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stararmy:small_craft:next_gen_fighter_program

Next Gen Fighter Program

After the discontinuation of the Ke-V10 "Mamushi" Multirole Starfighter, the need for a multirole fighter had yet to be met. Around the same time, Rikugun personnel began discussing their over reliance on Fleet capabilities, and the need for an organic air support capability. The Next Generation Fighter Program was proposed in YE 44 by Chui Pierre Ruike of the Rikugun Test and Evaluation Battalion to meet these combined needs in a package that would achieve the stated goals of the Mamushi and streamline Star Army logistics, maintenance, and training requirements. Chui Ruike’s proposal involved either restarting production on the Mamushi, looking for outside solutions such as adopting the Osman Heavy Industries VF-41 Sparrowhawk, or creating a new multirole fighter that could meet the needs laid out by both the Star Army and the Rikugun. If successful, the NGFP could become a model for future acquisition processes aimed at streamlining the gear requirements between Star Army and Rikugun.

The initial NGFP working group decided that three variants (two for the Star Army and one for the Rikugun) on the same airspaceframe would allow each service to tailor fighters to fit their unique mission requirements.

Program Requirements

Both Star Army and Rikugun members of the working group put forward a shopping list of needs from a new star fighter. There were both shared needs and force specific needs. The more specific needs were to be used to tailor the NGFP variants to their customer.

NGFP Shared needs

- Stealth and survivability

  • Large internal payload
  • Radar dispersing coating and shape
  • Low IR signature
  • Low sensor profile
  • Defensive countermeasures
  • Both hard and soft kill
    • a directed energy hard kill system would fit the fighter's needs without interfering with payload or radar signature.
    • Alternately implementing a Micro Laser

- High Situational Awareness

- Network Centric Operations

  • Ability to network sensors with other units to increase the situational awareness of both.
  • Launch and Control Drones
    • Hardpoints can also be used to launch a variety of drones or mount other special utility gear
  • Improved data processing and sharing for fighter and allied units.
  • Between sensors and computing the fighter should be able to perform airborne early warning and control roles for airspace and ground units competently
    • C3 (Command, Control, Communications) capabilities
    • Interoperability

- Versatility

Fleet needs

- General need

  • Fit on currently fighter capable Star Army ships without decreasing the size of their compliment.

- Multi role workhorse

  • The bulk of the fleet. A true multi role that can fill a grocery list of positions
  • Airspace Superiority
  • Strike
  • Reconnaissance
  • Interception
  • Escort
  • Electronic Warfare/Airborne Early Warning and Control

- Advanced dogfighter

  • Capable of handling high-g maneuvers without breaking apart or the pilot passing out.
  • Large payload for heavier standoff missiles.

Rikugun needs

- “Warheads on foreheads”

  • Able to take off and land from tight spaces and maneuver flying very low around hills and mountains or even buildings.
  • Ultra sensitive anti gravity system
  • Advanced terrain following radar
  • Willing to sacrifice payload and operational radius to be basically an extremely fast and maneuverable bomb truck

NGFP Working Group Observations

  • Some personnel question the need for two fleet variants
  • Need for a stealthier engine

Next Generation Fighter Project History

NGFP Derived Technologies

Rivals

Near peer fighters such as the Na-F/A-6(b) "Sabre" Multirole Fighter/interceptor

Appearance

Currently in the early stages, but potentially low profile design with swept wings

Statistical Information

Currently, most statistics aren't finalized and instead are projections/requirements

  • Organization: Operated by the Star Army of Yamatai and the Rikugun
  • Type: Multi-role fighter
  • Class: NGFP-A, NGFP-B, NGFP-C/R (Going forward will note which systems are standard and which are different for one of the variants)
  • Designer: NGFP Working Group
  • Manufacturer: Not Designated
  • Production: Not Designated
  • Price: Currently unknown, however the working group predicts that the unit cost will come down as orders are fulfilled. Additionally sales of older model fighters to partners can help offset costs.
  • Crew: 1 (NGFP-A), 2 (NGFP-B, NGFB-C/R)
  • Maximum Capacity: 1 (NGFP-A), 2 (NGFP-B, NGFB-C/R)

Expected Dimensions

  • Width: ~9m with wings extended. 6m while folded. (The NGFB-C/R doesn’t have folded wings but the wings can be removed for transportation on cargo ships)
  • Height: ~3m (From landing gear to top of tail)
  • Length: ~14m (All versions have the same length, but the 1 seater boasts the largest payload)

Speeds

  • Ground speed: Rikugun Variant expected to be able to use it’s hover capabilities for limited ground mobility
  • Air speed: (If air capable, such as a fighter)
  • Range: (how far it can go with onboard fuel or power)
  • Lifespan: With regular maintenance we’re hoping for 30 years.

Damage Capacity Stats

See Damage Rating (Version 3) for an explanation of the damage system.

DRv3 Tier: (target type, i.e.: Medium Anti-Mecha)

  • Hull: (Tier 8 )
  • Shields: (Tier 8)
  • Additional defensive tools (physical shield, drones, etc)
    • Soft and hard kill active countermeasures.

Projected Onboard Systems Descriptions

Avionics

NGFP-C/R specific

==== Hull and frame ==== Yamataium hulls with a Durandium Alloy frame have been the standard for light weight durable construction in Yamatai for ages. The cockpit will be a monolithic transparent durandium or Zesuaium bubble. While the NGFP working group does not see a need to change that, they do suggest experimenting with a Yama-Dura to decrease maintenance workloads. Research into RADAR and LADAR absorbing materials to coat the hull with are of a much higher priority.

Cockpit

1 seater Hud, yolk throttle, primary flight controls 2 seater Programmable Display screens E-War console Comms Smaller secondary flight controls SPINE connections in cockpits in addition to manual controls

Cargo Capacity

A single survival kit for each pilot.

Propulsion System

Early test versions mounted a Turbo Aether Plasma Drive modified from the Mamushi however, research will be into a lower sensor profile version. Potentially the Vortex Plasma Thruster could be used instead. However, there is concern that a non aether engine would place a heavy burden on Star Army logistics officers and mechanics. If the Two Stage Laser Engine from the Hayabusa II might be able to fit the need for a low detection engine if it can meet the thrust requirements for a fighter twice the size of the Hayabusa II.

Weapons Systems

Internal Weapons

External Hardpoints

  • External Hardpoints 69)

Optimized for these weapons as well as other bombs/missiles in the SAoY arsenal

Ordinance (internal or external)

Defensive Systems

  • Integrated CFS
  • All angels IR sensor
  • Flares
  • Chaff
  • Laser dazzlers
  • Hard kill directed energy weapon. Basically a Tier 0 weapon. It might be a long-range pain compliance device on the ground, but it can kill sensitive situations in missiles, damage the targeting, or burn out the engine. Theoretically, it could be used to blind a system on a larger ship, but most pilots would opt to just use a missile at that range.

OOC Notes

Locked 0ut created this article on 2022/09/26 19:26.

Approved by Wes 2022/10/04

Star Army Logistics
Supply ClassificationClass B - SMALL CRAFT
Products & Items Database
Product Categoriessmall craft
DR v3 maxTier 8

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stararmy/small_craft/next_gen_fighter_program.txt · Last modified: 2024/04/06 08:53 by demibear