NationStates Jolt Archive


Room for Improvement: Sudovan Military

Sudova
28-11-2008, 13:14
Overview: It is clear that as one examines Sudova's existing and obselecent military technology, there is a kind of odd feeling of looking into what might-have-been. With very few exceptions, the Sudovans seem to have built their military forces on designs that were runners-up or rejected some time in the distant past. This is especially true of their Military Aircraft, which seems to include a vast number of projects either rejected, or abandoned by the United States sometime in the period between 1970 and 1990.
In terms of engineering, most of these systems were rejected as runners-up or as failed export-sales, but they tend to share a few common denominators that make them particularly interesting. Key among those, is a factor known as "Cost of Maintenance per Flight Hour"-the Sudovans appear to have had, at least during their earlier period of activity on the International Scene, a desire for systems that were/are mechanically robust, simple, and relatively fuel-efficient, even at the cost of some lesser utility in the primary role.

It's like looking at an airforce designed by an accountant with a grasp of logistics. It could also be that many of these designs were picked up relatively cheaply after being rejected by more prominent national services, likely from the original contractors, at fire-sale prices.

The predominance of Boeing designs is further explained when one notes that, upon the Death of Alois IV and the subsequent plunge into diplomatic and economic isolation, the Boeing facility at Kamretz in the Western Province was purchased outright by Alois IV's successor Garrett II, the father of the current Princepes. Notably, the country paid Boeing considerably more than the Aerospace Giant had spent initially-no doubt, many designs that had failed to spark enough interest to justify further development were included in the sale.

Likewise, considering the unfortunate fire and water-damage to Northrup's F-20 documents in the nineteen eighties, it is interesting that the F-20, in several local variants, is produced at the former Boeing facility, alongside the YUH-61 (the failed Boeing entry into the UTTAS programme, the YUH-61 shares many performance and role matches to the ubiquitous UH-60 developed by Sikorsky).

This fairly diverse, yet strangely limited military aviation capability (Avionics are believed to be no better, and in many cases slightly inferior to, cold-War era NATO electronics dating to the Nineteen Eighties or earlier), and apparent self-reliance of their military industrial complex, masks a serious defect.

The Sudovans aren't living in 1989 anymore, and without better equipment, the nation is vulnerable in even a very limited conventional war.

Analysis indicates key areas for improvement include, but are not limited to the following:

Command, Control, and Communications
Precision Guided Munitions
Stealth capability
Combat Efficiency.

Strong points in the Sudovan system are:

Well-Trained pilots and Ground crew
self-supported airframe maintenance
Local production
Professionalism of Service personnel
Adequate support assets for what they have (fuel, parts, airfields and airfield maintenance).

The Listing below is incomplete, but indicates the most common designs currently in service.


Defensive fighter/interceptor
F-20E
General characteristics

* Crew: 1 pilot (2 in Trainer model)
* Length: 46 ft 6 in (14.2 m)
* Wingspan: 26 ft 8 in (8.1 m)
* Height: 13 ft 10 in (4.2 m)
* Wing area: 186 ft² (17 m²)
* Empty weight: 11,220 lb (5,090 kg)
* Loaded weight: 15,060 lb (6,830 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 26,290 lb (11,920 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× General Electric F404-GE-100 turbofan, 17,000 lbf (76 kN)

Performance

* Maximum speed: Mach 2.1
* Combat radius: 300 nmi (345 mi, 555 km)
* Ferry range: 1,490 nmi (1,715 mi, 2,760 km)
* Service ceiling 55,000 ft (16,800 m)
* Rate of climb: 50,030 ft/min (255 m/s)
* Wing loading: 81.0 lb/ft² (395 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 1.13

Armament

* Guns: XM188 Gatling gun 3-barreled 30 mm cannon (none in trainer model)
* Rockets: 2× CRV7 rocket pods
Or 2× LAU-10 rocket pods with 4× Zuni 127 mm rockets each
Or 2× Matra rocket pods with 18× SNEB 68 mm rockets each
* Missiles: 2× AIM-9 Sidewinders (mounted on wingtip launch rails, similar to F-16 and F/A-18)
* Bombs: 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) of payload on five external hardpoints, including a variety of air-to-ground ordnance such as the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles,
Mark 80 series of unguided iron bombs (including 3 kg and 14 kg practice bombs), CBU-24/49/52/58 cluster bomb munitions, M129 Leaflet bomb and drop tanks for extended range



Close-Support/Ground Attack (COIN)

PA-46 Enforcer
General characteristics

* Crew: One
* Length: 34 ft 2 in (10.40 m)
* Wingspan: 41 ft 4 in (12.60 m)
* Height: 13 ft 1 in (4.00 m)
* Wing area: 408 ft² (37.9 m²)
* Empty weight: lb (kg)
* Loaded weight: 14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Lycoming YT55-L-9 turboprop, 2,455 shp (1,831 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 405 mph (650 km/h)
* Range: 920 miles (1,480 km)
* Service ceiling 37,600 ft (11,465 m)
* Rate of climb: 5000ft/min (m/s)
* Wing loading: 34 lb/ft² (167 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.18 hp/lb (0.29 kW/kg)

Armament

* Ten underwing hardpoints for a variety of stores.


Transport (primary)

YC-14
General characteristics

* Crew: 3
* Capacity: 81,000 lb or 150 troops (STOL: 27,000 lb)
* Length: 131 ft 8 in (40.1 m)
* Wingspan: 129 feet (39.32 m)
* Height: 48 ft 4 in (14.7 m)
* Max takeoff weight: 251,000 lb (STOL: 170,000 lb) (113,850 kg (STOL: 12,250 kg))
* Powerplant: 2× General Electric CF6-50D turbofans, 51,000 lbf (227 kN) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 504 mph (811 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 449 mph (723 km/h)
* Range: 3,190 mi (5,134 km)
* Service ceiling 45,000 feet (13,716 m)
* Rate of climb: 6,350 ft/min (1,935 m/min)



Heavy Lift
C-141 B
Specifications (C-141B Starlifter)
A MAC C-141 transport plane takes the remains of the crew of STS-51-L to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

General characteristics

* Crew: 5–6
* Length: 168 ft 4 in (51.3 m)
* Wingspan: 160 ft 0 in (48.8 m)
* Height: 39 ft 3 in (12 m)
* Wing area: 3,228 ft² (300 m²)
* Empty weight: 144,492 lb (65,542 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 342,100 lb (147,000 kg)
* Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-7 turbofans, 20,250 lbf (90.1 kN each) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 567 mph (493 knots, 912 km/h)
* Range: 2,935 mi (2,550 nm, 4,723 km)
* Ferry range: 6,140 mi (5,330 nm, 9,880 km) unrefueled
* Service ceiling 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
* Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13.2 m/s)
* Wing loading: 100.1 lb/ft² (490 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.25


Superheavy Cargo Transport

C-5N
General characteristics

* Crew: 8 typical (Pilot, first pilot, copilot, two flight engineers, three loadmasters)
4 minimum (Pilot, copilot, two flight engineers)
* Payload: 270,000 lb (120,000 kg)
* Length: 247 ft 1 in (75.3 m)
* Wingspan: 222 ft 9 in (67.89 m)
* Height: 65 ft 1 in (19.84 m)
* Wing area: 6,200 ft² (580 m²)
* Empty weight: 380,000 lb (170,000 kg)
* Loaded weight: 769,000 lb (349,000 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 840,000 lb (381,000 kg)
* Powerplant: 4× General Electric TF39 high-bypass turbofans, 43,000 lbf (190 kN) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: Mach 0.79 (503 knots, 579 mph, 931 km/h)
* Cruise speed: Mach 0.77
* Range: 2,400 nmi (2,761 mi, 4,445 km) with a 263,200 lb payload
* Service ceiling 34,000 ft (10.4 km)
* Rate of climb: 1,800 ft/min (9.1 m/s)
* Wing loading: 120 lb/ft² (610 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 0.22
* Takeoff roll: 8,400 ft (2,600 m)
* Landing roll: 3,600 ft (1,100 m)
* Fuel capacity: 51,150 US gal (193,620 L)

Primary Tanker Aircraft:
KC-767 Tanker
General characteristics

* Crew: 3: 2 pilots, 1 boom operator
* Capacity: up to 200 passengers or 19 463L pallets
* Length: 159 ft 2 in (48.5 m)
* Wingspan: 156 ft 1 in (47.6 m)
* Height: 52 ft (15.8 m)
* Empty weight: 181,610 lb (82,377 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 395,000 lb (186,880 kg)
* Powerplant: 2× GE CF6-80C2 turbofan, 60,200 lbf (268 kN) each
* Maximum Fuel Load: 160,660 lb (72,877 kg)

Performance

* Maximum speed: Mach 0.86 (570 mph, 915 km/h)
* Cruise speed: Mach 0.80 (530 mph, 851 km/h)
* Service ceiling 40,100 ft (12,200 m)
* For KC-767 Advanced Tanker:[40]
o Max takeoff weight: over 400,000 lb (181,000 kg)
o Maximum Fuel Load: over 202,000 lb (91,600 kg)
o Capacity: 190 passengers, 19 463L pallets or 19 patients
o Powerplant: 2x Pratt & Whitney PW4062,[41] 63,500 lbf (282 kN) each
















Utility Transport Helicopter


UH-61

General characteristics

* Crew: Minimum 2 pilots
* Length: 60 ft 8.5 in (18.5 m)
* Rotor diameter: 49 ft 0 in (14.94 m)
* Height: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
* Disc area: ft² (m²)
* Empty weight: 9,750 lb (4,422 kg)
* Loaded weight: lb (kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 17,700 lb (8,953 kg)
* Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700 turboshafts, 1,536 hp (kW) each

Performance
* Maximum speed: 333 km/h (207 mph, 180 knots)
* Range: 704 km (437 mi, 380 nmi)
* Service ceiling 5'790 m (19'000 ft)
* Rate of climb: 3.6 m/s (700 ft/min)

Attack Helicopter:
AH-63 Supercobra

General characteristics

* Crew: 2 - one pilot, one CPG (co-pilot/gunner)
* Length: 44 ft 7 in (13.6 m)
* Rotor diameter: 48 ft (14.6m)
* Height: 13 ft 5 in (4.1 m)
* Disc area: 530.83ft² (168.1m²)
* Empty weight: 6,600 lb (2,993 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 14,750 lb (4,500 kg)
* Powerplant: 2× General Electric T700 turboshaft, 1,680shp (1,300 kW) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 170 knots (210 mph, 338 km/h)
* Range: 317 nm (365 mi, 587 km)
* Service ceiling 12,200 ft (3,720 m)
* Rate of climb: 1,620 ft/min (8.2 m/s)

Armament:
* XM188 Gatling gun 3-barreled 30 mm cannon
* 2.75mm (70mm) rockets - 14 rockets mounted in M or M launchers
* TOW Missiles - 4 or 8 missiles mounted in two-missile launchers on each hardpoint, or 4x Hellfire ATGM in place of the TOW missiles


Heavy Lift:

CH-47
* Crew: 3 (pilot, copilot, flight engineer)
* Capacity:
o 33-55 troops or
o 24 litters and 3 attendants
o 28,000 lb (12,700 kg) cargo
* Length: 98 ft 10 in (30.1 m)
* Rotor diameter: 60 ft 0 in (18.3 m)
* Height: 18 ft 11 in (5.7 m)
* Disc area: 2,800 ft² (260 m²)
* Empty weight: 23,400 lb (10,185 kg)
* Loaded weight: 26,680 lb (12,100 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 50,000 lb (22,680 kg)
* Powerplant: 2× Lycoming T55-GA-712 turboshafts, 3,750 hp (2,796 kW) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 170 knots (196 mph, 315 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 130 kt (137 mph, 220 km/h)
* Range: 400 nmi (450 mi, 741 km)
* Service ceiling 18,500 ft (5,640 m)
* Rate of climb: 1,522 ft/min (10.1 m/s)
* Disc loading: 9.5 lb/ft² (47 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.28 hp/lb (460 W/kg)


Observation/light attack
OH-6G
General characteristics

* Crew: 2
* Length: 30 ft 10 in - 32 ft 2 in (9.4 m - 9.8 m)
* Rotor diameter: 27 ft. 4 in (8.33 m)
* Height: 8 ft 6 in - 11 ft 2 in (2.6 m - 3.4 m)
* Empty weight: 1,975 lbs (896 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 3,549 lbs (1,610 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× One Allison T63-A-5A or T63-A-700 turboshaft, 317 hp (236 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 152 knots (175 mph, 282 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 135 knots (155 mph, 250 km/h)
* Range: 232 nm (430 km (267 mi))
* Service ceiling 15,994 ft (4,875 m)
* Rate of climb: 2,067 ft/min (10.5 m/s)

Armament

* Guns: Two M60 or M134 Minigun 7.62 mm machine gun; Two .50 cal (12.7 mm) MG pods
* Rockets: Two 2.75 in (70 mm) Hydra 70 rocket pods
* Missiles: Two TOW missile pods; Two Hellfires
Ustio North
28-11-2008, 13:36
If you are looking to replace your defenceive fighters with something fast, agile, stealthy and well armed, then may I reccommend the Exterminatus Arms D/F-28 Advanced Defence Fighter? (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14252644&postcount=60)