Representing the penultimate development of modern military aircraft, the ADF-06/CA-30 "Stiletto" is a 5+ Generation Multirole Fighter Aircraft serving in the Erandian Air Force.

Beginnings

The beginnings of the programme started in 2021 with Project DÄMMERUNG, an initiative by the Erandian Federal Executive Council to study next generation air superiority fighters. The project concluded that an advanced aircraft with next generation technologies and concepts including deep learning AI, the ability to fly unmanned, swarming drones, directed-energy weapons, virtual cockpit in helmet and hard-kill Missile defence would be instrumental in the development of such systems. Following Approval by the Federal Executive council and with assistance from the Naval Air Arm and Air Force, Project DÄMMERUNG started the development of the CA-30 Project.

Development

A consortium of Erandian Corporations was assembled to begin development. With a budget of 400 Billion ER, the aircraft was to incorporate Advanced Technologies and systems, all developed and manufactured domestically. Airframe design was partially based off the ADF-05, although requirements for enhanced stealth necessitated significant changes to the design. Despite significant developmental delays, the first prototype took flight sometime in early 2030. Further delays in development of avionics and weaponry resulted in the project being 12 Billion over budget and nearly 2 years behind schedule.

Corporations involved:

Weaponry Development

Developed alongside the CA-30 Project were a series of advanced weaponry designed around the CA-30. Most well known among these are the ASM-9 "Parzival" Air to Surface Missile and the SRAAM-5 "Gnat" Short range missile.

Design

Overview

Featuring a comprehensive avionics suite, an enhanced stealthy profile, Large Payload capacity and a next-generation powerplant, the CA-30 represents the future of fighting aircraft design, with carrier compatibility and space for future upgrades built into it's design.

Powerplant

The CA-30 uses the Mercator Dynamics MD-25E Afterburning Turbofan, a Variable-Cycle engine providing 190kN with afterburner. Two of such engines are used, with thrust vectoring capability.

Avionics

The CA-30 has unrivalled sensor suites. The primary radar of the CA-30 is the AMK43 AESA Radar, with a smaller rear-facing AMK42 AESA Radar system. Additionally, the aircraft utilises the IM12C DAS system and the IM14F EOTS system. It is also equipped with the Type 30 CNI Suite and AEWC-7 EW System. The sensor fusion results in 360° situational awareness.

Cockpit

Evolved from it's predecessor the ADF-04's cockpit, the CA-30s cockpit features a large touchscreen and speech recognition system. The aircraft pilot is also equipped with a Helmet-mounted display featuring augmented-reality systems and High-off boresight firing capability.

Carrier Capability

Designed from the outset with Carrier Operations in mind, the ADF-06 boasts reinforced landing gear, a Concealed Arresting Hook and Folding Wings. The Domestic variant of the ADF-06 can only be launched via Steam captapults/EMALS while the export variant has STOBAR capability as well.

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Stealth

In order to minimize its radar cross section, the CA-30s physical design features S-ducts and an internal weapons bay. Electromagnetic wave absorbers are applied to the air-ducts and engines to reduce the amount of radar reflection. Metamaterials are also used to reflect radio waves. The metamaterials are applied on the pulse doppler system as part of a radio wave reflection control technology aboard the CA-30.

The CA-30 also uses plasma stealth antenna technology to deflect radio waves. The antenna operates by creating temporary plasma using characteristics of plasma that can change physical properties through electrical control. While activated the antenna is also capable of transmitting and receiving communication.

Networking & Associated Loyal Wingman systems

Possessing one of the most comprehensive and layered networking, communications and data-sharing suites of any aircraft in the Erandian Armed Forces, the CA-30 utilises (among other methods) MADL and Advanced Datalink systems, allowing it to act as a mini-AWACS for other aircraft and drones.
The CA-30 also represents the first aircraft in Erandian Service with Loyal Wingman systems in mind, and each individual CA-30 can control up to 6 Larger drones, usually SD-6 Puffin Loyal Wingman drones, in addition to 30 Smaller IPDSS Drones. The plane itself can also fly unmanned.

Armament

UCAV/LM Systems

Air-to-Air Missiles


Air-to-Surface Missiles



Other Armament/Active Protection Systems
-30 mm AGR-32/3 Single-barreled Autocannon (180 Rounds)
-Frontal CHAMP Directed-Energy Active Protection system
-Read Multi-mode Active Protection system (DIRCM, CHAMP, TaLS)

Variants

EXF-28 "Scabbard"
Prototype, 4 Produced.
CA-30 Stiletto
Primary Production Variant
CA-30B Stiletto
Twin-seat Variant with enhanced networking and drone control capabilities, with a larger enhanced AMK43C radar
CA-30E Stiletto
Export Variant

Operators

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 24.3 m
Wingspan: 20.3 m
Height: 4.7 m
Gross weight: 24,869 kg
Max takeoff weight: 32,000 kg
Powerplant: 2x Mercator Dynamics MD-25E Variable-Cycle Afterburning Turbofan (190Kn with afterburner)
Per Unit Cost: 180 Million ER

Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 2.1 at altitude
Range: 2300 km
Combat range: 1,200 km
Service ceiling: 17,000 m
G-limits: +9.0

Armament

Guns: 1 × 30 mm AGR-32/3 Single-barreled Autocannon (180 Rounds)
Hardpoints: 10 Internal Hardpoints, 6 External Hardpoints

Controls

Standard Aircraft Controls
Helmet-mounted display system follows the "Cockpit" camera.
Afterburners activate when throttle is 99% or higher.

Notes

At 1000+ Parts, This is by far my best plane! A product of nearly 6 months of planning, building, ft and perfectionism, the eventual (much delayed) completion of the craft should come on Christmas day 2022! This Build represents my first non-dedragged build to break the 1k part barrier, the first build to use extensive FT, and the first to posses a fully modeled and functioning interior (the cockpit, and most importantly the weapons and landing bays, please for the love of god check out the landing bay doors i spent hours on them and theyre barely visible unless you're really looking for them pleasepleasepleaseplease). If you like it, slap an upvote. If you don't, do leave a comment down below about what you didn't like. Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Credits

ALRX for the (Much delayed) Pictures, including the Thumbnail!
The lads at FT lab for the FT help
Dwiankasawa Aeronautics for the "Sintrex Targeting Pod", which i renamed the "Gazer EOTS"
Otana for sharing the FT needed for the cockpit screen labels