Q-107 Grackle
| Q-107 Grackle | |
|---|---|
| |
| A pair of Q-107A's | |
| Role | Multirole fighter |
| National origin | Axdel |
| Manufacturer | Sentinel-ARMS (since 2017) |
| Designer | ARMS |
| First flight | November 19th 2003 |
| Introduction | January 28th 2013 |
| Status | In active service |
| Primary users | Axdelian Aerospace Force see Operators |
| Produced | 2010-present |
| Number built | ~750+ |
The Q-107 Grackle is a single-engine, multirole fighter jet developed by the Axdelian defence company ARMS. It was the first all-new combat aircraft developed domestically since the fall of the Noroist government, entering development in 1998 under the 'new versatile fighter' programme. The aircraft had a troubled development, with several delays and budget overruns that alongside allegations of corruption lead to ARMS going bankrupt and being bought by Sentinel in a government mediated deal. Despite this, the plane is considered highly successful, achieving and exceeding the demanded capabilities of the program, and has seen success in the export market. Since merging with Sentinel in 2017, the planes are now produced by Sentinel-ARMS. There are two variants, with the Q-107A taking off conventionally and the Q-107B having vectored thrust enabled V/STOL capability. A CATOBAR variant, tentatively named Q-107C, was cancelled in 2007 due to the aforementioned budgetary overruns and lack of international interest.
The Q-107 was named the Grackle in 2010, however it have since been given several nicknames by air forces fielding it such as "Fat Bird" and "SLUF" based on its appearance, and as "Gracc attacc" [sic] by online aviation enthusiasts.
Development
(ARMS, an independent union-run arms company, is contracted to develop the 'new versatile fighter' using experience gleaned from use of the stealth Q-105 fighter-bomber and the ongoing S-4 stealth strategic bomber project. the NVF demands outlined the need for a stealthy, highly advanced multirole fighter, expected to replace the Q-103S and Q-105 in Axdelian service and available for export. Even Conservative production numbers considered enough to justifying the development cost)
(The prototype EX-107A NVF and EX-107B NVF first flew in 2003, somewhat behind schedule)
(During development ARMS goes bankrupt and get bailed out by their competitor Sentinel in a government mediated deal under the agreement that they would continue the project, getting additional funding to do so but having to cut the third planned variant.)
(This is partially due to corruption, as well as banking on being bailed out despite overspending as they were an important supplier of military materiel. The economy going from technically still centralised, bouncing through the 1999 liberalising financial reforms and back into formalised worker ownership probably didn't help ARMS at all either, constantly twisting their priorities.)
(Late 2008 saw the first production run Q-107A built, with early run deliveries to the AAeF beginning in 2010 ahead of an expected active service date in 2012. Production at the plant in Añuur was scaled up to 80 aircraft a year by 2017)
(Despite this, cutting back on the third variant meant it still got to market just before its main competitor, the Joint SH-NCEF-Federation developed HK-45. The two are broadly comparable, although the Q-107 is slightly faster and thanks to its larger internal fuel tanks has a moderately longer range. However the HK-45's VSTOL variant uses a shaft driven fan and vectored thrust from its main exhaust to provide vertical thrust which, whilst heavier, provides more lift and allows for a larger payload capacity than the Q-107B's direct lift system during vertical take off operations.)
Design
(Stealthy, blended fuselage largely made of composites and fully coated in radar absorbent materials. Aesthetically reminiscent of first generation jets with its frontal intake and proportionally short body. Relaxed stability, large control surfaces and vectored thrust allow for great responsiveness and high angle of attack performance.)
(Sensor fusion and network centric warfare are keystone capabilities of the Q-107. A complex mission computer processes data from the wide array of sensors in order to present information in a clean, ergonomic fashion to the pilot, who can customise how it is arranged for convenience. The fully glass cockpit lacks a targeting HUD, with all relevant information being provided through the Situational Awareness and Targeting augmented reality headset.)
(Engine is an afterburning low bypass turbofan mounted centrally for better VTOL performance in the B variant, necessitating the large frontal intake. Despite not having an s-duct, the compressor blades are shielded by variable baffles buried in the intake in order to maintain a low frontal RCS)
(Carries almost twice as much fuel as the Q-103S/SE thanks to its large blended delta wing, giving it a much larger operational range.)
(Weapons can be stored in two large internal bays or on up to four removable pylons that can be jettisoned in flight to reduce RCS. The Q-107A has a 25mm cannon below the intake that can be keyed to sensors fired semi automatically in order to take out targets with only a few rounds. The Q-107B lacks a built in cannon however, and must carry a low-observability gun pod if it is required.)
Operators
- Axdelian Aerospace Force - 250 Q-107A's originally delivered from 2012, with an additional block of 52 contracted to replace the Q-103SE 1:1 by 2026. 7 more were ordered in 2017 to replace ACW and accidental losses
- Axdelian Navy - 72 Q-107B's delivered from 2013, to operate on the Khalanitas class carriers alongside the Q-104EQS
- Royal Cryrian Air Force - 20 Q-107A's delivered from 2018
- Oscrelian Air Force - 50 Q-107A's delivered from 2014
- Qayami Air Force - 80 Q-107A's delivered from 2015
- Royal Tavari Air Force - 34 Q-107A's delivered from 2017
- Rotal Tavari Navy - 16 Q-107B's delivered from 2018, to operate on their Blade of Storm class carriers.
Potential Operators
- Quarii Air Force - Planned order of 48 Q-107A's to replace its Q-103SE fleet in two blocks of 24 from 2025
Specifications (Q-107A)
General Characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 15.3 m
- Wingspan: 11 m
- Height: 5.5 m
- Wing area: 54.8 m2
- Empty weight: 12,500 kg
- Gross weight: 22,500 kg
- Max takeoff weight: 31,800 kg
- Fuel capacity: 9,000 kg internal
- Powerplant: 1 × Yf190 Triakhe-cSC turbofan (120kN dry thrust 190kN with afterburner)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.65 at high altitude
- Mach 1.08 (1,296 km/h) at sea level
- Combat range: 1,600 km full combat load on internal fuel
- Ferry range: 2,800 km with 2x drop tanks
- Service ceiling: 15,000 m
- g limits: +9
- Wing loading: 416 kg/m2
- Thrust/weight: 0.9 (with full fuel and combat load)
Armament
- Guns: 1 × 25 mm NBS Aekon-425 revolving autocannon with 200 rounds
- Hardpoints: 8 x Stations (4x internal and 4 x detachable underwing)