Q-103 Swift

Q-103 Swift
Top view outline of a Q-103A
Role	Multirole Fighter
National origin	Axdel
Manufacturer	Sentinel Co-Operative Industries
Designer	Aerial Warfare Division of Axdel
First flight	March 4th 1971
Introduction	February 10th 1973
Status	In active service
Primary users	Axdelian Aerospace Force see Operators
Produced	1973-1999
Number built	1500+
Unit cost	♅5 Million

The Q-107 Swift is a single-engine multirole fighter jet designed during the Auroran Imperial War by the Aerial Warfare Division of Axdel. Originally built to serve primarily as an air superiority fighter, the Q-103 evolved over subsequent variants into a capable multirole aircraft that was produced in large numbers and exported to several countries post-war. The heavily modified Q-103S variant produced in 1992 and the modernised Q-103SE remain in active service in many countries. In Axdelian service the Q-103SE will be replaced with Q-107A Grackle stealth fighters by 2026.

Development

In the years immediately following its assertion of independence Axdel instituted a war economy, investing heavily in its military, refining its inventory, building capability and expanding research and development efforts for the expected conflicts with Morstaybishlia in the coming years. Much of the new equipment acquired during this time came in the form of license built foreign designs that were frequently modified and improved upon for Axdelian use. Among those modified was the Cerdani DF-21, which was fitted with a newer engine, a redesigned intake to make room for a larger radar, and the addition of foreplane control surfaces to allow the heavier fighter to manoeuvre well. This aircraft was put into production in late 1967 as the Q-101 Sparrow fighter-interceptor. However, due to its hasty development the Sparrow would have numerous design shortcomings and was considered inferior to its contemporaries in many ways, as well as suffering from a high accident rate during its career. Additionally there were concerning reports several foreign powers, chiefly Morstaybishlia, were starting to develop fighters with both high-manoeuvrability and advanced avionics that would render all of the combat aircraft Axdel had at its disposal obsolete. These fears resulted in the 1968 'high alpha fighter' requirement given to the newly formed Aerial Warfare Division of Axdel research and development group, demanding a lightweight, technologically advanced fighter capable of Mach 2+ speed with the ability to fire modern radar guided beyond-visual-range missiles and be adept at close-range dogfighting.

Design work was aided significantly by separate agreements forged with the Federation of the Southern Coast and Ethalria, which among other things provided the AWDoA with access to cutting edge research on electronics, materials and weapon systems in exchange for any novel technology they developed. Axdelian assets embedded in Morstaybishlia are also known to have provided some information on competing technologies being developed by the Morstaybishlian defence industry. Despite this assistance, the increasing complexity of the project meant early progress was slow until its priority was ramped up significantly in early 1970 with the outbreak of the Auroran Imperial war. The Prototype Q-103, at this point without its radar and fire control, achieved its first flight just over a year later in 1971. In mock dogfights it handily outperformed the Q-101 in every aspect but straight line speed, the requirement for which was subsequently pared back as despite it's high thrust the Yk138 engine could not achieve Mach 2+ safely. Despite the successes, the all-electronic flight control was plagued with issues that resulted in several crashes due to loss of control, requiring all new domestically developed systems to address. This issue combined with delays in the digital flight computer meant the fighter took a further two years of intense development to reach combat readiness, finally reaching full production in January 1973.

The Q-103A was well received by pilots transferring from the Q-101, and the combat performance of it and its later variants for the remaining duration of the war was very good. In its first recorded combat engagement, one swift engaged and destroyed five Morstaybishlian fighters in as many minutes. Issues with the Q-103A's flight control system persisted into production however, and despite having a lower accident rate its reputation was hampered by reports of both sudden loss of control or excessive pitching up during routine manoeuvres, an issue compounded by the lack of a mechanical backup. This quickly earned the plane the nickname "Colt" among Axdelian pilots due to how it bucked like a young horse.

Design

The Swift is an extremely agile aircraft entirely reliant on its fly-by-wire system and integrated circuit based digital flight computer to regulate the flight envelope of its low wing-loading three-surface design and fitting the powerful Yk138 Koriba-3HI turbofan. Its bubble cockpit allowed pilots a much large field of view than previous generation fighters, and it could carry a large payload of IR and radar-homing missiles guided by its look-down shoot-down capable radar, as well as bombs and air-to-surface missiles for ground targets. The B/C variants onwards gained additional features to improve the fighters flexibility. Chief amongst these were mountings on the lower front fuselage that could fit targeting and ECM pods for use with a wider variety of guided munitions, enhanced its ground-attack abilities. Tandem Seater variants such as the Q-103C provided space for a weapons systems officer who could provide navigation as well as support with detecting targeting and engaging targets.

Variants

Q-103A

(Single seater, sometimes crashes if you pull up too hard, sometimes the wings fall off. Not too good at ground attack for other reasons)

Q-103B/C

(Q-103B = single seater, Q-103C = two seater, has mountings for additional sensors)

Q-103D

(Electronic warfare version with semi-permanently mated EW modules and external fuel tanks)

Q-103S Super Swift

The Q-103S Super Swift is a heavily modified redesign of the original Swift. Only two seater cockpits were produced to support multirole operations. The fuselage was strengthened with composite materials and enlarged in order to fit improved avionics, larger fuel tanks and increased payload weight. Additionally the wings and control surfaces have been slightly reshaped in order give the aircraft relaxed stability, improving responsiveness and reducing energy loss during manoeuvres. The reduced aerodynamic stability also granted the fighter a degree of supermanoeuvrability, allowing high-AoA post-stall manoeuvres to be performed.

Q-103SE Enhanced Super Swift

In 2010 Sentinel announced a modernising upgrade package to existing Q-103S users, redesignating them as the Q-103SE Enhanced Super Swift. This came as part of a life extension programme enacted due to strong interest from foreign users and delays in the final development and production schedule of the Q-107 Grackle. This package included an AESA radar system and diverterless supersonic inlets to reduce weight and mechanical complexity, as well as updated cockpit instruments with touchscreen interfaces and a vastly upgraded mission computer and communications equipment. 52 Q-103S's in Axdelian service were upgraded to the standard and was combat in the Auroran-Cerenerian War, primarily performing ground attack missions, and several contracts to upgrade foreign aircraft were also secured.

Operators

Axdel

• Axdelian Aerospace Force - at its peak the AAeF operated over 1000 Q-103's of all variants. 500 Q-103S Super Swifts were procured in 1992, of which 52 were upgraded to Q-103SE specification in 2010.

Quariin

• Quarii Air Force - Ordered 96 Q-103B and C's during the AIW. The full order was not delivered in time before the end of the war and was reduced to 70 planes in total. In 1993 the QAF ordered 65 Q-103S's, however they weren't fully delivered until 1998 due to the Axdelian civil war disrupting production. The entire fleet was upgraded to Q-103SE specification in 2014.

Specifications (Q-103A)

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 15.9 m
• Wingspan: 9.6 m
• Height: 4.6 m
• Wing area: 34 m²
• Empty weight: 7966 kg
• Gross weight: 13,000 kg
• Max takeoff weight: 19,000 kg
• Fuel capacity: 4000 kg internal
• Powerplant: 1 × Yk138 Koriba-3HI low-bypass turbofan (75kN dry thrust 138kN with afterburner)

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 (1920 km/h) at high altitude
  • Mach 1.12 (1,372 km/h) at sea level
• Combat range: 800 km full combat load
• Ferry range: 3000 km with 2x drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 18,500 m
• g limits: +9 / -3
• Wing loading: 353 kg/m²
• Thrust/weight: 1.1 (full fuel and combat load)

Armament

• Guns: 1 × 20 mm NBS Aekon-220 Gast autocannon with 360 rounds
• Hardpoints: 10 x Hardpoints (2 x wingtip, 6 x underwing, and 2 x on fuselage)