[Project] Italy - F/A-01

[Logan]

TYPE	Research & Development
COUNTRY	Italy
PROJECT	F/A-01
PROJECT COST	1,000,000,000.00
COMPLETION DATE	20/12/2018
PROJECT INFORMATION	Length: 21.84m (71.65ft) Width: 11.54m (37.86ft) Height: 3.42m (11.22ft) Empty Weight: 16,800kg Maximum Payload: 9,000 kg Maximum Fuel: 11,000 kg internally. Maximum Take-off Weight: 36,800 Kg Combat Radius: 1,050km (652 miles) Ferry Range: 6,500 km. Maximum Altitude: 21,000 m. Dry Thrust: 160 kN per engine. Wet Thrust: (Afterburner) 210 kN per engine. Supercruise: Mach 1.4 Maximum Speed: Mach 2.5 (3,062 km/h or 1,903 mph) Rate of Climb: 380 m/s. Armament: 2x 30mm M-01A Linear Action Cannons(Mounted in low-RCS wing housings.) *600 Rd. Magazine per gun.* - High Explosive Fragmenting Incendiary Tracer, (HEFI-T) 30x165mm. 3 Internal Weapons Bays w/ Modular Rotary Launchers, 9,000 kg. internal capacity. *8 Large/16 Medium/24 Small Bombs/Missiles in internal bays.* *12 reinforced brackets for external hardpoints, if necessary.* Countermeasures: Miysis DIRCM BriteCloud DRFM Standard Flare/Chaff Dispensers The F/A-01 is notable for using integrated avionics, in which the major components of the software, such as the radar, electronic warfare systems, and weapons system all act as a single unit. This allows a pilot to check on the fly system warnings, instruments, and information gathered by passive, active, or even outside means (outside means being defined as AWACs aircraft). The balance of accessibility and the rate at which one can consume information was a key problem that had to be addressed, and so engineers and software experts made extensive use of visual and aural cues which are not so subtle as to go unnoticed, but not so dramatic that it's distracts the pilot during combat. As an extension, managing this balance adds another layer of functionality to the combatant, allowing him to work at a level not possible under regular conditions. The software is mission configurable, so that modules may be switched out as the roles change, shifting focus from it's main role of Air Superiority to Ground Attack to Mini-AWACs to Recon/EW with minimal effort aside from a change of weapons, easing to some extent the avionics side of the "Jack of all Trades, Master of None" issue. In order to detect threats from range, the F/A-01 uses a Selex radar set, which includes forward looking Selex Raven ES-05 AESA radar, rearward looking radar mounted at the tail, and scaled-down AULOS passive radar systems for detecting enemy radar. The Forward looking set can detect 1m^2 object from 150-200km, planned upgrades possibly increasing this to 300 km. As a supporting measure, an IRST, the Selex Skyward-G, bolsters the previously underused system, putting it to use against stealthy enemies, and extensively in the ground attack role. The armament capabilities of the F/A are extremely versatile. The baseline version of the F/A-01 uses two purpose-designed 30mm M-01A linear action cannons, built with extremely tight dimensions that require more maintenance, but extend the range of the weapon to nearly 2 km. When used in conjunction with a laser range finder, or other such targeting system, the gun may destroy most targets within seven to ten shots. As stated, the tight dimensions require barrel replacement every few thousand rounds, but at 600 rounds per mission, it may not be much of an issue. For most missions, in order to preserve it's stealthy profile, as many as 8 missiles can be stored internally, two short range missiles in missile bays along the side, and six long range missiles in a central bay. For the ground attack configuration, it can carry two long range missiles and two 500kg munitions , although they may be replaced by 8 100kg bombs. Additionally, at the expense of stealth, up to 8 additional missiles and 4 external fuel tanks may be fitted, however for normal operation, 4 missiles and two fuel tanks are added, as the extra weight of 4 fuel tanks would require that the internal missiles be dropped (excluding the two short range missiles), while their dimensions would preclude their firing, in any case. Additionally, an EW pod may also be equipped. It is also outfitted with the Miysis DIRCM (Directed Infrared Countermeasures) in order to allow itself to protect itself from MANPADS and BriteCloud DRFM (alongside standard Flares and Chaff) to defend itself from SAM and Air-to-Air threats. In order to make the aircraft have a certain degree of stealth, great emphasis was placed on the airframe. The overall shape of the aircraft does a decent job of scattering radar waves, though it's no F-22 or B-2, while the Radar Absorbent Material, or RAM, prevents it from being reflected in the first place. However, it should be noted that RAM was intentionally made a very minor part of the aircraft as a whole, due to it's maintenance intensiveness. RAM painted aircraft often have to be stored in climate controlled hangars, which is obviously out of the question for a front line fighter. Because of the unusual stresses of supermaneuverability, the airframe is made out of composites that are much stronger than regular metals. The F/A-01 also makes heavy use of titanium. Finally, the fuselage also takes advantage of carbon-fiber composites, which offer great strength to weight ratios. While expensive and extremely experimental, the wings are also outfitted with graphene-layered internal struts in order to increase their ability to take High-G and High-Speed turns at supercruise or in combat. What makes this fighter special is that with a lower-weight loadout, it is specifically designed to be able to serve both as a frontline Air Force fighter as well as to be able to take off from and land on the CATOBAR-modified variant of the Cavour-class Aircraft Carrier, which would be able to carry a squadron of 10 of them. This grants it excellent versatility in use. All Information and specifications are classified and kept off of any networked computers on air-gapped computers stored in the secure testing facilities and the only other computers this information is allowed on are the computers that run the assembly machinery to build prototypes.
PRIVATE / ENCRYPTED	Yes

 

[Logan]

Max Speed to Mach 2.2 (1687.99 MPH/1466.83 knots), Combat Radius to 850 km (528 mi/459 nm)

 

[Andy]

⌈ NATIONAL ECONOMICS ⌋ Validated

QUALITY ASSURANCE PASSED​

 

[Hollie]

⌈ NATIONAL ECONOMICS ⌋ Invoiced

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