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 | 2012-present |
| Number built | ~500+ |
The Q-107 Grackle is a single-engine, multirole fighter jet developed by the Axdelian defense company ARMS. It was the first all-new combat aircraft developed domestically since the fall of the Noroist government. The aircraft had a troubled development, going far over it's initial development budget and suffering heavily from feature creep. 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.
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)
(probably had a bunch of capitalism from the post 1999 financial reforms hidden in the woodwork)
Design
(stealthy, made largely of composites. Despite not having an s-duct, variable baffles in the intake prevent radar waves from bouncing of the compressor blades
Operators
- Axdelian Aerospace Force - 245 Q-107A of 250 originally delivered from 2012 (5 were lost in the ACW), with an additional 52 contracted to replace the Q-103SE by 2026
- 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 in 2018
- Oscrelian Air Force - 50 Q-107A's delivered from 2014
- 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 starting in 2026
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: 22,300 kg
- Max takeoff weight: 29,500 kg
- Fuel capacity: 8,000 kg internal
- Powerplant: 1 × Yf190 Triakhe turbofan (120kN dry thrust 190kN with afterburner)
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.6 at high altitude
- Mach 1.06 (1,296 km/h) at sea level
- Combat range: 1,400 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)