Design Characteristics
The vehicle, is essentially, a plane that utilizes two
F-35 Pratt & Whitney F135 engines with lift fans, in order to allow for VTOL or STOVL operation. The Vehicle is capable of being launched from small boats, vehicles, aircraft carriers, and other transports due to it's ability to take off vertically. Essentially, the vehicle's engine operate exactly the same as the F-35 except for the fact it has two engines on the wings, giving it the same capabilities in VTOL.
The engines are placed on the wings of the aircraft; rather than in middle, as in the F-35. Due to the position of the turbines, being close to the body of the vehicle, the frame can take the stress of the turbines, which produce relatively low thrust.
The exact rate of climb is classified, but it is roughly equal to the F-35. Unlike the F-35, this vehicle is intended to be a sub-sonic aircraft, which reduces fuel consumption drastically, both due to reduced aerodynamic drag and lowered speed. However, as it much heavier, and suffers somewhat as a result of a less aerodynamic design, it only has roughly twice the range and capabilities of a standard F35C.
The vehicle suffers somewhat aerodynamically as a result of it's design, and is therefore slightly less fuel efficient than the F-35.
Despite the similarities, the vehicle posses no stealth capabilities, little on board targeting systems, and does not require as much agility and precision as the F-35. As a result, the aircraft is substantially cheaper; the engine does not also need to be able to use low infrared fuel, or attempt to reduce it's signature anywhere near as much. However, due to it's size and the complications of the engine, it is around the same cost, at 100 million dollars per aircraft.
The vehicle uses gyro stabilization software and hardware similar to that on the V-22 and other similiar vehicles. The thrust vectors are semi-flexible and can vent the exhaust in any desirable direction.
The vehicle, in it's standard condition, can carry an array of 48 soldiers, and 1 M90 Scorpion, 2 MRAP, 4 FED BRAVO's or 8-10 HUMVEE's, 4-5 unmanned tanks, 4 155m howitzers, or 13 105mm howitzers. With an extra cargo hold present, the vehicle can carry a total of 138 standing, 6 x 23 soldiers, roughly 24 feet across by 70 feet long. Without this, the vehicle can only carry 48 standing/sitting soldiers, or a total of 16 sitting soldiers (8 on each side).
The armor on the vehicle is quite large. The engine takes up roughly 4 tons, while the thrust vectoring tons up another 4 tons, and various other parts of the vehicle take up another 4 tons. The size of the cargo bay, is not necessarily large (except when extended). Much of the weight is taken up by high grade armor, which on the outside is similiar to the Apache AH-64 helicopter, and can deflect .50 caliber rounds with ease. The inner part of the armor is chobam
AMAP ceramic armor, utilizing and aluminum-titanium frame matrix, which is capable of deflecting a single 57mm round in tandem with the outside armor. Each tile is roughly 4 x 4 inches and surrounding tiles are relatively unaffected by the impact of 57mm or lower rounds. While it can survive hits from larger rounds, such as the 57mm anti-aircraft rounds, larger rounds can penetrate the hull and as a result is likely to cause damage to the individuals inside. As far as the upper limits of the vehicles strength, it is unknown. The pilots of the vehicle are fully shielding from such rounds, however, and also have a titanium tub similar to the A-10 warthog present.
The vehicle utilizes the same
AGM-114 millimeter wave (MMW) radar seeker, as on the Apache, and so it can engage just as many targets in that respect, and can operate the same weapon systems as the Apache (4 missile pods, 16 hellfire, 4 pods of hydra etc.)
Also, like the apace, it can be outfitted with a 30mm M230 cannon. Unlike the Apache, this can be replaced by the 40mm bofors cannon, and it sports an additional two GAU-19 .50 caliber miniguns with 2000 rounds each.
