VF-5000 Star Mirage

Shinsei Industry VF-5000

Program

Type: General-purpose lightweight air superiority variable fighter.
Equipment Type: Variable Vehicles
Manufacturer: Shinsei Industry
Government: U.N.
Customers: UNS, planet Zola's Galactic Whale unit

Shinnakasu Heavy Industry and Stonewell Bellcom began their joint project of a general-purpose lightweight air superiority fighter designed for comparatively low mass production cost and simple maintenance in 2011. The design was based on the VF-1 Valkyrie's design with research on Zentradi technology. When the aerospace development divisions of both companies merged to form Shinsei Industry in 2012, the VF-5000 became the new company's first development project and mass-produced fighter. The fighter was mainly designed as a general-purpose lightweight support and air superiority fighter, and its roles expanded to include aggressor and trainer assignments after mass production ended. First flight 2018.

Mass production of VF-5000 started 2020. Assumed the United Nations Forces' main fighter designation from the VF-4 (due to its lower costs) beginning in the later half of the 2020s until the VF-11 Thunderbolt's introduction. Mass production ends in 2029.

Variants

VF-5000B: Single-seat version in UN Spacy service
VF-5000G: Single-seat version used by planet Zola's Galactic Whale patrol unit
VF-5000T-G: Dual-seat version used by planet Zola's Galactic Whale patrol unit

Design Features

Blended wing body, VG wing; VTOL capability; single-axis thrust vectoring; option of air/space booster pack and weaponry system, or FAST Pack air/space booster and weaponry system.

Landing Gear: Retractable tricycle undercarriage.

Flying Controls

One-section ailerons and flaps occupy almost entire wing trailing-edge; leading-edge slats; conventional rudders in outward-canted vertical tail surfaces; two-dimensional vectored thrust nozzles operate in lieu of conventional elevators and horizontal stabilizers; P&W HMM-3A high-thrust vernier thrusters; one ventral fin under each engine nacelle.

Powerplant

Two Shinsei/P&W/Roice FF-2015RB thermonuclear reaction turbine engines, each rated at 12500 kg.
Two-dimensional exhaust nozzles, for enhanced V/STOL performance and maneuverability. Rectangular under-fuselage air intake with retractable cover in Battroid mode or space use.
P&W HMM-3A high-thrust vernier thrusters.
Option of standard atmospheric-escape ramjet booster pack system with dorsal-mounted ramjet/rocket hybrid engine with propellant tank, two leg/engine-pod-mounted conformal propellant tanks, and numerous vernier thrusters; or air/space FAST Pack system with two dorsal-mounted jet/rocket hybrid engines, two leg/engine-pod-mounted conformal propellant tanks, and numerous vernier thrusters in two dorsal-mounted and two leg/engine-pod-mounted systems.

Accommodation

Pilot only in seat reclined 30 degrees. VF-5000T-G has two seats. Pressurized one-piece upward-hinged canopy with retractable shield for Battroid mode and atmospheric reentry use.

Avionics

HUD (displayed on canopy as in later VF-1 Valkyries); head sensor.

Armament

Fixed rear anti-aircraft pulse laser cannon, mounted above dorsal section in Fighter and GERWALK mode or on head turret in Battroid mode (2 in VF-5000T-G).
Standard external multi-purpose gun pod or shock gun pod mounted under central fuselage in Fighter mode or in manipulator in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
Micro missile launchers mounted in center ventral section and in engine nacelle section in Fighter mode or in forearm and lower leg sections in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
Option of
- Aerospace booster pack system with micro-missile launcher pods (mounted on engine nacelle section in Fighter mode or on lower leg sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode), and micro-missile launcher pod with shock ordnance mounted on dorsal section
or
- Super FAST Pack system with micro-missile launcher pods with upper exit ports for the fighter's own launchers and a lower exit ports for the pods' launchers (mounted on engine nacelle section in Fighter mode or on lower leg sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode), and micro-missile launcher pod mounted on central dorsal section.

Dimensions, External

Fighter mode:

Length overall: 14.03 m

Masses and Loadings

Mass empty: 8300 kg

Performance

Fighter Mode

Max level speed:
- At 10,000 m: Mach 2.85
- At 30,000 m: Mach 4.73+

Appendices

Appearances

Debut: Macross Dynamite 7 volume 1
Other Appearances: Macross VF-X2 (North American release)

Background

Designer: Shoji Kawamori

The VF-5000's designation was inspired by the Mirage 2000. Studio HalfEye has called its model the "VF-5000 Star Mirage," although Kawamori has indicated in 1998 that it was only a nickname. It is now the "pet name" or popular name of the vehicle.

External links

Interview with Shoji Kawamori at EX: The Online World of Anime & Manga