YF-19

Shinsei Industry YF-19 (SUPER NOVA AVF)

Program

Type: UNAF/UN Spacy prototype main advanced variable fighter.
Equipment Type: Variable Vehicles
Manufacturer: Shinsei Industry
Government: U.N.
Customers: UNAF (primary), UNS

UNAF/UNS requirement for Project Super Nova Advanced Variable Fighter (AVF)'s Shinsei Industry VF-11 Thunderbolt replacement incorporating pin-point barrier system and external fold booster for a variety of mission roles; UNAF selection announced of demonstration/validation phase contractors: Shinsei Industry YF-19 and General Galaxy YF-21; each produced two prototypes and a ground-based avionics testbed; YF-19 development begins in 2034; YF-19 demonstrator prototype No.1 rollout July 2039.

First flight of the YF-19 demonstrator prototype No. 1 September 2039; first flight of YF-21 prototype No. 2 with brainwave [direct] control system interface (BDS) and brain direct image system (BDI) (No. 1 was outfitted with conventional control system) at New Edwards Test Flight Center at Eden January 2040 by General Galaxy company test pilot Guld Goa Bowman; due to testing-related casualties, seven different test pilots were assigned to fly the YF-19 prototypes in turn; Bowman experienced temporary loss of control of YF-21 prototype No. 2 during first fire control system test January 2040; UNAF's Project Super Nova director Colonel Millard Johnson determined later that month that the pilot may have a neurochemical imbalance because of his Zentradi-Human genetic background, but decided to suppress the findings and retain the pilot; combat simulation and fire control testing of the second prototypes of both fighters continued.

Project Super Nova development halted under orders from UN government after development of the Ghost X-9 unmanned fighter ended February 2040. After project cancellation, UN Spacy First Lieutenant Isamu Alva Dyson (with Shinsei Industry's YF-19 development staffer Yang Neumann) launched the YF-19 prototype No. 2 with a FAST Pack system and the prototype fold booster towards Earth without authorization 2040 March. Colonel Johnson ordered Bowman to pursue Lieutenant Dyson in the YF-21 prototype No. 2 with a FAST Pack system and an identical fold booster. Irreparable damage of YF-21 prototype No. 2 with loss of pilot in subsequent battle with Ghost X-9 unmanned fighter over Macross City during the Sharon Apple Incident. YF-19 announced by UNAF as winning design 2041.

Design Features

Variable-geometry-sweep (VG) main wing with forward-swept standard cruising configuration and overswept high-speed configuration (this mode is also used for storage); canard forward wing; vertical T-O and landing (VTOL); supersonic cruise and maneuvering in region of Mach 5+ below the stratosphere; sufficient thrust for attaining orbital velocity over a Earth-class planet; wrap-around imaging monitor screens in all variable modes; two-dimensional thrust vectoring with two independently pivoting exhaust nozzles; bulletproof (anti-projectile) shield for GERWALK and Battroid mode use; internal pallets for numerous various weaponry systems, fighter-carried pin-point barrier system (PPB), option of external fold booster and/or two leg/engine-nacelle-mounted FAST Pack conformal propellant tanks and weapon system. FAST packs are conformal-type to not affect stealth performance. Because the pin-point barrier system needs 60% of the output, it cannot be used in fighter-mode. Transformation time is 20% less than the VF-11's. Survivability of the pilot is largely improved by storing the cockpit within the body compared to traditional VFs where the cockpit was at the front of the body.

Landing Gear: Retractable tricycle undercarriage. Two steerable nose wheels and twin coupled main wheels retract rearward.

Flying Controls

Conventional digital flight control system. Seamless ailerons and flaps occupy almost entire wing trailing-edge; conventional rudders in vertical tail surfaces; canard upward-canted forward wing to the aft of the cockpit. Active airflow control units on nose and dorsal nacelles. In high-speed configuration, lift is generated by the body of the aircraft while the 2-dimensional thrust vectoring-nozzles and active airflow control are used for attitude control.

Powerplant

Two 42700 kg [x g] class (maximum instantaneous thrust in atmosphere; 67,500 [64,700] kg [x g] class in space) Shinnakasu Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2500E thermonuclear turbine engines replacing two 56,500 kg [x g] class (maximum instantaneous thrust in atmosphere [space]; 64,700 kg class in space) Shinsei Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2200 engines in beginning specifications. In atmosphere, the engines use air as coolant/propellant, but due to problems of cooling efficiency (caused by exceeding output and melting the core) the maximum thrust is limited to 40% to 60% of thrust in space.
Two pentagonal underfuselage air intakes with retractable shutters for Battroid mode or space use.
Two two-dimensional independent thrust vectoring exhaust nozzles, for enhanced V/STOL performance and maneuverability.
P&W HMM-6J high-maneuverability vernier thrusters.
Three special equipment hard point stations for Shinnakasu Industry/OTEC FBF-1000A external prototype fighter fold booster (currently not certified for performing beyond an one-way limit of 20 light years; by the end of the 2040s, improvements were made to reliability and accuracy of the system) mounted above fuselage and two FAST Pack conformal propellant tanks mounted above dorsal nacelles in Fighter mode or to the sides of shoulders in GERWALK and Battroid modes. Because they undermine stealth capabilities, the hard points are used chiefly in space for long-distance ferry propellant tank and other special equipment.

Accommodation

Pilot only in Marty & Beck Mk 12a g-endurance zero/zero ejection seat and wearing Tactical Life Support System with upper and lower g-suits and pressure breathing; pressurized canopy with two-section double-hinged canopy glass, rear canopy air deflector panels, and canopy cover (for use in rear seat ejection); side-stick controller. Capable of accomodating optional rear rumble ejection seat.

Avionics

Super AI control avionics. HUD (projected onto canopy), side-stick controller, simple keyboard (back), two rear (back) monitors, radar, wrap-around imaging monitor screens in all variable modes. Active stealth system. Head-turret-mounted sensor system. Two hybrid sensor units directly below and to the the fore of the canopy. Sensors embedded in conformal pads lining manipulator.

Armament

Fixed Mauler REB-30G anti-aircraft laser gun turret mounted rearward on central dorsal section in Fighter and GERWALK modes or on head turret in Battroid mode.
Two internal semi-fixed Mauler REB-20G converging energy cannons or Mauler REB-23 laser cannons mounted in the wing (exit ports in leading wing root).
Standard bulletproof (anti-projectile) shield stored on center rear dorsal section in Fighter mode or on lower arm section in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
Fixed Howard PBS-03F fighter-carried pin-point barrier system.
Two Stonewell/Roice B-7 standard internal pallets (in either side of the fuselage in Fighter mode or in lower legs in GERWALK and Battroid modes) normally equipped with air-to-air/air-to-ground general-purpose micro-missile pallet, Bifors BMM-24 all-regime high-maneuverability micro-missile cluster, or two [four] B-19A YF-19-exclusive internal weapons pallets.
Chaff dispensers.
Four hard point weapon stations for a Howard GU-15 new standard external gatling gun pod mounted under center dorsal section in Fighter mode or in manipulator in GERWALK and Battroid modes (with spare magazines stored underneath shield), and two FAST Pack weapon packs with micro-missiles mounted on either side of the fuselage in Fighter mode or on lower legs in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
Additional optional FAST pack arm armament unit with high offensive ability tested but not included with FAST pack.

Dimensions, External

Fighter mode:

Wing span (fully extended forward): 14.87m [14.89m]
Length overall: 18.62m
Height overall: 3.94m

Masses and Loadings

Mass empty: 8750 kg [8730kg, 8759kg]
- Each main body hardpoint for FAST packs can hold 4,500 kg.
Max T-O mass:
- in atmosphere: 37509 kg
- in space with fold booster: 46102 kg

Performance

Fighter Mode

Cruising speed
- standard in atmosphere at 10000 m: Mach 1.8
Max Cruising speed
- standard in atmosphere at 10000/22000 m: 5.1 [Mach 5.10+]
- at 30,000+ m: Mach 21+ [Mach 24+ (8.1 km/s)]

Ceiling : Unlimited (Capable of launching into satellite orbit over an Earth-class planet)
Maximum rate of climb at S/L: 65000 m/min
Min time to aerodynamic ceiling
- over Planet Eden: 48s
Combat action radius (in atmosphere): Nearly unlimited
g limits: +31.0/-18.5

GERWALK mode

Minimum T-O/Landing run: 0 m (VTOL capable)

(Note: This data originated from planet Eden and needed adjustment because of differences with Earth's atmospheric system and gravitational force.)

Appendices

Appearances

Debut: Macross Plus

Background

Designer: Shoji Kawamori
Design inspiration: Grumman X-29 (primary)

Shoji Kawamori has joked tongue-in-cheek that the design of the Sukhoi S-37 Berkut (now renamed Su-47) might suggest that Sukhoi is studying his work. Naturally, he knows that Sukhoi has been developing the S-37 well before he unveiled the YF-19 in 1994, and vice versa. (The S-37 Berkut was publically unveiled in 1997.)