Specifications:Type: Multirole Strike Fighter
Length: 21 m
Wingspan: 13 m
Height: 6 m
Propulsion: A single GF-02-VE (35,000 kgf)
Total Net Thrust: 35,000 kgf
Empty Weight: 12,000 kg
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 30,000 kg
Minimum Fuel Weight (0.25): 7,500 kg
Maximum Fuel Weight (0.35): 10,500 kg
Limit Per/Number of Pylon(s): 6 internal, 6 external (3 on each wing)
Normal Payload: 6,000 kg
Maximum Payload: 18,000 kg
Normal Combat Weight: 28,500 kg
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 1.23/1
Combat Range: 1,700 km
Ferry Range: 4,590 km
Operational Ceiling/Altitude: 40,000 ft.
Maximum Altitude: 55,000 ft.
Cruising Speed: Mach 9
Supercruising Speed: Mach 1.5
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.45
Crew (List): 1 – Pilot
Default Equipment: x4 3,000 lb LAJDAM bombs
x4 Brimstone missiles
x2 AIM-120 AMRAAMs
x2 Storm Shadow cruise missiles
GAU-12 Gatling Cannon (internal)
Price: 14 million USD
ArmamentsThe single most important function on the Medafighter besides its stealth and S/VTOL is its armament. As a strike fighter, the F-38 has both an air-to-air and air-to-ground attack. To make a more advanced fighter, the structure and frame of the fighter were increased in size to make more room for both external and internal armaments. To increase stealth, the external weapons are placed in such a way so that radar will have an extremely difficult time detecting them. This is similar to the makeup of the F-35.
The Medafighter has exactly 12 total pylons onboard. The internal carriage has been increased in size from the F-35 allowing the F-38 to either drop more bombs or defend itself better than its predecessor could. Each of these internal pylons can hold up to exactly 1,000 kg. It is recommended that these internal carriages be used to hold the missiles for air-to-air attack.
In addition to the internal pylons, there are 6 external pylons located on the outside of the plane’s frame. There are three mounted on the underside of each wing, and every external pylon is capable of carrying 2,000 kg each. These external hard points (pylons) will typically be used to carry the bombs of the Blizzard, as well as maybe some missiles.
Mounted on the front of the aircraft is the GAU-12 Gatling Cannon. This cannon, which holds exactly 200 rounds of ammunition, is a five-barreled rotary cannon. It is a 25mm caliber weapon and weighs approximately 122 kg. Because of its small amount of ammunition, the pilot must only use this cannon in extreme circumstances where close engagements and dogfights are necessary. This canon ought to do its job, and its firing rate of 4,200 rounds a minute gives it a huge advantage over other guns. The downside to this speed is that the ammunition will vaporize very quickly, and the Medafighter pilot will have to rely on his missiles rather than his gun. In any case, a direct hit from this gun is likely to bring just about any modern fighter to the ground, or at least deal it a large amount of damage.
The Medafighters will be armed with four Large Advanced JDAM bombs. (any of these fighters which are sold will be outfitted with the standard armament for one engagement, listed below in specifications) These 3,000 lb behemoth bombs are an advanced and larger version of the normal JDAM. This makes the LAJDAM a hugely accurate bomb, which can deliver a payload of 3000 pounds on its enemy. They also made it larger and capable of creating a bigger explosion. It also has bunker-busting material that allows no enemy to go unscathed.
In addition to these bombs, the F-38 Medafighter JSF will carry four Brimstone LRAAMs. These missiles are capable of taking out a target from extremely long range, and are the premier weapon in the Grestonian missile arsenal. Complimenting these LRAAMs will be the AIM-120 AMRAAM which is a middle ranged missile. Two of these missiles will be loaded on the Medafighters. The AIM-9 Sidewinder missile will be mounted on the last two pylons available. This is primarily used for short ranged combat, and uses heat seeking capabilities to attack its target. All of these armaments will make the standard Blizzard a powerful force on the field of battle.
The F-38 is the very first Grestonian fighter equipped with ATAP, or Advanced Target Analysis Processing. This is an advanced version of the original TAP, which used to find targets and lock on. ATAP takes the Medafighter even further into technology and can do many different functions not available before. Among these function is Target Analysis, Lock, Frequency Hopping, Polarization, GPS Link, and Radiation Homing.
The first and probably most important of these functions is Target Analysis. The ATAP receives transmissions for the Alpha Radar concerning all of the targets within the area. Once the transmission has been received, the ATAP breaks down the makeup of each target and figures out exactly what each one is. Immediately following this discovery, the third LCD screen containing the 3D view of the battle shows each target exactly as they appear in real life. Additionally, the second LCD screen (on the left) orders and displays the names of the current threats within the area. This displays the highest to the lowest threats in order. In addition to this target analysis, the ATAP also runs a scan every third of a second, and can detect whether or not a missile has been launched by a threat. If a missile has been launched, the ATAP notifies the pilot of the Main hub LCD and counts down seconds until impact, as well as suggesting maneuvers and ECM to combat the attack.
A second characteristic of ATAP is the Lock ability. This occurs just as it sounds, and once the ATAP has analyzed the targets and suggested the threat to deal with, the pilot must notify the computer to lock on to a specific target. This is usually done via voice command. The ATAP scans the battlefield one more and locks onto the target, whether it is another aircraft or a ground target, and then notifies the pilot the instant to fire. Once fired, the missile or bomb will be guided by its own systems, as well as communicating with the ATAP and Alpha Radar of the Medafighter.
Another feature of ATAP is Frequency Hopping. The jamming systems within the world today typically discover the frequency of the targeting system and attempt to jam that system. ATAP uses an advanced Counter-Countermeasure by changing frequencies every three seconds. With this constant change, the ATAP will occasionally be able to escape any jamming that being directed towards the ATAP.
Polarization is another ECCM that is used by the ATAP system. ATAP analyzes every signal it receives and will ensure that if it is receiving a signal with the wrong polarization, it will filter out that signal. This makes jamming from a source with a different polarization from the ATAP impossible, and the ATAP system will literally overlook the enemy jamming.
GPS Link is a unique feature used by the Blizzard fighter. The ATAP system works with the Alpha Radar and antenna to communicate with the satellites in use by the Grestonian Military. If the weather is good, the ATAP will be able to hook up with the satellite and received advanced signals about the enemy. This is especially effective against ground targets and is better adapted to be used during a bombing run than an air-to-air engagement. This is because the satellite may have a hard time keeping up with an aircraft moving at high speeds. Typically, GPS link will only be able to be used if the Medafighter is going below supersonic speeds.
The final attribute of ATAP is Radiation Homing. This state-of-the-art system works in collaboration with the frequency hopping. If ATAP detects that an enemy is attempting to jam the system, it immediately records the transmission of the enemy jam. This makes it actually easier for the ATAP to track this enemy, and will give a stealth enemy’s position away almost instantly. ATAP then uses the information gathered from the jamming attempt to get a better lock or read on the enemy jammer, and then uses this to increase the chances of hitting the target. This makes jamming ECM against the Medafighter a risky prospect. All in all, the ATAP system employs incredible ECCM which makes it one of the most advanced targeting systems in the world.
CountermeasuresCountermeasures were an important part of the Medafighter’s design. It is believed by the Grestonian scientists that survivability is the main asset to any fighter pilot in any situation, and the F-38 was specifically designed to keep the pilot alive. The main countermeasure on the Medafighter is its stealth. All the features of this stealth are mentioned above. With almost zero chance of being intercepted by enemy radar, the pilot’s chance of carrying out the mission without detection or attack is very high. Because of this, Greston does not believe there is any chance of the Medafighter being destroyed by anything except enemy fighters.
To defend against these fighters, the Medafighter uses three main CMs/ECMs. The first of these is chaff. Chaff is a metal cloud that is laid down by the Blizzard in an attempt to distract enemy radar and/or missiles. If the Medafighter is fired upon, often a layer of chaff will distract the enemy and confuse the radar as to which target is really the plane. This increases the chances of survival against a radar guided missile dramatically. The chaff is usually a mixture of plastic and aluminum that can be discharged out of either wing of the Medafighter. Once deployed, the chaff will hurl through the air with the speed of the Medafighter, making it seem like a probable target.
Another main CM of the Medafighter is flares. Flares defend the Medafighter against heat-seeking or infrared guided missiles. When a flare is fired by the Medafighter from one of its wings, the flare flies through the air at a speed similar to that of the F-37 Eurafighter Nemesis. The flare gives off an intense light burst and extreme heat. The heat given off by this flare distracts heat seeking and infrared guided missiles and can make the missile head towards the flare instead of the aircraft. The flare used by the Medafighter has been upgraded to give off a burst of light, unlike most flares, to further increase its chances of distracting an infrared guided missile.
The final and most advanced ECM of the Medafighter JSF is the Guided Missile Jamming System (GMJS). This system is hailed as incredible and is now used in almost all of Grestonian aircraft. The Advanced version of GMJS is still undergoing transformation and creation, and was not able to be completed before the Medafighter was. It is expected to be released within the next few years and the Medafighter updated to include the new technology.