Q-107 Grackle: Difference between revisions
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== Development == |
== Development == |
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[[File:X-32 Patuxent River Naval Air Museum Full.tif|left|thumb|The EXQ-107A demonstrator prototype produced in 2003]] |
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(ARMS, an independent union-run arms company, runs out of money developing this thing and has to get bailed out by the even bigger Sentinel with a fat cheque from the government for good luck) |
(ARMS, an independent union-run arms company, runs out of money developing this thing and has to get bailed out by the even bigger Sentinel with a fat cheque from the government for good luck) |
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Revision as of 14:57, 30 May 2024
| 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 | 2012-present |
| Number built | ~500+ |
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. The aircraft had a troubled development, going far over it's initial budget due to several delays in development and allegations of embezzlement. Despite this, the plane is considered highly successful in what it aimed to be capable of, 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 Pigeon" and "Smiler" based on its appearance, and "Gracc attacc" [sic] on social media.
Development
(ARMS, an independent union-run arms company, runs out of money developing this thing and has to get bailed out by the even bigger Sentinel with a fat cheque from the government for good luck)
(This is partially because they were corrupt as hell and banking on being bailed out as an important supplier of military materiel, and thus blatantly overspent)
(The need to design for the export market also raised costs, mostly due to requiring thrust vectored V/STOL for smaller carriers and species accommodations for the augmented reality headset)
(Going from technically still a command economy through the 1999 liberalising financial reforms and back into formalised worker ownership probably didn't help ARMS at all)
(Despite this it still got to market just before its main competitor, the Joint SH-NCEF-Federation developed HK-45)
Design
(Stealthy, blended fuselage largely made of composites and fully coated in radar absorbent materials. 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 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, maintaining 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 radar controlled in order to take out tarkets 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 originally delivered from 2012, with an additional block of 57 contracted to replace the Q-103SE after 2026. 5 more were ordered in 2017 to replace ACW losses
- Axdelian Navy - 72 Q-107B's 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 - [] Q-107A's delivered from 2015
- Royal Tavari Air Force - 34 Q-107A delivered from 2017
- Rotal Tavari Navy - 16 Q-107B's 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 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)