VA-3 Invader

Northrom Grumman VA-3 Invader

Program

• Type: all-regime variable attack craft.
• Equipment Type: Variable Vehicles
• Manufacturer: Northrom Grumman
• Government: U.N.

The VA-3 was developed for conducting local strikes with tactical reaction armament and conventional bombs. Development applied the ship-borne attack craft know-how of Northrom Grumman's aviation division. It was developed as an all-regime attack craft equipped with a ground-attack dedicated FCS. Its airframe design focused on stability and low altitude atmosphere maneuverability and to that extent excelling in survivability even though it has inferior speed performance.

The UN Forces Variable Attacker (VA) has the special characteristic of both a Variable Fighter (VF) and a Destroid - the VA-3 Invader, which is representative of that airframe, led to two or more derivative craft because its high operability. The VA is mass produced as an airframe for ground suppression. The VA-3 series has also been widely spread to emigration fleets. The VA-3C custom airframe had flowed into the black market, where it was obtained by the planet Zola's poaching group and was supposedly remodeled.

A VA-3M was used by the special forces group "Ravens" where it was used in the submarine battle on Eden 3, a planet where 90% of its surface is covered in fresh sea water.

Variants

• VA-3A: Initial version manufactured.
• VA-3B: Version equipped with forward-looking infrared sensor and aircraft television camera on lower nose. Can be converted for all-weather observation capability by adding electronic equipment systems.
• VA-3C: Version produced for civilian use
  • VA-3C Custom: Custom version originally produced for civilian use used by Galactic Whale Poaching Group. Other improvements made for capturing Galactic Whales.
• VA-3M: Amphibious version produced for surface and underwater warfare
• EVA-3A: Electronic warfare version. ALQ-200 multi-band track breaker and ALQ-192 communications jamming equipment, ALQ-199 battle noise jamming equipment. Four assigned to each attack air group, one for each squadron.

Design Features

VA series design values stability and mobility in atmosphere, especially at low altitude. Engine motors located in the main wing roots. Arm units in the center of main wing. Shape and connection system vary from other variants (VA-3C custom). The VA-3 series adopted a transformation structure different from the VF series, where the battroid mode has a form similar to that of the Zentradi combat pod. Pod under main wing doubles as a flotation pod with a vertical rudder (VA-3M). Main wing becomes shield in Battroid mode. Hardpoints can mount a total of 19,820 kg total. Underwater submerged navagation mode (VA-3M).

Flying controls

Small, sweep back main wing for stability. Horizontal stabilizer and vertical tail on the rear section of the fuselage. When diving, the main wing tips fold down 90-degrees to decrease water resistance, reducing its overall width (VA-3M).

Powerplant

• Two Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2020A thermonuclear turbine engines, each rated at 22000 kg [x g] class (VA-3C).
• Two Shinsei/P&W/Roice FF-2020A thermonuclear turbine engines (VA-3C Custom).
• Two engines with VTOL nozzles (VA-3M).
• P&W HMM-3A high maneuverability vernier thrusters.
• Three special equipment hard point stations for fold booster and two rocket boosters mounted above fuselage (VA-3C Custom).
• Two propellant tanks mounted below air intakes (VA-3C custom).

Accommodation

One (VA-3C, VA-3C Custom). Two (EVA-3A). Cockpit block is stored in the body, directly under the head in Battroid mode.

Avionics

Radar, FCS in military variants, sensor mounted above dorsal nose section in Attacker and GERWALK mode and above head sensor unit in Battroid mode. Compound sensor in head unit (VA-3C Custom).

Armament

VA-3A, VA-3B:

• No fixed armament.
• Six underwing hard points and five fuselage hard points for loads totaling 19820 kg.

VA-3C:

• Two fixed pulse laser gun mounted in pontoons in Attacker mode and in lower arm sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode.
• Two fixed micro-missile pods mounted outboard in pontoons in Attacker mode and in lower arm sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode.
• GA-22 60mm multi-purpose gatling gun pod

VA-3C Custom:

• Two fixed pulse laser gun mounted in pontoons in Attacker mode and in lower arm sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode.
• Two fixed micro-missile pods mounted outboard in pontoons in Attacker mode and in lower arm sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode.
• Multi-purpose gatling gun pod with most of the barrel consisting of the harpoon-firing mechanism and gun pod muzzle located at the front of the grip.
• Six High Maneuver missiles.
• Twelve Micro-missiles.
• Other armaments.

VA-3M:

• Two fixed beam guns mounted in pontoons in Attacker mode and in lower arm sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode.
• Two fixed micro-missile launchers mounted outboard in pontoons in Attacker mode and in lower arm sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode.
• Hard points for weapons loads, including 6 high-manuverability missiles and torpedoes (for underwater use only).

Dimensions, External

Attacker mode:

• Wing span:
  • VA-3M: 16.20m
• Length overall:
  • VA-3C: 18.73m
  • VA-3M: 15.89m
• Height overall:
  • VA-3M: 4.82m

Masses and Loadings

• Mass empty:
  • VA-3C: 12810 kg
    • VA-3C Custom: 13280 kg
  • VA-3M: 13300 kg

Performance

Attacker Mode

• Cruising Speed:
  • VA-3C Custom: Mach 2.2+
• Maximum Speed (at 10,000m):
  • VA-3C: Mach 2.53
  • VA-3M: Mach 2.2+
• Maximum Speed (at 30,000m):
  • VA-3C: Mach 4.72+
  • VA-3M: Mach 4.2+

Appendices

Appearances

• Debut: Macross Dynamite 7
• Other Appearances: Macross VF-X2

Background

• Designer: Shoji Kawamori