Your Nation's Air Force Mark II:

[Triplebaconation]

"Forged in the atomic fires of the Final War, the World Aerospace Patrol has kept peace in the sky for a generation. Now the brave men and women of WASP face their greatest threat yet--a cruel and mysterious enemy from beyond the stars."
- Voiceover narration, Interceptor!

The Stiletto Interceptor is the front-line fighter of the World Aerospace Patrol. An all-environment tilt-wing hypersonic interceptor, the Stiletto is reckoned to be a fair match for Repton saucers.

Specifications (Stiletto Mk V)
Crew: One
Length: 66' 5"
Span: 37'
Loaded Weight: 32,000 lbs
Powerplant: 4 General Nucleonics GN-500 turbines, 24,000 lbf each
Performance: Mach 5 at 150,000', 250 kts submerged
Combat Range: limited by operator endurance
Armament: two cannon, up to six missiles in internal bay

Known Variants:
Stiletto Mk I (first operational version, Ep. 9, "Flashback")
Stiletto Mk IV (two-seat trainer/liaison, Ep. 2, "The Recruit")
Stiletto Mk V (current standard, Ep. 1, "Revenge of the Reptons")
Stiletto Mk VI (navalised version, Ep. 15 "Terror from the Deep")
Stiletto Mk VII (space-adapted version with provision for orbital booster, Ep. 11, "Mystery at Moonbase One")
Stiletto Mk VIII (unmanned prototype, Ep. 5 "Colonel Computer")
Stiletto Mk X (prototype with dangerous neuronic interface derived from Repton technology, Ep. 17, "The Prototype")

[Purpelia]

(Image)

"Forged in the atomic fires of the Final War, the World Aerospace Patrol has kept peace in the sky for a generation. Now the brave men and women of WASP face their greatest threat yet--a cruel and mysterious enemy from beyond the stars."
- Voiceover narration, Interceptor!

The Stiletto Interceptor is the front-line fighter of the World Aerospace Patrol. An all-environment tilt-wing hypersonic interceptor, the Stiletto is reckoned to be a fair match for Repton saucers.

Flying saucers? Atomic war? Is this like X-Com meets Fallout?

[Keyboard Warriors]

The durability factor is due to the fact that remote Australian airfields aren't exactly the best-kept runways- this took the F-15 out of the running- but an F-18 designed for carrier ops could do it well.

?

[Triplebaconation]

(Image)

"Forged in the atomic fires of the Final War, the World Aerospace Patrol has kept peace in the sky for a generation. Now the brave men and women of WASP face their greatest threat yet--a cruel and mysterious enemy from beyond the stars."
- Voiceover narration, Interceptor!

The Stiletto Interceptor is the front-line fighter of the World Aerospace Patrol. An all-environment tilt-wing hypersonic interceptor, the Stiletto is reckoned to be a fair match for Repton saucers.

Flying saucers? Atomic war? Is this like X-Com meets Fallout?

No.

[Anemos Major]

(Image)

"Forged in the atomic fires of the Final War, the World Aerospace Patrol has kept peace in the sky for a generation. Now the brave men and women of WASP face their greatest threat yet--a cruel and mysterious enemy from beyond the stars."
- Voiceover narration, Interceptor!

The Stiletto Interceptor is the front-line fighter of the World Aerospace Patrol. An all-environment tilt-wing hypersonic interceptor, the Stiletto is reckoned to be a fair match for Repton saucers.

Specifications (Stiletto Mk V)
Crew: One
Length: 66' 5"
Span: 37'
Loaded Weight: 32,000 lbs
Powerplant: 4 General Nucleonics GN-500 turbines, 24,000 lbf each
Performance: Mach 5 at 150,000', 250 kts submerged
Combat Range: limited by operator endurance
Armament: two cannon, up to six missiles in internal bay

Known Variants:
Stiletto Mk I (first operational version, Ep. 9, "Flashback")
Stiletto Mk IV (two-seat trainer/liaison, Ep. 2, "The Recruit")
Stiletto Mk V (current standard, Ep. 1, "Revenge of the Reptons")
Stiletto Mk VI (navalised version, Ep. 15 "Terror from the Deep")
Stiletto Mk VII (space-adapted version with provision for orbital booster, Ep. 11, "Mystery at Moonbase One")
Stiletto Mk VIII (unmanned prototype, Ep. 5 "Colonel Computer")
Stiletto Mk X (prototype with dangerous neuronic interface derived from Repton technology, Ep. 17, "The Prototype")

Could use more lycra tbh

[Purpelia]

No.

Too bad. It would be awesome.

[Bulgaria-Serbia]

How about the F14?

[Triplebaconation]

No.

Too bad. It would be awesome.

[Greater Aztec Empire]

The Sukhoi Su-27-AZT is the main jet fighter of the Greater Aztec Empire.

In 1975, the Russian Federation introduced the Sukhoi Su-27 to replace its outdated main jet fighters to be deployed in any future wars.
In 1980, the service term of the Sukhoi Su-27 attracted the Greater Aztec Empire to witness its optimum performance as an agile jet fighter.
In 1985, the mass production of the Sukhoi Su-27 attracted the Greater Aztec Empire to purchase it in large number to strengthen its military.
In 1990, the superior performance of the Sukhoi Su-27 in the Abkhazian War attracted the Greater Aztec Empire to deploy it as its main jet fighter.
In 1995, the Russian Federation granted the production license and advanced technology of the Sukhoi Su-27 to the Greater Aztec Empire.
Since 2000 until the present day, the Greater Aztec Empire has mass produced about 1,000 Sukhoi Su-27-AZT to be deployed in any future wars.

[New Hayesalia]

The durability factor is due to the fact that remote Australian airfields aren't exactly the best-kept runways- this took the F-15 out of the running- but an F-18 designed for carrier ops could do it well.

?

In peacetime that's fine. If we were in a situation where we were conducting a serious defence operation, there'd be a lack of resources- there aren't that many dedicated RAAF bases. If the coast was lost, we'd be doing this kind of thing.



I'd reference the development of the Gripen's landing capabilities in a similar sort of way.

[Anemos Major]

The Sukhoi Su-27-AZT is the main jet fighter of the Greater Aztec Empire.

(Image)

In 1975, the Russian Federation introduced the Sukhoi Su-27 to replace its outdated main jet fighters to be deployed in any future wars.
In 1980, the service term of the Sukhoi Su-27 attracted the Greater Aztec Empire to witness its optimum performance as an agile jet fighter.
In 1985, the mass production of the Sukhoi Su-27 attracted the Greater Aztec Empire to purchase it in large number to strengthen its military.
In 1990, the superior performance of the Sukhoi Su-27 in the Abhkazia War attracted the Greater Aztec Empire to deploy it as its main jet fighter.
In 1995, the Russian Federattion granted the production license and advanced technology of the Sukhoi Su-27 to the Greater Aztec Empire.
Since 2000 until the present day, the Greater Aztec Empire has mass produced about 1,000 Sukhoi Su-27-AZT to be deployed in any future wars.

> is 1990
> uses prescience to look forward into 1993
> sees Su-27 possibly being shot down by an SA-2
> very good, great success
> buys Su-27

[Triplebaconation]

(Image)

"Forged in the atomic fires of the Final War, the World Aerospace Patrol has kept peace in the sky for a generation. Now the brave men and women of WASP face their greatest threat yet--a cruel and mysterious enemy from beyond the stars."
- Voiceover narration, Interceptor!

The Stiletto Interceptor is the front-line fighter of the World Aerospace Patrol. An all-environment tilt-wing hypersonic interceptor, the Stiletto is reckoned to be a fair match for Repton saucers.

Specifications (Stiletto Mk V)
Crew: One
Length: 66' 5"
Span: 37'
Loaded Weight: 32,000 lbs
Powerplant: 4 General Nucleonics GN-500 turbines, 24,000 lbf each
Performance: Mach 5 at 150,000', 250 kts submerged
Combat Range: limited by operator endurance
Armament: two cannon, up to six missiles in internal bay

Known Variants:
Stiletto Mk I (first operational version, Ep. 9, "Flashback")
Stiletto Mk IV (two-seat trainer/liaison, Ep. 2, "The Recruit")
Stiletto Mk V (current standard, Ep. 1, "Revenge of the Reptons")
Stiletto Mk VI (navalised version, Ep. 15 "Terror from the Deep")
Stiletto Mk VII (space-adapted version with provision for orbital booster, Ep. 11, "Mystery at Moonbase One")
Stiletto Mk VIII (unmanned prototype, Ep. 5 "Colonel Computer")
Stiletto Mk X (prototype with dangerous neuronic interface derived from Repton technology, Ep. 17, "The Prototype")

Could use more lycra tbh

As I have some decorum, flight suits are tasteful silver lamé.

[Keyboard Warriors]

(Image)

?

In peacetime that's fine. If we were in a situation where we were conducting a serious defence operation, there'd be a lack of resources- there aren't that many dedicated RAAF bases. If the coast was lost, we'd be doing this kind of thing.

There's no need to spread out our forces that much that we need improvised bases, doing so would be pretty bad. We'd have our fighter jets concentrated around Darwin because that's the most likely place such an invasion would occur. The rest of Australia is almost invulnerable.

Anyway the point is, we have more than enough adequate runways to select from without worrying about "can this aircraft take off from dirt?".

We didn't pursue the F-15 because it was ultimately unnecessary, it had nothing to do with it's suitability for Australian environments. The F-16 was supposedly rejected because it wasn't as robust as the F/A-18 but this was far from the defining factor and the Hornet was superior in a lot of ways.

[New Hayesalia]

In peacetime that's fine. If we were in a situation where we were conducting a serious defence operation, there'd be a lack of resources- there aren't that many dedicated RAAF bases. If the coast was lost, we'd be doing this kind of thing.

There's no need to spread out our forces that much that we need improvised bases, doing so would be pretty bad. We'd have our fighter jets concentrated around Darwin because that's the most likely place such an invasion would occur. The rest of Australia is almost invulnerable.

Anyway the point is, we have more than enough adequate runways to select from without worrying about "can this aircraft take off from dirt?".

We didn't pursue the F-15 because it was ultimately unnecessary, it had nothing to do with it's suitability for Australian environments. The F-16 was supposedly rejected because it wasn't as robust as the F/A-18 but this was far from the defining factor and the Hornet was superior in a lot of ways.

You do have good points.

[Vitaphone Racing]

There's no need to spread out our forces that much that we need improvised bases, doing so would be pretty bad. We'd have our fighter jets concentrated around Darwin because that's the most likely place such an invasion would occur. The rest of Australia is almost invulnerable.

Anyway the point is, we have more than enough adequate runways to select from without worrying about "can this aircraft take off from dirt?".

We didn't pursue the F-15 because it was ultimately unnecessary, it had nothing to do with it's suitability for Australian environments. The F-16 was supposedly rejected because it wasn't as robust as the F/A-18 but this was far from the defining factor and the Hornet was superior in a lot of ways.

You do have good points.

To add on to this, even the three bare bases are kept in good condition and there's paved runways for small jets all over the north thanks to the mining boom. If we need an airfield, we'll find one. Thank Clive Palmer.

[San-Silvacian]

Here is how Australia wins a war.

w8 for derm murricans to come and beat up the baddie-waddie.

just ask your father, England, how that goes, he knows how that works the most out of the rest of the world.

[Britinthia]

One seat vs. Two seat fighters.
The main pros and cons seem to be sacrificing fuel capacity for an extra pair of eyes and hands in the cockpit. Personally I think this is a fair trade, however the latest generation of fighters are largely single seat. I understand that modern aircraft can take over much of the workload of the pilot but surely the extra help in the cockpit would always be a bonus? Is there any reason I couldnt field solely two seat fighters?

[The Akasha Colony]

One seat vs. Two seat fighters.
The main pros and cons seem to be sacrificing fuel capacity for an extra pair of eyes and hands in the cockpit. Personally I think this is a fair trade, however the latest generation of fighters are largely single seat. I understand that modern aircraft can take over much of the workload of the pilot but surely the extra help in the cockpit would always be a bonus? Is there any reason I couldnt field solely two seat fighters?

And of course the extra cost of having to train and pay an additional crewmember per aircraft.

Ultimately, it's pretty much the same argument as the one against autoloaders; surely having another set of hands in the tank is useful?

Yes, but the question is whether the use justifies the costs and compromises involved.

[San-Silvacian]

One seat vs. Two seat fighters.
The main pros and cons seem to be sacrificing fuel capacity for an extra pair of eyes and hands in the cockpit. Personally I think this is a fair trade, however the latest generation of fighters are largely single seat. I understand that modern aircraft can take over much of the workload of the pilot but surely the extra help in the cockpit would always be a bonus? Is there any reason I couldnt field solely two seat fighters?

You could but the price increase doesn't yield any kind of overwhelming results.

[Britinthia]

See, coming to this thread always crushes my hopes.

[Purpelia]

See, coming to this thread always crushes my hopes.

Don't feel bad. That's what hopes are for.

[The Soodean Imperium]

One seat vs. Two seat fighters.
The main pros and cons seem to be sacrificing fuel capacity for an extra pair of eyes and hands in the cockpit. Personally I think this is a fair trade, however the latest generation of fighters are largely single seat. I understand that modern aircraft can take over much of the workload of the pilot but surely the extra help in the cockpit would always be a bonus? Is there any reason I couldnt field solely two seat fighters?

AFAICT two-seat arrangements seem to be most useful in the ground-attack role, where you can have one person operate the targeting equipment while another maintains course. Thus the Su-27/33/35 air-superiority fighters are single-seat, while Su-30/34 multirole ground-attack planes are double-seat.

See, coming to this thread always crushes my hopes.

Think of it this way: It's better to come here with a cautious idea and have it turned down than to spend hours turning that idea into a detailed statblock + lineart only to have someone embarrass you in the middle of an RP by pointing out it would never work.

[Hurtful Thoughts]

The A-7 and A-4 seemed to stand-up pretty well, actually...
-IIRC: America only lost six A-7Ds after nearly 13,000 combat sorties while dropping more ordnance than any plane bar the B-52.

*Tries to find evidence of F-16s going down from engine-flameouts.

America doesn't include the Navy anymore?

Oh, the other 98 A-7s lost from the Navy?

In total, 22 Navy A-7As were lost in the Vietnam conflict: 13 over Vietnam itself, and another 9 over Laos. Causes were cited as AAA (15) SAMs (4) and three due to what can only be viewed as pilot error on final approach to a dive-bombing-run. Another 20 were lost due to landing-mishaps and mid-air collisions.

A-7B, 11 aircraft lost to combat, 12 from accidents. AAA (7) SAM (1) ??? (3).

A-7E, 17 lost to combat.

Total sorties by Navy: 49,200; delivering 186 kilotons of conventional ordnance.

USAF only sent 72 planes (A-7D) and flew 12,928 sorties for 6 losses.

Overall:
90,180 Sorties, 54 Lost in action. 99.7% Readiness-rate.
~1 loss per 1.7k combat sorties.

Meanwhile, four A-10s were shot down in ODS while flying 8,100 sorties. Moderately surpassing the A-7E's safety-rating. And a Mission-capable rate somewhere between 85% and 96%.

The only thing that killed the A-7 from replacing the A-10 was the desire to make it go supersonic (and the inability to mount a 30mm, which is a moot point now).

---

Anyways...

I was thinking about having a 2-seat manned fighter, and have the WSO operate or link-into drones and patch with AWACS to coordinate missile-bus intercepts in an ECM heavy LOS-COMMS environment.

I mean... why not take an AIM-54... give it pylons... load it with AIM-9X Sidewinders... and fire it at an enemy bomber formation?

[Britinthia]

Thanks Purp. XD

I see what you mean about strike fighters needing the extra seat, however I was thinking along the lines of the F-14. A high performance inteceptor, meant to engage multiple threats from afar, protect fleets and less capable strike fighters. The stike fighter being derived from an early lockheed FCBA concept, something ike an F-35 with some of the fat trimmmed off to make it move a bit better. I suppose I have just described the F-22 though, and therefore have defeated my own argument.

[Gallia-]

Here is how Australia wins a war.

w8 for derm murricans to come and beat up the baddie-waddie.

just ask your father, England, how that goes, he knows how that works the most out of the rest of the world.

who liberated europe again?

[hint it wasnt u-s-gay]