VF-11 Thunderbolt

From Macross Compendium

Shinsei Industry VF-11 Thunderbolt

Program

  • Type: UNS/UNSAF main variable fighter.
  • Equipment Type: Variable Vehicles
  • Manufacturer: Shinsei Industry
  • Government: U.N.
  • Customers: UNS, UNSAF

Directly descended from the original VF-1 Valkyrie variable fighter. The majority of variable fighter airframes after the VF-1 were limited by operational environments and there were few which were multi-environment. The VF-11 broke down these barriers as the legitimate successor to the VF-1. This unit was excelled in all respects, such as firepower, maneuverability, and maintainability while showing high comprehensive performance for a general purpose machine regardless inside or outside of atmosphere. A canard forward wing is equipped on the VF-11, but while this canard wing enhances maneuverability and operability in atmosphere, it also limits the maximum speed due to air resistance. This feature was cause for heated debate during development with Captain Milia Jenius of the Eagle Nest Aerial Tactics Center as one advocate of the canard wing. Two VFX-11 prototypes produced -- the first prototype produced without a canard wing and the second equipped with one. Captain Jenius and the VFX-11 No. 2 machine participated in a rescue operation of a UN chief advisor, and with data collected on the VFX-11 No. 2 used in this rescue operation, a decision was made to implement the canard wing.

The high-deployment nature which is not influenced by environment was one of the factors which the VF-11 acquired its position as the main fighter inplace of the existing models. The VF-4 and the VF-5 emphasized deployment in outer space and the VF-5000 focused on performance within atmosphere. By contrast, the VF-11 was designed as a multipurpose fighter with a high level of comprehensive performance since the VF-1 boasted this superior flexibility. Although the Battroid form of the VF-11 has a similar silhouette to the VF-1, the structure greatly differs. Moreover, compared to previous Battroids, emphasis was placed on close-range combat capability as by the fact that the gun pod with a bayonet was made standard equipment. In addition, Battroid-mode can be used more effectively since it is equipped with an anti-projectile shield for the first time, dramatically improving its resilience.

Replaced VF-4 Lightning III as main variable fighter in UN Spacy after 2030. Deployed on long-distance immigration ships, colonized planets, and deep outer space forces. Scheduled to be replaced by the winning design of the Project Super Nova AVF competition in 2040s.

Variants

  • VF-X-11: Prototype version. Two produced, one equipped with fold booster.
  • VF-11A: First manufactured version (produced in small numbers). Short barrel on anti-aircraft laser gun and two windows on main sensor mounted on head turret.
  • VF-11B: Version in UN Spacy service in 2040. Lengthened barrel on anti-aircraft gun, one window on main sensor, and increased engine thrust.
  • VF-11C: Version with enhanced navigational electronic equipment (avionics). All VF-11s in 2040 were in the process of being upgraded beginning with the first squadron.Deployed on 37th long-distance immigration fleet.
  • VF-11D: Two-seater version.
  • VF-11D Custom: Custom two-seater version manufactured by Shinsei Industry and the Macross 7 Project M Special Technologies Group in one lot of approximately 20 craft with enlarged canard wing, enhanced engines, VF-19's vernier thrusters, and space/atmospheric sound booster FAST Pack. Deployed in Jamming Bird force.
  • VF-11MAXL: Version with FF-2099A engines identical to the VF-16's, strengthened overall structure to tolerate the engines' thrust, and redesigned modified delta wing for increased fuselage strength and aerodynamic characteristics. A limited number of these special reserve fighters exists, all manufactured to order by the pilots.
  • VF-11MAXL Custom: Custom version manufactured by Shinnakasu Heavy Industry and the Macross 7 Special Technologies Group with internal sound system, speaker launcher pod, and FF-2099A engines similar to the VF-16's.
  • Note: An unmanned version of the VF-11 also exists which the UN Forces had produced.

Design Features

Variable-geometry-sweep (VG) wing; canard forward wing; vertical T-O and landing (VTOL); supersonic cruise and maneuvering in region of Mach 3.5+ below the stratosphere; two-dimensional thrust vectoring; improved waist joint system; anti-projectile (bulletproof) shield for GERWALK and Battroid mode use; option of FAST Pack booster and propellant tank units or two solid-fuel rocket boosters for improved space strategic capability; option of radome.

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

Flying Controls

Conventional digital flight control system. trailing-edge flaps; leading-edge slats; two vertical outward-canted tail stabilizers; all-moving canard horizontal forward wing to the aft of the cockpit; two upper fuselage air brakes on dorsal vernier thruster nacelles. VF-11D Custom has an enlarged canard wing compared to VF-11C.

Powerplant

  • Two 28500 kg class (maximum instantaneous thrust in space) Shinsei Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2025G thermonuclear turbine engines.
    • Engines retuned to 31700-kg-class level and re-designated FF-2025S for VF-11D Custom.
  • Two 41500 kg class (maximum instantaneous thrust in space) Shinsei Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2099A Custom engines installed in VF-11MAXL Custom.
  • Two rhomboid underfuselage air intakes with retractable covers for Battroid mode or space use. Two vertical two-dimensional vectored exhaust nozzles, for enhanced V/STOL performance and maneuverability. Two dorsal auxiliary thruster pods.
  • P&W HMM-5B high-maneuverability vernier thrusters (P&W HMM-7 high-maneuverability vernier thrusters installed in VF-11D Custom, P&W HMM-7Y high-maneuverability vernier thrusters installed in VF-11MAXL Custom).
  • Four special equipment hard point stations for external space Shinsei Industry FAST Pack units (two (M)NP-SP-09 booster units with four booster nozzles mounted on dorsal fuselage, two NP-SF-09 propellant tank units mounted on engine section in Fighter mode and on lower-leg section in GERWALK and Battroid mode, and numerous vernier thrusters). The FAST Pack boosters' exhaust nozzles, originally funnel-shaped, were redesigned recently in a more rectangular shape. The two NP-SP-09 booster units are replaced by the booster units of the Protect Armor to compensate for increased weight, which can be mounted in conjunction with the other FAST Pack units.
  • Optional external atmospheric high-maneuverability Super parts, streamlined for lower air resistance, thrust-vectoring nozzles, air intake above and to the rear of built-in micro-missile launchers. Armament containers mounted on leg-engine nacelles. (VF-11C)
  • VF-11D Custom is equipped with redesigned FAST Pack pods (Super parts) for both space and atmospheric use. Depending on fuel load, Super part engines can be used at maximum thrust for 5 minutes.
  • Optional dorsal and ventral mounting pylons for two external atmospheric solid-fuel rocket boosters. Due to 5-minute combustion time, it is not suitable for standard operation.
  • Optional sound booster unit (VF-11MAXL Custom).
  • Option of fold booster (VF-X-11).

Accommodation

Pilot only in Marty & Beck Mk 11 ejection seat with life support system for high altitude/outer space environments and shockwave system for ejection at supersonic speeds; reinforced pressurized canopy (ejectable as an emergency escape pod) with retractable two-piece cover in Battroid mode; side-stick controller. VF-11D and VF-11D Custom has two seats with retractable four-piece canopy cover in Battroid mode (and a secondary transparent spherical canopy for the rear seat of the VF-11D Custom).

Avionics

HUD (projected onto canopy), side-stick controller and throttle/Battroid-mode controller (removed and customized with functioning guitar sound stick control mounted on gimbal-and-joint system and throttle and options control on slider for HOTAS use in VF-11MAXL Custom), console trackball and volume control for sound speaker system in rear seat (VF-11D Custom), radar, two rear (back) monitors, main display, system-check panel mounted on the right side, head-turret-mounted main sensor system and rear camera, four conformal sensors mounted on main airframe's forward edge, behind canard wings (above air intakes). Chaff and flare dispenser system in either engine section. Two head-turret-mounted antennae (VF-11MAXL Custom). Standard Sound Energy Conversion seat installed in VF-11MAXL Custom. Sensors embedded in conformal soft pads lining manipulator. One special equipment hard point station for external radar radome mounted above fuselage. Option of space/atmospheric sound booster FAST Pack pods with sound energy system and sound energy converter system (VF-11D Custom). Simplified Sound Energy Conversion system with maximum output lower than Sound Force units (VF-11D Custom). Sound booster combines dimensional resonance sound energy system and sound energy conversion system (VF-11D Custom). High performance audio system and speaker system with speaker units on nose in Fighter and GERWALK modes or on chest nacelles in Battroid mode (VF-11MAXL Custom). Lightup projector system (VF-11MAXL Custom). Optional sound booster unit with hybrid sensors, two sound energy converters and two sound aura amplification systems (VF-11MAXL Custom).

Armament

  • VF-11A, B, and C
    • Fixed rear anti-aircraft pulse laser gun mounted on central dorsal section in Fighter and GERWALK mode or on head turret in Battroid mode.
    • Standard bulletproof (anti-projectile) shield mounted on center rear dorsal fuselage in Fighter mode or on lower arm section in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
    • Standard external multipurpose 30 mm 6-barrel gun pod with sensor, foregrip, anti-armor bayonet (on early space models), and large barrel magazine mounted under center ventral fuselage in Fighter mode or in manipulator in GERWALK and Battroid modes (with two spare magazines stored underneath shield). Bayonet removed on later gun pods due to higher costs.
    • Four special equipment hard point stations for external space FAST Pack units with four Hughes HMMM-Mk 6 micro-missile launchers mounted on dorsal fuselage (exit ports in front of booster units) and two chaff and flare dispensers mounted in FAST Pack propellant tank units on engine section in Fighter mode or on lower-leg section in GERWALK and Battroid modes. Slits on the ventral side of booster pods are exhaust ports for micro-missile launchers. C-type reduced launchers to 2 from 4 of the B-type to reduce costs. Micro-missile launcher can be replaced with a different pack according to mission-specifics.
    • Optional atmospheric high-maneuverability Super parts. Built-in micro-missile launchers in boosters. Sensors located in the upper and lower at the tip of the boosters. Armament containers mounted on engine nacelles with weapon shutter hatch in the center and micro-missile launcher in the rear. (VF-11C)
    • Option of APS-11 Protect Armor pack with reactive armor shield, Hughes HMMM-Mk 6 micro-missile launchers (3 rows of 5 missiles, 15 total per shoulder launcher; two chest launchers, 9-missile each; leg armor missile launchers), 3 hand-thrown grenades, located on each side of waist armor; four shoulder-mounted beam [laser] guns (capable of firing 20 pulses from energy pack), and GU-XS-06 long-range high-piercing-round gun pod with multi-sensor located at the front, large magazine, and motor power pack in the handle grip, for ground tactical missions in Battroid mode only.
    • Numerous optional weapons.
    • Large-size missile can be mounted in leg weapon bays for the VF-11C.
  • VF-11D Custom
    • Standard bulletproof (anti-projectile) shield mounted on center rear dorsal fuselage in Fighter mode or on lower arm section in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
    • Standard external multipurpose 30 mm 6-barrel gun pod with sensor, foregrip, and large-barrel magazine mounted under center ventral fuselage in Fighter mode or in manipulator in GERWALK and Battroid modes (with two spare magazines stored underneath shield).
    • Pin-point barrier system.
    • Micro-missile launch system in dorsal and leg/engine-nacelle space/atmospheric FAST Pack pods.
    • Two chaff and flare dispensers mounted in FAST Pack propellent tank units on engine section in Fighter mode or on lower-leg section in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
      • FAST packs can be jettisoned.
    • Numerous optional weapons.
  • VF-11MAXL Custom
    • Standard bulletproof (anti-projectile) shield mounted on center rear dorsal fuselage in Fighter mode or on lower arm section in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
    • External speaker-pod-shooting launcher pod mounted under center dorsal section in Fighter mode or in manipulator in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
    • Pin-point barrier system.
    • Two laser cannons.
    • Four internal Little Rock launch systems mounted on dorsal section in Fighter mode or in shoulders in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
    • Two internal Little Rock launch systems in lower leg/engine-pod bays for six micro-missiles each (VF-11MAXL Custom).

Dimensions, External

Fighter mode:

  • Wing span: 11.2m
    • VF-11MAXL Custom sound booster: 10.18m
  • Length overall: 15.51m
    • VF-11D Custom: 16.02m
    • VF-11MAXL Custom: 15.48m
    • VF-11MAXL Custom sound booster: 10.2m
  • Height overall: 3.49m

Battroid mode:

  • Height, overall: 12.92m
    • VF-11MAXL Custom: 11.24m

Masses and Loadings

  • Mass empty: 9000 kg
    • VF-11D Custom with FAST Pack: 11200 kg
    • VF-11MAXL Custom: 7900 kg
      • VF-11MAXL Custom sound booster: 6250 kg

Performance

Fighter Mode

  • Cruising speed
    • standard in atmosphere at 10000 m: Mach 3.5+
    • VF-11D Custom, standard in atmosphere at 10000 m: Mach 2.8+
    • VF-11MAXL Custom, standard in atmosphere at 10000 m: Mach 4.1+
  • Max Cruising speed
    • at 30,000+ m: Mach 8.2+
    • VF-11MAXL Custom, at 30,000+ m: Mach 22+
  • Emergency speed:
    • VF-11D Custom, in atmosphere: Mach 4.5+
  • Minimum T-O/Landing run: 0m (VTOL capable)
  • Ceiling : 42000 m (Use of large booster needed for launching into satellite orbit)
    • VF-11D Custom: Unlimited (capable of launching into satellite orbit over an Earth-class planet with FAST Pack)
    • VF-11MAXL Custom: Unlimited (capable of launching into satellite orbit over an Earth-class planet)
  • Maximum rate of climb at S/L: 28500 m/min
    • VF-11D Custom: 24800 m/min
    • VF-11MAXL Custom: 44500 m/min
  • Combat action radius (in atmosphere): Nearly unlimited
  • g limits: +22/-14.5
    • VF-11D Custom: +22.5/-15.0
    • VF-11MAXL Custom: +27/-16

GERWALK mode

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

Related Links

Appendices

Appearances

  • Debut: Macross Plus
  • Other Appearances: Macross 7, Macross Dynamite 7

Background

  • The VF-11 Thunderbolt was named after the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II American fighter, and the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, a contemporary American close-support attack craft.
  • Leg weapon bays are not part of the official specifications for the standard VF-11 Thunderbolt. According to Shoji Kawamori's design works notes, the animators in Macross 7 episode used a draft design of his that was not originally drawn for use in Macross 7. (Shoji Kawamori did make leg weapon bays part of the official specifications for the VF-11MAXL variant.)
    • Addendum: This has since been updated to reflect the internal weapons bays on the VF-11C Thunderbolt entry in the Macross Chronicle.
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