F-22K Super Raptor When the second cold war began in the 2070's, most of the world's armed forces were extremely out of date. During the "time of peace" when conflict was very limited and localized, military budgets were reduced and development of new weapons and combat systems was not a priority. As a result most armed forces retained their hardware long after it reached the end of its operational lifespan, fighting political battles to obtain the funds required to purchase new vehicles and gear to replace worn out equipment. Updates and improvements were slipped in when it became possible, but with the rise of global hostilities, no major nation could claim a clear advantage over the others. While the nations funneled billions into the development of new military hardware, these systems, vehicles, and weapons were expected to take years to deploy even in the best case. They had to modernize their armed forces rapidly, and without requiring massive retraining. As a result, many stopgap systems were developed, applying the newer technologies to their existing equipment. Sometimes these took the form of 'conversion kits', applique armor, new ammunition, and electronics to take existing tanks, aircraft, and naval vessels to give them the weapons and protection needed to fight in the new, lethal battlefields. However, when a system could be redesigned and produced with the new systems, it was. The F-22K is one such redesigned weapon. Although cosmetically the same as the original F-22 design from the early 21st century, under the new radar-absorbent metamaterial skin, the fighter is heavily updated. The chassis is ultra-durable ceramic, the engines are new, more potent models, the electronics, while somewhat behind the cutting edge, are more efficient and powerful, and the weapons employ modern developments in explosives and propellants. The F-22K was purchased in large quantities by the US air-force, to replace the aging F-15 derivatives it had been relying on. But the largest orders of new fighters were for the North American Alliance Lend-Lease program, which supplied military hardware to allies of the Alliance in exchange for favored trade status, supplies of critical raw materials, and military basing rights. These programs, which would come to be called 'the new imperialism' in the liberal media, allowed nations in South America and the Middle East to field military forces able to hold off the global powers.Model Type: F-22K Super Raptor
Class: Advanced Tactical Fighter
Crew: One Pilot.
M.D.C. by Location:
Reinforced Pilot Compartment/Cockpit - 50
[3] Main Body/fuselage - 110
[1]Wings (2) - 40 each
[2] Tailplanes (2) - 30 each
[2] Vertical Stabilizers (2) - 40 each
[2] Engines (2) - 30 each
Outer Missile Bays (2) - 15 each
Center Missile Bays (2) - 20 each
External Ordnance Pods (4) - 15 each
Notes:
[1] Destroying a wing will cause the plane to become dynamically unstable. Any serious maneuvers are at -50% to all piloting rolls. If the pilot fails, he must eject immediately because the plane will crash. Destroying both wings will cause the plane to crash.
[2] Destruction of one of the Tailplanes or horizontal stabilizers will still allow the aircraft to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines and adjusting the control surfaces, but aircraft has a penalty of -5 to dodge and a -10% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of two or more of the canards or horizontal tails will force the pilot to reduce top speed by 30% and impose a -25% penalty on piloting rolls because of aerodynamic instability. RTB is highly recommended. Destruction of one of the engines will require an immediate piloting check to transfer power to the second engine (-30% penalty), reduce top speed by 50%, and impose a -35% penalty on all piloting rolls. Destruction of both will require an emergency ejection.
[3] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the aircraft down completely, rendering it useless, and causing it to crash if in flight.
Speed:Flying: Twin F220-600 Turbofan engines enable the fighter to achieve the velocity of Mach 2.3 (1515mph/2424kmh). typical cruising speed is mach 1.2 (792mph/1267.2kmh). the minimum velocity required to stay aloft is 110 mph (176kmh), any lower and the plane will stall.Maximum Altitude: 65,000 ft (19,812 m)Range: Combat radius 471 mi (759 km), 1840 mi (2960 km) with 2 external tanks, 2000 mi (3219 km) ferry range with 4 external tanks.Statistical Data:Height: 16 ft 8 in (5.08 m)Width: 44 ft 6 in (13.56 m)Length: 62 ft 1 in (18.9 m)Mass: 43,430 lbs (19.7 metric tonnes) empty, 64,460 lbs (29.3 metric tonnes) loaded, 83,500 lbs (38 metic tonnes) maximumCargo: Minimal survival gearPower System: Twin F220-600 Turbofan enginesMarket Cost: (RIFTS) 142 million credits on the black market for an intact model with complete stealth coatings. 70 million credits for a functioning model without stealth coatings. The F-22K is a fairly rare find, and no known organization on rifts earth manufactures them. In Pre-rifts times the fighter was not available on the market, only obtainable through deals with the NAA.
Weapon Systems:1. M61A2 "Vulcan" 20mm Gatling cannon- firing through a port in the root of the right wing, this rotary cannon supplies the fighter main close in armament. Improvements in internal design has allowed its magazine space to be expanded past that of the original early 21st century model.Primary Purpose: Anti-AircraftSecondary Purpose: Ground attackDamage: 1D6x10 M.D. (30 round burst.)Rate of Fire: Equal to the pilots Hand to Hand attacks per melee.Effective Range: 2 milesPayload: 600 rounds in an ammo drum behind the cockpit. this is sufficient for 20 bursts.Bonuses: the M61A2 is designed to 'scatter' the rounds in a shotgun like fashion, creating a cloud of lethal projectiles. this shotgun effect gives the weapon a +1 to strike.2. Weapons bays: The Raptor's primary armament are Missiles and bombs contained within internal bays on the underside of the fighter. the two central bays can each carry either 3 medium missiles per bay, or one Medium Range Missile and one Heavy Bomb or a mix of up to 4 Light bombs or Short Range Missiles in each bay, while the outer bays carry a single Medium Range Missile Each.3. External Ordnance pods. The Raptor has two hard points per wing. originally these were used to carry external munitions, which increased the fighter's combat capability at the expense of stealth. However stealth external pods were developed, allowing the use of external munitions while retaining the fighters stealth capability. each pod can carry either additional fuel, two Medium Range Missiles, or 4 light Bombs.Sensor Systems: All standard robot systems, plus1.) AESA RADAR: the Active Electronic Scanned Array is a phased array radar system comprised of thousands of individual transmitter and receiver elements along the skin of the Aircraft's nose. these elements can be configured to a variety of functions, including radar, jamming, and combat data-link. since the system is composed of thousands of configurable elements, it can perform all three functions simultaneously. Due to the Location of the system on the Aircraft, the active AESA radar functions have an effective arc of only 160 degrees, although passive detection and reception are omnidirectional due to additional receivers mounted on the wings and fuselage.
A) Radar: can identify and simultaneously track 96 targets. range of 200 miles (320 km). it operated in a directional beam and multi-band mode that is -20% to read sensor instruments for other aircraft to detect it, and reduces enemy jamming effectiveness by 50%.
B) Jamming: the jamming mode effects every enemy aircraft and missile within a 100 mile (160 km) radius of the fighter. While the jamming signal makes the aircraft easier to detect (+10% to read sensory instruments to detect), it makes it more difficult for enemy missiles to target and strike. (-20% to the enemies weapon systems skill for lock ons, and enemy missiles are -6 to strike.)
C) Combat Data-link: Every plane can share computer and sensor data with others in it's squadron within radar range via radio link. This makes detection easier (+5% to read Sensory Instruments), and missile attacks more accurate (+2 to strike). This data-link also allows one plane to scout for an entire squadron, and enables the squadron to react quicker to hostile actions (+2 to Initiative). These bonuses only apply when at least one other aircraft is present to network with.2.) Navigation computer: Compares sensor readings of the area and positioning signals from the Global positioning network with uploaded maps to determine the location of the aircraft. +5% to navigation skills, with an up to date map. Older maps suffer a -10% to -20% penalty. operations within the area serviced by the Global Positioning Network receive an additional +5% bonus.
3.) Enhanced Targeting Computer: This system processes the sensory information from the aircraft's systems, feeding it to the cockpit displays and weapons to improve accuracy. +3 to strike when both the Radar and LR-IRST is functioning (including missile attacks). When the Radar is not functional the system is only +1 to strike (including missile attacks).
4.) Laser Range-Finding- Infra-Red Search and Track System: This system uses a Thermal Camera to located and identify objects warmer than their background, including aircraft, tanks, people, and buildings. It then uses a laser range finder to discover the distance to the target, feeding this information into the aircraft targeting system. The system has a range of 120 miles (192 km), and can identify and track up to 24 targets simultaneously. The system is mounted just ahead of the cockpit, and has a 45 degree viewing cone.5.) 'Smart Helmet' Vision Target Acquisition and Heads up Display: this helmet mounted system provides the pilot and RIO with an augmented reality heads up display built into the helmet visor. in addition, cockpit sensors track the movements of the pilots head, following his line of vision. this allows the pilot to designate targets by a mere glance, which greatly increses the combat effectiveness of the aircraft. this augmented reality system, combined with the HOTAS control's, means that the pilot never has to rely on standard instruments. a full set of standard HUD's and displays is includes however for redundancy. with the system active, the aircraft has a +2 to initiative.6.) Flare launchers. this system ejects a quartet of flares on either side of the aircraft, which has the advantage of confusing missile guidance systems. (this system can be activated as a free action. it provides the equivalent of a +2 'autododge' against missiles. +3 if the missiles are employing only IR tracking methods.)7.) Stealth Features. Imposes a -60% penalty to any attempts to detect the fighter using radar. The special shape of its intakes and exhaust also means that the plane is -35% to detect using IR sensors. All IR guided missiles are -2 to strike. Opening the main ordnance bays greatly increases the aircraft's radar signature from the underside of the aircraft and negates the radar detection penalty. Also, reduce stealth by 10% for every external hard point carrying ordnance. Stealth bonuses are lost should any part of the aircraft be reduced below 50% of it's MDC.