Shinsei Industry YF-19

COMMENT:
TYPE: UNAF/Spacy prototype main advanced variable fighter.

PROGRAMME: 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 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.

CUSTOMER: UNAF (primary) and UN Spacy.

DESIGN FEATURES: Variable-geometry-sweep (VG) wing with forward-swept standard cruising configuration and overswept high-speed configuration; 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.

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.

LANDING GEAR: Retractable tricycle undercarriage. Two steerable nosewheels and twin coupled mainwheels retract rearward.

POWER PLANT: Two 42700 kg [x g] class (maximum instantaneous thrust in atmosphere; 67500 [64700] kg [x g] class in space) Shinnakasu Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2500E thermonuclear turbine engines replacing two 56500 kg [x g] class (maximum instantaneous thrust in space) Shinsei Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2200B 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) 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, 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.

DIMENSIONS, EXTERNAL:
Fighter mode:

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

MASSES AND LOADINGS:

Mass empty:	8750 kg [8730 kg, 8759 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 15000/18000 m	Mach 1.8
Max cruising speed: standard in atmosphere at 10000/22000 m	Mach 5.1 [Mach 5.10+]
Max cruising speed: at 30000+ m	Mach 21+ [Mach 24+ (8.1 km/s)]

Ceiling:

Unlimited (Capable of attaining satellite orbit over an Earth-class planet)

Max rate of climb at S/L:	65000 m/min
Min time to aerodynamic ceiling: over Planet Eden	48 s
Combat action radius: in atmosphere	Nearly unlimited
g limits:	+31.0/-18.5

GERWALK mode:

Min T-O/landing run:

0 m (VTOL capable)

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