PSAF F-X/MHa "Jaeger"

Instructions

Spam flag for sync Fullscreen not recommended The PSAF F-X/MHa "Jaeger" is a 7th-generation autonomous hypersonic multirole/air superiority craft designed as the successor to the S-1J fighter jet. The F-2/IHa "Skua" served as a testing ground for agile hypersonic aircraft---but while it served primarily as an interceptor craft with some multirole capabilities, the Jaeger was designed to excel as the chief multirole combatant of the Polestarian Air Force. It features better neuromorphic integration with a decentralized 'nervous system' that is capable of making informed tactical decisions at superhuman speeds, state-of-the-art avionics and countermeasure systems, and a specially-designed propulsion system capable of reaching speeds of over Mach 10. Specifications: Crew: 0 Empty Weight: 8,200kg Fuel Capacity: 18,000kg Max Payload Weight: 2,800kg Gross Weight: 21,000kg Maximum Takeoff Weight: 38,000kg Maximum Speed: Mach 10.2 at 30,000m Supercruise Speed: Mach 6.8 Service Ceiling: 36,000m Combat Range: 4,200km Ferry Range: 6,300km G-limit: +20G/-12G Primary Powerplant: 2x Integrated Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) Energy-Bypass Dual-Mode Scramjet (DMRJ) MHD System: REBCO High-Temperature Superconducting (HTS) coils generating a high-intensity magnetic field across intake and exhaust nozzles Low-Speed Boost Unit: Dual internal endothermic rocket/ramjet ejectors providing initial thrust from Mach 0 to Mach 2.8, after which the scramjet intake unstarts into full scramjet/MHD mode Auxiliary Power: 1.5 MW tapped from the MHD energy-bypass channel to drive onboard DEW systems and avionics Processing Core: SNN neuromorphic processor on wide-bandgap GaN architecture Flight Bus: Quad-redundant fly-by-light (FBL) fiber-optic bus (100% immunity from high-power microwave weapons and EMPs) Sensors: - Form-integrated synthetic aperture radar (SAR) - Distributed aperture EO/IR sensor windows flush-mounted on forward fuselage Countermeasures: - Cognitive DRFM jamming running directly on the neuromorphic core for real-time radar deception Armaments: Air Superiority - 12x Kinetic Hit-to-Kill Micro-Interceptors (2.2 m length, Mach 6+ solid booster, direct kinetic impact) Intercept - 4x Dual-Stage Hypersonic Air-to-Air Missiles (HAAM) + 2x Micro-Interceptors Fixed Gun - 1x UEI LX1 Directed Energy Weapon Total Unit Flyaway Cost: $85.5M USD (That's $42.75M SUC btw) For reference: 1 F-35A costs ~$92M USD per unit Cost Justification: Partnerships with Vanguard, advancements in mass-production, a lack of necessity for cockpit, life support, and ejection systems, and general Polestarian cost-saving measures drastically reduces the price necessary for the creation of an F-X/MHa unit. (Price still subject to change with moderator deliberation.)