Aero Stežery AS-90

AS-90
AS-90B of the Royal Holyn Air Force
Role	Multirole fighter, air superiority fighter
National origin	Holyn Socialist States / Holynia
Manufacturer	Aero Stežery
First flight	10 February 1978 (1978-02-10)
Introduction	22 June 1982
Status	In service
Primary users	Royal Holyn Air Force Saha Air Force Avchensk Air Defense Force Tengbur Air Force See Operators section for others
Produced	1980–present
Number built	1,200
Unit cost	UD$30 million (June 2020)
Variants	Aero Stežery AS-91 Aero Stežery AS-95 Aero Stežery AS-94

The Aero Stežery AS-90 (SDI reporting name: Flanker) is a Holyn twin-engine supermaneuverable fighter aircraft designed by Aero Stežery. It was intended to directly counter the heavy Cuscan built Martinez-Degollado F-15 Águila. It was developed through the Tactical Fighter Program (Program taktických stíhaček) of the 1970s, to replace a myriad of older 3rd generation fighters with two modern airframes with upgrade potential. The PTS program resulted in both the heavy Aero Stežery AS-90 and the lighter SOKO So-30.

The AS-90 first took flight as the T-10 testbed aircraft in 1978. The airframe was given the moniker "Flanker" by the Spero Defence Initiative following its reported test flights. The aircraft was further improved and entered serial production in 1981. The aircraft formally entered service in 1985 with the Holyn Air Force. The fleet was inherited by the Royal Holyn Air Force in 2001, apart from 22 unairworthy aircraft that were abandoned at the conclusion of the Bogoria War.

The AS-90 grew into a family of aircraft including the AS-95 twin-seat multirole fighter, AS-94 side-by-side twin-seat strike fighter, and AS-91 carrier-capable fleet defence fighter. An advanced variant of the AS-90 is currently in production, dubbed AS-95M, built with composite materials, upgraded avionics and capable of carrying modern missiles.

Development

AS-90

In the early 1970s, the Holyn Air Force had learned of both Cuscan and SDI 4th generation fighter aircraft development. Of specific concern to the Holyn military was the Martinez-Degollado project which would result in the F-15 Águila. This aircraft was superior in all terms to the then mainstray Holyn fighter, the Aero Stežery AS-76.

This realization resulted in the rapid development of a 4th generation fighter program for the Holyn Air Force. The program was issued to designers under the name Program taktických stíhaček or Tactical Fighter Program. The PTS program called for a heavy and advanced fighter aircraft, capable of going head to head with an F-15. A smaller aircraft was also called for to carry out the bulk of combat with smaller SDI 4th generation fighters. Aero Stežery's design bureau partnered with the Central Aviation Institute in Cizekporok to develop prototypes for the heavier aircraft program.

The first airworthy prototype waws completed in 1977 and after a series of high-speed ground runs, conducted its first flight in February 1978. The aircraft suffered from instability and poor handling. During the testing phase, crashes were common, with a total of five fatal crashes between 1978 and 1980.

The production variant of the T-10, the refined T-10I, entered serial production in 1981. The production aircraft received the designation AS-90. The Holyn Air Force received its first AS-90 Flankers in 1984, however, this was is very small batches. Production began to ramp up in 1988, after production difficulties were worked out. The aircraft was widely exported to Holynia's allies in the Communist bloc.

AS-91, AS-94 and AS-95

Other branches of the Holyn military began to take notice of the AS-90s capabilities. After the initial AS-90 variant was introduced, the Holyn Navy tasked Aero Stežery with developing a fighter capable of carrier operations. The heavy weight of the AS-90 was a major hinderance, however, Aero Stežery would have spare production capabilities by 1990. The other major fighter manufacturer, SOKO, had no extra capacity for development or production.

Initital prototypes underwent mock carrier takeoff and landing trials at a specialized airfield in Castramnik. Naval officials were impressed and ordered further development of this aircraft. In 1989, the AS-90F (F for fleet in Holyn (flota)), undertook its first carrier landings on the then under construction Slatnik (now HMS King Mikuláš I).

An order of 70 AS-90F was placed in 1990, with additional aircraft possible depending on the development of further Holyn aircraft carriers.

A tandem-seat AS-90, the AS-94, with forward canards and additional sensors, entered service in 1993. The aircraft serves as a multi-role strike aircraft. It maintains air-to-air capability, however, is intended for all-weather, day and night, ground and naval strike missions.

A two-seat, long-range, multi-role fighter, the AS-95, entered service in 1992. This aircraft featurs 2 dimensional thrust vectoring and upgraded avionics.

Operational History

Holynia

The Holyn Air Force began receiving AS-90s in June 1984. It underwent acceptance trials between 1984 and 1986. The aircraft officially entered service in May 1986.

A Holyn AS-90 were routinely used for intercept missions by 1988. On 14 November 1989, a Vembek Navy frigate, HMS Gustav IX was intercepted by the Holyn corvette Admiral Maxmilián Fišer and a pair of AS-90 fighters operated by the Holyn Air Force. The fighters conducted several very low passes over the Vembek warship. On the 5th pass, one of the AS-90s, Blue 43, collided with Gustav IX. The left wing collided with the radar mast and the aircraft crashed into the Great Spero Sea. Both the Vembek and Holyn warships attempted to rescue the pilot of the AS-90. The Gustav IX launched a helicopter to assist with rescue and recovery. These attempts were unsuccesful as the majority of the airframe sunk into the sea and the pilot was declared dead. The other AS-90 returned to Holynia.

In March 1995, a Holyn AS-90 shot down a weather balloon from Elmad which drifted into Holyn airspace.

In June 1995, Holyn AS-90s provided escort for AS-84s and SOKO So-21 conducting bombing raids on Stesopol coup forces during the 1995 Stesopol coup attempt. One AS-90 was damaged by anti-aircraft fire. The damaged aircraft managed to return to base.

During the 1996 Stesopol revolution, AS-90s provided escort to Holyn AS-84s and So-21 strike aircraft. Coup forces managed to seize Stesopol SOKO So-30s and conducted intercepts of Holyn aircraft. Holyn AS-90s shot down three Stesopoli So-30s.

Holyn AS-90s particpated intermitently in the Bogoria War. 30 AS-90s were captured at Słupsk by Bogorian rebels. Bogor AS-90s shot down a Holyn AS-84 in March 1998. Holyn AS-90s soon fought against captured Bogor AS-90s during the spring of 1998. The expansion of anti-aircraft coverage led to AS-90s, and combat aviation taking a backseat role in the conflict. The Holyn Air Force were unable to conduct SEAD operations because of the lack of anti-radiation missiles.

Operators

Current operators

Avchensk

Avchensk Air Defence Force – 85 AS-90 in service as of 2020.

Bogoria

Bogoria Air Force – 15 AS-90 in inventory as of 2022. All former Holyn Air Force aircraft that were abandoned in 2000.

Holynia

Royal Holyn Air Force – 579 AS-90 in service as of 2022, with additional 40 to be delivered by 2025. 101 AS-90B, 98 AS-90C, 176 AS-90D, 16 AS-90DI, 87 AS-90I, 101 AS-90M. Fleet has undergone numerous modernizations since the 2000s.

Royal Holyn Navy – 56 AS-90 in service as of 2022.

Reyland

Reyland Air Force – 40 AS-90VR in service as of 2022. 40 AS-90MVR on order.

Saha

Saha Air Force – 78 AS-90 in inventory as of 2022.

Stesopol

Stespol Air Force – 45 AS-90 in inventory as of 2022.

Tengbur

Tengbur Air Force – 18 AS-90 in inventory as of 2022.

Former operators

Holyn Socialist Union

Holyn Air Force – Operated 783 AS-90 in 1999, all passed onto succesor states.

Royal Holyn Air Force

Royal Holyn Air Force
Kráľovské Holynské Vzdušné Sily
Emblem of the KHVS
Founded	1999
Country	Holynia
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Headquarters	Cizekporok
Anniversaries	5 May
Engagements	Template:Bulletedlist
Website	Template:Official URL
Insignia
Flag
Roundel (2004-present)
Roundel (1999-2004)
Aircraft flown
Attack	Su-25SM, Su-24M, Su-34
Bomber	MiG-31K, Tu-22M3, Tu-95, Tu-160
Electronic warfare	A-50/A-50U, Il-22PP, Il-80
Fighter	MiG-29, MiG-35, Su-27, Su-30, Su-35, Su-57
Helicopter	Ka-60, Mi-8, Mi-17, Mi-26
Attack helicopter	Mi-24/Mi-35M, Mi-28N, Ka-50, Ka-52
Interceptor	MiG-31
Trainer	Aero L-39 Albatros, Yak-130
Transport	Il-62, Il-76, Il-86, Il-112, An-26, An-124, An-140, An-148, An-22
Tanker	Il-78