Layarteb
25-12-2007, 03:24
OOC: For discussion relating to the aircraft itself please see its post in NS Draftroom (http://z4.invisionfree.com/NSDraftroom/index.php?showtopic=1753). Export prices are $44,000,000.00 for the A & B models and $40,000,000.00 for the C model. Please order with IC posts and do your own math or else they will not be sold to you. All sales are pending confirmation and approval by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
F-53 Griffon
http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/LDC/f53.jpg
Overview
The Griffon program came about in the early 1990s following an air force review of the venerable T-38 Talon. The world's first and most capable supersonic trainer, the T-38A Talon had been in service with the Layartebian Air Force since 1958. Thirty-five years later, in 1993 an air force review concluded that the T-38A Talon could serve through 2020 if it were to undergo a modernization. This program evolved the T-38A into the T-38C Talon and included adding a HUD, GPS, Internal Navigation System, Traffic Collision Avoidance System, as well as an engine upgrade. Despite its ability to remain in service through 2020, air force brass decided that it would begin a replacement program, which would seek to create a supersonic trainer that could be as nimble, capable, and reliable as the T-38 Talon, which boasts one of the safest records for a fixed wing aircraft.
In 1997, the Griffon program began with an original intention to simply create a two-seat, combat-capable, supersonic trainer. However, the Layartebian Defense Corporation had broader ideas. Among many of the designs evaluated was its D-1882 design, a prototype light-tactical fighter, which eventually lost out to the F-16 modernization program in the 1980s. The design was modernized and proposed as the YF-53, with many advances. Designed to be inexpensive and export-capable, the YF-53 would not use many of the Layartebian Defense Corporation's more advanced avionics and flight systems, many of them deemed classified. The Griffon program was therefore extremely successful and though the fighter was not picked up by the ILAF, the trainer was, eventually and slowly phasing out the T-38 Talon from 2002 to 2008.
Airframe
The Griffon uses a very conventional airframe design. It has a single tail, two engines, a pair of intakes underneath the wings, and an otherwise conventional design that is similar to the F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Falcon. Because of this, the Griffon is an inexpensive and easily maintained aircraft with many common parts. Due to advances in stealth technology and construction, the airframe is made of mainly composites, coated with radar absorbant paints. This allows the aircraft to be slightly more stealthy than the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The air intakes are built much like they are on the Raptor, shielding the fan blades from radar. The nose is streamlined and the canopy is plated with gold to reduce its radar signature. The raised canopy gives excellent visibility, far better than most fighters in operation. Pilots can see approximately 20° more to their rear than in other fighters like the F-16 Falcon and F-22 Raptor.
The airframe is nonetheless, small. The Griffon is, from nose to tail 50.00 feet (15.24 meters). It has a wingspan of 33.75 feet (10.29 meters) and a height of 14.50 feet (4.42 meters). The aircraft maintains good low-speed performance but not as good as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, which has a wing area of 500.00 square feet (46.45 square meters). The Griffon has a wing area of 290.00 square feet (26.94 square meters) but has a better thrust to weight ratio over the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Designed to take off from rugged airstrips, including highways and dirt strips, the Griffon has a very short take-off run and landing run, is equipped with very rugged landing gear. Empty weight of the aircraft is 22,000.00 pounds (9,979 kilograms) and its maximum weight is 42,200 pounds (19,141.60 kilograms).
Avionics
The Griffon uses common avionics, which can be obtained throughout the world. This is done to lower the cost and allow for better interchangability throughout the world.
Its main system is the AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array, used in the F-35 Lightning II. This phased array radar has highly advanced air to air and air to ground capabilities and provides the Griffon with the ability to engage and destroy both aerial and ground targets with a low probability of intercept. Capabilities of the AN/APG-81 include the AN/APG-77's air-to-air modes plus advanced air-to-ground modes including high resolution mapping, multiple ground moving target detection and track, combat identification, electronic warfare, and ultra high bandwidth communications. The AN/APG-81 comes with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) terrain mapping function for air-to-surface surveillance and targeting. It is comparable to the terrain mapping radar used in reconnaissance aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, and the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft. Another mode is the "inverse SAR" mode used to detect and identify surface vessels at sea. As the name implies, it works opposite the SAR mode, in which the radar software forms a composite picture of a ground target based on the movement of the aircraft. Inverse SAR works to form a composite picture of the ship based on how it moves through the sea. For air-to-air operations, the APG-81 will support such features as passive search and multitarget, and beyond-visual-range tracking and targeting. It also will support a cued search feature, in which the radar is cued toward another sensor's line of sight. That other sensor can be onboard, offboard or pilot-directed. Because the radar beam can move from point to point in millionths of a second, the Griffon pilot can view a single target as many as 15 times a second.
In addition to this highly advanced radar, the Griffon also has an infrared search and track unit. It utilizes the PIRATE IRST, first debuted in the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is amongst the most advanced IRST units in the world. Mounted on the nose of the aircraft, the PIRATE IRST can detect aircraft based on their infrared signature from well beyond visual range and display that information to the pilot without giving off any active signals, making the Griffon a formidible air defense fighter. Leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, the PIRATE (Passive Infra-Red Airborne Tracking Equipment) combines the functionalities of a IRST and the ones of a FLIR (Foward Looking Infra-Red). The PIRATE is compact enough to install the electronics inside the aircraft, while the searching head of the sensor emerges on the left nose in front of the windshield. The PIRATE scans across wavelengths from 3 to 11 µm in two bands and can track as many as 200 targets, simultaneously. It has a theorhetical maximum range of 92.00 miles (148.06 kilometers) against supersonic, high-altitude aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird but an effective range of between 35.00 miles (56.33 kilometers) and 60.00 miles (96.57 kilometers) against subsonic aircraft flying at medium altitudes. The PIRATE has five modes: Multiple Target Track (MTT), Single Target Track (STT), Single Target Track Ident (STTI), Sector Acquisition, and Slaved Acquisition. In MTT mode the system will scan a designated volume space looking for potential targets. In STT mode PIRATE will provide high precision tracking of a single designated target. An addition to this mode, STT Ident allows for visual identification of the target, the resolution being superior to that provided by CAPTOR. Both Sector and Slave Acquisition demonstrate the level of sensor fusion present in the Griffon. When in Sector Acquisition mode PIRATE will scan a volume of space under direction of another Griffon sensor such as CAPTOR. In Slave Acquisition the use of off-board sensors is made with PIRATE being commanded by data obtained from an AWACS for example. When a target is found in either of these modes PIRATE will automatically designate it and switch to STT. Once a target has been tracked and identified PIRATE can be used to cue an appropriately equipped short range missile (i.e. a missile with a high off-boresight tracking capability such as ASRAAM). Additionally the data can be used to augment that of the AN/APG-81 or off-board sensor information via the AIS. This should enable the Griffon to overcome severe ECM environments and still engage its targets.
Augmenting both the AN/APG-81 and the PIRATE IRST, the Griffon is also equipped with a powerful electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), borrowed from the F-35 Lightning II. The EOTS incorporates day/night passive sensors, unable to be detected by enemy warning systems. Providing high-resolution infrared imagery that is software-enhanced through signal processing, EOTS can give the Griffon pilot a closer look at the target area initially detected by the radar. It can also provide powerful identification means for ground targets as well as provide GPS coordinates for other aircraft. The EOTS used on the Griffon is slightly different than that used on the Lightning II. The EOTS used on the Lightning II incorporates an air-to-surface FLIR tracker and air-to-air IRST system. It also includes a single aperture design and advanced, third-generation focal plane array, as well as a "spot tracker," capable of tracking a laser beam directed by a remote source. The EOTS on the Griffon dispenses with the IRST system and refines the system more for an identification system, howevering it keeps all other features of the Lightning II EOTS.
The Griffon is also equipped with a state-of-the-art IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) system, which can be programmed to that of any air force.
For defensive systems, the Griffon is equipped with more state-of-the-art systems. It carries a powerful radar warning receiver (RWR) and laser warning receiver (LWR), which enables it to accurately detect both radar and laser lock-ons. Laser lock-ons are increasingly common and are used to slew the gun of the Fulcrum and Flanker series aircraft, guide certain surface-to-air missiles, and even provide proximity for warhead detonation. The RWR provides limited detection against Low-Probability of Intercept radars such as the AN/APG-81 used on it and the Lightning II, the AN/APG-77 used on the F-22 Raptor, and various other AESA radars.
The Griffon also has a missile aproach warning system (MAW). The MAW detector portion of the system is a step-stare infra-red sensor operating in the 3-5µm frequency range allowing for both air to air and surface to air missile detection up to the post-burn-out phase. Over 64 targets can be tracked simultaneously and through a built-in threat library they can also be determined.
These systems provide an invisible 3D, 360° sphere around the Griffon, which enables the integrated avionics system to determine how best to react to airborne and surface threats. The system can provide accurate early warning, which enables the pilot to take proper evasive maneuvers.
These systems provide just detection capabilities to the Griffon and do not deal with evasion. Evasion is handled by two primary systems. The first is the AN/ALQ-187 self-protection electronic countermeasures system. Mounted internally near the tail of the aircraft, the AN/ALQ-187 detects and defends the aircraft from surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery, and air-to-air missiles. The AN/ALQ-187 ECM system provides the Griffon with full 360° coverage against missile and artillery threats.
The second system is the oldest defensive system employed by aircraft and it uses expendables such as chaff bundles and flares. Chaff bundles act to confuse radar guided missiles. It comprises thousands of small pieces of aluminium cut to a length appropriate for air interception radar frequencies. These shards, when dropped by an aircraft, can lead to false returns appearing on the enemy fighters radar. Although this technique is now quite old it is often still very effective. However, modern radar's featuring modern digital signal processing will be fooled far less easily than they once were, which is why they are used in conjunction with ECM systems. The Griffon carries 320 bundles, compressed into its two wingtip pylons. The wingtip pylon rails are based on the LAU-138 design, which are, in turn, based on the BOL high-capacity dispenser. Each rail holds 160 chaff bundles and can mount missiles up to 400 pounds (181 kilograms). For use against infrared guided missiles, the Griffon uses flares, which are dropped from the rear of the aircraft and provide a hotter heat signature than the aircraft and carries 60 of them underneath its engines. This is meant to confuse infrared guided missiles, which are attracted by the hottest heat source in the sky. However, against missiles using imaging capabilities, such as the ASRAAM or AIM-9X Sidewinder, flares are far less effective. They are primarily for use against low-altitude SAMs.
The Griffon is not fitted with either an infrared or laser jamming system. However, these systems can be carried externally in pod form as well as many others. The Griffon features five hardpoints capable of mounting pods for ECM, expendables, or avionics. Its centerline hardpoint, two fuselage, and two inner wing hardpoints are all capable of carried external ECM or avionics pods. Such pods include laser targetting systems, FLIR pods, ECM pods, chaff or flare dispeners, reconnaissance pods, and various other systems, including the LANTIRN system, which can be mounted on the fuselage hardpoints with relative ease.
Cockpit
The Griffon has a very advanced cockpit. Designed with the idea that it would be a single-seat fighter, most of its functionalities are similar to those of the Lightning II and Raptor. The pilot sits on an ACES III zero/zero ejection seat, reclined to provide better comfort during high-G maneuvers, as seen on the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The ACES III provides a major advancement over the ACES II in that it allows pilots to eject at speeds above 700 miles per hour (1,126 kph) whereas the ACES II was limited to under 700 miles per hour. It can provide limited supersonic ejection but at severe risk to the pilot due to aerodynamic speeds. It has all of the other main features of the ACES II except for technological improvements.
The digital cockpit features three MFDs and is laid out much like that of the F/A-18E Super Hornet. In two-seat aircraft it is similar to the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
Engines and Fuel
The Griffon is powered by a pair of General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofans, the same engines used on the Super Hornet. However, unlike the Super Hornet, these engines provide a much higher thrust to weight ratio, because of the lower weight of the Griffon. Dry thrust produced by these engines is on the order of 14,000 pounds (62.28 kN) and up to 22,000 pounds (97.86 kN) with afterburning. This gives the Griffon a total dry thrust of 28,000 pounds (124.55 kN) and 44,000 pounds (195.72 kN) with afterburner. Originally, the Griffon was to be powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129, which would have provided up to 58,000 pounds (258.00 kN) of thrust with afterburner but these were deemed too powerful and would have reduced the range significantly. There was even an evaluation program for a pair of General Electric F110-GE-132 engines, which would have given an impressive 65,000 pounds (289.13 kN) of thrust with afterburners.
The F414 engines used by the Griffon offer excellent low-speed and low-thrust performance. When combined with the high lift of the Super Hornet, they can allow a pilot to fly even slower than the normal stall speed of a fighter, allowing for ease when landing on aircraft carriers. As this is not the mission of the Griffon, this capability is not fully present.
The Griffon has the ability to refuel in midair and carries 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms) of fuel internally. Mounting three 370-gallon (1,400 liter) drop-tanks, the Griffon can supplement its fuel load by 104%, giving it nearly double its combat range. Using strictly internal fuel, the Griffon can fly 800 miles (1,287 kilometers) and back.
The Griffon is not fitted with thrust vectoring as standard but its nozzles can be easily adapted to provide pitch-axis thrust vectoring for ±25°, which is 10° more than the F-22 Raptor. Because of this, the Griffon can dogfight very effectively.
Because of the power of its engines, the Griffon features a thrust-to-weight ratio of 2.00:1 when empty and 1.04:1 at maximum weight. On an air defense mission, the ratio is around 1.21:1.
Performance
The Griffon emphasizes modest performance. Due to its design and its limitations, it cannot perform as well as many modern dogfighters in the world but it is no slouch. The Griffon has a maximum ceiling of 55,000 feet (16,764 meters) and can fly as fast as 1,188 miles per hour or Mach 1.80 (1,912 kph) at altitude. At sea level, the Griffon is limited to Mach 1.15 or 874 miles per hour (1,407 kph). It is not designed to be a high-speed fighter.
However, it is highly agile and can fly through -4Gs and +9Gs. Theorhetically, the aircraft can pull up to +11Gs but this is unconfirmed. Because of its small size and general configuration, the Griffon can climb as fast as 50,000 feet per minute (15,240 meters per minute). It has a takeoff run of 1,300 feet (396 meters) and a landing distance of 1,000 feet (305 meters). It is not equipped with a drag chute but it can be if needed by installing a pack to the left side of the tail.
The Griffon is also a stealthy aircraft. It features a radar cross section equal to that of the Super Hornet and a much smaller overall cross section than the Super Hornet due to its smaller size.
Variants
The primary variant of the Griffon is the F-53A, a single-seat multirole fighter that costs $40,000,000.00. It is also available in a two-seat variant, the F-53B, which costs the same. Lastly, the third variant is the T-53C, a two-seat trainer derived from the F-53B. Physically, the T-53C is no different than the F-53B. The T-53C is a fully combat capable trainer and could be used for air to air or air to ground sorties. It does feature some additional equipment and costs $36,000,000.00. They are cleared for export at $4,000,000.00 higher than domestic costs.
Weapons
The most formidible part of the Griffon is its weapons system. The Griffon can carry both air to air and air to ground ordinance and carries up to 13,200 pounds (5,987 kilograms) of ordinance on nine external pylons. It has a centerline hardpoint for up to 2,800 pounds (1,270 kilograms) of ordinance ranging from a pair of medium or long-range air to air missiles, bombs, fuel tanks, or mission pods. There are two fuselage hardpoints for air to air missiles or mission pods, each rated at 600 pounds (272 kilograms). On its wings it carries four hardpoints for both air to air and air to ground ordinance, the two innermost rated for 3,000 pounds each (1,361 kilograms) and the outer two rated for 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) each. Lastly, the Griffon has two wingtip hardpoints, each rated for up to 400 pounds (181 kilograms), strictly for air to air ordinance.
The Griffon also has an internal cannon. The M88A1 Advanced Rotary Cannon, originally designed with the RAH-66 Commanche program is a three-barrel, Gatling gun that fires 20x139 millimeter shells as fast as 1,040 meters per second, as far as 4,000 meters and at speeds ranging from 750, 1,500, 3,000, 4,500, or 6,000 rounds per minute. Normally loaded with 480 rounds, the Griffon's pilot can select through these five firing rates, depending on the threat, with an effective range of 2,500 meters.
The Griffon can carry many missiles as well. It can carry as many as four medium or long range air to air missiles, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM or Meteor BVRAAM on its centerline and two fuselage hardpoints. It can also mount eight of these missiles on its four wing pylons and up to two on its wingtip pylons. Aside from the AMRAAM and Meteor, the aircraft can also carry the older and heavier Skyflash and Sparrow SARH missiles although it can only carry four on its centerline and fuselage hardpoints and another four on its four wing pylons. None of these can be mounted on its wingtip pylons. The aircraft can also carry as many as eight AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, or IRIS-T missiles on its four wing pylons and up to two on its wingtip pylons. With a maximum air to air load, the Griffon can carry as many as fourteen air to air missiles. A typical combat configuration will mount a pair of medium-range missiles on its fuselage hardpoints and possibly two on the centerline hardpoint, four on its outer wing hardpoints, a pair of short-range missiles on its wingtip pylons and two or three external fuel tanks on the inner wing and possibly centerline hardpoint, depending on the threat.
For air to ground ordinance, the Griffon can carry sophisticated weapons such as the AGM-84 Harpoon and the AGM-84 SLAM, the AGM-158 JASSM, AGM-154 JSOW, Paveway series guided bombs, JDAM series guided bombs, and the AGM-65 Maverick on its four wing pylons. Its centerline pylon can carry the Harpoon, SLAM, JSOW, or JASSM missile as well as unguided or guided bombs. The only hardpoints incapable of mounting air to ground ordinance are its two fuselage and two wingtip pylons, which are strictly for air to air weapons only.
Because of the Griffon's advanced avionics systems, it can, theorhetically, carry any weapon in any arsenal, providing it does not exceed size or weight restrictions.
Specifications
Status: Never entered service [A/B] In-service [C]
Role: Fighter [A/B]; Trainer [C]
Crew: 1 [A]; 2
Cost: $40,000,000.00 [A/B]; $36,000,000.00 [C]
Length: 50.00 ft.
Wingspan: 33.75 ft.
Height: 14.50 ft.
Empty Weight: 22,000.00 lb.
Fuel Weight: 7,000.00 lb.
Armament Weight: 13,200.00 lb.
Maximum Weight: 42,200.00 lb.
Powerplant: Two General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofans
Maximum Military Thrust: 28,000.00 lb.
Maximum Afterburner Thrust: 44,000.00 lb.
Thrust to Weight Ratio: 2.00:1 [empty]; 1.04:1 [max weight]
Maximum Speed @ S/L: 874 mph
Maximum Speed @ Altitude: 1,200 mph
Initial Climb Rate: 50,000 ft./min
Ceiling: 55,000.00 ft.
Combat Range: 800.00 mi
Ferry Range: 1,600.00 mi.
Take-Off Run: 1,300.00 ft.
Landing Run: 1,000.00 ft.
Drag Chute: No
G-Limits: -4 / +9
Gun: 1 M88A1 Advanced Rotary Cannon with 480 rounds
External Stations: 1 centerline hardpoint for up to 2,800 lb. of ordinance, 2 fuselage hardpoints for up to 600 lb. each of air-to-air munitions, 2 inner wing hardpoints for up to 3,000 lb. each, 2 outer wing hardpoints for up to 1,500 lb. each, and 2 wingtip hardpoints for up to 400 lb. each
Air-to-Air Stores: Up to 2 AIM-120 AMRAAM or Meteor BVRAAM missiles on centerline hardpoint, up to 2 AIM-120 AMRAAM or Meteor BVRAAM missiles on fuselage hardpoints, up to 8 AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, IRIS-T, or Meteor BVRAAM missiles on wing hardpoints and up to 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, or IRIS-T missiles on wingtip hardpoints
Air-to-Ground Stores: Up to 11,800 lb. of ordinance on centerline and wing hardpoints
Other Stores: Up to 3 370-gallon fuel tanks, ECM pods, or avionics pods on centerline and inner wing hardpoints
Avionics: AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array, PIRATE Infrared Search and Track, EOTS Electro-optical system
ECM: AN/ALQ-187 Jammer
Chaff Bundles: 320
Flares: 60
Radar Signature: Same as F/A-18 Super Hornet
[b]Additional Photographs
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/5143/0996866sv3.th.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0996866sv3.jpg)http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/7971/0894710mh7.th.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=0894710mh7.jpg)http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3858/1301497qd3.th.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1301497qd3.jpg)http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/991/1176663ha4.th.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1176663ha4.jpg)http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3967/1213946py1.th.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1213946py1.jpg)
Biblography
[1] Airliners.net. Accessed December 24, 2007. [http://www.airliners.net]
[2] Defense Daily Network. "F-35 Integrated Sensor Suite: Lethal Combination." Written October 1, 2005. Accessed December 24, 2007. [http://www.defensedaily.com/cgi/av/show_mag.cgi?pub=av&mon=1005&file=f35integrated.htm]
[3] Eurofighter Typhoon. Accessed December 24, 2007. [http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk]
[4] Wikipedia. "AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo." Accessed December 24, 2007. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-CK-1]
F-53 Griffon
http://www.theforsakenoutlaw.com/Graphics/Nation-States/LDC/f53.jpg
Overview
The Griffon program came about in the early 1990s following an air force review of the venerable T-38 Talon. The world's first and most capable supersonic trainer, the T-38A Talon had been in service with the Layartebian Air Force since 1958. Thirty-five years later, in 1993 an air force review concluded that the T-38A Talon could serve through 2020 if it were to undergo a modernization. This program evolved the T-38A into the T-38C Talon and included adding a HUD, GPS, Internal Navigation System, Traffic Collision Avoidance System, as well as an engine upgrade. Despite its ability to remain in service through 2020, air force brass decided that it would begin a replacement program, which would seek to create a supersonic trainer that could be as nimble, capable, and reliable as the T-38 Talon, which boasts one of the safest records for a fixed wing aircraft.
In 1997, the Griffon program began with an original intention to simply create a two-seat, combat-capable, supersonic trainer. However, the Layartebian Defense Corporation had broader ideas. Among many of the designs evaluated was its D-1882 design, a prototype light-tactical fighter, which eventually lost out to the F-16 modernization program in the 1980s. The design was modernized and proposed as the YF-53, with many advances. Designed to be inexpensive and export-capable, the YF-53 would not use many of the Layartebian Defense Corporation's more advanced avionics and flight systems, many of them deemed classified. The Griffon program was therefore extremely successful and though the fighter was not picked up by the ILAF, the trainer was, eventually and slowly phasing out the T-38 Talon from 2002 to 2008.
Airframe
The Griffon uses a very conventional airframe design. It has a single tail, two engines, a pair of intakes underneath the wings, and an otherwise conventional design that is similar to the F/A-18 Hornet and F-16 Falcon. Because of this, the Griffon is an inexpensive and easily maintained aircraft with many common parts. Due to advances in stealth technology and construction, the airframe is made of mainly composites, coated with radar absorbant paints. This allows the aircraft to be slightly more stealthy than the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The air intakes are built much like they are on the Raptor, shielding the fan blades from radar. The nose is streamlined and the canopy is plated with gold to reduce its radar signature. The raised canopy gives excellent visibility, far better than most fighters in operation. Pilots can see approximately 20° more to their rear than in other fighters like the F-16 Falcon and F-22 Raptor.
The airframe is nonetheless, small. The Griffon is, from nose to tail 50.00 feet (15.24 meters). It has a wingspan of 33.75 feet (10.29 meters) and a height of 14.50 feet (4.42 meters). The aircraft maintains good low-speed performance but not as good as the F/A-18 Super Hornet, which has a wing area of 500.00 square feet (46.45 square meters). The Griffon has a wing area of 290.00 square feet (26.94 square meters) but has a better thrust to weight ratio over the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Designed to take off from rugged airstrips, including highways and dirt strips, the Griffon has a very short take-off run and landing run, is equipped with very rugged landing gear. Empty weight of the aircraft is 22,000.00 pounds (9,979 kilograms) and its maximum weight is 42,200 pounds (19,141.60 kilograms).
Avionics
The Griffon uses common avionics, which can be obtained throughout the world. This is done to lower the cost and allow for better interchangability throughout the world.
Its main system is the AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array, used in the F-35 Lightning II. This phased array radar has highly advanced air to air and air to ground capabilities and provides the Griffon with the ability to engage and destroy both aerial and ground targets with a low probability of intercept. Capabilities of the AN/APG-81 include the AN/APG-77's air-to-air modes plus advanced air-to-ground modes including high resolution mapping, multiple ground moving target detection and track, combat identification, electronic warfare, and ultra high bandwidth communications. The AN/APG-81 comes with a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) terrain mapping function for air-to-surface surveillance and targeting. It is comparable to the terrain mapping radar used in reconnaissance aircraft, unmanned air vehicles, and the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) aircraft. Another mode is the "inverse SAR" mode used to detect and identify surface vessels at sea. As the name implies, it works opposite the SAR mode, in which the radar software forms a composite picture of a ground target based on the movement of the aircraft. Inverse SAR works to form a composite picture of the ship based on how it moves through the sea. For air-to-air operations, the APG-81 will support such features as passive search and multitarget, and beyond-visual-range tracking and targeting. It also will support a cued search feature, in which the radar is cued toward another sensor's line of sight. That other sensor can be onboard, offboard or pilot-directed. Because the radar beam can move from point to point in millionths of a second, the Griffon pilot can view a single target as many as 15 times a second.
In addition to this highly advanced radar, the Griffon also has an infrared search and track unit. It utilizes the PIRATE IRST, first debuted in the Eurofighter Typhoon, which is amongst the most advanced IRST units in the world. Mounted on the nose of the aircraft, the PIRATE IRST can detect aircraft based on their infrared signature from well beyond visual range and display that information to the pilot without giving off any active signals, making the Griffon a formidible air defense fighter. Leveraging state-of-the-art technologies, the PIRATE (Passive Infra-Red Airborne Tracking Equipment) combines the functionalities of a IRST and the ones of a FLIR (Foward Looking Infra-Red). The PIRATE is compact enough to install the electronics inside the aircraft, while the searching head of the sensor emerges on the left nose in front of the windshield. The PIRATE scans across wavelengths from 3 to 11 µm in two bands and can track as many as 200 targets, simultaneously. It has a theorhetical maximum range of 92.00 miles (148.06 kilometers) against supersonic, high-altitude aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird but an effective range of between 35.00 miles (56.33 kilometers) and 60.00 miles (96.57 kilometers) against subsonic aircraft flying at medium altitudes. The PIRATE has five modes: Multiple Target Track (MTT), Single Target Track (STT), Single Target Track Ident (STTI), Sector Acquisition, and Slaved Acquisition. In MTT mode the system will scan a designated volume space looking for potential targets. In STT mode PIRATE will provide high precision tracking of a single designated target. An addition to this mode, STT Ident allows for visual identification of the target, the resolution being superior to that provided by CAPTOR. Both Sector and Slave Acquisition demonstrate the level of sensor fusion present in the Griffon. When in Sector Acquisition mode PIRATE will scan a volume of space under direction of another Griffon sensor such as CAPTOR. In Slave Acquisition the use of off-board sensors is made with PIRATE being commanded by data obtained from an AWACS for example. When a target is found in either of these modes PIRATE will automatically designate it and switch to STT. Once a target has been tracked and identified PIRATE can be used to cue an appropriately equipped short range missile (i.e. a missile with a high off-boresight tracking capability such as ASRAAM). Additionally the data can be used to augment that of the AN/APG-81 or off-board sensor information via the AIS. This should enable the Griffon to overcome severe ECM environments and still engage its targets.
Augmenting both the AN/APG-81 and the PIRATE IRST, the Griffon is also equipped with a powerful electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), borrowed from the F-35 Lightning II. The EOTS incorporates day/night passive sensors, unable to be detected by enemy warning systems. Providing high-resolution infrared imagery that is software-enhanced through signal processing, EOTS can give the Griffon pilot a closer look at the target area initially detected by the radar. It can also provide powerful identification means for ground targets as well as provide GPS coordinates for other aircraft. The EOTS used on the Griffon is slightly different than that used on the Lightning II. The EOTS used on the Lightning II incorporates an air-to-surface FLIR tracker and air-to-air IRST system. It also includes a single aperture design and advanced, third-generation focal plane array, as well as a "spot tracker," capable of tracking a laser beam directed by a remote source. The EOTS on the Griffon dispenses with the IRST system and refines the system more for an identification system, howevering it keeps all other features of the Lightning II EOTS.
The Griffon is also equipped with a state-of-the-art IFF (Identify Friend or Foe) system, which can be programmed to that of any air force.
For defensive systems, the Griffon is equipped with more state-of-the-art systems. It carries a powerful radar warning receiver (RWR) and laser warning receiver (LWR), which enables it to accurately detect both radar and laser lock-ons. Laser lock-ons are increasingly common and are used to slew the gun of the Fulcrum and Flanker series aircraft, guide certain surface-to-air missiles, and even provide proximity for warhead detonation. The RWR provides limited detection against Low-Probability of Intercept radars such as the AN/APG-81 used on it and the Lightning II, the AN/APG-77 used on the F-22 Raptor, and various other AESA radars.
The Griffon also has a missile aproach warning system (MAW). The MAW detector portion of the system is a step-stare infra-red sensor operating in the 3-5µm frequency range allowing for both air to air and surface to air missile detection up to the post-burn-out phase. Over 64 targets can be tracked simultaneously and through a built-in threat library they can also be determined.
These systems provide an invisible 3D, 360° sphere around the Griffon, which enables the integrated avionics system to determine how best to react to airborne and surface threats. The system can provide accurate early warning, which enables the pilot to take proper evasive maneuvers.
These systems provide just detection capabilities to the Griffon and do not deal with evasion. Evasion is handled by two primary systems. The first is the AN/ALQ-187 self-protection electronic countermeasures system. Mounted internally near the tail of the aircraft, the AN/ALQ-187 detects and defends the aircraft from surface-to-air missiles, anti-aircraft artillery, and air-to-air missiles. The AN/ALQ-187 ECM system provides the Griffon with full 360° coverage against missile and artillery threats.
The second system is the oldest defensive system employed by aircraft and it uses expendables such as chaff bundles and flares. Chaff bundles act to confuse radar guided missiles. It comprises thousands of small pieces of aluminium cut to a length appropriate for air interception radar frequencies. These shards, when dropped by an aircraft, can lead to false returns appearing on the enemy fighters radar. Although this technique is now quite old it is often still very effective. However, modern radar's featuring modern digital signal processing will be fooled far less easily than they once were, which is why they are used in conjunction with ECM systems. The Griffon carries 320 bundles, compressed into its two wingtip pylons. The wingtip pylon rails are based on the LAU-138 design, which are, in turn, based on the BOL high-capacity dispenser. Each rail holds 160 chaff bundles and can mount missiles up to 400 pounds (181 kilograms). For use against infrared guided missiles, the Griffon uses flares, which are dropped from the rear of the aircraft and provide a hotter heat signature than the aircraft and carries 60 of them underneath its engines. This is meant to confuse infrared guided missiles, which are attracted by the hottest heat source in the sky. However, against missiles using imaging capabilities, such as the ASRAAM or AIM-9X Sidewinder, flares are far less effective. They are primarily for use against low-altitude SAMs.
The Griffon is not fitted with either an infrared or laser jamming system. However, these systems can be carried externally in pod form as well as many others. The Griffon features five hardpoints capable of mounting pods for ECM, expendables, or avionics. Its centerline hardpoint, two fuselage, and two inner wing hardpoints are all capable of carried external ECM or avionics pods. Such pods include laser targetting systems, FLIR pods, ECM pods, chaff or flare dispeners, reconnaissance pods, and various other systems, including the LANTIRN system, which can be mounted on the fuselage hardpoints with relative ease.
Cockpit
The Griffon has a very advanced cockpit. Designed with the idea that it would be a single-seat fighter, most of its functionalities are similar to those of the Lightning II and Raptor. The pilot sits on an ACES III zero/zero ejection seat, reclined to provide better comfort during high-G maneuvers, as seen on the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The ACES III provides a major advancement over the ACES II in that it allows pilots to eject at speeds above 700 miles per hour (1,126 kph) whereas the ACES II was limited to under 700 miles per hour. It can provide limited supersonic ejection but at severe risk to the pilot due to aerodynamic speeds. It has all of the other main features of the ACES II except for technological improvements.
The digital cockpit features three MFDs and is laid out much like that of the F/A-18E Super Hornet. In two-seat aircraft it is similar to the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
Engines and Fuel
The Griffon is powered by a pair of General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofans, the same engines used on the Super Hornet. However, unlike the Super Hornet, these engines provide a much higher thrust to weight ratio, because of the lower weight of the Griffon. Dry thrust produced by these engines is on the order of 14,000 pounds (62.28 kN) and up to 22,000 pounds (97.86 kN) with afterburning. This gives the Griffon a total dry thrust of 28,000 pounds (124.55 kN) and 44,000 pounds (195.72 kN) with afterburner. Originally, the Griffon was to be powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129, which would have provided up to 58,000 pounds (258.00 kN) of thrust with afterburner but these were deemed too powerful and would have reduced the range significantly. There was even an evaluation program for a pair of General Electric F110-GE-132 engines, which would have given an impressive 65,000 pounds (289.13 kN) of thrust with afterburners.
The F414 engines used by the Griffon offer excellent low-speed and low-thrust performance. When combined with the high lift of the Super Hornet, they can allow a pilot to fly even slower than the normal stall speed of a fighter, allowing for ease when landing on aircraft carriers. As this is not the mission of the Griffon, this capability is not fully present.
The Griffon has the ability to refuel in midair and carries 7,000 pounds (3,175 kilograms) of fuel internally. Mounting three 370-gallon (1,400 liter) drop-tanks, the Griffon can supplement its fuel load by 104%, giving it nearly double its combat range. Using strictly internal fuel, the Griffon can fly 800 miles (1,287 kilometers) and back.
The Griffon is not fitted with thrust vectoring as standard but its nozzles can be easily adapted to provide pitch-axis thrust vectoring for ±25°, which is 10° more than the F-22 Raptor. Because of this, the Griffon can dogfight very effectively.
Because of the power of its engines, the Griffon features a thrust-to-weight ratio of 2.00:1 when empty and 1.04:1 at maximum weight. On an air defense mission, the ratio is around 1.21:1.
Performance
The Griffon emphasizes modest performance. Due to its design and its limitations, it cannot perform as well as many modern dogfighters in the world but it is no slouch. The Griffon has a maximum ceiling of 55,000 feet (16,764 meters) and can fly as fast as 1,188 miles per hour or Mach 1.80 (1,912 kph) at altitude. At sea level, the Griffon is limited to Mach 1.15 or 874 miles per hour (1,407 kph). It is not designed to be a high-speed fighter.
However, it is highly agile and can fly through -4Gs and +9Gs. Theorhetically, the aircraft can pull up to +11Gs but this is unconfirmed. Because of its small size and general configuration, the Griffon can climb as fast as 50,000 feet per minute (15,240 meters per minute). It has a takeoff run of 1,300 feet (396 meters) and a landing distance of 1,000 feet (305 meters). It is not equipped with a drag chute but it can be if needed by installing a pack to the left side of the tail.
The Griffon is also a stealthy aircraft. It features a radar cross section equal to that of the Super Hornet and a much smaller overall cross section than the Super Hornet due to its smaller size.
Variants
The primary variant of the Griffon is the F-53A, a single-seat multirole fighter that costs $40,000,000.00. It is also available in a two-seat variant, the F-53B, which costs the same. Lastly, the third variant is the T-53C, a two-seat trainer derived from the F-53B. Physically, the T-53C is no different than the F-53B. The T-53C is a fully combat capable trainer and could be used for air to air or air to ground sorties. It does feature some additional equipment and costs $36,000,000.00. They are cleared for export at $4,000,000.00 higher than domestic costs.
Weapons
The most formidible part of the Griffon is its weapons system. The Griffon can carry both air to air and air to ground ordinance and carries up to 13,200 pounds (5,987 kilograms) of ordinance on nine external pylons. It has a centerline hardpoint for up to 2,800 pounds (1,270 kilograms) of ordinance ranging from a pair of medium or long-range air to air missiles, bombs, fuel tanks, or mission pods. There are two fuselage hardpoints for air to air missiles or mission pods, each rated at 600 pounds (272 kilograms). On its wings it carries four hardpoints for both air to air and air to ground ordinance, the two innermost rated for 3,000 pounds each (1,361 kilograms) and the outer two rated for 1,500 pounds (680 kilograms) each. Lastly, the Griffon has two wingtip hardpoints, each rated for up to 400 pounds (181 kilograms), strictly for air to air ordinance.
The Griffon also has an internal cannon. The M88A1 Advanced Rotary Cannon, originally designed with the RAH-66 Commanche program is a three-barrel, Gatling gun that fires 20x139 millimeter shells as fast as 1,040 meters per second, as far as 4,000 meters and at speeds ranging from 750, 1,500, 3,000, 4,500, or 6,000 rounds per minute. Normally loaded with 480 rounds, the Griffon's pilot can select through these five firing rates, depending on the threat, with an effective range of 2,500 meters.
The Griffon can carry many missiles as well. It can carry as many as four medium or long range air to air missiles, such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM or Meteor BVRAAM on its centerline and two fuselage hardpoints. It can also mount eight of these missiles on its four wing pylons and up to two on its wingtip pylons. Aside from the AMRAAM and Meteor, the aircraft can also carry the older and heavier Skyflash and Sparrow SARH missiles although it can only carry four on its centerline and fuselage hardpoints and another four on its four wing pylons. None of these can be mounted on its wingtip pylons. The aircraft can also carry as many as eight AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-132 ASRAAM, or IRIS-T missiles on its four wing pylons and up to two on its wingtip pylons. With a maximum air to air load, the Griffon can carry as many as fourteen air to air missiles. A typical combat configuration will mount a pair of medium-range missiles on its fuselage hardpoints and possibly two on the centerline hardpoint, four on its outer wing hardpoints, a pair of short-range missiles on its wingtip pylons and two or three external fuel tanks on the inner wing and possibly centerline hardpoint, depending on the threat.
For air to ground ordinance, the Griffon can carry sophisticated weapons such as the AGM-84 Harpoon and the AGM-84 SLAM, the AGM-158 JASSM, AGM-154 JSOW, Paveway series guided bombs, JDAM series guided bombs, and the AGM-65 Maverick on its four wing pylons. Its centerline pylon can carry the Harpoon, SLAM, JSOW, or JASSM missile as well as unguided or guided bombs. The only hardpoints incapable of mounting air to ground ordinance are its two fuselage and two wingtip pylons, which are strictly for air to air weapons only.
Because of the Griffon's advanced avionics systems, it can, theorhetically, carry any weapon in any arsenal, providing it does not exceed size or weight restrictions.
Specifications
Status: Never entered service [A/B] In-service [C]
Role: Fighter [A/B]; Trainer [C]
Crew: 1 [A]; 2
Cost: $40,000,000.00 [A/B]; $36,000,000.00 [C]
Length: 50.00 ft.
Wingspan: 33.75 ft.
Height: 14.50 ft.
Empty Weight: 22,000.00 lb.
Fuel Weight: 7,000.00 lb.
Armament Weight: 13,200.00 lb.
Maximum Weight: 42,200.00 lb.
Powerplant: Two General Electric F414-GE-400 afterburning turbofans
Maximum Military Thrust: 28,000.00 lb.
Maximum Afterburner Thrust: 44,000.00 lb.
Thrust to Weight Ratio: 2.00:1 [empty]; 1.04:1 [max weight]
Maximum Speed @ S/L: 874 mph
Maximum Speed @ Altitude: 1,200 mph
Initial Climb Rate: 50,000 ft./min
Ceiling: 55,000.00 ft.
Combat Range: 800.00 mi
Ferry Range: 1,600.00 mi.
Take-Off Run: 1,300.00 ft.
Landing Run: 1,000.00 ft.
Drag Chute: No
G-Limits: -4 / +9
Gun: 1 M88A1 Advanced Rotary Cannon with 480 rounds
External Stations: 1 centerline hardpoint for up to 2,800 lb. of ordinance, 2 fuselage hardpoints for up to 600 lb. each of air-to-air munitions, 2 inner wing hardpoints for up to 3,000 lb. each, 2 outer wing hardpoints for up to 1,500 lb. each, and 2 wingtip hardpoints for up to 400 lb. each
Air-to-Air Stores: Up to 2 AIM-120 AMRAAM or Meteor BVRAAM missiles on centerline hardpoint, up to 2 AIM-120 AMRAAM or Meteor BVRAAM missiles on fuselage hardpoints, up to 8 AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, IRIS-T, or Meteor BVRAAM missiles on wing hardpoints and up to 2 AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, or IRIS-T missiles on wingtip hardpoints
Air-to-Ground Stores: Up to 11,800 lb. of ordinance on centerline and wing hardpoints
Other Stores: Up to 3 370-gallon fuel tanks, ECM pods, or avionics pods on centerline and inner wing hardpoints
Avionics: AN/APG-81 Active Electronically Scanned Array, PIRATE Infrared Search and Track, EOTS Electro-optical system
ECM: AN/ALQ-187 Jammer
Chaff Bundles: 320
Flares: 60
Radar Signature: Same as F/A-18 Super Hornet
[b]Additional Photographs
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Biblography
[1] Airliners.net. Accessed December 24, 2007. [http://www.airliners.net]
[2] Defense Daily Network. "F-35 Integrated Sensor Suite: Lethal Combination." Written October 1, 2005. Accessed December 24, 2007. [http://www.defensedaily.com/cgi/av/show_mag.cgi?pub=av&mon=1005&file=f35integrated.htm]
[3] Eurofighter Typhoon. Accessed December 24, 2007. [http://www.eurofighter-typhoon.co.uk]
[4] Wikipedia. "AIDC F-CK-1 Ching-kuo." Accessed December 24, 2007. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-CK-1]