Shipbucket

In the 1971, Kallego would seek a new light multirole aircraft. The aircraft manufacturer Mardel (then known officially as March and Dell Aerospace Company or MDAC), was chosen to develop and produce a new fighter as the winner of the Light Fighter 1977 contest.
The Mardel F-19 (then produced as the MDAC F-19) is a single engine, delta winged canard fighter aircraft. Initially powered by a United Turbine Corporation ATF-100 afterburning turbofan, the aircraft could propel itself to Mach 1.9 at altitude, and allows the aircraft to carry multiple differing payloads. There are several variants of the aircraft in that have served the Kallegian Air Force since a delayed entry to service in 1979, including but not limited to:
A Variant: Initial Production variant with ATF-100 afterburning turbofan. Introduced 1979.
B Variant: Twin seat adaptation of the A Variant. Introduced 1979.
B+ Variant: An upgraded B variant that would add a new removeable dorsal electronics suite, enhancing battlefield capabilities. Introduced 1993.
S Variant: Further adaption of the B+ Variant that would see the replacement of the old intake with a diverterless supersonic inlet, as well as an IRST module on the nose, permanent installation of the dorsal electronics suit and a frameless canopy to improve visibility. Introduced 2005.
S2 Variant: Single seat adaptation of the S variant. Introduced 2006.
Having operated for over 40 years and even through multiple major and minor upgrades, the airframe is starting to show it's age. There have been talks within the Kallegian government to replace the fighter, many of which involve purchasing foreign design, much to the dismay of nationalist government officials and military personnel, and, as in the year 2023, a new contest (Light Fighter 2030+ or LF2030+) has been passed, with many companies, both national and international, flooding in to compete for the contract.

_________________
"The missile knows where it is at all times."

Working on:
KoleonGray's AU Stuffs

Orthographic Projection of the Rockowin P/S-9J.

Following their defeat at the hands of the Allied Continental Forces following the end of the Davnian Continental war in 1948, Redwood would be subject to heavy international sanctions, including the disestablishment of the former imperial government, and the curtailment of its military and industrial power. The Rockowin Aircraft company, who provided many combat aircraft during the continental war, would be heavily stripped. Under these restrictions, virtually no new designs came out of the country for the 17 years following the end of the war, and the company was reduced reproducing many foreign designs that would become key to Redwood's air defense between the 50's and 60's. Following their entry into the Rexington Pact in 1961, many of those aforementioned restrictions were lifted under dubious conditions, however outcry from other nations would not prevent the firm from designing aircraft to get themselves back into the defense industry.

In 1967, Rockowin would create propose the Rockowin Model 227, a supersonic aircraft designed to fill a ground attack and fighter role for the Redwood Air Corps, replacing the outdated airframes of the time. The first craft of the type, RK22701, flew in late 1969, and the program earned the moniker Bison, and the designation P/S-9 (Pursuit/Strike-9). Following a somewhat troubled development, including the crashes of aircraft RK22701 and RK22705, the P/S-9 was finally accepted for service in 1975 in the Redwood Air Corps and the Fleet Air Arm of Redwoods Naval Service as a Land Based Combat Aircraft.


The Rockowin P/S-9 is a twin engine, two seater multirole aircraft, and the first combat aircraft produced by Redwood since the end of the Davnian Continental War. The aircraft is powered by 2 Torian F1-30 Afterburning Turbofans, the designs of which were supplied from The Nord, propelling the aircraft to Mach 2.1. An odd quirk of the A model Bison would be it's 2nd seat canopy (carried over from the prototype), which would be primarily made out of metal and have small glass windows for the Weapons System Officer to look out of. Because of this both the Prototypes and the Production models would be nicknamed 'The Hearse' due to their claustrophobic interiors. This would be fixed in later variants. Due to the lack of industrial knowhow at the time, many of the aircraft systems in its introduction were made with parts sourced from older fighter designs in still in service at the time, some of which contributed to the crashes of the 2 prototype aircraft, or with equipment purchased from ally nations, primarily Andalowë and their aviation firm Abt Aerospace. Some of these included the fly-by-wire system, the pulse doppler radar, and many of the avionics systems. In later variants these would be replaced with natively developed systems.

Export

Following the introduction of Redwood into the Rexington Pact, and the dissolving of several sanction against them, it was soon possible for them to export any combat aircraft they would have produced. The early proposal for Redwoods first native fighter post-war (considered as early as 1952) was to keep the aircraft for domestic use only, however as the restrictions were now lifted, it was now possible for the aircraft and it's production license to be sold to other nations. For their part in assisting the development of the aircraft, the multinational Vantel firm (of which part is owned by Andalowës own Abt Aerospace) would be awarded the license to produce the aircraft for Rexington Pact and unaligned nations under the name Vantel Bison from 1983. Soon, Vantel would begin producing their own modifications to the aircraft, and selling them on the international export market.

Variants
P/S-9A Variant: Initial Production Variant introduced in 1975.
P/S-9B Variant: As part of the upgrade program Bison '83, most Bison A models would be upgraded to Bison B specification. This included upgraded avionics, two new hardpoints on the base of the intake either side of the craft, and Uprated Torian F1-35 engines, as well as a less claustrophobic canopy for the Weapons System Officer. Introduced 1983.
P/S-9I Variant: I for intercept. Also as part of Bison '83, this would be a modification of Bison B specification aircraft. This modification included a new radar system for long range interception, as well an Infrared Search and Track Module. This modification also removed several systems related to ground strike, as to reduce weight and increase performance. Introduced 1983.
P/S-9J Variant: The final production variant for Redwood, this variant would again replace the Weapon System Officers canopy for a far clearer one, as well as new Torian F8-10 engines for an increased thrust of 80 kN (17,900 lbf) dry, 131 kN (29,400 lbf) wet, as well as a complete systems overhaul, including glass cockpits, and a AESA radar system. Introduced in 1991.
P/S-9K Variant: A single seat P/S-9J that started as a proposal for the next variant of P/S-9 to be operated by Redwood but was cancelled after the first prototype was produced. The prototype would be extensively modified for testing of the Vantel 25, as well as an unknown collaboration project between the Redwood Naval Service and the Ametian Air Force. Built in 1996, Retrofitted in 2010, still active as of December 2024.

Foreign variants Side Note: Rockowin would continue to note down foreign variants as their own, as shown in brackets.
Vantel Bison MkI (Rockowin P/S-9B): Initial purchase and production of Rockowin Bison B Variant, Introduced to Royal Andalowë Air Force in 1985
Vantel Bison MkII (Rockowin P/S-9C): Vantel's modification based on Bison B/ MkI. Equipped with 26mm Revolver Cannon, Replaces Torian Engines with Gallavantis GV38-03R Thrust Reversing Afterburning Turbofans, replaces Rockowin based systems with Abt Aerospace based systems, new Radar. Introduced to Royal Andalowë Air Forces in 1989.
Vantel Bison MkIII (Rockowin P/S-9D): Based on MkII, Deletes Weapon System Officer, replaces space with mission related systems and/or fuel (depends on requirements), complete avionics overhaul, glass cockpit. Introduced in 2000 to all purchasing air forces.
Vantel Bison MkIV (Rockowin P/S-9F): MkIII with non thrust reversing Gallavantis GV28-08S engines. Also introduced in 2000
Vantel Bison MkV (Rockowin P/S-9G): Final major production variant. Upgraded MkIII, new frameless canopy, software updates, uprated GV38-13R engines. Introduced 2007.
Vantel Bison MkVI (Rockowin P/S-9H): MkV with non thrust reversing Gallavantis GV28-18S engines. Also introduced in 2007.

Redwood, the original designer and customer nation, would serve these aircraft well into the 2020s. The service life of this aircraft would exceed 50 years, and oultive many of the fighter designs fielded by the Rexington Pact since the 70s. Andalowë, the primary customer of Vantel Bisons, would operate these aircraft until 2025, where they would be retired and replaced by the Vantel 25 stealth aircraft, and many Rexington Pact nations would follow suit around the same time. By 2030, several export nations still operate the Bison, and would celebrate it's 60th anniversary.

Specifications, J Variant
Crew: 2 (Pilot, Weapons System Officer)
Length: 21.18m
Wingspan: 15m
Height (Gear Down): 5.48m

Performance
Engines: 2x Torian F1-30 Afterburning Turbofans
Max Thrust: 72 kN (16,200 lbf) dry, 125 kN (28,100 lbf) wet
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.1 at altitude
Service Ceiling: 20,000m

Armament
Gun: Gun, Rotary, 20mm, 1963 with 1010 rounds
Air to Air Missiles
Dogfight Series DF-1 (1975-1999), and DF-3 (1999-2027) IR missiles
VABVRM (Vantel Advanced Beyond Visual Range Missile, acronym Pronounced Vabvirm) (1975-2027)
Air to Ground Ordinance
Universal Ordinance Series (UOS) unguided bombs, 250kg, 500kg, 1000kg
Guided Ordinance Series (GOS) guided bombs (1999-2027), 250kg, 500kg, 1000kg
Mustang Dynamics MD ATGM26 Air to Surface Missile
Mustang Dynamics Anti-Radiation Missile (MDARM)
Targeting and Navigation Pod 10 (TaN-10)
O-338 Data Link Pod
Laser Designator Spotter Pod (Off side of forward fuselage, Bison A and B only)

Also carries assorted fuel tanks and cargo pods.

_________________
"The missile knows where it is at all times."

Working on:
KoleonGray's AU Stuffs

The Construcciones Aeronáuticas Wiraia (CAW) C.43 is a first-generation swept-wing jet fighter aircraft built by Wiraia in the late 40s, and near the end of the Davnian Continental War. Development began in 1943, when the first research into gas turbine powered aircraft was shared with Wiraia from Andalowë and The Nord, after which Wiraia would go independent in developing it's own jet aircraft. In 1945, when Redwood's armed forces were beginning to be pushed back severely, several aircraft concepts were chosen for construction to compete for the Invasion Escort Aircraft Program, which would serve as bomber escorts in the planned Invasion of Redwood. The CAW C.43, one of these competitors, would fly in 1946 with a revolutionary swept wing design, and would be one of the 2 aircraft chosen in late 1947 for the Invasion Escort Aircraft Program, the other being Akitsu Type 14 Model 4 (T14M4, nicknamed 'jamón' or hams) aircraft from Fuyukawa, a fellow Northern Davnian Alliance member.


As early as December 1947, a joint offensive would begin on Redwood. Owing to the new flight doctrine, many of the aircraft lost in this offensive were lost due to pilot error, instead of being shot down. Whilst not as maneuverable, the new aircraft were faster than the Redwoods contemporaries, many of which where still propeller fighters due to the lack of materials, and as such many Redwood aircraft were shot down before they could reach their targets. Pilots who would survive these encounters would report back being outsped by aircraft unlike any they had ever seen, and soon the nickname Speed Demon would be associated with the two aircraft.

Perhaps the most well known engagement of the C.43 during the Continental war was the final confrontation between the Northern Davnian Alliance and Redwood, which saw a combined aerial, naval and ground assault on the capital city of Redwood at the time, Kearn. This would be the largest battle of the war, and the one with the most casualties, when Redwood would detonate a nuclear weapon they had acquired from Kallego on their own capital, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths, and many more injuries, leaving the capital uninhabitable for the forseeable future, and forcing it's relocation to the wartorn, but still standing, Stoll, where it has been ever since. This battle and the aircraft are also heavily associated with the Wiraian aerial ace of 210 kills, Gustavo Aguilar, also known as 'King' or 'Rey', where he would crash and seemingly disappear following the blast and not be seen until 1956, recovering from injuries in the crash and suffering from various radiation related illnesses.

In post war service, the aircraft would spawn several variants, including but not limited to:
C.43: Production aircraft, introduced 1947.
EC.43: Trainer variant, also introduced 1947.
RC.43: Reconnaissance variant, introduced 1950, new nose with cameras inside
C.43(Ra): Seen as early as 1953 but not officially confirmed version of the C.43 with a new nose housing a radar. Possible attempt to make an all weather version of the C.43 for export. Aircraft 46745 (modified aircraft in question) recorded as crashed in database in 1956.

Specifications
Crew: 1 (Pilot), 2 (EC.43, Pilot, Trainer)
Length: 11.6m
Wingspan: 9.91m
Height: 5.83m

Performance
Engine: 1x VRA Valentina Turbojet 26.2kn (5890 lbf) thrust
Maximum Speed: 671mph at sea level
Service ceiling, 15,000m

Armament
Guns: 2x Type 40 20mm Autocannons
Drop Tanks available

Following the end of the Davnian Continental War, the aircraft was not required as urgently as before. In the ensuing decade, the aircraft would be slowly phased out of service in Wiraia, being seen as late as 1957, and CAW would pull out of the military aviation industry and focus on civilian aircraft, before declaring bankruptcy in 1967 and closing its doors soon after, marking the end of the domestic Wiraian aerospace industry.

_________________
"The missile knows where it is at all times."

Working on:
KoleonGray's AU Stuffs

The Vantel Model 21 'Lanner' is a twin-engine variable-geometry fighter aircraft built by the multinational conglomerate Vantel. During the Cold War, Andalowë and it's Rexington Pact allies were surprised by the introduction of the state-of-the-art (at the time) Aeronatica Aldeliana M-8 'Delta' in 1963, an advanced combat aircraft developed in Aldel, and set to be spread to Aldel's allies in the Aurian Sea Organisation (ASO) across the world, putting the Rexington Pact at a deficit in air defense with their comparatively out of date Vantel 19s and 17s. And as such, the Vantel Committee, at the time recently established, was put to work to design a new aircraft to match, and soon surpass the Delta. In 1965, Vantel proposed a variable sweep wing interceptor aircraft, and by 1967 the first flights were completed. Even with the expertise of multiple companies and countries, there would be several issues in development that could not be resolved in time for the 1969 introduction deadline. However, the engineers and designers at Vantel were adamant to not fall behind schedule.

A plan was drawn up for a limited introduction to Andalowë only, using downgraded equipment whilst work continued on finalising the aircraft, so as to not have too much of a deficit for too long, and so became the Mk.0, the initial production variant, and far from what was promised at the start of the project. The launch of the Mk.0 has been documented as one of the most embarrassing military blunders in the world. The aircraft was shipped with lackluster performance, a slew of reliability issues, and outdated or temperamental systems which contributed to the first few crashes of the Mk.0. These same systems would be used as well for prototypes of the Rockowin Model 227, with similar results. However many pilots and military officials saw the potential in the platform, and whilst the Mk.0 would go down in history as one of the worst aircraft ever produced, more funding was put into the project to unlock the potential within the aircraft.

In 1972, 3 years after the introduction of the Mk.0, the Mk.1 variant, and Mk.1T training variant were approved for introduction into the Royal Andalowë Air Force, as well as export to Rexington Pact Nations and neutral countries. The Mk.1 was a marked improvement over the Mk.0, fixing many of the reliability issues that plagued both the prototypes and the Mk.0s, as well as introducing new systems that were cut for the Mk.0 variant, primarily the Infrared Search and Track System (IRST). These variants of the aircraft would go on to be one of Vantel's most widely distributed aircraft, as well as the basis for many of the future developments of the aircraft. All-in-all, the protoypes, the Mk.0s and the Mk.1s would make up what's known as the first generation of Vantel Lanners.


By the time most of the details of the Mk.1 and the Mk.1T were finalised, and production entered it's first stage, development on the second generation of Vantel Lanners had began. The second generation of Vantel Lanners, nicknamed Napier Lanners differentiate primarily in three areas. The first is the expanded electronics suite in the tail of the aircraft, which, with it's already large tail, earned it the nickname 'Thresher' among aviators and aviation enjoyers alike. This was first seen in the Mk.2 variant, and expanded upon in the Mk.3 (1974). The second is the new engines. Gen 1 Lanners and the Mk.3 were previously powered with the Goldsmith Lindon turbojet engine. These would be changed in the Mk.4 (1975) variant, where they would be replaced by the namesake engine of the Napier Lanner, the Goldsmith Napier Turbofan. The new engines would provide the aircraft with more thrust, as well as higher fuel efficiency. The third difference is seen in the Mk.4 and Mk.5, where a more powerful radar system would be installed, in order to use the VABVRM (Vantel Advanced Beyond Visual Range Missile) system.

Interestingly in 1976, Vantel would fly a variant of the Lanner, which would expand on the limited ground attack capabilities of the plane, called the woodpecker. This aircraft would be introduced in small numbers to the Royal Andalowë Air Force in 1977, after which it was pulled in 1983 upon the introduction of the Rockowin Bison.

Variants of the Vantel Lanner include but are not limited to:
Mk.0: Initial production aircraft, introduced 1969. Plagued by various issues.
Mk.1: Upgrade to Mk.0. Variant primarily focused on fixing reliability and safety issues, as well as introducing IRST. Introduced 1972.
Mk.3: Improved tail mounted electronics suite. Introduced 1974.
Mk.4: New Goldsmith Napier turbofan engines, new radar system, VABVRM capability. introduced 1975.
Woodpecker (Mk.6). Ground attack based variant. Replaces Radar with nose camera and laser rangefinder. Introduced 1977.

Specifications: Mk.0
Crew: 1 (Pilot), 2 (Mk.xT Variants, Pilot, Trainer)
Length: 18.2m
Wingspan: 11.6m (Fully Swept), 16.5m (Unswept)
Height: 5.2m

Performance
Engine: (Gen 1) 2x Goldsmith Lindon Turbojets 46 kN (10,400 lbf) dry thrust each, 67 kN (15,000 lbf ) wet thrust each.
(Mk.4 Onwards) 2x Goldsmith Napier Turbofans 54 kN (12,140 lbf) dry thrust each, 91.2 kN (20,500 lbf) wet thrust each.
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.3 at altitude
Service ceiling, 18,000m

Armament
Guns: 2x 26mm Automatic Cannons
Dogfight Series DF-0 and DF-1 IR missiles
Reynard Lance SARH missiles
VABVRM (Vantel Advanced Beyond Visual Range Missile, acronym Pronounced Vabvirm)
Universal Ordinance Series (UOS) unguided bombs, 250kg, 500kg, 1000kg
Drop Tanks available

The Lanner's service life would be somewhat marred by its variable sweep wing, which was expensive and difficult to maintain compared to its non variable-geometry counterparts. Unfortunate timing with the introduction of the Rockowin 227 (or P/S-9), which was somewhat cheaper and easier to maintain, would see the aircraft somewhat overshadowed in the fighter market, even by it's own country. By 1983, after the license for the Vantel Bison (Rockowin 227) production was procured, Andalowë would begin slowly phasing out the Lanner, though keeping it in operational capacity. However, lessons learned from the Bison would be used to develop a smaller, more nimble combat aircraft in the development of the Vantel 23, which was well underway by the mid 80's, and was complete by 1991, after which the Vantel Lanner would slowly be phased out by most Rexington Pact nations. Many nations keep several Vantel Lanners in storage, however the majority were scrapped or were sold to developing nations.

_________________
"The missile knows where it is at all times."

Working on:
KoleonGray's AU Stuffs