Arnatia
05-11-2007, 19:26
*Imperial Palace*
Tens of thousands had gathered outside the Imperial Palace, they didn't know what they were there for, only that for over two weeks the government had been stating that there would be an important event that would be a major milestone in Arnatian history. One of the greatest events of the Empire was about to happen, and all around the Palace was filled with crowds waiting to see what was happening. The Emperor had declared today a national holiday, and he stood upon a podium addressing his subjects.
The Emperor spoke at length about the strength and spirit of the Imperial citizenry, about the accomplishments they had made over the years, about the bright future they would share. He went on about how today was a historic day, how it would be a step on the path to becoming a world power, about how proud he was to have the honour to serve the Empire as its leader, especially on this day of all days. Then he announced that the event they had all been waiting for was about to occur. He smiled and took a small step back from the podium, turned around, and raised his arms to the sky. People looked up, but were blinded by the sun unable to see anything.
All of a sudden they could make out slim black shapes, they soon counted twelve, and then they became recognizable. They were fighters, proper jet powered fighters. The dozen aircraft moved in a V formation, heading down towards the crowds before pulling up and soaring no more than a couple hundred feet above them. The sonic boom washed over the crowd as they cheered. The Emperor returned to the podium, addressing his subjects as fireworks filled the sky and the squadron performed a series of aeriel maneuvers, dancing through the air.
"Citizens of the Empire, it is with quite pride that I announce to you the fruits of years of our labours. For many years our aerospace industries have produced pleasure craft, recreational airships, observation blimps, propeller driven attack craft, and civilian airliners. Today, however, we take a step forth into the future with the deployment of the Empire's first domestic jet powered fighter aircraft. The new workhorse of our Air Corps, these fighters and their valiant pilots will patrol the skies, keeping a watchful over our nation, protecting us against the dangers of the world, and showing the world that though we may be small, we are stong!"
Imperial Armaments AF-1 Drake
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/F-5_3-view.jpg/300px-F-5_3-view.jpg
http://airpower.callihan.cc/images/modernf/03-CWHM-CF-5.JPG
The AF-1 Drake is the Arnatian Empire's first domestically developed and produced jet fighter, and the Air Corps' first Jet powered combat Aircraft. The program was headed up by the state-run Imperial Armaments Corporation, and brought in assistance and expertise from all the major universities, and the nation's two main aerospace coroprations, Miller Aircraft Inc., and Arnatian Airworks, whose primary products are small propeller aircraft, and airships respectively.
The AF-1 is the result of the Aeriel Warfighter program, the Air Corps' ambitious goal for the development of an array of aircraft, ranging from trainers, to large cargo aircraft to give Arnatia some form of power projection capability. The program was far too costly, ambitious, and included unnecessary projects that had little to no use to the Imperial military. With the leasing of lands around Arnatia to foreign governments, and the associated large influx of foreign funds, the program was reborn as Aerial Warfighter II, starting with a committee of military and political leaders who would determine the needs of the Imperial Air Corps., and all military branches, based on projections of future threats and the role of the military. While maintaining law and order across the Empire has been the historic role of the security services, primarily through police forces with some military assistance for counter-insurgency operations, the military was shifting focus to protecting the country from foreign threats, and maintaing dominance over the continent.
With this in mind, the committee determined a new course for the whole military, the Aerial Warfighter II program however would take responsibility for the development of a ground attack platform, a long-range high speed interceptor for engaging invading naval and air assets, and a low cost, lightweight multi-role fighter that would be capable of handling most patrol and combat duties.
The AF-1 was the result of the multi-role requirement. Developed to be a cheap light-weight fighter intended to be used in groups, it had to be capable of some strike roles, maneuverability, and dogfighting capabilities. The airframe was built to provide negative static stability, so the craft would drop like a rock as opposed to remaining airborne, with stability being provided by a flight computer making continual adjustments to maintain stability. This provided the aircraft with increased maneuverability. The airframe was designed from scratch, with ease and cost of manufacture a primary concern.
Lacking the sophisticated next-gen avionics, thrust-vectoring, and stealth technologies of larger, more powerful nations, the fighter would be built using domestically developed avionics suite, computer systems, radar, and engines. While not up to par with next generation fighters, it is capable of holding its own against third generation aircraft.
For the armament, wingtip and numerous underwing, and underbody hardpoints were provided, along with a conformal belly pack that houses additional fuel and the aircraft's gun, a domestically developed 30mm cannon fed with 550 rounds of ammuntion. Two hardpoints are under each wing, and a hard point is provided under the belly pack. Engineers decided on the AN/APG-73 radar suite, with associated avionics and control systems. Standard loadout for a combat air patrol is wingtip sidewinder missiles, a centerline fuel drop tank, and four AMRAAM missiles. These are for the mainland patrols, for patrols that are conducted over Arnatia's waters, at least one aircraft in the group will be fitted with a pair of Harpoon anti-ship missiles to provide some ability to engage enemy naval assets. As this is the only fighter presently in service, a response to a naval threat will include a mixed force of Drakes, with some outfitted for air-to-air combat, and some carrying anti-ship loadouts will be deployed. The plan is for future interceptors, carrying larger loadouts, to handle anti-ship duties, with larger aircraft and helicopters handling ASW in sync with naval assets.
The aircraft's development program was kept top secret, and numerous pilots were trained on the aircraft, and a couple dozen aircraft manufactured, before it was revealed to the public. The aircraft is being made available for export at a cost of five and a half million USD each.
General characteristics
Crew: 1-2
Length: 47 ft 2 in (14.38 m)
Wingspan: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)
Height: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Wing area: 186 ft² (17.28 m²)
Empty weight: 8,681 lb (3,938 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 21,390 lb (9,249 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Orenda-built GE J85-15 turbojet
Dry thrust: 2,925 lbf (13.0 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 4,300 lbf (19.1 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 1,575 km/h (978 mph [2])
Range: 1,800 km
Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 34,400 ft/min (10,500 m/min)
Armament
Guns: 1x Imperial Armaments 30mm IAC-2B cannon, with 550 rounds of ammunition, mounted in a belly pack.
Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AMRAAMs
Bombs: 8,000 lb mixed
M129 Leaflet
500 lb (225 kg) Mk-82
2,000 lb (900 kg) Mk-84
CBU-24/49/52/58 Cluster
Unit Price: $5,500,000.00
Tens of thousands had gathered outside the Imperial Palace, they didn't know what they were there for, only that for over two weeks the government had been stating that there would be an important event that would be a major milestone in Arnatian history. One of the greatest events of the Empire was about to happen, and all around the Palace was filled with crowds waiting to see what was happening. The Emperor had declared today a national holiday, and he stood upon a podium addressing his subjects.
The Emperor spoke at length about the strength and spirit of the Imperial citizenry, about the accomplishments they had made over the years, about the bright future they would share. He went on about how today was a historic day, how it would be a step on the path to becoming a world power, about how proud he was to have the honour to serve the Empire as its leader, especially on this day of all days. Then he announced that the event they had all been waiting for was about to occur. He smiled and took a small step back from the podium, turned around, and raised his arms to the sky. People looked up, but were blinded by the sun unable to see anything.
All of a sudden they could make out slim black shapes, they soon counted twelve, and then they became recognizable. They were fighters, proper jet powered fighters. The dozen aircraft moved in a V formation, heading down towards the crowds before pulling up and soaring no more than a couple hundred feet above them. The sonic boom washed over the crowd as they cheered. The Emperor returned to the podium, addressing his subjects as fireworks filled the sky and the squadron performed a series of aeriel maneuvers, dancing through the air.
"Citizens of the Empire, it is with quite pride that I announce to you the fruits of years of our labours. For many years our aerospace industries have produced pleasure craft, recreational airships, observation blimps, propeller driven attack craft, and civilian airliners. Today, however, we take a step forth into the future with the deployment of the Empire's first domestic jet powered fighter aircraft. The new workhorse of our Air Corps, these fighters and their valiant pilots will patrol the skies, keeping a watchful over our nation, protecting us against the dangers of the world, and showing the world that though we may be small, we are stong!"
Imperial Armaments AF-1 Drake
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/F-5_3-view.jpg/300px-F-5_3-view.jpg
http://airpower.callihan.cc/images/modernf/03-CWHM-CF-5.JPG
The AF-1 Drake is the Arnatian Empire's first domestically developed and produced jet fighter, and the Air Corps' first Jet powered combat Aircraft. The program was headed up by the state-run Imperial Armaments Corporation, and brought in assistance and expertise from all the major universities, and the nation's two main aerospace coroprations, Miller Aircraft Inc., and Arnatian Airworks, whose primary products are small propeller aircraft, and airships respectively.
The AF-1 is the result of the Aeriel Warfighter program, the Air Corps' ambitious goal for the development of an array of aircraft, ranging from trainers, to large cargo aircraft to give Arnatia some form of power projection capability. The program was far too costly, ambitious, and included unnecessary projects that had little to no use to the Imperial military. With the leasing of lands around Arnatia to foreign governments, and the associated large influx of foreign funds, the program was reborn as Aerial Warfighter II, starting with a committee of military and political leaders who would determine the needs of the Imperial Air Corps., and all military branches, based on projections of future threats and the role of the military. While maintaining law and order across the Empire has been the historic role of the security services, primarily through police forces with some military assistance for counter-insurgency operations, the military was shifting focus to protecting the country from foreign threats, and maintaing dominance over the continent.
With this in mind, the committee determined a new course for the whole military, the Aerial Warfighter II program however would take responsibility for the development of a ground attack platform, a long-range high speed interceptor for engaging invading naval and air assets, and a low cost, lightweight multi-role fighter that would be capable of handling most patrol and combat duties.
The AF-1 was the result of the multi-role requirement. Developed to be a cheap light-weight fighter intended to be used in groups, it had to be capable of some strike roles, maneuverability, and dogfighting capabilities. The airframe was built to provide negative static stability, so the craft would drop like a rock as opposed to remaining airborne, with stability being provided by a flight computer making continual adjustments to maintain stability. This provided the aircraft with increased maneuverability. The airframe was designed from scratch, with ease and cost of manufacture a primary concern.
Lacking the sophisticated next-gen avionics, thrust-vectoring, and stealth technologies of larger, more powerful nations, the fighter would be built using domestically developed avionics suite, computer systems, radar, and engines. While not up to par with next generation fighters, it is capable of holding its own against third generation aircraft.
For the armament, wingtip and numerous underwing, and underbody hardpoints were provided, along with a conformal belly pack that houses additional fuel and the aircraft's gun, a domestically developed 30mm cannon fed with 550 rounds of ammuntion. Two hardpoints are under each wing, and a hard point is provided under the belly pack. Engineers decided on the AN/APG-73 radar suite, with associated avionics and control systems. Standard loadout for a combat air patrol is wingtip sidewinder missiles, a centerline fuel drop tank, and four AMRAAM missiles. These are for the mainland patrols, for patrols that are conducted over Arnatia's waters, at least one aircraft in the group will be fitted with a pair of Harpoon anti-ship missiles to provide some ability to engage enemy naval assets. As this is the only fighter presently in service, a response to a naval threat will include a mixed force of Drakes, with some outfitted for air-to-air combat, and some carrying anti-ship loadouts will be deployed. The plan is for future interceptors, carrying larger loadouts, to handle anti-ship duties, with larger aircraft and helicopters handling ASW in sync with naval assets.
The aircraft's development program was kept top secret, and numerous pilots were trained on the aircraft, and a couple dozen aircraft manufactured, before it was revealed to the public. The aircraft is being made available for export at a cost of five and a half million USD each.
General characteristics
Crew: 1-2
Length: 47 ft 2 in (14.38 m)
Wingspan: 25 ft 10 in (7.87 m)
Height: 13 ft 2 in (4.01 m)
Wing area: 186 ft² (17.28 m²)
Empty weight: 8,681 lb (3,938 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 21,390 lb (9,249 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Orenda-built GE J85-15 turbojet
Dry thrust: 2,925 lbf (13.0 kN) each
Thrust with afterburner: 4,300 lbf (19.1 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 1,575 km/h (978 mph [2])
Range: 1,800 km
Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 34,400 ft/min (10,500 m/min)
Armament
Guns: 1x Imperial Armaments 30mm IAC-2B cannon, with 550 rounds of ammunition, mounted in a belly pack.
Missiles: AIM-9 Sidewinder, AMRAAMs
Bombs: 8,000 lb mixed
M129 Leaflet
500 lb (225 kg) Mk-82
2,000 lb (900 kg) Mk-84
CBU-24/49/52/58 Cluster
Unit Price: $5,500,000.00