CFA-23H/K
The backbone of the Naval Aviation arm of the Navy, the CFA-23 has proved to be a deadly aircraft, in both air-to-ground and air-to-air. The origins of the aircraft date back to 1979, with the projected replacement for the CFA-20 (Mestra's 2nd/3rd generation naval aircraft). The Norskavik Corporation submitted the XCFA-22 to the Next Generation Naval Fighter Program, and won in late 1979. Testing and evaluation started in 1980 and ended in 1981, full production and service entry started in 82. From the first exercise featuring the aircraft, it would come on top to every other fighter. Over the years the aircraft would receive 3 major system upgrades, to keep it deadly on the field.
General Characteristics
- Crew: CFA-23K: 1 (pilot), CFA-23H: 2 (pilot and weapon system officer)
-Length: 16.03 m
-Wingspan: 13.58 m
-Height: 3.95 m
-Empty Weight: 13,552 kg
-Gross Weight: 20,475 kg (equipped as a fighter)
-Max Takeoff Weight: 28,430 kg
-Powerplant: Northwind Electric F414-NE-400, 13,000 lbf thrust each dry, 22,000 lbf with afterburner
Performance
-Maximum Speed: 1,068 kn at 44,000 ft
-Maximum Speed: Mach 1.6
-Range: 1,164 nmi with 2x AIM-9L's
-Effective Combat Range: 436 nmi
-Service Ceiling: 50,000 ft
-Rate of Climb: 49,629 ft/min
Armament
-Guns: 1x 20mm (0.787in) M27A4 Haze, 400 rounds
-Hardpoints: 11 (2x wingtips, 6x under-wing, 3x under-fuselage) with a capacity of max payload of 8,070 kg.
Avionics
-Northwind Electric APG-76 or APG-76 Block II
-Northwind Electric AEJ-36 jamming system
-EriksenAeronautics AN/AHE-78-M3 RWR
-EriksenAeronautics AN/AHR-76 towed decoy
MIST JTRDS datalink transceiver