Q-103 Swift: Difference between revisions
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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-107 Grackle|Q-107A Grackle]] stealth fighters by 2026.
== Development ==
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Design work was aided significantly by separate agreements forged with the [[Federation of the Southern Coast]] and [[Ethalria (Grand Matriarchy)|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 ==
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