving a thrust-to-weight ratio of 2.68:1. The FF-488s have afterburners (not on FH-48B variant) and sufficient thrust for supercruising, with a supercruise speed of Mach 1.8. Full 4D, 360 degree thrust vectoring capability is also utilised, giving superior manoeuvrability. The engines are constructed of titanium and weigh approximately 3200kg each.
Avionics/Electronics
The aircraft uses a quadruple-redundant fly-by wire system and a modern glass cockpit with four LCD screens displaying various data, which is configured according to the training specifications of the operating force. A BVR system is integrated into the pilot’s helmet, allowing for ease of long-range combat, designed especially to be utilised with the Vympel R-37 missiles. The F-48 also uses the HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle and Stick) system to improve the reaction time and situational awareness of the pilot, especially necessary in the 48(A) and 48B versions lacking a copilot.
The AN/APG-77 AESA radar found on the F-22 Raptor is also installed on the F-48 Peregrine, duplicating the F-22's capability as an electronic warfare and coordination aircraft.
Defensive systems include MTV flares, chaff dispensers, radar early warning and infra-red countermeasures.
more later
Armament[
The standard armament of the Peregrine is one Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 single-barrel cannon with 150 rounds firing at 1500-1800 rpm. The GSh-30-1 was chosen for power, accuracy and standardization reasons, due to the lack of a requirement to design a new cannon system, the power of the weapon needed to destroy ever-improving armour without expending missiles. It should be noted that the stealth ability is unsurprisingly compromised when armament is carried underwing, although not for the F-48B, hence the need for a capable cannon. Although 150 rounds is the general loadout, when the aircraft operates in a stealth role without underwing armament there is ample space to load up to 400 rounds to make up for the shortfall in ammunition.The aircraft has six internal missile bays, two underwing weapon pylons and one wingtip pylon on each wing and two underwing bomb bays, all with the ability to carry 1000kg each. The fighter is designed to carry Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer), R-77 (AA-12 Adder) and R-37 (AA-13 Arrow) missiles for air combat, although these can be easily reconfigured, various air-to-ground weapons (generally on the wing pylons) and two medium bombs for ground attack purposes. The F-48C carrier based variant can replace the two bomb bays with one anti-shipping cruise missile, such as the Russian Kh-55 Raduga used by Hamilay.
Modifications[
The F-48B is a strike fighter prototype which places more emphasis on the stealth aspect, designed for the unfilled stealth attack role in the Hamilayan Air Force. This aircraft uses Horizon FF-487 turbofan engines, without afterburners and with a reduced heat signature, more radar absorbent paint and is designed for night operation and further ground attack purposes. The FF-487, designed for stealthier aircraft, has a reduced thrust of 25,000kgf per engine. The 48B is visibly different to the standard 48A, due to further 'stealthing' measures including the engines being fully buried in the fuselage, removal of both tail fins and CFRP composite orthogonal metal plates along the fuselage and top and bottom of the wings, adding approximately 0.2m to both wing surfaces and 0.35m to the height of the aircraft coated in radar absorbent paint. The extra bulk helps to stabilise the aircraft to counteract the removal of the tail fins. The plates reduce RCS by both altering the shape of the aircraft itself and concealing the wing weapons pylons, which open as a conventional bomb or missile port upon target acquisition. The extra plating also houses backup fly-by-wire systems, and has the added advantage of providing some extra protection for the wing structure against cannon or heavy machine gun rounds, especially important in the F-48B's SEAD role where enemy low-level AA gun systems will be a greater factor. Whilst they will certainly by penetrated by a direct missile strike, like most fighter aircraft armour, they can provide vital extra time before the wing immediately disintegrates. The extra features come at a price; the increased weight reduces the aircraft's speed and manoeuvrability considerably, but it remains capable of performing in an air combat role, albeit only against less technologically advanced aircraft. The 48B also replaces four of the six internal missile bays with internal bomb bays, and to clear space for these bombs to be dropped the external bomb pylons are relocated to the wings, replacing two of the underwing missile points, still housed in the aforementioned wing weapons casings.
The F-48C is the carrier-based variant of the F-48 for the Hamilayan Navy. The 48C is a larger two-seater STOVL capable aircraft, configured for anti-shipping weapons including one light cruise missile which can replace the two bombs if desired.
Type: Stealth Air Superiority/Multirole Fighter
Length: 20.4m
Wingspan: 14.0m
Height: 5.4m
Propulsion: 2x Horizon FF-488 turbofan engine with 4D thrust vectoring, 28,000kgf each
Total Net Thrust: 56,000kgf
Empty Weight: 21000kg (46300lb)
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 52500kg (115750lb)
Minimum Fuel Weight (0.25): 13125kg
Maximum Fuel Weight (0.35): 18375kg
Weapons Systems:
1x GSh-30-1 cannon (150 rounds)
12 pylons for missiles (R-73, R-77, R-37, ground attack weapons)
2 pylons for bombs/1 cruise missile (FH-48C)
Limit Per/Number of Pylon(s): 6 internal, 8 external
Normal Payload: 6000kg
Maximum Payload: 14000kg
Normal Combat Weight: 45375kg
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 1.23:1
Combat Range: 1950km
Ferry Range: 5265km
Operational Ceiling/Altitude: 17,000m
Maximum Altitude: 18,500m
Cruising Speed: Mach 1.8
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.7
Crew (List): F-48/F-48B- 1 (pilot), F-48C- 2 (pilot, copilot)
F-48A: $128 million USD
F-48B: $142 million USD (limited numbers available; only available to trusted nations)
F-48C: $130 million USD
F-48 ‘Peregrine’ Air Superiority Fighter
http://www.defesabr.com/FAB/T-50_01.jpg
F-48s in flight. Pic from Google
Development
blah all outdated now writing new one soon
The F-48, whilst primarily an air superiority fighter, is capable of performing in many different air-to-air combat situations, as the airframe and shape of the aircraft have been designed to strike an even balance between speed, stealth and manoeuverability as best as possible. The first production aircraft (F-48A) arrived at the 78th Fighter Squadron in June 2007, and the F-48 is expected to be ubiquitous by 2011, when the last of the -Flanker and -Fulcrum series are retired, with over two thousand units currently on order by the Hamilayan Air Force. Early, fully-functional combat models of the F-48B are also being assigned to Air Force units, and more are expected to be requested once further unit evaluation and testing is complete.
Role
The F-48 is designed with the role of the F-22 Raptor in mind; that is, an air superiority fighter with moderate ground attack capability, as well as electronic warfare and signals intelligence roles. Close air support features significantly in Hamilayan military doctrine, and multirole ability for all aircraft to provide ground attack support is desirable. The stealth features of the FH-48, specifically the FH-48B, allow it to perform these CAS functions as well as SEAD and air interdiction more effectively and with increased pilot safety. A carrier based version (FH-48C) was also required, due to the small variety of capable aircraft in the Hamilayan Navy’s inventory.
In the Hamilayan Air Force, the F-48A standard air superiority model is to be used in conjunction with the 48B strike variant for rapidly achieving air superiority at the outset of a conflict by stealthy destruction of enemy aircraft, air bases and anti-aircraft defences. After tactical surprise is lost, the role of the F-48A shifts to that of maintaining air superiority or continuing to fight for it if it was not achieved in the first phase, whilst the F-48B is to be used for surgical strikes against high-value, heavily defended targets, as well as air support for special forces, paratroopers or cut-off units behind enemy lines.
Airframe/Stealth
The F-48’s fuselage, wings and tail fins are built out of titanium alloy and engine components of titanium-aluminium alloy. The decision to use these particular metals was mainly due to availability- substantial deposits in Eastern Hamilay- as well as its common use in engine applications, the ability to withstand higher temperatures than composites, required for the aircraft's Mach 2.7 maximum speed, and titanium's greater strength over aluminium. Various aluminium alloys, particularly Al-Li, are used in small amounts throughout the aircraft as well. Whilst it is a capable dogfighter, as it was unsurprisingly a requirement for the air superiority role, it places less emphasis on dogfighting than its Russian bases, seen in the omission of canards and the dual tail fins.
Stealth was a concern in the F-48’s development, but was secondary to speed and manoeuvrability; hence the presence of afterburners. The aircraft primarily uses plasma stealth technology rather than conventional stealth, although it is designed to have a relatively low radar cross section regardless. The until recently experimental plasma stealth involves a cloud of ionised gas being produced around the aircraft to disrupt electromagnetic waves sent by radar systems. The aircraft's plasma stealth system has the ability to alter temperature, density and composition (to a point) to effectively deal with flexible enemy radar. Although there are some disadvantages to plasma stealth, such as the visibility of the plasma itself, the F-48 is an all-weather aircraft, and the glow emitted by plasma is less visible when flying in daytime conditions. The technology has high hopes amongst the Hamilayan Ministry of Defence for the future. The plasma is generated specifically around the tail fins, the engines and their air intakes as well as around the weapon pylons; the most radar-detectable surfaces of the aircraft.
Engine[
The F-48 is a twin-engine fighter, using two Horizon Aerospace FF-488 turbofan engines. These provide 62,000 pound force of thrust each, giving a thrust-to-weight ratio of 2.68:1. The FF-488s have afterburners (not on FH-48B variant) and sufficient thrust for supercruising, with a supercruise speed of Mach 1.8. Full 4D, 360 degree thrust vectoring capability is also utilised, giving superior manoeuvrability. The engines are constructed of titanium and weigh approximately 3200kg each.
Avionics/Electronics
The aircraft uses a quadruple-redundant fly-by wire system and a modern glass cockpit with four LCD screens displaying various data, which is configured according to the training specifications of the operating force. A BVR system is integrated into the pilot’s helmet, allowing for ease of long-range combat, designed especially to be utilised with the Vympel R-37 missiles. The F-48 also uses the HOTAS (Hands-On Throttle and Stick) system to improve the reaction time and situational awareness of the pilot, especially necessary in the 48(A) and 48B versions lacking a copilot.
The AN/APG-77 AESA radar found on the F-22 Raptor is also installed on the F-48 Peregrine, duplicating the F-22's capability as an electronic warfare and coordination aircraft.
Defensive systems include MTV flares, chaff dispensers, radar early warning and infra-red countermeasures.
more later
Armament[
The standard armament of the Peregrine is one Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 single-barrel cannon with 150 rounds firing at 1500-1800 rpm. The GSh-30-1 was chosen for power, accuracy and standardization reasons, due to the lack of a requirement to design a new cannon system, the power of the weapon needed to destroy ever-improving armour without expending missiles. It should be noted that the stealth ability is unsurprisingly compromised when armament is carried underwing, although not for the F-48B, hence the need for a capable cannon. Although 150 rounds is the general loadout, when the aircraft operates in a stealth role without underwing armament there is ample space to load up to 400 rounds to make up for the shortfall in ammunition.The aircraft has six internal missile bays, two underwing weapon pylons and one wingtip pylon on each wing and two underwing bomb bays, all with the ability to carry 1000kg each. The fighter is designed to carry Vympel R-73 (AA-11 Archer), R-77 (AA-12 Adder) and R-37 (AA-13 Arrow) missiles for air combat, although these can be easily reconfigured, various air-to-ground weapons (generally on the wing pylons) and two medium bombs for ground attack purposes. The F-48C carrier based variant can replace the two bomb bays with one anti-shipping cruise missile, such as the Russian Kh-55 Raduga used by Hamilay.
Modifications[
The F-48B is a strike fighter prototype which places more emphasis on the stealth aspect, designed for the unfilled stealth attack role in the Hamilayan Air Force. This aircraft uses Horizon FF-487 turbofan engines, without afterburners and with a reduced heat signature, more radar absorbent paint and is designed for night operation and further ground attack purposes. The FF-487, designed for stealthier aircraft, has a reduced thrust of 25,000kgf per engine. The 48B is visibly different to the standard 48A, due to further 'stealthing' measures including the engines being fully buried in the fuselage, removal of both tail fins and CFRP composite orthogonal metal plates along the fuselage and top and bottom of the wings, adding approximately 0.2m to both wing surfaces and 0.35m to the height of the aircraft coated in radar absorbent paint. The extra bulk helps to stabilise the aircraft to counteract the removal of the tail fins. The plates reduce RCS by both altering the shape of the aircraft itself and concealing the wing weapons pylons, which open as a conventional bomb or missile port upon target acquisition. The extra plating also houses backup fly-by-wire systems, and has the added advantage of providing some extra protection for the wing structure against cannon or heavy machine gun rounds, especially important in the F-48B's SEAD role where enemy low-level AA gun systems will be a greater factor. Whilst they will certainly by penetrated by a direct missile strike, like most fighter aircraft armour, they can provide vital extra time before the wing immediately disintegrates. The extra features come at a price; the increased weight reduces the aircraft's speed and manoeuvrability considerably, but it remains capable of performing in an air combat role, albeit only against less technologically advanced aircraft. The 48B also replaces four of the six internal missile bays with internal bomb bays, and to clear space for these bombs to be dropped the external bomb pylons are relocated to the wings, replacing two of the underwing missile points, still housed in the aforementioned wing weapons casings.
The F-48C is the carrier-based variant of the F-48 for the Hamilayan Navy. The 48C is a larger two-seater STOVL capable aircraft, configured for anti-shipping weapons including one light cruise missile which can replace the two bombs if desired.
Type: Stealth Air Superiority/Multirole Fighter
Length: 20.4m
Wingspan: 14.0m
Height: 5.4m
Propulsion: 2x Horizon FF-488 turbofan engine with 4D thrust vectoring, 28,000kgf each
Total Net Thrust: 56,000kgf
Empty Weight: 21000kg (46300lb)
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 52500kg (115750lb)
Minimum Fuel Weight (0.25): 13125kg
Maximum Fuel Weight (0.35): 18375kg
Weapons Systems:
1x GSh-30-1 cannon (150 rounds)
12 pylons for missiles (R-73, R-77, R-37, ground attack weapons)
2 pylons for bombs/1 cruise missile (FH-48C)
Limit Per/Number of Pylon(s): 6 internal, 8 external
Normal Payload: 6000kg
Maximum Payload: 14000kg
Normal Combat Weight: 45375kg
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 1.23:1
Combat Range: 1950km
Ferry Range: 5265km
Operational Ceiling/Altitude: 17,000m
Maximum Altitude: 18,500m
Cruising Speed: Mach 1.8
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.7
Crew (List): F-48/F-48B- 1 (pilot), F-48C- 2 (pilot, copilot)
F-48A: $128 million USD
F-48B: $142 million USD (limited numbers available; only available to trusted nations)
F-48C: $130 million USD