EDIT/NOTE: I seem to have forgotten to remove the challenge URL from this plane, since I built it upon one that had entered the challenge. This isn't supposed to actually be in any challenge (even because that one is long gone), but I'm too lazy to reupload it. My apologies.

Last December, when I posted the FA-275P Swordfish, I had promised to make a watered-down version with less details and parts, and slightly increased performance. Well, it sure took a while (what with returning to college and all) but here it is! I've removed much of the external detailing/cosmetics, and some of the weapons which increased part counts considerably. There wasn't a great decrease even because I wanted to keep all functionalities including the cockpit, but I hope it helps somewhat.

To compensate for the lack of detail, Here I tried my hand at making something based on the Mehrzweckwaffe-1 bomblet dispenser. It's definitely not perfect and the system needs much refining but hey, for now it works! Unfortunately due to needing 11 cannon parts, all pointed in different directions to get a decent spread, plus some cosmetics so it isn't a solid grey brick, this has neutered the part count decrease I'd achieved earlier. If you wish to remove quite a bit of parts from the airplane, feel free to detach the bomblet dispenser from its centerline pylon.

Remember this thing was designed primarily with tactical low-level flying in mind - go and take it for a spin around some rocks!

Please enjoy, and I hope you have fun!

Controls, Features, Warnings and Operational Notes (IMPORTANT)

ACTIVATION GROUPS, VTOL, TRIM:

AG 1: Deploy Drag Chute
AG 2: Afterburner On/Off
AG 3: Jettison External Fuel Tank
AG 4: EMER JETT (Jettisons all Air-To-Ground ordnance)
AG 5: Airbrakes
AG 6: Air-To-Air Missiles ARM ON
AG 7: Landing Hook
AG 7 + VTOL DOWN: Fold Wings
AG 8: Nav Lights On/Off
VTOL UP: Flaps Down
TRIM: Not hard to guess

LAND GENTLY because I'm horrible at making custom landing gear.

Cockpit lights:

For the full list of warnings and operational notes, check the FA-275P Swordfish description. They will all be similar, except for the on-board weaponry and the jettisoning sequence, which is slightly different in this bird thanks to its different weapons loadout.

Weapons:

Guns
Two French DEFA 554 30mm guns.

MAA-5A Coral Air-To-Air Missile x2
An advanced short-range infrared-guided missile with 90 degree off-boresight capability. It is more capable than the MAA-5E export version included with the FA-275P Swordfish.

MANA-2 Anzol Anti-Ship Missile x2
A heavy anti-ship missile with a potent warhead.

70mm Rockets x28
Just your plain old unguided rockets, fitted in two UB-14 rocket pods.

CLG-40 Bomblet Dispenser
Fires off several bomblets at a very high rate of fire as long as you press the fire button continuously. Make sure to fly as straight and level as possible while firing - diving is acceptable but NEVER PITCH DOWN while firing. The blast is considerable - refrain from firing at extremely low altitudes or you might experience a significant emotional event.

Recommended Operational Procedures:

TAKEOFF:
- Flaps down 1/2 VTOL up halfway);
- Afterburner ON (AG 2).

LANDING:
- Check landing gear down;
- Flaps down full (VTOL up);
- Airbrakes deployed (AG 5);
- Touch down with main wheels first, at lowest possible speed.
- Apply brakes after all wheels have contacted ground and aircraft is stable.
- If a quicker stop is desired, deploy drag chute (AG 1).

CARRIER LANDING:
- Check landing gear down;
- Flaps down full (VTOL up);
- Tail hook down (AG 7);
- Airbrakes deployed (AG 5);
- Approach very slow and very gently;
- Pray that the landing gear does not explode.

ENTERING AIR-TO-GROUND COMBAT:
- Jettison external fuel tanks (AG 3);
- Check nav lights off (AG 8);
- Ensure correct weapon is selected. More details on "Weapons" section.
- Remember: Afterburner is toggled by AG 2.

ENTERING AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT:
- Jettison external fuel tanks (AG 3);
- Jettison air-to-ground stores (AG 4);
- Check nav lights off (AG 8);
- If using missiles: Toggle missile arm switch ON (AG 6). The cockpit missile arm indicator light will light up.
- Remember: Afterburner is toggled by AG 2.

Backstory:

The FA-275 Peixe-Espada (Swordfish) is a carrierborne strike aircraft with secondary air-to-air capability. It was designed to replace two older Socrux designs, the A-125 Adaga and the ill-fated FA-240 Gavião. The Gavião was supposed to replace the Adaga, but failed to live up to expectations and was plagued with problems throughout its service, forcing the tiny Adagas to soldier on in service all the way from the early 60's. A new aircraft was required; one that could be as agile and easy to maintain as the Adaga, as fast and hard-hitting as the Gavião, and with a size in-between both, being compact enough to operate in large numbers from medium and small carriers.

Compared to its younger, export-oriented brother, the FA-275P Swordfish, the FA-275 Peixe-Espada lacks several features, and has a more modest avionics suite, but has a higher thrust-to-weight ratio.

This particular aircraft is shown carrying what was at the time an experimental centreline pod, the CLG-40 (Casulo Lança-Granadas, lit. Grenade Launcher Pod - in Brazilian terminology cluster weapons are generally called "grenade launchers") bomblet dispenser. Designed to attack runways and armored collumns, the CLG-40 is a potent weapon but must be used with caution.

The devastating effects of the CLG-40 in several different targets.