VF-9 Cutlass

General Galaxy VF-9 Cutlass

Program

Type: Light variable fighter.
Equipment Type: Variable Vehicles
Manufacturer: General Galaxy
Government: U.N.
Customers: United Nations, colony planets within the United Nations.

The VF-9 project was the first assignment at General Galaxy for its chief project adviser Algus Selzer, who was the chief designer of the VF-17 Nightmare and the airframe design director of the YF-21. It is a multipurpose fighter which pursued combat mobility within atmosphere. Development began in 2018, and the first flight occurred in 2021. The VF-9 was intended as a concept for an inexpensive twin-engined light fighter. However, due to input from UN-Forces-assigned test pilot Captain Milia Jenius, it displayed aerial combat maneuverability higher than the VF-4, the main fighter at the time. As a result, General Galaxy received massive orders from colony planets with reduced budgets, and the VF-9 became its first bestseller. Mass production began in 2022 and ended in 2029.

General Galaxy, which had adopted many Zentradi technology had been known as the OTEC Co., took charge in developing in 2017.

Variants

VF-9A
VF-9E: Improved A-type. Production discontinued do to midair explosions.

Design Features

Forward-swept main wing, canard, high maneuverability in the Mach 1 regime. Beam guns located on the shoulder due to airframe miniaturization and incorporating a variable mechanism on a small aircraft. Engine output greater than VF-4. Lightweight and power-weight ratio (thrust vs. weight). Airframe adopts the relatively safe blended wing body (integrated airframe wing). Large-sized hands and legs. Main wing and canards fold in a complex manner forming chest armor plate (due to this, it has the nickname "Origami Fighter"). Due to main wing forming main body armor, use of underwing equipment is limited.

Powerplant

Two 19,600 kg (maximum output in outer space) Shinnakasu/P&W/Royce FF-2019C engines
Aft auxiliary engines

Armament

One Mauler ROV-25 22mm beam gun turret, located on the right shoulder in GERWALK and Battroid modes.
One 35mm Gatling gun pod. Hand-held in manipulator in GERWALK and Battroid modes.

Dimensions, External

Length, overall: 11.2m
Width, overall: 11.6m

Mass & Loadings

Mass, empty: 7500 kg

Performance

Fighter mode

Cruising speed
- in atmosphere at 10,000 m: Mach 2.7

Appendices

Appearances

Debut: Macross M3

Background

Designer: Shoji Kawamori
Design inspiration: Initial designs for VF-X-10 (Advanced Valkyrie), Grumman X-29

Shoji Kawamori initially developed the VF-9 (then known as the VF-X-10) in 1985 for the Advanced Valkyrie project, a Bandai model series that never saw mass production. At the time, Kawamori insisted that the project was not part of the Macross universe. However, he did say after its cancellation that its designs could be included in the Macross universe, if he could modify and finish them first.

External links

VF-9 Cutlass

Contents