VF-1 Valkyrie

Stonewell/Bellcom VF-1 Valkyrie

Program

• Type: All-regime variable fighter and tactical combat battroid.
• Equipment Type: Variable Vehicles
• Government: U.N.
• Manufacturer: Stonewell/Bellcom
• Customers: UNS, UNN, UNSAF.

Tentative plan introduced for all-regime variable combat system for use against giants February 2002. UN Forces' basic requirement for system to incorporate aerospace fighting capability equal to the level of contemporary fighters and ground combat capability comparable to Destroid series. Development began with United Nation Forces contract to Stonewell and Bellcom; Stonewell and Bellcom solicited the powerplant producer Shinnakasu Heavy Industry (co-developer of reaction engines) and ground weaponry maker Centinental (co-developer of Destroid series) as partners; development team completed basic design 2005; one non-transformable VF-X flight test machine and one transformable VF-X-1 produced; first flight February 2007; space-worthiness tests begin in June 2007. Decision made to formally introduce the VF-X1 November 2007.

Development and mass production of VF-1A starts November and December of 2008. Total initial strength on SDF-1 Macross at space launch ceremony 2009 February 7: 212 VF-1 Valkyries. First operational deployment in Space War I's Battle of South Ataria Island the same day. First operational deployment of Protect-Weapon-system-equipped Valkyrie in space combat October 2009. First operational deployment of FAST-Pack-equipped Valkyrie in combat January 2010. Production resumed after Space War I at surviving parts plants in the space colonies and on the Lunar surface's Apollo Base August 2011. At the end of the 2015, production of the VF-1 series ended with the rollout of the final VF-1 in a commemorative ceremony. Scheduled to be replaced as main variable fighter by VF-4 Lightning III in 2020.

• COSTS: Not publicly disclosed, but reported to be about 20 times that of a standard Destroid.

Variants

• VF-X: Non-transformable variable-wing flight test version.
• VF-X-1: Transformable prototype developmental version.
• VF-1A: Standard UN Spacy version manufactured by licensee Northrom. One head-turret-mounted RÖV-20 laser gun.
• VF-1B: VF-1A version upgraded by the "Half-S" retrofit (overhauled avionics and S-type head unit).
• VF-1D: Two-seater version. Two RÖV-20 laser guns and two TV camera eye systems.
• VF-1J: Version manufactured by licensee Shinnakasu Heavy Industry and assigned to air team and squadron leaders. Two RÖV-20 laser guns on improved Kyuusei-Industry-designed head unit. The out-of-sequence "J" designation is believed to represent the abbreviation of the region of its origin.
• VF-1S: Version manufactured in limited numbers by licensee Northrom and assigned to squadron leaders and CAGs. Four RÖV-20 laser guns, enhanced avionics identical to VF-1A's Block 12 design, newly-redesigned Kyuusei Industry head turret, improved FF-2001D engine with greater engine thrust.
• VF-1X: Modernized version with completely upgraded materials, avionics and power plants.
• VEFR-1: Two-seater version with detection and electronic equipment for reconnaisance, ECM, and ECCM missions. This version includes a rotary overhead radome, electronic surveillance pod mounted on the arm,detection equipment in the wing, and retractable detectors in lieu of hands.
• VT-1: Two-seater trainer version, manufactured by licensee Northrom, normally equipped with Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NR-BP-T1 FAST Pack booster variant with enlarged propellant tanks and no missile pods, NP-FB-T1 conformal tanks, NP-AU-T1 arm units with no micro-missiles
• VT-1C: Version produced for civilian use
• VE-1: Two-seater version similar to VT-1 with Shinnakasu Heavy Industry early warning and electronic warfare pack developed in cooperation with Bifors, which includes NR-BP-E3 FAST Pack booster variant with rotary radome; NR-SR-E3 (right) and NR-SL-E3 (left) arm-mounted containers with HF, VHF, and VLF antennae; and two NR-FS-E3 attachments with side surveillance radar systems.
• VF-1EX: Version equipped with EX-Gear used for training in 2067.

Note: Machines upgraded to block 5 or higher specifications were renamed Plus (e.g. VF-1A Plus).

Design Features

VG wing; VTOL capability; CCV structure; four times the mobility of the Destroid Spartan; single-axis thrust vectoring; three "magic hand" manipulators for maintenance use; option of GBP-1S ground-combat protector weapon system, atmospheric-escape booster system, or FAST Pack space booster and weaponry system. Wing glove stiffeners on dorsal fuselage.

• Landing Gear: Retractable tricycle undercarriage. Two steerable nosewheels retract rearward into nose and twin coupled mainwheels inward into fuselage. Two arresting hooks mounted underfuselage on engine nacelles.

Flying Controls

Fly-by-light, two-section flap (with spoiler) and fowler flap occupy almost entire wing trailing-edge; leading-edge slats; conventional rudders with honeycomb construction in outward-canted vertical tail surfaces; two cooling sub-air intake/airframe lift adjustment slits located on forward main body in Fighter mode operate in lieu of glove vanes by controlling airflow; two-dimensional vectored thrust nozzles operate in lieu of conventional elevators and horizontal stabilizers and in tandem with wing thruster roll control system; four Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NBS-1 high-thrust vernier thrusters. (One counter reverse vernier thruster nozzle on the side of each leg nacelle air intake, and wing thruster roll control system on each wingtip.); eighteen P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles; vernier thrusters with chemical fuel tanks in backpack section in GERWALK and Battroid modes; vernier system below nose and in aft engine nacelle; large airbrake directly rear of cockpit canopy (nozzle feet operate as airbrakes also); one ventral fin under each engine nacelles.

Powerplant

• Two Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2001 thermonuclear reaction turbine engines (with thermonuclear reactor and MHD), each rated at 11500 kg [x g] class (23000 kg [x g] in overboost) and 650 MW in generation power. Engines generate 17,680 PS during ground combat, or 956 PS/t with standard take-off mass.
• The VF-1S version has Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2001D engines.
• The VF-1X Plus has Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2079J thermonuclear turbine engines, each rated at 15000 kg [x g] class.
• The VT-1C has custom tuned Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2001 engines, each rated at approximately 10000 kg [x g] class.
• Two-dimensional exhaust nozzles, for enhanced V/STOL performance and maneuverability. Rectangular underfuselage air intakes with intake vane, variable ramps, and retractable cover shutters in Battroid mode or space use.
• Superconducting ram-air pre-compressors in forward engine nacelles and main compressors to the fore of thermonuclear reactors.
• Four Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NBS-1 high-thrust vernier thrusters. (One counter reverse vernier thruster nozzle on the side of each leg nacelle air intake, and wing thruster roll control system on each wingtip.)
• Eighteen P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles. Vernier thrusters with chemical fuel tanks in backpack section in GERWALK and Battroid modes. Vernier system below nose and in aft engine nacelles.
• Fluid pulse actuators enable transformation.
• Two cooling sub-air intake/airframe lift adjustment slits located on forward main body in Fighter mode.
• Wing intergral tanks and engine nacelle propellant tanks.
• Option of Shinnakasu Heavy Industry GBP-1S ground-combat protector weapon system with two assist thrusters; atmospheric-escape booster system with four 22500 kg [x g] class conventional rocket engines; or Shinnakasu Heavy Industry FAST Pack space booster system with two 120000 kg [x g] class (for 150 seconds at maximum thrust) P&W+EF-2001 booster thrusters, two leg/engine-pod-mounted CTB-04 conformal propellant tanks (for both propellant and coolant), and numerous high-maneuverability vernier thrusters in two dorsal-mounted NP-BP-01 (NP-BP-T1 on VT-1, NR-BP-E3 on VE-1) and two leg/engine-pod-mounted NP-FB-01 (NP-FB-T1 on VT-1, NR-FS-E3 on VE-1) systems. The VT-1's FAST Pack space booster variant includes enhanced vernier thrusters and an additional tail unit booster. Option of dorsal space/atmospheric booster pods (VT-1C).

Accommodation

Pilot only in Marty & Beck Mk-7 zero/zero ejection seat. VF-1D, VEFR-1, VT-1, and VE-1 each have two seats. Pressurized upward-hinged canopy with retractable shield for Battroid mode and atmospheric reentry use; central column controller, throttle, and two GERWALK arm controller sticks in Fighter/GERWALK mode cockpit of Block 5 or earlier machines. Each GERWALK and Battroid arm controller contains five tapets and one ball controller to control the fingers, palm and thumb. Side-stick controller and multi-position throttle lever/stick in Fighter/GERWALK mode cockpit of Block 6 or later machines. Both side-stick and throttle have six tapets to control the fingers and palm. Two rear (back) mirrors and vision plate in Fighter mode. Oxygen tank. Block 5 and earlier machines were upgraded to Block 6 specifications with improved cockpit and Mk-7 Custom ejection seat.

Avionics

HUD (displayed on transparent panels in block 5 or earlier machines, on canopy in Block 6 or later machines); hexagonal three-panel main screen in block 5 or earlier machines, octagonal one-panel main screen in Block 6 or later machines; IFF antenna, UHF antenna, AWG-20 radar FCS, internal navigation system, AOA detector, and balance controller in nosecone; head-turret-mounted hybrid sensor/TV camera eye system and radar sensor dome with rear periscope; VHF antenna in vertical stabilizer, and EC and retractable VHF antenna in vernier tail pack (extended in GERWALK mode); combat computer, engine control system, and fire control system in chest section in Battroid mode; IFF/UHF datalink antenna and TACAN/UHF antenna on dorsal section; ACS; two forward-looking infra-red (FLIR) sensors in recessed emplacements in leg-joint nacelles below and to the the fore of the canopy. Hybrid sensors on lower arm adjacent to manipulator. Two Battroid-mode searchlights. Head-mounted radar attenna which folds for atmospheric flights and wingtip detection system (VT-1). EX-Gear (VF-1EX).

Option of Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NR-BP-E3 FAST Pack space booster system with rotary radome (attached directly to tail section) and APS-201 surveillance radar; HF, VHF, and VLF antennae equipped NR-SR-E3 (right) and NR-SL-E3 (left) arm-mounted communications relay contennae, and side surveillance radar systems in two NR-FS-E3 attachments on VE-1. Option of Shinnakasu Heavy Industry NP-BP-T1 FAST Pack space booster system with additional antenna on right pod on VT-1. Block 4 and earlier machines were upgraded to block 5 specifications with improved avionics for space use in Plus upgrade.

Armament

• Fixed Mauler RÖV-20 anti-aircraft laser cannon (One in VF-1A, two in VF-1D and VF-1J, and four in VF-1S), firing 6000 pulses per minute, mounted under nose in Fighter and GERWALK mode or on head turret in Battroid mode.
• Standard external 55 mm Howard GU-11 three-barrel gatling gun pod mounted under central fuselage in Fighter mode or in manipulator or stored on arm hard point in GERWALK and Battroid modes with 200 rds fired at 1200 rds per minute.
• Four pivoting underwing hard points for twelve AMM-1 hybrid guided multipurpose missiles each with four stabilizers which extend during launch (three on each hard point), twelve MK-82 LDGB conventional bombs (three on each hard point), six RMS-1 large anti-ship reaction missiles (two on each outboard hard point and one on each inboard hard point), four UUM-7 micro-missile pods (one on each hard point) each carrying up to fifteen Bifors HMM-01 micro-missiles, or a combination of the above missiles.
• The VT-1C can be equipped with Galactic Whale-capturing harpoon-shooting pod with harpoon approximately 5 meters long.
• Option of Shinnakasu Heavy Industry GBP-1S ground-combat protector weapon system with fifty-six 28-cm-diameter Erlikon GH-32 Grenade Crusher high maneuverability micro-missiles (twenty-two mounted in two shoulder launchers, ten mounted in two chest launchers, sixteen mounted in side leg launchers, and eight mounted in rear leg launchers), eighteen Erlikon GA-100 Crusher high-speed armor-penetrating projectiles mounted in two lower arm launchers, and six Ramington H-22T large hand grenades mounted on torso.

or

• Shinnakasu Heavy Industry FAST Pack augmentative space weapon system (UNS codename: Booby Duck) with six micro-missiles in two NP-AR-01 micro-missile launcher pods (mounted rearwardly under center ventral section in Fighter mode or on lower arm sections in GERWALK and Battroid mode), and two HMMP-02 micro-missile launcher pods. The HMMP-02 pod can be replaced by the optional Mauler RO-X2A high-powered double-action beam cannon pod (mounted on dorsal section).

The VT-1 and VE-1 normally carry no armament.

Dimensions, External

Fighter mode:

• Wing span
  • Fully extended 20°: 14.78m
    • swept backward 42°: 12.12m
    • overswept backward 72°: 8.25m [8.75m]
    • in stowage position at 122°: 4.70m
  • VT-1C (estimated), fully extended: 14.78m
  • VE-1, fully extended: 15.81m
• Length overall: 14.23m
  • with FAST Pack system: 14.0m
  • with atmospheric-escape booster system: 18.9m
• VT-1C (estimated): 13.88m
• VE-1: 13.90m
• Height overall: 3.84m [2.85 m]
  • with FAST Pack system: 5.5m

Masses and Loadings

• Mass empty: 13250 kg
  • with FAST Pack system: 19200 kg
• VF-1X Plus: 13850 kg
• VT-1C (estimated), with rear and leg booster packs: 13750 kg

• Max propellant capacity: FAST Pack system: 11000 kg
• Standard T-O mass: 18500 kg
• Standard operational mass, with 16200-kg GBP-1S system: 37100 kg
• Standard T-O mass, with FAST Pack system: 45000 kg
• Standard liftoff mass, with atmospheric-escape booster system: 120500 kg
• Max T-O mass: 37000 kg
  • with FAST Pack system: 72000 kg

Performance

Fighter mode:

• Max level speed, at 10000m: Mach 2.71
  • at 30000+m: Mach 3.87
• VF-1X Plus, at 10000 m: Mach 3.05
  • at 30000+ m: Mach 4.28
• g limit, in space: +7

GERWALK mode:

• Max level speed
  • walking: 100 km/h
  • flying: 500 km/h
• Min level speed: 0 km/h (VTOL capable)
• Max hovering time:
  • using 13000 kg [x g] x 2 thrust: 70 seconds
  • using 11500 kg [x g] x 2 thrust: 420 seconds

Battroid mode:

• Max level speed
  • walking: 160 km/h

• Operational underwater depth: 100 m

• Transformation:
  • Min time from Fighter to GERWALK: automated, Approx 1.5s
  • Min time from GERWALK to Battroid: automated, under 2s
  • Standard time from Fighter to Battroid: automated, under 5s
  • Min time from Fighter to Battroid: manual, 0.9 s

Appendices

Appearances

• Debut: First Macross episode 1
• Other appearances: Movie, Plus, 7, Dynamite 7, Delta

Background

• Designer: Shoji Kawamori, Kazutaka Miyatake (initial co-developer)
• Name inspiration: North American XB-70 Valkyrie
• Design inspiration: Stonewell Bellcom VF-1 Valkyrie

Initial designs for Genocidas powered suit (Battroid), Grumman F-14 Tomcat (Fighter), McDonnell Douglas F-15S/MTD (two dimensional thrust-vectoring nozzles), McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle (FAST Packs) Note: The VF-1 Valkyrie was named after the North American XB-70 Valkyrie, a experimental bomber whose picture inspired Shoji Kawamori as a child to pursue aerospace engineering. (In fact, a model of the XB-70 Valkyrie makes a cameo in the first Macross movie.) While Kawamori made the original designs and drafted the interior mechanics of the Valkyrie, fellow Studio Nue member Kiyomi Tanaka drew the cutaway diagrams using traditional and rudimentary computer-aided design (CAD) techniques.

Related Links

• VF-X
• VF-X-1
• VF-1X++ (Hakuna SP)