WF-27 Firebolt

• Production cost: $31.5 million (USD) or $32.8 million (USD, WF-27C carrier variant)
• Price: $48 million (USD) or $51 million (USD, WF-27C carrier variant)

Specifications

Primary Function

• Multirole fighter

Builder

• Wingarde Aerospace Corporation

Power Plant

• Norton Power G-SF-88A turbofan engine with afterburner

Thrust

• 18,225 kgf (single engine)
• 1.13 (thrust-to-weight ratio)

Length

• 12.4 metres

Wingspan

• 7.1 metres

Height

• 4.6 metres

Speed

• Mach 1.4 (1,726 km/h, cruise) at sea level
• Mach 1.7 (2,124 km/h, max cruise) at altitude
• Mach 2.2 (2,710 km/h, maximum) at high altitude

Ceiling

• 13,780 metres (combat)
• 16,525 metres (maximum)

Range

• 1,475 km (combat)
• 3,975 km (ferry)

Weight

• 6,992 kg (empty)
• 16,110 kg (normal combat)
• 17,480 kg (max take-off)

Crew

• One (Pilot)

Ordnance Mounts

• 7 mounts (3,000 kg maximum payload)
• 1 hardpoint on the fuselage (750 kg)
• 2 pylons on each wing (500 kg each)
• 1 pylon on each wingtip (125 kg each)

Armament

• Internally-mounted 27mm gun.
• Advanced medium range air-to-air missiles.
• Next-generation short range air-to-air missiles.
• Sea-skimming anti-ship missiles.
• Air-to-Ground missiles and/or rockets.
• Active/passive Electronic Warfare (EW) systems.
• Internal and external reconnaissance systems.
• Three optional external fuel tanks.

By the mid-90s, and in sight of recent aerodynamics breakthroughs by national scientists, the Wingardian government realized the country’s potential to develop remarkable airplanes. Purchasing military equipment from other territories was taking a large part of the military spending, and it was becoming a liability. So, in 1995, the first project to build an all-around, highly maneuverable and Mach-speed capable multirole fighter was born. The prototype, built by the newly founded Wingarde Aerospace Corporation, was named WX-27. After three years of extensive experimentation and after being approved by the Air Force, the WF-27 Firebolt entered mass production.

The Firebolt surpassed all expectations not long after being fully implemented to service (1999). The aircraft proved to be extremely reliable in every situation, performing admirably in every mission, from ground strikes to Combat Air Patrols (CAP). The WF-27 was reluctantly deemed able for export in 2003, after several arguments in the Ministry of Defense.