Oyasumi AXF-78 'Higanbana' Block I

Late Fifth-Generation Air Superiority Fighter

Note: BLOCK II RELEASE AT THIS LINK. BLOCK I IS NOW OUTDATED, SO USE OF BLOCK II IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Note: A minor cosmetic/performance update over the original post. Primarily resolves criticisms brought up by @Default4 on first release. Changes include reconstructed landing gear doors, revised airbrake performance, and local aesthetic fixes to patch up certain areas of the aircraft. Though the original post will remain up, please consider this to be the definitive release of the AXF-78 'Higanbana' Block I, as intended by the designer. Thank you.

Original Post

Proposition:

A next-generation fighter conceived by a certain northwesterly nation during the early twenty-first century. Throughout its design, superior air-to-air combat performance was heavily emphasized in response to the aerial capabilities of existing fifth-generation aircraft, while considering the imminent maturation of sixth-generation technologies and accelerating radar development.

Specifications:

• Length: 23.5 m
• Wingspan: 17.1 m
• Height: 5.6 m
• Weight: 20,478 kg
• Top Speed: Mach 2.6 (25 km altitude)
• Service Ceiling: 25 km
• Operational Range: ~3800 km
• Carrier-Capable: Yes
• Carrier Equipment: No

Airframe/Avionics:

The prioritization of aerial combat performance contributed to the use of an inherently unstable triplane layout consisting of canards, forward-swept wings and elevons. A previously impractical design configuration once studied by a now-defunct nation, it has been further developed and perfected locally in tandem with state-of-the-art computers and fly-by-optic technology. Operating alongside 3D thrust-vectoring paddles, this grants the Higanbana with superior turn rate, precise post-stall maneuvering, and supermaneuverability.

As a late fifth-generation fighter, the Higanbana features equally potent, if not superior, stealth capabilities as contemporary models. This has been made possible through further advancements in stealth technology following the development of the earliest fifth-generation fighters, combining the previously incompatible forward-swept layout with stealth capabilities without compromise. As such, the Higanbana excels at remaining undetected to enemy aircraft until it is within firing range; this permits numerous viable combat strategies.

The Higanbana was also designed with combat endurance in mind, using two powerful yet highly efficient powerplants equipped with internal intake ramps to yield an operational range of ~3800 km and a top speed of Mach 2.6 at an altitude of 25 km. A retractable refueling probe was also installed on the port side of the fuselage to indefinitely extend the range of the Higanbana.

Armaments:

Chiefly designed as an air superiority fighter, the Higanbana’s Block I loadout is cited to be superior to those of contemporary designs, featuring two internal weapons bay with twelve specialized air-to-air missiles for close and mid-range combat. These feature independent 90-degree locking between 250 m and 40 km. In addition, the Higanbana Block I may be equipped with two external pods capable of each carrying four long-range air-to-air missiles between 3 km and 100 km. These external pods may also hold numerous types of air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles in place of the default Block I loadout. Furthermore, each external pod features two external hardpoints for the usage of four counts of special weaponry. Alongside a concealed retractable minigun mounted on the starboard side, these grant the Higanbana extensive combat endurance and firepower.

Pilot Interface:

Using a modern HOTAS layout, the Higanbana primarily relies on a panoramic cockpit display featuring the following live readouts displayed in metric:
* Radar display with target location and distance indicator
* Artificial horizon
* Heading indicator
* True airspeed and Mach indicators
* Sea level and ground level altimeters
* Fuel indicator
* Munitions indicator

Functionality indicators are also present for the pilot’s use:
* AoA limiter on/off
* Master Arm Switch
* Internal/External bay indicator
* Gear indicator
* Refueling probe indicator
* Navigation light indicator
* AG indicators

Operating Instructions:

• AG1: Toggle AoA limiter (Useful for supermaneuverability and post-stall maneuvering)
• AG2: Master Arm. Simultaneously arms internal and external weaponry
• AG3: Refueling Probe
• AG4: Jettison External Weaponry
• AG8: Navigation Lighting
• Trim: Trim (Useful for landing, full trim down and gear down to engage flaps)
• Combat: Enable Master Arm. Weapons Bays will automatically open when acquiring a lock, within 90 degrees and within the selected weapon's targeting range. Refer to the Armaments description for detailed information on equipped weapons.

Credit List

• @GuyFolk: Fly By Wire (Optic) System + Troubleshooting
• @p0tato72: Fly By Wire (Optic) Troubleshooting
• @Scharnhorst: Numerical Indicators (Altimeter/Speedometer/Heading Indicator)
• @BagelPlane: Functioning Radar + Compass
• @Pietro: Throttle + Joystick + Pedals + Artificial Horizon
• @P1T1KU: Visible Interior Canopy Tint
• @NumbersNumbersTheMan @Kennneth @BloodFart: French Alpines

Alternate Colors

• Amuro Ray Type A1: An alternate color scheme modeled after the MSZ-006A1 Zeta Plus A1 flown by Amuro Ray as a Karaba ace following the Gryps Conflict. Red and beige, with his signature tail emblem.
• To be updated...

Designer's Remarks:

The Higanbana is my first successful build in almost four years, a culmination of the experienced I gained from building numerous failed fighter projects. These projects were previously done on my old accounts, @SHCow and @Aaltonen Industries. It's quite fortunate that Funky Trees now allow for true fly-by-wire and supermaneuverability as well as true cockpit functionality and increased mechanical complexity, as these were qualities that I had always strived for in my previous designs. I intend on infrequent releases as a university student, and I'll maintain a near-future alternate reality narrative on this and any of my future works on SP. Please enjoy my latest project on SimplePlanes, and don't forget to offer any constructive feedback that I could put to good use in the future.