Liberal Men and Women/HAWC Next Gen Fighter Program

HAWC is testing out the two designs for the Confederacy's next generation of fighter. Each one is using an advanced experimental aerodynamic technology. So far, 2 of each prototype have been built.

The Confederacy also purchased a number of GEM Aerospace FA 16 fighters from the Candrian Empire for testing.

X-1 prototype

The X-1A prototype was submitted by The Cairhienen Corporation. It implements a double delta-wing design. The space in between the two sets of wings increases lift at lower velocities, and act as a ramjet at higher velocities increasing thrust. It implements an engine that has three separate exhaust nozzles, thrust vectoring, and canards which helps increase maneuverability.

The CC has, without admitting any problems in the original design, a very different fighter as labeled the X-2B. It has a more traditional engine setup, with more overall power, and without the double wing; however the single wing is much larger.

The CF-16 design was finalized recently, and is almost the same as the X-2B design, with the biggest difference being more powerful engines to push the top speed closer to the X-2, to remove it's advantage in that category.

Specifications

X-1A prototype - 2 manufactured

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 25 ft
• Wingspan: 16 ft
• Height: 12 ft
• Wing area: 2x 60 sq ft
• Empty weight: 25,000 lb
• Loaded weight: 35,000 lb
• Max takeoff weight: 50,000 lb
• Powerplant: Cairhienen Corporation "Triburst" afterburning turbofan, 30,000 lbf (50,000 lbf w/ afterburners) and 10 degree thrust vectoring.

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 3.1 at altitude
• Cruise speed: Mach .9
• Ferry range: 3,750 mi
• Wing loading: ~291.67 lb/sq ft
• Thrust/weight: .86 dry, 1.43 wet

Armament

• Guns: internally mounted double 18 mm CM18 Vulcan gatling gun, 10,000 rounds total
• Hardpoints:
  • 4 underwing external
    • Capable of mounting any type of Cairhienen AAM or 500 lb bomb
  • 8 internal fuselage
    • Capable of mounting any type of Cairhienen AAM

X-1B prototype - 2 manufactured

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 33 ft
• Wingspan: 34 ft
• Height: 13 ft
• Wing area: 280 sq ft
• Empty weight: 30,000 lb
• Loaded weight: 45,000 lb
• Max takeoff weight: 70,000 lb
• Powerplant: 3x Cairhienen Corporation "Tristar" afterburning thrust vectoring turbofan, 12,500 lbf (22,500 lbf w/ afterburners) and 15 degree thrust vectoring each.

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.15 at altitude
• Cruise speed: Mach 0.8
• Ferry range: 3,500 mi
• Wing loading: 160.71 lb/sq ft
• Thrust/weight: 0.83 dry, 1.5 wet

Armament

• Guns: internally mounted double 18 mm CM18 Vulcan gatling gun, 10,000 rounds total
• Hardpoints:
  • 28 underwing external hardpoints
    • Capable of mounting Cairhienen AAMs or 500 lb bombs
    • Larger explosives can be slung across multiple hardpoints (eg: 1,000 pound bomb attached to two hardpoints)

Finalized CF-16

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 33 ft
• Wingspan: 34 ft
• Height: 13 ft
• Wing area: 280 sq ft
• Empty weight: 30,000 lb
• Loaded weight: 45,000 lb
• Max takeoff weight: 70,000 lb
• Powerplant: 3x Cairhienen Corporation "Tristar" afterburning thrust vectoring turbofan, 13,500 lbf (25,000 lbf w/ afterburners) and 15 degree thrust vectoring each.

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.5 at altitude
• Cruise speed: Mach 0.8
• Ferry range: 3,250 mi
• Wing loading: 160.71 lb/sq ft
• Thrust/weight: 0.9 dry, 1.67 wet

Armament

• Guns: internally mounted double 18 mm CM18 Vulcan gatling gun, 10,000 rounds total
• Hardpoints:
  • 28 underwing external hardpoints
    • Capable of mounting Cairhienen AAMs or 500 lb bombs
    • Larger explosives can be slung across multiple hardpoints (eg: 1,000 pound bomb attached to two hardpoints)

X-2 Prototype

The X-2 is the Jeffersonian Engineering Corporation's submission. It includes forward swept wings and an advanced fly-by-wire system, along with high degree thrust vectoring.

The JEC recently submitted an updated X-2B model which has numerous small improvements in stability, maneuverability, processing power, redundancy, range, and even software efficiency. The biggest change is fixing a bug in the fly-by-wire system software which could cause added instability in certain conditions and upgrading the fly-by-wire processors to the JP500M and RAM to 8 GiB. Another change was the delivery of a version modified for carrier operations, which is a function the X-1 could not match due to its large size and weight.

The X-2 was also finalized as the F-2 with almost no difference.

Specifications (X-2A) - 2 manufactured

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 17 ft
• Wingspan: 26 ft
• Height: 7 ft
• Wing area: 95 sq ft
• Empty weight: 10,000 lb
• Loaded weight: 17,500 lb
• Max takeoff weight: 30,000 lb
• Powerplant: JEC "Hyperion" afterburning turbofan, 20,000 lbf dry, 35,000 lbf wet, 30 degree thrust vectoring
• Fuel capacity: 3,500 US gal
• Fly-by-wire: JEC version 1.0.0a
  • 3 redundant boards each with 2 JP250M processors and 4 GiB RAM on JHB

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.5
• Cruise speed: Mach 1.2
• Combat radius: 1,000 mi
• Ferry range: 3,000 mi
• Service ceiling: 100,000 ft
• Rate of climb: >120,000 ft/min
• Wing loading: 184.21 lb/sq ft
• Thrust/weight: 1.14 dry, 2.00 wet

Armament

• 2x 18 mm CM18 Vulcan cannon, 10,000 rounds total
• 6x flechette rocket launcher, covered when not in use; creates lots of drag at high speed when opened, so it is disallowed (8 missiles each, 48 total)
  • 25 mm non-explosive non-guided hyper-velocity depleted uranium rockets (Ramjets allowing speeds > Mach 5)
    • Later upgrade to replace with a scramjet missle with speeds > Mach 10
  • 25mm guided Flack missiles
    • Small explosive radar proximity fuze to throw shrapnel
• 8x internal AAM fuselage hardpoints (AA-1 or AA-2 only)

Specifications (X-2B) - 3 manufactured(2 normal, one carrier)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 17 ft
• Wingspan: 26 ft
• Height: 7 ft
• Wing area: 120 sq ft
• Empty weight: 10,000 lb
• Loaded weight: 20,000 lb
• Max takeoff weight: 30,000 lb
• Powerplant: JEC "Hyperion" afterburning turbofan, 20,000 lbf dry, 35,000 lbf wet, 35 degree thrust vectoring
• Fuel capacity: 4,000 US gal
• Fly-by-wire: JEC version 1.0.2b
  • 5 redundant boards each with 2 JP500M processors and 8 GiB RAM on JHB
    • at least 3 are always active, two calculating data and the third comparing results of the other two to counter non-fatal errors

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.5 (1,625 MPH)
• Cruise speed: Mach 1.15 (975 MPH)
• Combat radius: 1,100 mi w/o externals, 2,300 mi w/ all drop tanks
• Ferry range: 3,500 mi w/o externals, 5,300 mi w/ all drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 120,000 ft
• Rate of climb: >120,000 ft/min
• Wing loading: 166.67 lb/sq ft
• Thrust/weight: 1.00 dry, 1.75 wet

Armament

• 2x 18 mm CM18 Vulcan cannon, 10,000 rounds total
• 6x flechette missile launcher, covered when not in use; creates lots of drag at high speed when opened, so it is disallowed (10 missiles each, 60 total)
  • 25 mm non-explosive non-guided hyper-velocity depleted uranium rockets (Ramjets allowing speeds > Mach 5)
    • Later upgrade to replace with a scramjet missle with speeds > Mach 10
  • 25mm guided Flack missiles
    • Small explosive radar proximity fuze to throw shrapnel
• 8x internal AAM fuselage hardpoints per launcher (AA-1 or AA-2 only)
• 12x external wing hardpoints up to 500 lb ordinance each
  • JEC AAMs
  • Cairhienen AAMs
  • Light bombs (conventional, torpedo, or EMP)
  • External drop tanks
  • Capable of sling across

Finalized F-2

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 17 ft
• Wingspan: 26 ft
• Height: 7 ft
• Wing area: 120 sq ft
• Empty weight: 10,000 lb
• Loaded weight: 20,000 lb
• Max takeoff weight: 30,000 lb
• Powerplant: JEC "Hyperion" afterburning turbofan, 20,000 lbf dry, 35,000 lbf wet, 37 degree thrust vectoring
• Fuel capacity: 4,000 US gal
• Fly-by-wire: JEC version 1.0.3c
  • 6 redundant boards each with 2 JP500M processors and 8 GiB RAM on JHB
    • at least 3 are always active, two calculating data and the third comparing results of the other two to counter non-fatal errors

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.5 (1,625 MPH)
• Cruise speed: Mach 1.15 (975 MPH)
• Combat radius: 1,100 mi w/o externals, 2,300 mi w/ all drop tanks
• Ferry range: 3,500 mi w/o externals, 5,300 mi w/ all drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 120,000 ft
• Rate of climb: >120,000 ft/min
• Wing loading: 166.67 lb/sq ft
• Thrust/weight: 1.00 dry, 1.75 wet

Armament

• 2x 18 mm CM18 Vulcan cannon, 10,000 rounds total
• 6x flechette missile launcher, covered when not in use; creates lots of drag at high speed when opened, so it is disallowed (10 missiles each, 60 total)
  • 25 mm non-explosive non-guided hyper-velocity depleted uranium rockets (Ramjets allowing speeds > Mach 5)
    • Later upgrade to replace with a scramjet missle with speeds > Mach 10
  • 25mm guided Flack missiles
    • Small explosive radar proximity fuze to throw shrapnel
• 8x internal AAM fuselage hardpoints per launcher (AA-1 or AA-2 only)
• 12x external wing hardpoints up to 500 lb ordinance each
  • JEC AAMs
  • Cairhienen AAMs
  • Light bombs (conventional, torpedo, or EMP)
  • External drop tanks
  • Capable of sling across

FA-16 Priest (5 purchased)

• Type: Fast Attack Fighter
• Length: 16.78 m
• Wingspan: 12.42 m
• Height (Body) : 2.9 m
• Ground clearance, landing gear down: 1.4 m
• Propulsion: 1 x GEM a909LB CC VBT Afterburning 3D Thrust Vectoring Turbofan (3,121 kg)
• Total Net Thrust: 29,360 kgf Dry, 35,520 kgf Burner
• Empty Weight: 13,121 kg
• Maximum Take-Off Weight: Est 33,000 kg
• Normal Fuel Weight: 8,130 kg
• Maximum Fuel Weight: 11,100 kg
• Weapons Systems:
  • 2 200 kg wingtip pylons
  • 2 500 kg wing pylons
  • 4 1000 kg wing pylons (2 innermost wet, 2 dry)
  • 2 500 kg internal bays (Rotary, max dimensions 2.5 m X .5 m, maximum mounts 8)
  • 1 1000 kg internal bays (Single, max dimensions 4.4 m X .75 m, maximum mounts 4)
  • 1 30 mm double-barrel Mettel DBG30/190 Gast mechanism cannon (200 rounds, 3700 RPM, 83 kg)
    • Compatible with SARH-type, independent system-based command guidance, operator-based command guidance payloads.
• Normal Stealth Payload: 1,113 kg
• Maximum Stealth Payload: 2,113 kg
• Normal non-stealth Payload: 4,513 kg
• Maximum non-stealth Payload: 7,513 kg
• Normal Stealth Combat Weight: 22,364 kg
• Maximum Stealth Combat Weight: 26334 kg
• Normal non-stealth Combat Weight: 25,763 kg
• Maximum non-stealth Combat Weight: 31,734 kg
• Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: .925 under maximum possible loadout
• Variable Geometry Intake? Yes, twin articulating plates
• G-Load Limits: -4.5/+12.7
• Alpha: --, 33 degrees Software Limited (Disengagable in flight)
• Baseline Range: ~ 2,000 km
• Combat Radius: ~ 1,000 km
• Ferry Range: ~ 5000 km
• In-flight refueling? Yes, Boom and receptacle - located behind canopy.
• Carrier Ready? Yes. Provisions for arresting gear hook. Provisions for catapult hookup.
• Oxygen Generation? Yes - Sodium Chlorate cell located under pilot seat. 30 - 60 min duration.
• Pressurized Canopy? Yes
• Runway length, normal combat weight: ~180 m takeoff, > 150 m landing w/o thrust assisstance
• Operational Ceiling/Altitude: 16.8 km
• Maximum Altitude: 21.1 km
• Cruising Speed: Mach .81 Sea Level
• Supercruising Speed: Mach 1.41 @ Altitude
• Maximum Speed: Mach 2.65 @ Altitude
• Crew: 1 (Pilot)
• Avionics Suite:
  • AOC Fly-by-light digitalized control
  • OLED Wraparound Canopy HUD
  • HIMUD Helmet Targeting & Cueing System
  • GFVm-aero Multiband 3D Phased Array Targeting Radar System
  • GFVs-aero Multiband 3D Phased Array Targeting Radar System (twin spike rear arrays)
  • Multiband Optical Targeting System (MOTS) Thermal, Visual, Laser Targeting & Designation with VLD **Ground Targeting Suite (Retractable, Forward Nosecone, Belly)
  • SaBOCAD Battlenet uplink
  • Pathknowledge M5 INS
  • Pathknowledge Programmable Autmatic Control
  • C97 Intergrated Defense Countermeasures System (Chaff, IR/LD Blinder, CCDB, Radar Blinders, Intergrated Radar Jamming Suite)

Cost

• Total project cost (to date): 3.5 billion
• Manufacture cost of X-1A: cr350 million (Estimated final cost/unit at ~cr60 million)
• Manufacture cost of X-1B: cr250 million (Estimated final cost/unit at ~cr50 million)
• Manufacture cost of X-2A: cr175 million (Estimated final cost/unit at ~cr35 million)
• Manufacture cost of X-2B: cr200 million (Estimated final cost/unit at ~cr40 million)
• Purchase cost of FA-16 Priest: cr32,490,618.19

Scoring in categories

All scores are out of a possible 10. Included are aircraft already in service for comparison:

• Format: Speed / Maneuverability / Armament / Avionics / Dog-fighting / Interception / Strike capability / Cost
• CP-40F: 3/5/6/2/3/2/5/10 = 36/80 or 45%
• CF-10B: 7/6/7/5/6/6/7/7 = 51/80 or ~64%
• CF-12B: 5/8/3/5/7/4/2/9 = 43/80 or ~54%
• CF-14: 6/7/7/6/7/6/8/5 = 52/80 or 65%
• CF-16: 6/5/9/7/5/6/9/4 = 51/80 or ~64%
• F-2: 8/8/7/9/8/8/8/5 = 61/80 or ~76%
• FA-15D: 8/8/9/9/8/8/9/2 = 61/80 or ~76%
• FA-16: 8/8/7/9/8/8/7/6 = 61/80 or ~76%

The end result is that the indigenous F-2 was chosen as the new Air Force fighter, while the navy chose to pick up the GEM's FA-16 "Priest"
The F-2's nickname was chosen after the announcement as the Rapier.