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 user | Axdelian Aerospace Force |
| Produced | 1973-1995 |
| 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, with the improved 'Super Swift' built in 1992 set to remain in Axdelian Aerospace Force service until 2026. Post-War it was exported to several countries,
Development of the Q-103 began in 1968 due to perceived shortcomings of the new but hastily assembled Q-101 fighter-interceptor derived from the Cerdani DF-21, as well as concerning reports that Morstaybishlia was starting to develop high-manoeuvrability fighters with advanced avionics that would render it obsolete. Progress was slow until the with the outbreak of the Auroran Imperial war in early 1970, when its priority was ramped up significantly. Design work was aided significantly by an agreements with the Federation of the Southern Coast, Ethalria and Quariin which among other things provided the AWDoA with access to foreign material science and avionics research. Axdelian assets embedded in Morstaybishlia are also known to have provided information on technology being developed by Morstaybishlian defence companies. Whilst it first flew in early 1971, prototypes suffered from a large number of problems that resulted in fatal crashes, often tied to its flight control system, ultimately requiring all new domestically developed systems to address. This combined with evidence the MBE was far behind its equivalent program meant the fighter took almost two years of further development to reach combat readiness, reaching full production in January 1973.
The Q-103A was well received from pilots transferring from the faster but less capable Q-101, and its combat performance of it and its later variants for the remaining duration of the war was very good. Issues with the Q-103A's flight control system persisted into production however, and its reputation 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 earned the planes nickname of 'Filly' as it bucked like a young horse.
The Swift is an extremely agile aircraft, being entirely reliant on a digital fly-by-wire system and integrated circuit based flight computer to regulate the flight envelope of its low wing-loading three-surface design and featuring an enormously powerful Yk138 Koriba-3HI turbofan. Its bubble cockpit allowed pilots a much large field of view than previous fighters, and it could carry a large payload of IR and radar-homing missiles with look-down shoot-down ability as well as bombs and air-to-surface missiles. Later developments which enhanced its ground-attack abilities saw it gain mountings on the lower fuselage for targeting and ECM pods for use with a wider variety of guided munitions, as well as two seat cockpit variants for more effective workload distribution.
Development
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 permanently mated 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 have been slightly reshaped in order give the aircraft relaxed stability, improving responsiveness and reducing energy loss during manoeuvres. The latter change also allows for supermanoeuvrability, meaning high-AoA post-stall manoeuvres can be performed if necessary.
In 2010 as part of a 2025 life extension programme enacted due to delays in the development of the Q-107 Grackle, a series of upgrades were installed on 52 aircraft to be designated as the Q-103SE. This included an AESA radar system and diverterless supersonic inlets to reduce mechanical complexity, as well as an updated cockpit with touchscreen interfaces with a vastly upgraded mission computer and communications suite. These saw combat in the Auroran-Cerenerian War, primarily performing ground attack missions.
Operators
Current
- 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
Former
- 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 1994 the QAD ordered 65 Q-103S's, however they weren't delivered until 1998 due to the Axdelian civil war disrupting production.
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 Aekon-220 Gast autocannon with 360 rounds
- Hardpoints: 10 x Hardpoints (2 x wingtip, 6 x underwing, and 2 x on fuselage)