VF-19EF Caliburn
From Macross Compendium
Shinsei Frontier/L.A.I VF-19EF Caliburn
Contents |
Program
- Manufacturer: Shinsei Frontier, L.A.I joint development
- Equipment Type: Variable vehicles
- Government: S.M.S/New U.N.
Monkey model of the VF-19E. Since Earth was blatantly reluctant to export to the colony fleets, mass production of the VF-19E in the Frontier fleet was primarily a joint development with Shinsei Frontier and LAI. The airframe control, A.I., sensor system and other equipment are original developments of Frontier, with a limiter placed on some mechanisms. It is equipped with canards and VFC according to S.M.S doctrine which believes that atmospheric combat is important. The S.M.S specification also adopted the experimental EX-Gear prototype as a flight control system and succeeded in protecting the pilot from the unparalleled maneuverability of the VF-19.
The commander-specification unit also exists, according to the S-type specification, equipped with expanded command communication devices and additional laser machine guns. The commander-specific is informally referred to as the EFs-type. The standard equipped gun pod is normally the Hughes GU-15, but it can be equipped with the new model Hughes GU-17A developed for the VF-25 (Chelsea's unit, who likes close-quarter combat, is equipped with a GU-17A). Modifications were made to the body frame in order to withstand the larger recoil of the GU-17A.
154 planes were produced and most were deployed to S.M.S. A number were deployed to Frontier's New U.N. Armed Forces special squadron, "Round Table", playing a active part counter-terrorism special operations unit (mainly for popularity). The data collected by S.M.S would bring into fruition in the VF-25 and VF-171EX.
Variants
- VF-19E - Original version.
- VF-19EF - Standard version developed aboard Macross Frontier.
- VF-19EFs - Version assigned to team leaders with additional laser machine guns and expanded communications equipment.
Design Features
VFC. Canard wings. Airframe control, A.I. and sensor system are exclusive to Macross Frontier. Pin-point barrier system. Active Stealth system.
Powerplant
- Shinsei/P&W/RR-made FF-2550E thermonuclear turbine engines, equipped with thrust reverser and three-dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles.
Avionics
EX-Gear. SWGA Energy Converting Armor. Chaff-Flare-Smoke discharger system. Active Stealth system.
Armament
- Mauler REB-30G anti-aircraft laser machine gun
- Mauler REB-23 semi-fixed laser machine gun
- Standard Hughes GU-15 gun pod
- Optional Hughes GU-17A gun pod, developed for the VF-25 Messiah, can be mounted.
- Pin-point Barrier system.
