Post by Uzb3kistan on Jul 16, 2005 13:29:17 GMT -5
SC-14 "Púca" Stealth-Fighter/Bomber
The Ministry of Defense, in 2007, approved the full production of the SC-14 "Púca" Stealth Fighter/Bomber. The Army is exited about this new aircraft. In 2006, the model went under initial operation tests, and the Minstry of Defense found it worthy of the Army when in comparison of the other models testing to be the newest and best fighter-bomber. The test findings judged the aircraft "overwhelmingly dominate in the aircraft world". The new aircraft named Púca (named after the terrifying creature, and adroit shape changer of Irish and Welsh myth) has proved itself to be a hudge breakthrough in aircraft technology, most notably its stealth capabilities. Not much is publically known about the Púca, because most of its details on its capabilities are top secret.
Design and Engines[/color]
The Púca is an indigenous Uzb3kistan aircraft, created by the Shaitan Corporation. The SC-14 Púca's noticably odd shape give it an advantage that no other fighter has; its speed. The odd shape of the aircraft, along with it's new propulsion systems, allows it to excede the speed of Mach 5 (depending on its payload). The Púca is capable of carrying a total of about 6,000 pounds of bombs, and a total of 10 missiles. The Púca gets its speeds from the two regenerative air-turboramjet (RATR) engines of 180 kN sea-level static thrust. A speed between Mach 5 and Mach 6 and a cruising altitude of 40 kilometers would make the aircraft invulnerable to any current missile system.
Avionics[/color]
The SC-14 Púca's avionics and software system is one of the the most advanced ever integrated into an aircraft. It is linked with the universal Army "internet" (Network-Centric Warfare), that connects all units into a universal program of 'harmonic tactics' (as explained in the Kuan Ti Infantry System section). Pilots of the SC-14 can communicate with units of sea, ground, air, and even space with it being included in the new system. The SC-14 along with all other aircraft and sattilites can send images to the ground weapons system 'robots', which send the images to each member of the platoon. Such technologies can warn ground units of incoming enemy forces.
It also uses integrated avionics, where the radar, weapons management system and electronic warfare system work as one, giving the pilot unprecedented situation awareness. This is contrary to most of other aircraft systems that have a so-called federated systems architecture. This means that each avionics function has its own processor and essentially works independently. What that does is make the pilot the integrator of data and the manager of all the supporting subsystems, distracting him/her from more relevant tasks during air-combat. The SC-14 avionics concept however, integrates all of the various systems like radar, communications, navigation, identification, electronic warfare, stores management, sensor control and the displays that are the primary means of communication with the pilot. Using the power of the onboard computers, coupled with the extensive maintenance diagnostics built into the SC-14 by the maintainers, that workload has been significantly reduced. The idea is to relieve pilots of the bulk of system manipulations associated with flying and allow them to do what a human does best – be a tactician.
The radar is key to the SC-14's integrated avionics and sensor capabilities. It will provide pilots with detailed information about multiple threats before the adversary's radar ever detects the SC-14 (See more in radar section).
Integrated into the SC-14's avionics is a series of different features. First, the SC-14 has a Common Integrated Processor (CIP), which is the 'brain' of the avionics system. The CIP, which is quite literally the size of a oversized bread box, supports all signal and data processing for all sensors and mission avionics.There are two CIPs in each SC-14, with 66 module slots per CIP. They have identical backplanes, and all of the SC-14's processing requirements can be handled by only seven different types of processors. Second, is the Communications/Navigation/Identification (CNI) 'system', which is really a collection of communication, navigation, and identification functions, once again employing the CIP for signal and data processing resources. Each CNI function has its associated aperture installed throughout the aircraft. Third, is an Inter/Intra-Flight Data Link (IFDL) that allows all SC-14s in a flight to share target and system data automatically and without radio calls. One of the original objectives for the SC-14 was to increase the percentage of fighter pilots who make 'kills'. With the IFDL, each pilot is free to operate more autonomously because, for example, the leader can tell at a glance what his wing man's fuel state is, his weapons remaining, and even the enemy aircraft he has targeted. This link also allows additional SC-14 flights to be added to the net for multi-flight coordinated attack.
Fourth, is the Electronic Warfare 'system' is also a collection of apertures, electronics, and processors (again using the CIP) that detect and locate signals from other aircraft and controls the SC-14's expendable countermeasures (chaff and flares). The EW aperture locations provide all-aspect coverage, and the system includes a missile launch detection capability.
Self-Defense is taken care of by the Sanders/General Electric AN/ALR-94 electronic warfare (RF warning and countermeasures) subsystem.
Fifth, is the Stores Management System (SMS) which controls weapons launch sequences, including door control (for the internal weapons carriage) and emergency weapons jettison. The sixth feature is, the Liquid Flow-Through Cooling. The liquid coolant cools the power supply modules designed for the SC-14's avionics, which allows the component's power output to increase. The PAO cooling concept also applies to all types of Line-Replaceable Modules (LRMs) in the CIP. Liquid flow-through cooling improves reliability, lending to an mean time between failures (MTBF) of 25,000 hours. The coolant, polyalphaolefin or (PAO), which is routed through the module, comes from the SC-14's environmental control system (ECS). The LRM concept is the baseline for all of the power supply modules built for the SC-14 to minimize maintenance time. Built-in diagnostic routines will pinpoint a failed power supply on a SC-14 and allow maintenance personnel to remove it, replace it and verify proper operation within 15 minutes.
Next, is the Inertial Reference System: Two Litton LN-100F ring laser gyroscopes in the forward fuselage provide the aircraft a self-contained method of knowing where it is. These inertial measurement units, placed nose to nose behind the radar on the aircraft's centerline, are operated off separate data buses to provide independent measurement data. In normal flight, IRS data is fused with Global Positioning System (GPS) data to provide an extremely reliable navigational capability. The IMUs are the only completely reliable source of data for the aircraft at attitudes above 30 degrees angle of attack (AOA). One of the IRS units feeds data directly into the CIP for gun control steering.
Next, is the Instrumentation. Fused situational awareness information is displayed to pilot via four Sanders/Kaiser colour liquid crystal multifunction displays (MFD); MFD bezel buttons provide pilot fortnat control.
Last of the main features of the SC-14's avionics system, but certainly not the least, is it's software. The software that provides the avionics system's full functionality is composed of approximately 1.7 million lines of code. 90% of the software is written in the Ministry of Defence's common computer language. Exceptions to the language requirement are granted only for special processing or maintenance requirements. The avionics software is to be integrated in three blocks, each building on the capability of the previous block.
Block 1 is primarily radar capability, but Block 1 does contain more than 50 percent of the avionics suite's full functionality source lines of code (SLOC) and provides end-to-end capability for the sensor-to-pilot data flow.
Block 2 is the start of sensor fusion. It adds radio frequency coordination, reconfiguration, and some electronic warfare functions.
Block 3 encompasses full sensor fusion built on enhanced electronic warfare and CNI functions. It has an embedded training capability and provides for electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM).
Block 3.1 adds full GBU-32 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) launch capability and Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) receive-only capability.
Block 4 includes helmet-mounted cueing, AIM-9X integration, and JTIDS-send capability.
Radar[/color]
The JH-SC uses the AN/APG-77 radar, which in the SC-14, works with the weapons management system and the electronic warfare system as one, giving the pilot unprecedented situation awareness.
The AN/APG-77 radar is designed for air-superiority and strike operations and features a low observable, active aperture, electronically-scanned array with multi-target, all-weather capability.
The radar is key to the SC-14's integrated avionics and sensor capabilities. It will provide pilots with detailed information about multiple threats before the adversary's radar ever detects the SC-14. This is also called BVR, or Beyond Visual Range capability. It will give a SC-14 pilot the possibility in air-to-air combat, to track, target and shoot at multiple threat aircraft before the adversary's radar ever detects the SC-14.
The SC-14's AN/APG-77 radar is an active-element, electronically scanned (that is, it does not move) array of around 2000 finger-sized transmitter / receiver modules. Each module weights ca 15g and has a poweroutput of over 4W. The APG-77 is capable of changing the direction, power and shape of the radar beam very rapidly, so it can acquire target data, and in the meantime minimizing the chance that the radar signal is detected or tracked.
Most of the mechanical parts common to other radars have been eliminated, thus making the radar more reliable.This type of antenna, which is integrated both physically and electromagnetically with the airframe, provides the frequency agility, low radar cross-section, and wide bandwidth necessary to support the SC-14's air dominance mission. One requirement that drove all of the ATF designs was a wide field of regard for sensors, enabling the Púca to acquire and track multiple targets beyond visual range. The requirement called for a 120-degree radar field of regard on each side of the nose. A forward-looking infrared search and track capability was also desired. The Army approached the field-of-regard requirement for the radar with three radar arrays placed in the nose of the aircraft (one facing forward and two facing sideways). Each wing root carried an infrared search and track system that operated through faceted windows.
During the initial operations tests during 2007 of the SC-14, the expected levels of preformance of the radar, including basic search and track functions were successfully demonstrated.
Weapons[/color]
The SC-14 is equipped with a M61A2 internal long-barrel 20 mm cannon with a 500 round magazine capacity, which is mounted on the nose. An inward opening door covers the muzzle to preserve the fighters stealth qualities. The cannon functions as the close-range weapon. The cannon can be either manually operated, or automatically target and fire with the on-board computer. The gun door is hydraulically controlled to open when firing the gun, which allows the rounds and blast pressure to clear the muzzle. The door opens to 90 degrees and is activated in milliseconds. When the trigger is released by the pilot (or the last round switch engaged), the door is commanded to close. The door is an aid to the SC-14's stealth characteristics, and it helps the aircraft's aerodynamics by reducing drag.
The SC-14 is capable of carrying existing and planned air-to-air weapons. It is capable of carrying a number of foreign designs, as well as indigenous. These include a full complement of medium-range missiles such as the AIM-120A advanced medium range air-to-air missile (AMRAAM) and short-range missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder. The SC-14 has four internal weapons bays for its main armaments. Two at the bottom and two on the bases of the left and right wing foot. The main weapons bay, the largest one, carries the main bomb arnament, while the others can carry missiles. The SC-14 is capable of an internal payload of about 5,000, while an additional ten-thousand pounds may be carried externally.
Stealth[/color]
Aside from the SC-14's high speeds, its highly noted for its unprecedented stealth technology. Shaitan Corporation scientists have developed a way to make the SC-14 virtually invisible, both optical and by radar. The invisiblity cloak may be activated or diactivated upon the pilot's command.
(OOC: Below this point are secret RP technologies, in otherwords, this part isn't in the "Public Release"; also, W@W patrons, please ignore this part of the stealth tech)
At first, scientists for the Army were devising a way to stop light from scattering using "plasmonic covers". The covers would stop light from scattering by resonating at the same frequency as the light striking it. However, a particular shield only works for one specific wavelength of light. An object might be made invisible in red light, say, but not in multiwavelength daylight. Another faulty feature of the cover is that it not only stops some wavelengths of light, but it stops anything of a larger wavelength than a microwave. This would make it invisible to radar, but the aircraft wouldn't be able to communicate, since it would be blocking radiowaves. And the cover can not be electronically "taken off" by a push of the pilot's button, but it is rather a part of the vehicle's exterior, and would always be invisible to micro/radio waves.
Where most research scientists go wrong in approaching this problem is in trying to eliminating the reflection of radar waves back to the emitting source by deflection or absorption. The first step in solving this problem is looking at radar and light waves in their respected frequencies as particles and the 3 dimensional profile of the object to be affected. The gravity and repulsion particle affects all particles and mass, but the frequency of subject radar and light particles that can be affected may be tuned by a coherent charged stream to key in on all wave lengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The SC-14 uses many amplified coherent particle streams to bend various other subatomic particles. The object of cloaking and radar invisibility is not to eliminate or scatter light and radar wave lengths, but to bend them around the Púca and return them to their original path and this includes infrared and ultra violet parts of the spectrum. By pushing light particles by tuned gravity and reparticles emanating from from all directions about the mass behind, to up, over, under and around, the original grouping of light waves can compressed and returned to its original path. Thus the mass in the center of of the diverted radar and light particle streams remains undetected as what's behind the mass only show and light waves never bounce off the mass from the frontal view but just pass to the rear. The generator in the SC-14 that's repsonsible for this can be activated and diactivated on command by the crew. Therefore abling the pilot to activate it's cloaking ability when over enemy territory, and diactivate it when in safe area.
However convenient the cloaking ability is, it has its big limitations. Because the generator uses up a signifigant amount of energy, the SC-14 can only maintain invisibility for a safe range up to about 45 minutes. Also, because it reflects radio and microwaves, during invisibility, the SC-14 is subject to no communication activity at all. This includes freindly communications. And because all light is bent around the object, the crew can not see outside of the SC-14. They also cut off their radar. This makes the invisiblity cloak only good for getting past major enemy defenses and getting across no-fly zones undetected. However, scientists are researching ways to duplicate the light, or record the light from outside the SC-14, so that the crew may see what is outside thier aircraft.
(OOC: End of Secret RP section, W@W patrons may now pay attention.)
However, when the invisibility feature is not activated; the SC-14 still has many top-of-the-line stealth technologies. First, the design of the aircraft has continuous curves. Many of of the surface shapes of the SC-14 are curves with constantly changing radii. These scatter radar beams in all directions instead of back to the radar source. There are no right angles on the exterior of the design. The second way to keep radar waves from returning to the sending antenna, the leading and trailing edges of the wing and tail have identical sweep angles (a design technique called planform alignment).The fuselage and canopy have sloping sides. The vertical tails are canted. The engine face is deeply hidden by a serpentine inlet duct and weapons are carried internally.
The Puca has a number of different features, such as high powered lasers for blinding certain weapons, the SH/AFE-05 system, flickering skins, blurred edges, and even active camoflauge that continuously changes to match it's enviroment. The Púca is equiped with other Shaitan Corporation designed stealth technologies. The Púca is equiped with the SH/AFE-05, which is the Air Force adaptation of the Navy SH/MEI-05. the SH/AFE-05 is a new "Active out-of-phase emission" system, designed for the Air Force rather than the Navy. Reduction of radar cross section of nozzles is also very important, and is complicated by high material temperatures. The approach taken by the Army is to use ceramic materials. The ceramics may be either lightweight, parasitic sheets mounted on conventional nozzle structures or heavier structural materials forming saw-toothed edges.
Also, the thingypit. The pilot's head, complete with helmet, is a major source of radar return. This effect is amplified by the returns of internal bulkheads and frame members. The solution is to design the thingypit so that its external shape conforms to good low radar cross section design rules, and then plate the glass with a film similar to that used for temperature control in commercial buildings. Here, the requirements are more stringent: it should pass at least 85% of the visible energy and reflect essentially all of the radar energy. At the same time, one would prefer not to have noticeable instrument-panel reflection during night flying.
On-board antennas and radar systems are a major potential source of high radar visibility for two reasons. One is that it is obviously difficult to hide something that is designed to transmit with very high efficiency, so the so-called in-band radar cross section is liable to be significant. The other is that even if this problem is solved satisfactorily, the energy emitted by these systems can normally be readily detected. The work being done to reduce these signatures is classified.
Conclusion[/color]
With all of the newest technologies, both present and unprecedented, the SC-14 is, thus far, one the most technologically advanced aircraft in the Air Force, and in the world. With help of unprecedented speeds and stealth technologies, along with all of the defense and internal features, the SC-14 has given the Air Force air superiority.