Difference between revisions of "Aerospace Logistics"

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Aerospace Logistics Corporation, generally known as either just Aerospace Logistics or ALC, is an international corporation, with headquarters and major development centers based in Vault 10, which works both constructs aircraft and spacecraft, and operates a civilian and military air fleets, providing transportation of passengers, cargoes and military payloads.

The Company

Aerospace Logistics is considered the largest corporation in Vault 10, directly employing about 10% of the nation's population, which accounts for about 20% of total population being or supporting ALC employees and their families. The potential rival in size might be Symmetriad/VaultTec Consortium, which employs only 8% of the population directly, but together with massive supporting industries ranging from mining, and the extensive service team is expected to involve about 30% of Vault 10. This figure is disputed, however, as it includes all personnel servicing vaults and surface cities built by the companies, from train drivers to cooks, and intersects with other companies. It is also frequently pointed that it is still only a consortium, with companies being separated, and their subcontractors not tied to the head company as with ALC.

Aerospace Logistics employs individuals of all ages, some being as young as 6 years old - however, not doing any work, but rather studying in schools and training centers run by ALC to later fill in positions of fighter pilots, space workers, command center operators and some othere where early training is needed. There is also no high age limit, and employees who spent more than ten years with ALC are entitled to a limited retirement benefits, although strongly encouraged to continue doing some part-time home job or work as consultants for a good pay increase. However, while some younger surface-born citizens have impressions that Aerospace Logistics can be a life service, no one has yet served in ALC since childhood till retirement, as the company formed only some time after the Vault was left.

Products and services

Products of Aerospace Logistics encompass not only aerospace, but a lot of related and derived equipment. These include a significant part of Vault's shipbuilding, ranging from boats to aircraft carriers, consumer products like high-end cars, and a lot of analog and digital electronics, up to professional audio equipment.

The services are performed by separate, somewhat independent departments. The major service is logistics, which gave the company its name. Among production- and transporting-related departments, ALC includes a massive Science Department, highly involved in fundamental science as well as applied, Consulting and Economy Science departments, which in practice perform administration of other companies and are largely responsible for the thriving economy of Vault 10, and, finally, the Military Department. Services of the latter are provided to countries far outside Vault 10, and include not only full-scale air campaigns accompanied by naval and land support, but also nuclear deterrence renting, which, under a strict no-first-use policy and control, rents submarine-launched ballistic missiles to non-nuclear states together with the space on a submarine. Since Aerospace Logistics is technically an independent international corporation and has divisions in these countries, this does not violate any international agreements. More peaceful services include space exploration, providing both equipment and launches.

Aircraft

Aerospace Logistics produces a variety of combat and cargo aircraft, fixed and rotary wing. All rotary wing models have coaxial rotors, which improve capabilities ([1]) and make the designs lighter.

One of the major, although being shifted out models is Ka-50 attack helicopter. The helicopters are equipped with standart western avionics, but use the same highly successful design for the rest parts.

V-series rockets

The major space products of Aerospace Logistics are V-series rockets, ranging from V-4 to V-9. Of these, V-4 to V-6 are phased out, although some customers retain a number of V-5 and V-6.

V-7

V-7 is the most mass-produced is V-7 solid fuel rocket with payload of 32 tonnes to the Low Earth Orbit, or 25 tonnes to 500-km orbit. It is highly cost-optimized, using pressing for most of the components, using alloyed steel and polymers instead of more expensive alloys wherever possible, and built on highly automated assembly lines, with minimal line speed 200 per month. The rocket takes 25 days from stage of metal products, chemical components and electronic parts to complete vehicle, using 3-step modular construction and spending only 6 hours average on each line stage. Lines required take a lot of space, use incompatible, but very finely optimized equipment and parts, therefore virtually no outsourcing is possible. V-7 can be only produced on two Aerospace Logistics factories.

With unit cost about 9 million caps, V-7 allows delivery of any payloads to the orbit at a much lower price than existing expensive liquid fuel rockets. V-7 is a multi-purpose rocket, capable of delivering payloads to any orbits and even to the Moon, as well as transporting up to 35 tonnes of military payload to the surface. V-7 basic variant can be configured, but V-7MIL, V-7LEO, V-7GSO and V-10SOL variants exist, specifically optimized for military purposes, Low Earth Orbit, Geostationary Orbit and other planets of the Solar System.

V-8

Current liquid fuel rocket of ALC is V-8, carrying a payload of 310 tonnes, is currently used for lifting large or heavy loads. With price about 270 million caps, V-8 can compete with other manufacturers, but breaking anything into smaller loads that can be carried by V-7 still can save over 60% of launch expenditures. V-8 is used for spacecraft launch only. While for low orbits cost of payload is 870 caps/kg, much more than 310 caps/kg for V-7, it performs almost as well for the GSO and better for higher distances.

Unlike V-7, the V-8 rocket fully complies with international standarts on all stages, is largely manually assembled, and production can be highly distributed. Nations with cheaper workforce can order joint production, taking up to half of the production and potentially saving up to 35% off the price tag. Use of versatile equipment makes possible production of V-8 on general machinery factories, aerospace facilities and even some shipyards, without requiring large long-term investments. Manual work and semi-open architecture also allow to customize each vehicle individually, changing dimensions and costs.

However, while most production specifications are open, the variable calculation model is hard-coded into Aerospace Logistics mainframe, and redesign must be done by ALC. Firmware core also relies on closed-architecture chip to control turbopumps. This is largely due to bad reputation of completely open-architecture solid fuel rocket V-5, earned by foreign substandard clones. While depending on ALC for redesign and requiring special hardware to start, the rest of V-8 is run by open-source software, allowing high flexibility and ease of collaboration with the customer.

V-9

Aerospace Logistics V-9P, two-stage heavy orbital launcher rocket, first in the V line to use a partially reentering launcher, is a new product entering the testing stage. "P" suffix denotes the operational prototype version.

This rocket is being built for the Freedom Hall Space Exploration Project. The launch cost is expected to be as low as 230 million caps, with full rocket cost below 1,1 billions, both decreasing as the technology is perfected. Carrying 820 tonnes of payload, this rocket makes space exploration more feasible than ever before.

The construction of V-9P includes:

• Main engine, which the rocket is built around. The fuel is burnt inside a passively safe low-pollution nuclear reactor, which increases the temperature of the gases. Ignition is provided by compression and heat. The main engine reenters afterwards and can be used for at least 40 launches. The engine weights 150 tonnes, and its cost comprises 80% of the rocket's total cost in the optimal configuration, while maintenance and recycling costs are expected to be up to 1.5 times higher. Being passively safe, the reactor is easily stopped for reentering. The engine is a long-term investment, and its use only accounts for 20% of the launch cost, unless a failure occurs, which quadruples the expenses.

• The first stage applies air-hydrogen system. Inexpensive hydrogen is fed to the main engine together with air from single-use compressor turbine. The compressor is built of low alloyed steel and driven by solid-fuel jets located on the blade tips. The inside of thin double-layer airframe is filled with water, which cools it, and the steam is vented into the engine. Air-hydrogen system receives one third of the power from the nuclear heater, which works efficiently with steam exhaust. Constructed of welded and pressed steel sheets, up to 95% of its dry mass of 400 tonnes can be fully used for a new one with little reprocessing. This system has loose tolerances more characteristic for shipbuilding and can be built on slghtly reequipped naval shipyards, comprising only 8% of the rocket's cost if 80% of the returning mass is reused, and doubling if it is lost.

• Separation system is a part of the first stage. In high mesosphere air-hydrogen-water system becomes ineffective and is discarded, while the second stage continues the flight. It is still capable of producing thrust, which is used to soften the landing, using autorotation. Stabilization is provided by the heavy rotating compressor. The percentage of the steel airframe burnt depends on amount of water used and on the payload. Fully loaded, the standart payload of Stage I is 1400 tonnes or 1650 with hydrazine, and 95% of the airframe return. If less water is used, the payload may be increased by up to 100 tonnes, but part of the airframe is lost. This may be used for overweight loads, at expense of 30% launch cost increase.

• The second stage lifts the payload to a high orbit and accelerates it to speeds of up to 12 km/s. It may use either water or hydrazine as the propellant, with all heat in the first case and 80% in the second provided by the nuclear heater. If water is used, the frame is built of light alloys and the hull of alloyed steel, the second stage comprises 12% of the rocket's cost. Use of hydrazine may add 250 more tonnes to the payload by increasing available power, but cost of the stage increases by 90%, with total launch cost up by 45%. Building all the frame and hull of HSLA steel and using cheaper heatshields makes the stage 30% and the launch 15% cheaper, but the dry weight increases from 150 to 260 tonnes, decreasing the final payload.

• Engine reentry system, being a part of the second stage, decelerates with remaining fuel and lands the engine, burning the second stage for cooling. Its cost is included in the engine cost. The reentry system at the rocket's last launch may be potentially removed, engine staying with the payload. This may save recycling costs and allow use of V-9 as a long-range rocket, if the issues with nuclear non-proliferation were lifted, as even worn engine is a working nuclear reactor. However, V-9 is not a dedicated long-range rocket, having excessive thrust and fuel use, and is only marginally better for this purpose than conventional hydrazine rockets.

• An alternative to the second stage is the Orbital Aircraft, now-developed concept. If an air-only system is used for the first stage, the resulting payload must either be decreased to 400 tonnes or the maximum attitude decreased to lower mesosphere. In the latter case the first stage may be returned intact, serving for over 1000 launches and the engine will be able to serve for 500 launches, with total expenses per launch below 0.3% of the full rocket cost. The second stage, however, will gain less altitude, restricting the system to Low Earth Orbit. Current proposals include:
  • Two-stage fully reuseable launcher with a 850-tonne orbital glider with 750-tonne payload;
  • Single-stage system with oxygen-hydrogen powered 1000-tonne orbital powered aircraft with 700-tonne payload;
  • A system retaining the main engine and carrying only water for propulsion, carrying all 1400 tonnes upwards and 1000-tonne payload;
  • Modification of the first stage to launch the 600-tonne glider, carrying about 500 tonnes, without the second stage at all.
  • Besides the single-glider solutions, multiple gliders or suborbital aircrafts can be used, with as much as 7 gliders, each carrying 50 tonnes.

The V-9 class is planned to replace all existing heavy rockets and become the mainstay of Aerospace Logistics orbital launch system, as well as form the foundation for hypersonic suborbital military and civilian transport.

Currently work is underway on development of full V-9, but specifications and construction will depend on results of V-9P testing.

Hub Class Aircraft Carrying Cruiser (future product)

Named after the city of Hub, the Hub class aircraft carrying cruiser is, de-facto, a large specialized aircraft carrier. While by size it can be defined as supercarrier, ALC avoids use of these terms to circumvent regulations regarding these ship classes. There is only one such ship in construction now.

Hub class is designed to provide a base of operations for large conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft, such as AWACS aircraft, cargo planes, tankers and heavy bombers. This is necessary for commercial overseas operations performed by Aerospace Logistics Military Department, as these aircraft can greatly increase operating capabilities of the air force group. Not all aircraft, however, can fully operate from the Hub, as the maximum runway length is 1400 meters, which is sufficient for specially designed or modified military aircraft and all smaller planes like fighters, but not for some commercial widebodies. With use of arresting gear and catapults, however, Hub can accept even the heaviest transports, but they need to take off almost empty,

Construction of Hub was initially met with criticism, as opponents compared it to superdreadnoughts, which are easy and expensive targets. However, despite its large size, massive efforts were made to keep Hub class affordable. Unlike with battleships, the size of Hub was essential to provide operation of large aircraft, rather than oversize existing designs. To facilitate constructions, it is actually built in modules of more conventional size.

For the main part Hub class utilizes multihull design, main hulls forming a catamaran. It greatly reduces draft and mass for given deck area, permitting much smaller hulls. Therefore, each hull of this 1400 meter long ship displaces 480,000 tonnes at normal load, less than many oil tankers. To simplify and speed up construction, each hull is built in five separate seaworthy modules 280-300 meters long and about 100 thousand tonnes each, which will be connected later. The joints between modules are designed not entirely stiff, but rather permitting dampening vibrations and even slight primary bending, while the longitudinal load is carried by dedicated stiffeners. This also greatly improves survivability, as indirect torpedo hits may only damage the stiffeners and disrupt joints, but keep the ship operable or at least repairable. Therefore, Hub is better described as ten connected relatively small aircraft carriers rather than a super-ship. The modules are built on separate staples on four shipyards, and will be transported by sea after launch for final assembly in a special semi-submersible dock. However, Hub won't be able to disassemble, except in a dock, as the modules, lacking ballast, will need the joints for stability.

While neither really a stealth ship, nor an armored one, Hub applies multiple design elements for detectability reduction and increased protection. Many of these are provided by the two additional hulls that are much smaller, and generally only deployed on lower speeds, which is acceptable, since Hub doesn't generally need to move for takeoff/landing due to large flight deck. These hulls are only connected to the main one by large flat structures, acting like the second board plate when retracted. When deployed, these plates are moved away from the ship, making it effectively tumblehome shaped. This shape, similar to stealth aircraft, Sea Shadow experimental stealth ship and Zumwalt class destroyers, deflects signals towards the sky and provides great reduction of radar signature.

Similar protection is possible for the front and aft sectors, but separate specialized vessels will be applied to support the structure. For underwater protection and sonar signature reduction, additional truce-supported sheets may be descended into water, reaching well below the keels. Built mostly out of sound dampening materials, they can absorb both possible noises from the ship and active sonar waves. However, the effect of these measures on speed will be drastic.

In case of attack, all these plates should effectively enclose the ship into a thin box, however sufficient to detonate torpedoes and missiles, and, while being torn, sustain successive conventional hits or, with some luck, even save the ship in case of light nuclear torpedo or missile. In addition, on all edges of the flight deck there are similar retractable shields, which cover the flight deck, eliminating reflections from aircraft. These are retracted when operations are conducted with heavy planes or the usable deck area needs to be increased, and lifted when attempting to remain unseen for radars. Bow and aft are enclosed as well, if no heavy planes are used, as the deck allows safe takeoff and landing even despite these borders. Another stealth feature is islands, which can be retracted for stealth cruising or serving large planes.

The first vessel will be built without them, but these systems will be installed later.

A special defensive unit is Hub Active Radar Decoy, always called just Hubbard. Hubbard is a simple transport ship, which carries large amounts of metal net, thin foil, beams, floating barrels and other equipment, used in a semi-automated manner to construct a fake copy of Hub, which exactly mimics its radar signature and even resembles the visual appearance. To increase impression, sound of working engines can be reproduced, fake turbines and heat flares put above, all in designated pattern and amount. Several Hubbards can be deployed across the region, simulating deployed or undeployed Hub, and attracting missiles, bombers and submarines. SAM and ASW defenses are placed around them as well as around the Hub itself. The future of this version is not exactly certain.

Further reading

Vault 10 Supercarrier

• Strength of ships
• Batillus class supertanker
• Batillus class supertanker - Civilian experience in building ships displacing over 600,000 tons.