VF-14 Vampire

General Galaxy/Messer VF-14 Vampire

Program

Type: Variable heavy fighter-attack craft.
Equipment Type: Variable Vehicles
Manufacturer: General Galaxy/Messer
Government: U.N.
Customers: UNS

Development began in 2025 from the Stonewell Bellcom VF-4 Lightning III with the incorporation of Zentradi technology in addition to OTM. It lost to the VF-11 Thunderbolt in the "Nova Project" competition to replace the VF-4 as the next main fighter. However, it was found useful on frontier immigration planets, and emigrant fleets because it excelled in cruising performance in space and its airframe was easy to maintain, which lead to its mass production. First flight in 2027. Mass production began in 2028. Entered active service around 2030 and carried as the main fighter on colonization, survey, and other fleets at its peak. Continues to be produced under license at colonies and elsewhere.

Design Features

High maneuverability in space.

Powerplant

Two 52,500 kg class (maximum instantaneous thrust in space) Shinnakasu-Daimler FF-2770D thermonuclear engines.
P&W-Daimler HMM-5C high-maneuverability vernier thrusters.

Accommodation

Armored cover rotates 90 degrees over canopy in Battroid mode

Armament

Two Mauler BC-27A medium-bore beam guns
Two Bifors AAM-01S built-in missile pods
One 35mm Gatling gun pod.

Dimensions, External

Fighter mode:

Length, overall: 19.58m
Width, overall: 15.60m

Masses and Loadings

Mass empty: 12,600 kg

Performance

Fighter Mode

Cruising speed
- standard in atmosphere at 10,000 m: Mach 3.8+

g limits: +35.0G/-20.5G

Appendices

Appearances

Debut: Macross 7 P*L*U*S 7 "Spiritia Dreaming"
Other Appearances: Macross M3

Background

Designer: Shoji Kawamori
Design inspiration: General Galaxy/Messer-Varauta Fz-109 Elgerzorene, initial designs for Elger Zorene Fz-109A and Sturm Zorene Fz-109G (Knights in the Sky/Military History of the Knighthood in the Sky), Stonewell Bellcom VF-4 Lightning III, Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird

Shoji Kawamori initially developed the Zorene series in 1990 for the Holy Zaibach Empire variable air attack craft of Knights in the Sky (later Military History of the Knighthood in the Sky), the parallel world project that eventually became The Vision of Escaflowne. Kawamori then extrapolated backwards from his and his partner Kazutake Miyatake's finalized Elgerzorene design for Macross 7 to create a rough VF-14 concept used in the Macross 7 P*L*U*S 7 segment "Spiritia Dreaming." Kawamori finalized the VF-14 design for Macross M3. Several aircraft similar to the VF-14 appear in Macross Plus Movie Edition, but Kawamori has not identified them.

External links