Cheppali GF-7 Civinkippuli

Cheppali GF-7 Civinkippuli
Prototype GF-7
Role	Fighter-bomber, multi-role fighter
Manufacturer	Cheppali International
First flight	1956
Introduction	1961
Retired	2007
Status	Retired from the Royal Tennaiite Air Force in 2007.
Primary user	Tennai
Produced	1959 - 2000
Number built	2,724
Program cost	NS$50 million
Unit cost	NS$2 million (1965)

The Cheppali GF-7 Civinkippuli is a Tennaiite fighter and attack aircraft designed and manufactured by Cheppali International. It was developed as a successor to the popular Cheppali 279 family.

In 1950, it was recognized that a new generation of jet-powered fighters would be needed to equip the the then in construction (Insert Name)-class aircraft carriers of the Royal Tennaiite Navy (RTN). By 1956 the first prototype GF-7 flew and achieved a speed of mach 2.2. While initially impressed by the design and performance of the Civinkippuli, the RTN changed their requirements from a single-engine aircraft to a twin-engine aircraft in 1959. Despite the change in design priorities of the RTN, the Royal Tennaiite Air Force (RTAF) was sufficiently impressed by the design that they ordered it in favor of other designs. Whith minor modifications to the design which included the removal of the arrestor gear, the RTAF introduced the GF-7 into service in 1961. The intitial production version of the Civinkippuli fielded the Koldari Technical Ampa I pulse-doppler radar and saw a series of upgrades that culminated in the installation of the Ampa IV in 1974. The Civinkippuli continued to serve in the RTAF until 2007.

The A-D models were powered by the Nanda K81-J turbojet engine which provided 71 kN (16,000 lbf) of thrust and from the E models onwards, the K81-M which provided 86 kN (19,400 lbf) of thrust. It was armed with an array of Tennaiite armaments and could be easily adapted to use a variety of armaments from foreign manufacturers. The Cheppali Civinkippuli has been operated as a light multipurpose fighter and has been exported to several nations. The type has seen action in a number of different conflicts across Tyran. In its interceptor and ground attack roles it was superceded by the GF-20 Berunda in the RTAF.

Specifications (Civinkippuli A)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 14.25 m (46 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
• Height: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
• Empty weight: 5,200 kg (11,464 lb)
• Gross weight: 8,700 kg (19,180 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 12,000 kg (26,455 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Nanda K81-J afterburning turbojet, 49 kN (11,000 lbf) thrust dry, 71 kN (16,000 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: 2,715 km/h (1,687 mph; 1,466 kn)
• Maximum speed: Mach 2.2
• Range: 1,000 km (621 mi; 540 nmi)
• Combat range: 500 km (311 mi; 270 nmi)
• Ferry range: 3,400 km (2,113 mi; 1,836 nmi) with maximum external fuel
• Service ceiling: 18,300 m (60,000 ft)
• Thrust/weight: 0.83

Armament

• Guns: 1 × 30 mm Kala cannon
• Hardpoints: 6 total; 2 × wing-tip air-to-air missile launch rails and 4 × under-wing pylons with a capacity of up to 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) of stores,
• Rockets:
  
  • Various Rockets
• Missiles:
  
  • Air-to-air missiless
  • Air-to-surface missiles
  • Anti-ship missile
• Bombs:
  
  • Various bombs
• Others:
  • Drop tanks for ferry flight/extended range/loitering time

Avionics

• Ampa I pulse-doppler radar