YF/A-31 JADE FALCON ADVANCED VALKYRIE PROTOTYPE

Updated craft by Kamikazi ([email protected])
Original Concept and Background by Kenneth Olson
HTML form provided by Dave Deitrich
 

BACKGROUND

yvf_29_fighter.JPG (36981 bytes)The YF/A-31 was an independent venture by Dreamstars, Inc. in conjunction with Lockheed/Martin (creators of the VF-16 Staftighter II) in late 2049. Technicians were convinced that they could improve on the designs of both the VF-19 and VF-22 to create a hybrid that would out perform both craft. Many in the military establishment felt that such a variable fighter would be impossible to produce and that only with massive quantities of the tried and true designs would the Varauta forces be finally defeated. The funding that the two companies were hoping for from the UN Spacy never came about, and the design would be shelved by 2052.

The YF/A-31 started out as Design 935X on the drawing boards in a back room in the Dreamstars Testing Facility on Brittania. The engineers were finishing the final testing on the YB-5 Vigilante Prototype Variable Bomber that would go into production in a few months. Using lessons learned from that experience, Dr. Franklin Zimmerman thought he could miniaturize some of the advanced technology to improve the existing variable fighter designs already used by the various UN Spacy armed forces. would have two revolutionary new designs.  The first was the inclusion of the Howard PBS-04G pinpoint/full barrier system.  Although, barrier systems had been designed for mecha units four year previous, this new design could either produce a full barrier system which would protect the mecha from any and all attacks or produce the more traditional two pinpoint barriers which could be subsequently placed on the mecha for protection.  The second device was an internal mecha fold generator.  The YF/A-31 would no longer need to be transport into battle with fold capable transport or have to support an easily damageable external fold generator.

In addition to these two new designs, the new "Direct Brain Targeting System" DBTS system, which was is a direct descendent of the Brainwave Control System (BCS) of the YF-21 Prototype, was incorporated into the new design.  The DBTS system allowed pilots to engage targets using eye motions and voice commands at close range. It gave an edge over designs using more conventional targeting methods, as the slowest feature was the pilot.  Instead of the enclosed cockpit of the YF-21, the cockpit assembly of the VF-19 was installed to give better all around visibility. 

The weapon systems on the YF/A-31 are fairly conventional. Four Mauler REF-21G and a single Erlikon AAB-7.5 laser systems are mounted on the head for defense and anti-missile protection.  A pair of REB-22B laser cannons are mounted in the wings. Mounted internally are 64 high maneuverability mini-missiles. Four underwing and two overwing hardpoints can be used in heavy assaults where extra firepower is required.

The first production model was rolled out on July 29, 2050.  The YF/A-31 was originally called the "Fighting Falcon" in honor of the late 20th century model.  However as the plane was painted in a jade green camouflage pattern, the nickname the "Jade Falcon" came into common practice.  Developers at Dreamstars & Lockheed/Martin decided to let the informal name stand and thus the "Jade Falcon" was born.

By 2051, only 6 YF/A-31's have been produced. Cost overruns and developmental problems kept the UN Spacy away from the new design. Engineers from both companies could never get the full-barrier to sustain constant output for more than 5 minutes. The design flaws of the original internal fold generator came back to haunt the engineers as well. Power balance was a constant concern that never was fully resolved.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: YF/A-31 Advanced Valkyrie Fighter
Class: Advanced Variable Fighter (Prototype)

Manufacturer: Dreamstars, Inc. & Lockheed/Martin
Crew: One pilot and one weapon systems officer (WSO) wearing Tactical Life Support System.
 
MDC BY LOCATION:
 
Location Jade Falcon
Head Lasers (1, 2, or 4) 25
(1) Head 120
Hands (2) 50
Arms (2) 150
Legs/Engine Thrusters 250
(2) Main Body 400
Main Wings (2) 200 
Tails / Left Arm Shield (2) 100 each
Right Arm Shield  300
Gun Pod 100
(3) Pinpoint Barrier Shield 150 each
(3) Full Barrier System 300
Reinforced Pilots Compartment 250
NOTES:
  1. Destroying the head of the YF/A-31  will knock out the mecha's major sensor systems, including all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, thermal). Radar and communications will be unaffected.
  2. Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.
  3. The YF/A-31 has the new Howard PBS-04G pin-point barrier system.  This new system can either produce two pinpoint barriers, each with 100 MDC each barrier can regenerate at 50 MDC per melee, or surround the mecha with a full barrier shield of 200 MDC that regenerates at 100 MDC per round.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
120 kph
LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
50 ft (15 m) high or 70 ft (21 m) long without thrusters.
FLYING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
482 kph
FLYING, GERWALK/SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:
Mach One (670 mph/1072 kmph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.
FLYING, FIGHTER CONFIGURATION:
Max level speed at sea level : 2465 kph  (Mach 2.3)
          Max level speed at 10,000 meters:  Mach 6.0
Max level speed above 10,000 meters:  Mach 25+

Stall speed : 125 kph
Initial climb rate : over 40000m per minute
Service ceiling : Can reach orbit
MAX ENGINE THRUST:
2 x Pratt & Whitney KG929M [Main] Fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix turbines: Max thrust, 75,200 kg of thrust each.
ASSORTED AUXILIARY MANEUVERING THRUSTERS
yvf_29_battloid.JPG (51698 bytes)

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
15.22m  in soldier configuration.
8.12m in gerwalk configuration.
4.04m in fighter configuration.
WIDTH:
6.91m at shoulders in soldier and gerwalk configuration.
15.36m  with wings at maximum extension.
LENGTH:
4.27m in soldier configuration.
15.23m in gerwalk configuration.
21.08m in fighter configuration.
WEIGHT:
11,100 kg empty.
PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 60
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings in addition to the cyclone storage compartment
POWER PLANT:
Two Shinnakasu Industry/Pratt & Whitney/Rolls Royce FF-2550J thermonuclear turbine engines, designed for dual atmosphere/space use with semi-concealed air intakes for use in an Earth-type atmosphere. Two independent convergent/divergent exhaust vents mounted on engines and two additional vectored thrust-ports implementing pseudo three-dimensional vectored thrusting for greater maneuverability and V/STOL performance. In addition, several Pratt & Whitney HMM-6J high-maneuverability vernier thrusters are mounted on the wingtips, stabilizers, nose, and other key locations for added performance.
COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:
Dorsal: NR-BP-19, NR-BP-19-SES
Leg: NP-FB-19

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. MAULER REB-22B LASER GUNS: Two semi-fixed laser gun clusters are mounted in the arms the YF/A-31. Like the VF-22 Strumvogel the arm lasers have two exit ports (one pointing each direction) and thus can fire either to the front or the rear of the mecha in any mode. In fighter mode the lasers can only be aimed along the front or rear arc of the aircraft (max angle is about 30 degrees in any direction from the centerline of the fighter) but in gerwalk/soldier they can be aimed in any direction by moving the mecha's arms.

     

     

  2. GU-27 SEVEN-BARREL STEALTH GATLING GUN POD: The main weapon of the YF/A-31 is a concealed handheld gun pod that can be used in fighter or soldier mode. The gun pod is stored in a collapsed form in a concealed port on the right leg of the mecha when in fighter and gerwalk mode, and fires out of a special port near the top of the leg. When the VF goes to soldier mode, the gun can be ejected into the Jade Falcon's right hand, where it automatically unfolds and is ready for action. The gun can be re-collapsed and replaced in the port when the YF/A-31 returns to fighter or gerwalk mode. Due to the mecha's configuration, the gun pod CANNOT be used in gerwalk mode; the exit barrel aims up at the main body, which would cause the VF/A-31 to shoot itself in this mode.

    Like the gun pod used by the VF-19 Excalibur, the Jade Falcon's gun pod uses clips of ammo. One spare ammo clip is kept in a port on the left leg of the YF/A-31, directly across from the gun pod port. However, in order to switch clips the Jade Falcon must first convert to soldier mode, so it can manually remove and replace the gun pod's clip with its hands. Other gun pods can NOT be used by the YF/A-31, as they will not fit in the Jade Falcon's gun pod port in fighter/gerwalk modes.

     

     

  3. HEAVY LASER MODULE: This weapon is an alternative to the YF/A-31's standard gun pod. It consists of a long tube which contains a heavy laser and a high-density capacitor that fits on the gun pod in place of an ammo clip. This one-shot weapon fires a beam which is powerful enough cut through the main body of most mecha on a single hit. (!) However, there are several disadvantages to the weapon. First off, the weapon is good only for one shot, after which the internal capacitor is completely drained. Second, in order to carry this module it must be stored in the YF/A-31's left leg, a spot that normally stores a spare clip for the Jade Falcon's gun pod. This effectively halves the ammo capacity of the YF/A-31, and greatly reduces its combat endurance. Still, many pilots feel that the tradeoff is worth it since the heavy laser gives them the ability to take out command mecha or even spaceships in a single shot.

     

     
  4. ERLIKON AAB-9.5 AIR-TO-AIR PULSE LASER:  The YF/A-31 mounts a single pulse laser for use in air combat skirmishes and for anti-missile purposes.  The laser is mounted on the head of the mecha in soldier mode and is located in the central dorsal section of the main body pointed to the rear in fighter and gerwalk modes.  The laser can only fire to the REAR of the fighter in these modes.
  5. 4 x MAULER REB-21G ANTI-AIRCRAFT PULSE LASER:  The Jade Falcon mounts four lasers on the head of the mecha in soldier mode, and is located in the central dorsal section of the main body pointed rearward in fighter and gerwalk modes.
    6. YVF29.JPG (27051 bytes)
  6. BIFORS BML-03S ALL-ENVIRONMENT HIGH-MANEUVERABILITY RAPID-FIRE MICRO-MISSILE CLUSTERS:  The YF/A-31 is armed with eight internal BML-03S missile launchers.   The launchers are mounted in the forward dorsal and forward ventral sections of the craft and have exit ports on the top and bottom wings near the engine nacelles.  Any type of mini-missile can be used by the launchers, but high-maneuverability mini-missiles are standard issue.
  7. BODY/WING HARD POINTS: Three (two underwing & one overwing) fixed hard points are mounted on each wing.   These hardpoints can be used to carry a variety of different ordinance payloads, including long, medium, or short range missiles (including high-maneuverability missiles) or standard bombs. One long range, one MRHM, 3 medium range, 5 short range missiles or six standard bombs can be mounted per hardpoint. Usually MRHM missiles are used.

    8. NOTE: Due to the location of the hardpoints, ALL missiles must be fired or ejected before the YF/A-31 can convert into soldier mode. For this reason the missiles on the hardpoints are usually fired within the first few passes of an attack.
     

     
     
    yvf_29_barrier.gif (34303 bytes)
  8. HOWARD PBS-04G PIN-POINT/FULL BARRIER SYSTEM:  The Jade Falcon is equipped with a advanced barrier system that can either project three pinpoint barriers or a scaled down full barrier.  The system can produce three pinpoint barriers, each with 100 MDC of protection and regenerates at a rate of 50 MDC per round when damaged, or surround the YF/A-31 with a full barrier that gives 200 MDC of protection and regenerates at 100 MDC per round.  Even if the shield(s) are destroyed, the power generators will regenerates the shield(s) within 2 melees.  In order to use the pinpoint shields, the pilot must make a successful parry  to intercept the incoming attack with a single pinpoint barrier.  Due to the power requirements, the head and pulse lasers can not be used while either system is in operations.  In addition, while the full barrier system is in use no weapons may be fired through the barrier.
    9. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the YF/A-31 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The variable fighter is extremely agile and can execute most typical hand to hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc.

    DAMAGE:

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE YF/A-31:

COMBAT BONUSES FOR YF/A-31 FIGHTER TRAINING:

NOTE: Due to the prototype nature of the YF/A-31, it is highly recommended that no player be allowed to start the game with YF/A-31 combat training. Untrained pilots should get bonuses equal to Basic Variable Fighter Combat Training when piloting the YF/A-31, and military pilots with no prior YF/A-31 experience should get full bonuses from Advanced VF-19 Excalibur Combat Training. Players should only be allowed to get advanced training for the YF/A-31 when their characters have accumulated enough experience to acquire new skills.

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

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