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ENA VL-900 Firewave . The new naval VTOL strike fighter .
The ENA VL-900 (also know as “Firewave”), is a supersonic vertical takeoff/landing (VTOL) fighter aircraft, initially built by the "Vila Disparador" Airplane Factory as "VL-800 Fireline” and later rebuilt by “ENA” as a new fighter, with more powerful engines, increased range, bombload and a large AESA multi-mode radar.
More info and images here, please click!
When the "Fireline VL-800" entered in service, it was soon discovered that it lacked the speed, range and firepower required for naval operations. While a more capable aircraft to replace the VL-800 was not created, it was decided to ask to “ENA Company” to refurbish the VL-800 into a new fighter, as the company had already done before with the Nemesis and its conversion to the Stealth fighter "Thanatos”. ENA withdrew the wing of the VL-800 by replacing it with a delta wing canard type, introduced a new more aerodynamic nose with a powerful AESA radar and the most important development off all, replace the main engine for a different model three times more powerful. The new fighter soon proved to be a 5 stars fighter for the Imperial Navy and the Fuzileiros Imperiais (Imperial Marines).
Apart from having a vectorable engine in the rear used for flight, two smaller and less powerful engines are housed in the front portion of the aircraft and used for take-off, landing and some combat maneuvers.
All three engines are controlled through an interlinked digital system, which is capable of controlling both engine start-up as well as modulating the thrust of all three engines during landing and hovering flight. Twin tandem reaction control jets are positioned at the wingtips, while a swiveling yaw jet is positioned under the nose.
The Firewave will probably be replaced by a new Stealth VTOL in the near future, probably a VTOL version of the new Gryphus Stealth fighter.
More info and images here, please click!
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 18.36 m
Wingspan: 10.105 m
Height: 5.00 m
Wing area: 45.7 m²
Empty weight: 13,450 kg
Max. takeoff weight: 24,500 kg
Powerplant: 1 × R-930 lift/cruise turbofan
Dry thrust: 150 kN
Thrust with afterburner: 230 kN
Lift engines: 2x K500 turbojets 89.7 kN thrust each)
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.25 (2,400 km/h, 1,490 mph);
Range: 2,600 km
Ferry range: 5,000 km
Service ceiling: 23,500 m
Rate of climb: 13,000 m/min
Armament
Guns: Two external 20mm ENA-45 guns.
10 Hard points: 8 pylons under-wing, 2 under fuselage;
Up to 5,700 kg of weapons including:
Rockets: 4 rocket pods with 4 152mm rockets each.
Air-to-air Missiles:
8 AA-2042 “Empire´s Spear” medium-long range missile;
4 AA-2020 Valkyria medium-short range missiles for self-defence.
4 AA-2004 Vampire self-defence air-to-air missile;
Air-to-ground missiles:
2 (max: 4) D.D.N. Heavy anti-ship missiles;
8 D.D.B. medium anti-ship missiles.
6 (sometimes 10) AT-2009 Imperium anti-tank missiles.
14 AT-2040 “Vulcan” air-to-ground tactical missiles;
2 LG-1000 munitions dispensers missiles;
2-4 AT-1500 “Titan” heavy air-to-ground tactical missiles;
Bombs:
12 “Excalibur” Anti-runway bombs;
2-4 Valhalla Television-guided glide bombs;
Various unguided bombs, Laser or TV guided bombs, bombs up to 2000kg.
Other: ECM protection pod, Pave Spike Laser designator pod, Buddy refuelling pack or Drop tanks for extended range/loitering time.
Hope you like it!
More info and images here, please click!
Please rate or comment! ^^
Eínon
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