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{{under construction}}
{{under construction}}
{{Region_icon_Ajax}}
{{Infobox Aircraft
{{Infobox Aircraft
|name= Mi-14 Harpy Eagle
|name= Mi-14 Harpy Eagle
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|national origin = {{flag|Sante Reze}}<br>{{flag|Orun Redisus}}<br>{{flag|Mutul}}<br>{{flag|Itayana}}
|national origin = {{flag|Sante Reze}}<br>{{flag|Orun Redisus}}<br>{{flag|Mutul}}<br>{{flag|Itayana}}
|manufacturers= [[Oxidentale Jet Works]]
|manufacturers= [[Oxidentale Jet Works]]
|image=KFX model.png
|image=Mi-14.jpeg
|caption= Model of an Mi-14-M1
|caption= Single seat and twin seat Mi-14 variants in flight.
|designer=  
|designer=  
|first flight= {{wpl|May 28}} {{wpl|2005}}
|first flight= {{wpl|May 28}} {{wpl|2005}}
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*430 billion (operations and sustainment)
*430 billion (operations and sustainment)
|unit cost= *75 million (flyaway cost 2015)
|unit cost= *75 million (flyaway cost 2015)
|primary user= {{flagicon|Sante Reze}} [[SR Airforce]] <br> {{flagicon|Orun Redisus}} [[Royal Redisan Air Force]] <br> {{flagicon|Mutul}} [[Mutulese Air Force]] <br> {{flagicon|Itayana}} [[Lunar Air Fleet]]
|primary user= {{flagicon|Sante Reze}} [[Rezese Armed Forces]] <br> {{flagicon|Orun Redisus}} [[Royal Redisan Air Force]] <br> {{flagicon|Mutul}} [[Mutulese Air Force]] <br> {{flagicon|Itayana}} [[Lunar Air Fleet]]
|more users=  
|more users=  
|variants with their own articles =  
|variants with their own articles =  
}}
}}


The '''Oxidentale Jet Works Mi-14 Harpy Eagle''' ''(Mi - Mimbuku or 'Spear" in Reze)'' is a [[Jet Fighter Generations (Ajax)|5th generation fighter]] developed by [[Oxidentale Jet Works]], a {{wp|consortium}} that was incorporated by [[Santh Corp]] of [[Sante Reze]], [[Falcus Designs]] of [[Orun Redisus]], [[XXX]] of [[Mutul|The Mutul]], and [[XXX]] of [[Itayana]] in order to develop new generation advanced aircraft. The Mi-14 was the first new 5th generation fighter to be developed in [[Ajax|Oxidentale]] in order to introduce new market alternatives to the [[UFC F-29 Hurricane]], the other major 5th generation fighter in Ajax. The fighter has been deployed extensively in the [[SR AIRFORCE]] and has been delivered to several squadrons in the [[Royal Redisan Air Force]] as well with more planned for introduction by 2023. The program is divided amongst corporations with [[santh corp]] holding a 40% stake and the remaining 60% divided amongst other participants. [[Falcus Design]]'s funding was primarily acquired through the government of [[Orun Redisus]].  
The '''Oxidentale Jet Works Mi-14 Harpy Eagle''' ''(Mi - Mimbuku or 'Spear" in Reze)'' is a [[Jet Fighter Generations (Ajax)|5th generation fighter]] developed by [[Oxidentale Jet Works]], a {{wp|consortium}} that was incorporated by [[Santh Corp]] of [[Sante Reze]], [[Falcus Designs]] of [[Orun Redisus]], [[XXX]] of [[Mutul|The Mutul]], and [[Jointly Blessed United Aircraft Corporation]] of [[Itayana]] in order to develop new generation advanced aircraft. The Mi-14 was the first new 5th generation fighter to be developed in [[Ajax|Oxidentale]] in order to introduce new market alternatives to the [[UFC F-29 Hurricane]], the other major 5th generation fighter in Ajax. The fighter has been deployed extensively in the [[Rezese Armed Forces|Republican Aerospace Corps]] and has been delivered to several squadrons in the [[Royal Redisan Air Force]] and the [[Lunar Air Fleet]] of [[Itayana]] as well with more planned for introduction by 2023. The program is divided amongst corporations with [[Soluzini Hade]] holding a 40% stake and the remaining 60% divided amongst other participants. [[Falcus Design]]'s funding was primarily acquired through the government of [[Orun Redisus]].  


== History ==
== Operational History ==
[[image:KF21-4.jpg|thumb|right|250px|One of two Mi-14 production lines Aethas, [[Orun Redisus]]]]
[[image:KF21-4.jpg|thumb|right|250px|One of two Mi-14 production lines Aethas, [[Orun Redisus]]]]
=== Operational History ===
===Designation and testing===
===Introduction into service===
In December of XXX, the [[Royal Redisan Air Force]] and the [[Reze Air Force]] announced that the Mi-14 had achieved Initial Operational Capacity. It was also announced that the first production units would be delivered to the 4th Air Regiment of the [[Royal Redisan Air Force]] based in [[Atica]] in March of XXX with [[Sante Reze]] taking delivery of an additional twenty units that same month. Production commenced in two different facilities, the Air Factory Complex in [[Zardoyare]], [[Sante Reze]]; and [[Falcus ME Works]] facility in [[Aethas]] in [[Redisus]]. A third facility in [[Danguixh]], The [[Mutul]] was announced in June of XXX as being repurposed for primary production in order to reduce program input costs and facilities maintenance for Oxidentale Jet Works. Limited numbers of aircraft would be built at the other two facilities with a much reduced workforce, as the [[Falcus ME Works]] facility was also responsible for supporting and producing [[Falcus Designs Me-550|Me-550]] as well as producing components and upgrade packages for [[Falcus Designs Me-510|Me-510]] aircraft.


== Armament ==
The first production aircraft arrived at Nelsilon Air Base in [[Atica]] in 2007.


The main armament of the aircraft is [[Reaper XM 30 mm revolver cannon]]. The determination of a powerful main armament was made early on for capable dogfighting. The design team was displeased with the performance of the previous models, which had been extensively tested aboard other aircraft. It was improved upon and deployed as the reaper XM. The gun has six barrels and is capable of up to 6,000 rpm. The revolver design also allows the weapon to fire rapidly, preventing any individual barrel from heating up excessively. Though the aircraft carries limited ammunition for the cannon, it was determined that the speed at which encounters happen would rapidly see ammunition depleted regardless.  
===Maintenance and training===
In terms of maintaining the aircraft, each aircraft requires a full maintenance package every 400 flight hours. The bulk of the maintenance is the stealth coatings, which require renewal and repair regularly. Early coatings experienced rain and moisture related issues early on in the aircraft's life cycle due to the tropical, humid weather across [[Ajax#Oxidentale|Oxidentale]] where the aircraft is primarily utilized. Several additional coating formulae have been released since with the latest Next Generation Stealth Coating Formula released in 2019 and retroactively applied to aircraft coming in for maintenance. In 2019, the aircraft had a cost of 40,239 solidus per flight hour to operate. Maintenance and repairs are handled at a few specific bases in deploying nations.


Hard points for the transportation of munitions were next to be considered. Six of them were to be on the aircraft mounted along various struts in the frame. The [[Standard Weapon Mounting System]] is the primary munitions mounting system. SWMS is a standard mount that can be placed on a variety of missiles. The aircraft is configured as a multi role fighter and thus can use its hard points for ground attack as well as air to air combat. The pylons are also supplemented by two {{wp|weapons bays}} along the center of the aircraft for larger, heavier munitions. With the potent weapons load and large number of weapons present, the dogfighting time was greatly increased compared to previous generation aircraft.  
===Deployments===
===Operational problems===
Mi-14 aircraft have primarily had issues with long term viability of sensitive technology. In order to cut development costs, initial avionics were not made modular as it was underestimated how fast computing technology would advance. By 2010, costly upgrades would be required to bring the aircraft up to an improved operational capacity. This was resolved in 2011 with the integration of the Orun Modular Avionics System from the [[Falcus Designs Me-550|Me-550]]. Older aircraft were retrofitted with this system, which finally allowed upgrades to be carried out cheaply without major design and developent expense.  


== Avionics, Controls, and Cockpit ==
The ejection system experienced initial issues in 2007 when it was determined the integrated helmet could get hung up and cause great peril to the pilot when ejecting. This required a fully removable helmet design to be introduced in 2008. Improvements to the flight suit followed with a specially designed flight suit for Mi-14 pilots to avoid having detachable vital monitoring probes all over the cockpit. Both of these function on their own wiring harnesses built into ths seat. Both of these greatly improved pilot usability.


The aircraft was specifically to be designed to a 5th generation standard with numerous new and potent computing systems for operations. A digital fly by wire control system with artificial stability control ensures the pilot has plenty of assistance in flying the aircraft with a full load. Initially, the prototype featured a helmet with a full internal display, which came with each aircraft and was a permanent part of the cockpit. The helmet displays targeting readouts, aircraft mechanical and electrical information, and has the capability to take feed from several night vision and thermal cameras. The helmet is also capable of monitoring pilot vital signs with attachment pads for several medical sensors on the pilot's arms. This system allows the pilot and those on the ground and in aircraft around him to monitor their comrade's vital signs. The production variant included a detachable main wiring harness for the helmet to allow the helmet to be disconnected since the initial design proved impractical. An integrated specialty flight suit with its own wiring harness was developed in 2016 to replace the built in vital signs monitoring pads. Initial prototypes proved difficult to fly as several configurations were tested and it was eventually decided that a conventional HOTAS setup would provide the best functionality for pilots.  
=== Future Upgrades ===
Mi-14 aircraft have been recommended by OJW to be in service through 2035 at least. With the 2016 release of the newly developed [[Next Generation In Flight Informational Interface]], the Redisan military has announced that Mi-14 aircraft are expected to serve through 2040 at the earliest.


In the event of the aircraft being shot down or the pilot becoming incapacitated, the aircraft is equipped with a full ejection seat system. The cockpit glass cover first ejects with a small explosive that removes the linkage. A rocket motor then removes the cockpit from the aircraft. The seat then is ejected out with it's own rocket engine and the pilot can either eject from the seat or utilize the seat's own parachute. Basic survival gear is present within the seat's storage compartment. An emergency radio transmitter within the seat can also be activated if the pilot is within recovery area. The restraints in the seat can secure the pilot and provide a relatively safe landing in the event the pilot becomes incapacitated and unable to function.  
== Design ==
===Overview===
The Mi-14 is a {{wp|fifth generation fighter|fifth generation}} {{wp|multirole combat aircraft}} that is considered a third generation stealth technology under the Royal Redisan Air Force Technology Classification System. It is the first aircraft in any of its respective national air forces to introduce full {{wp|Supermaneuverability}}, {{wp|supercruise}}, stealth, and {{wp|sensor fusion}}. It incorporates cropped-{{wp|delta wing}} technology borrowed from older Reze aircraft designs with modern high performance control surfaces such as leading-edge flaps, flaperons, ailerons, rudders on the canted vertical stabilizers, and all-moving horizontal tails (stabilators); for speed brake function. The twin R320 three spool turbofans are closely spaced and incorporate {{wp|flight dynamics|pitch-axis}} {{wp|thrust vectoring}}. Each engine produces 20,000 kg of thrust each and allows the aircraft to reach speeds of mach 2 under full afterburner. Though not initially so, later variants have been configured for {{wp|STOL}} in order to utilize at different airfields. An operational {{wp|VTOL}} variant has also been produced but is not currently utilized outside of [[Orun Redisus]].


All instruments within the aircraft export data to the M21A Data Processing Computer. It was developed in conjunction with several computer manufactuerers rather than developing it in house. Having the specialists produce the system resulted in a much better computer infrastructure than would be possible otherwise. The M21A is assigned with the monumental task of processing all data from the aircraft. It can coordinate with other nearby M21A units and share data. The device is also capable of linking, via encrypted satellite signal, to a ground basec computing systems in the home country provided it can reach a satellite comm system. This role can be filled by various naval or air options as well as land based. This allowed the pilot to access data from other various systems. Incoming data is sifted by the M21A and information is compiled into several basic categories. The system can prioritize data as well. For example, a warning about an internal failure takes precedent over a long distance contact on radar.  
In order to facilitate multiple mission roles, the aircraft comes with both internal weapons bays and external hardpoints, which can be unloaded or effectively removed which allows extreme control over sources of {{wp|parasitic drag}}. The aircraft is fully equipped to perform air to air combat at heights of 54,000 feet which provides a significant improvement on deployment range of air to air missiles and additional effective range for JDAMs. The higher operational altitude also improves the operation of sensors and weapons systems. The airplane's structure contains a significant amount of high-strength materials to withstand stress and heat of sustained supersonic flight. Respectively, titanium alloys and bismaleimide/epoxy composites comprise 42% and 24% of the structural weight.


Navigation is handled by a GPS system that operates off of navigation satellites. Navigation parameters are displayed on one of the primary cockpit displays. Navigation telemetry is considered secondary to combat and aircraft status data and is thus not displayed in the helmet system by default but can be brought on the helmet display if the pilot desires it. Two Litton LN-100F ring laser gyroscopes assist in providing the aircraft with unprecedented navigational capacity on its own apart from satellites if the aircraft is cut off. This lessens the workload of the pilot significantly by looking at the ground below and alerting him when necessary. Navigation data can also be gathered from naval vessels and land radars.  
===Armament===
The Mi-14 is equipped with a powerful suite of weapons to give it the ability to comfortably fulfill many missions profiles. The primary armament load for the Mi-14 is carried in three external weapons bays, one large central bay and two smaller bays at the base of each wing. The main bay is split along the center of the aircraft and can accommodate five air to air missiles and two additional missiles can be stored in the smaller bays for additional engagement. The bays are all modular, allowing rapid reconfiguration for different payloads. Larger weapons take up more space, allowing less to be carried, while smaller payloads allow for more to be carried. Each bay is equipped with a hydraulic system for rapid operation of the bay doors, which only need to be open for a second to launch weapons. Hydraulic arms quickly actuate and release the weapons. Four additional hardpoints can be removed or added for external weapons loads, electronic warfare pods, recon pods, and extra fuel tanks as necessary.  


Electronic warfare is handled by an all new system. A EWP-5B low band tactical jamming pod mounted on the belly is designed to throw of missile tracking systems by jamming many low frequencies. Two XB-22A wide and low band receivers (one on each wingtip) combine with the EWP-5B to form a web of defense against air to air threats. A EW-1E Electronic Warning System alerts the pilot of tracking locks. An infrared jammer mounted under a radar transparent dome on the underbelly provides defense against IR missile guidance. It was decided that a new approach to countermeasures and defense would be needed for a hard countermeasure system. Traditional chaff would be replaced with an active disposable radar decoy device. The DD372 decoy system was developed specifically for deployment on the aircraft. The system deploys small pods in the shape of chaff pods which provide significant amounts of radar interference. As of 2017, the infrared strobe was swapped out for an active directional infrared interference module which improved performance significantly
A [[Reaper XM 30 mm revolver cannon]] is located in the left wing root behind a retractable door. The determination of a powerful main armament was made early on for capable dogfighting. The design team was displeased with the performance of the previous models, which had been extensively tested aboard other aircraft. It was improved upon and deployed as the reaper XM. The gun has six barrels and is capable of up to 6,000 rpm. The revolver design also allows the weapon to fire rapidly, preventing any individual barrel from heating up excessively. Though the aircraft carries limited ammunition for the cannon, it was determined that the speed at which encounters happen would rapidly see ammunition depleted regardless.


An entirely new mechanically steered radar is featured aboard the aircraft, the LRDD45F Active Detection Array. This is a very large radar, with a detection radius 200-230 km against 1m^2 targets. It can sweep 50 degrees and has a tracking range of 25 km against objects from the size of a basketball and larger. It combines with the ability to track up to twenty two targets. The radar is one of the most developed part of the avionics. Specifically shaping the radar around the aircraft allowed it to be constructed in a smaller package, slightly reducing the size.  
===Stealth===
The Mi-14 was designed to be difficult to detect and track by radar. RCS reductive measures include airframe shaping such as alignment of edges, fixed-geometry serpentine inlets and curved vanes that prevent line-of-sight of the engine faces and turbines from any exterior view, use of radar-absorbent material, and attention to detail such as hinges and pilot helmets that could provide a radar return. The Mi-14 was also designed to have decreased radio emissions, infrared signature and acoustic signature as well as reduced visibility to the naked eye. Flat thurst vectoring nozzles reduce heat output and lower the possiblity of infrared missile tracking locking onto the aircraft. Various measures were undertaken on the airframe as well with the application of a special topcoat and active cooling of leading edges to manage the heat buildup from supersonic flight.


A WM-1G Weapons Management System (WMS) is standard within every aircraft. The system provides ample abilities and handles targeting. It also has an emergency weapons jettison protocol. Manual targeting is available as well as a backup countermeasure. The system can be displayed inside the pilot's helmet displays to provide an unprecedented degree of targeting capabilities for the pilot Friend/Foe identification was also integrated into the system. A new rendition of the software was released in 2019 along with new hardware taking advantage of virtual reality programming. Tests on a new helmet design began in 2021 that allows a pilot to be able to interact with the outside world in real time and see a full unhindered 360 degree view of the world around them and see real time radar pinging and targeting on the helmet display. This system further required the integration of several high speed camera pods mounted at various points of the aircraft and additional processing upgrades to provide a full view.  
It was determined that the aircraft would be  less reliant on RAM due to the maintenance-intensive aspect of the material and its susceptibility to adverse weather conditions. Later models include a Signature Assessment System which delivers warnings when the material is degraded enough to necessitate repair. The exact RCS has not been released but OJW officials have stated that the aircraft has roughly the same cross signature as a bird or marble. It is also possible to mount a Luneburg lens reflector to mask RCS.


To integrate all of the avionics and data crunching, the SN37R Central Avionics Data Processing Computer (CADPR) is aboard the aircraft. This computer has the massive job of coordinating everything with a microprocessor on the plane. The system divides every computer into a bank, these banks have an individual processing system aiding the main computer by gathering and sending the data in manageable packages for the CADPR. The autopilot links to the CADPR before linking to the GPS system to provide a system in between the GPS and the autopilot. It pilots the aircraft by satellite. A EN3D Engine Monitoring Computer is specifically designed to monitor the various aspects of the engine, but this was thrown in as sort of a redundant backup. Overall, the module avionics system was maintained from the Na-5 to allow easy upgrades in the future.
=== Avionics, Controls, and Cockpit ===
 
== Airframe and Wing Design ==
 
The airframe, designers knew, would need to be strong and armored, so it was constructed out of titanium, aluminun, and carbon fiber. The wings are designed to have a high tinsel strength for extended periods of stress. The control surface layout was to be fairly basic which would allow for easy maintenance and export. A control column or a control yoke attached to a column, which moves the ailerons when turned or deflected left and right, and moves the elevators when moved backwards or forwards provides for ease of control. These provide for the plane to climb, dive, or turn left and right. The aircraft has 5th generation stealth capabilities. A coating of special paint combined with angles in certain places reduce the aircraft's radar signature significantly. In an age of {{wp|5th generation aircraft}}, the Mi-14 would not last long without some stealth capability to protect it. Weight and aerodynamics were still a consideration and the designers attempted to strike a balance between flyability and lowering the radar cross section.
 
== Propulsion ==
 
Initial engine considerations were a point of debate. Earlier engines such as the R220 and R230 were considered but in the end it lost out to an upgraded platform for stealth, based on the AA50 large aircraft engines, designated as the R320. The output was kept mostly the same as the parent engine design but added some new features to make such a design more viable for use on a smaller aircraft. The aircraft is configured for {{wp|short take off landing}} or STOL which marks a departure from the long distance takeoff of the bomber the parent engines propel. A nozzle that can decrease the size of the opening to increase speed is standard as with the design as it is on most modern jet engines. An emergency oxygen intake vent and an electrical igniter to avoid flame-out are present to prevent the engine from suffering from high stress failure. The turbines themselves are titanium-nickel alloy to save weight and allow for greater handling of heat. Blown flaps and thrust reversers are standard. The engine's insides are constructed of lightweight titanium and carbon fiber. The fuel sprayer layout is three sprayers in a row, which spray at a carefully monitored and adjusted rate by the EN3D (see Avionics and Controls). The engine is further optimized with a third compressor to account for the gas expanding in the combustion chamber and saves some of the engine's performance. Past experience with jet engines indicated to the design team that a low bypass afterburning turbofan would achieve optimal performance.. A 3-D thrust vectoring system and bucket thrust reversers round out the engine's capabilities.


== Variants ==
== Variants ==
Line 69: Line 72:
! Xi-14-M2
! Xi-14-M2
| Second prototype that flew in late December of 2006 incorporating requested changes. Accepted for production starting early 2007.  
| Second prototype that flew in late December of 2006 incorporating requested changes. Accepted for production starting early 2007.  
|-
! Mi-14-M1
| Initial production variant beginning deliveries in 2007.
|-
! Mi-14-M2
| Improved production variant introduced in 2010 with modular avionics systems.
|-
! Mi-14-M2.CV
| VTOL equipped carrier variant released in 2012 for operation on X carrier.
|-
! Mi-14-M3
| First cycle refresh introduced in 2016 with updated avionics systems. First aircraft to employ the Next Generation In Flight Informational Interface, which uses virtual reality to provide a 360 degree interactive visual display of the aircraft's surroundings inside the pilot's helmet.
|-
! Mi-14-M4
| New life cycle refresh {{wp|VTOL}} variant for service on X carrier ordered by [[Sante Reze]]. Two squadrons are set to be operational by early 2022.
|-
|}
|}


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|afterburning thrust main=
|afterburning thrust main=
|afterburning thrust alt=
|afterburning thrust alt=
|max speed main= Mach 1.9
|max speed main= Mach 2+
|max speed alt=  
|max speed alt=  
|cruise speed main= Mach 0.9
|cruise speed main= Mach 0.9
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*'''Other Ordinance:''' Additional ground attack munitions as required in different configurations.
*'''Other Ordinance:''' Additional ground attack munitions as required in different configurations.
}}
}}
=== Additional Stats ===
Length: 20 m <br>
Wingspan: 12 m <br>
Height: 4 m <br>
Propulsion: 2x Jupiter Mk III three spool turbofans producing 20,000 kg of thrust each <br>
Total Net Thrust: 40,000 kg <br>
Empty Weight: 16,200 kg <br>
Maximum Take-Off Weight: 47,546 kg <br>
Minimum Fuel Weight: 9,136.5 kg <br>
Maximum Fuel Weight: 12,791 kg <br>
Limit Per/Number of Pylon(s): <br>
-4x Wing Mounted Pylons, Inner Pylon: 1,200 kg, Outer Pylon: 720 kg <br>
-2x Weapons bays with a 2,300 kg max load <br>
-1x Central pylon with a 3,000 kg max load <br>
Normal Payload: 8,400 kg <br>
Maximum Payload: 13,000 kg <br>
Normal Combat Weight: 37,391 kg <br>
Thrust-to-Weight Ratio: 1.1 <br>
Combat Range: 1,200 km <br>
Ferry Range: 3,240 km <br>
Operational Ceiling/Altitude: 19 km <br>
Electronic Warfare: <br>
-1x EWP-5B Jamming Pod <br>
Maximum Altitude: 19 km <br>
Cruising Speed: Mach 0.9 <br>
Supercruising Speed: Mach 1.6 <br>
Maximum Speed: Mach 1.9 <br>
Crew (List): <br>
Na-6A- 1 <br>
Na-6E- 2 man trainer


== Operators ==
== Operators ==


*{{flag|Sante Reze}}
*{{flag|Sante Reze}}
:* [[SANTHFORCE]]
:* [[Rezese Armed Forces]]
*{{ORE}}  
*{{ORE}}  
:* [[Royal Redisan Air Force]]
:* [[Royal Redisan Air Force]]
Line 180: Line 167:
'''Comparable Aircraft'''
'''Comparable Aircraft'''
*[[UFC F-29 Hurricane]]
*[[UFC F-29 Hurricane]]
 
*[[Morgenroete F-104 Ghost]]


[[Category:Military equipment of Orun Redisus]]
[[Category:Military equipment of Orun Redisus]]
Line 188: Line 175:
[[Category:Multirole fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:Multirole fighter aircraft]]
[[category:Aircraft of Orun Redisus]]
[[category:Aircraft of Orun Redisus]]
[[category:Sante Reze]]

Latest revision as of 00:36, 22 May 2024

Mi-14 Harpy Eagle
Mi-14.jpeg
Single seat and twin seat Mi-14 variants in flight.
General information
TypeMulti-role Fighter
ManufacturerOxidentale Jet Works
StatusIn production
History
Introduction dateMid 2007

The Oxidentale Jet Works Mi-14 Harpy Eagle (Mi - Mimbuku or 'Spear" in Reze) is a 5th generation fighter developed by Oxidentale Jet Works, a consortium that was incorporated by Santh Corp of Sante Reze, Falcus Designs of Orun Redisus, XXX of The Mutul, and Jointly Blessed United Aircraft Corporation of Itayana in order to develop new generation advanced aircraft. The Mi-14 was the first new 5th generation fighter to be developed in Oxidentale in order to introduce new market alternatives to the UFC F-29 Hurricane, the other major 5th generation fighter in Ajax. The fighter has been deployed extensively in the Republican Aerospace Corps and has been delivered to several squadrons in the Royal Redisan Air Force and the Lunar Air Fleet of Itayana as well with more planned for introduction by 2023. The program is divided amongst corporations with Soluzini Hade holding a 40% stake and the remaining 60% divided amongst other participants. Falcus Design's funding was primarily acquired through the government of Orun Redisus.

Operational History

One of two Mi-14 production lines Aethas, Orun Redisus

Designation and testing

Introduction into service

In December of XXX, the Royal Redisan Air Force and the Reze Air Force announced that the Mi-14 had achieved Initial Operational Capacity. It was also announced that the first production units would be delivered to the 4th Air Regiment of the Royal Redisan Air Force based in Atica in March of XXX with Sante Reze taking delivery of an additional twenty units that same month. Production commenced in two different facilities, the Air Factory Complex in Zardoyare, Sante Reze; and Falcus ME Works facility in Aethas in Redisus. A third facility in Danguixh, The Mutul was announced in June of XXX as being repurposed for primary production in order to reduce program input costs and facilities maintenance for Oxidentale Jet Works. Limited numbers of aircraft would be built at the other two facilities with a much reduced workforce, as the Falcus ME Works facility was also responsible for supporting and producing Me-550 as well as producing components and upgrade packages for Me-510 aircraft.

The first production aircraft arrived at Nelsilon Air Base in Atica in 2007.

Maintenance and training

In terms of maintaining the aircraft, each aircraft requires a full maintenance package every 400 flight hours. The bulk of the maintenance is the stealth coatings, which require renewal and repair regularly. Early coatings experienced rain and moisture related issues early on in the aircraft's life cycle due to the tropical, humid weather across Oxidentale where the aircraft is primarily utilized. Several additional coating formulae have been released since with the latest Next Generation Stealth Coating Formula released in 2019 and retroactively applied to aircraft coming in for maintenance. In 2019, the aircraft had a cost of 40,239 solidus per flight hour to operate. Maintenance and repairs are handled at a few specific bases in deploying nations.

Deployments

Operational problems

Mi-14 aircraft have primarily had issues with long term viability of sensitive technology. In order to cut development costs, initial avionics were not made modular as it was underestimated how fast computing technology would advance. By 2010, costly upgrades would be required to bring the aircraft up to an improved operational capacity. This was resolved in 2011 with the integration of the Orun Modular Avionics System from the Me-550. Older aircraft were retrofitted with this system, which finally allowed upgrades to be carried out cheaply without major design and developent expense.

The ejection system experienced initial issues in 2007 when it was determined the integrated helmet could get hung up and cause great peril to the pilot when ejecting. This required a fully removable helmet design to be introduced in 2008. Improvements to the flight suit followed with a specially designed flight suit for Mi-14 pilots to avoid having detachable vital monitoring probes all over the cockpit. Both of these function on their own wiring harnesses built into ths seat. Both of these greatly improved pilot usability.

Future Upgrades

Mi-14 aircraft have been recommended by OJW to be in service through 2035 at least. With the 2016 release of the newly developed Next Generation In Flight Informational Interface, the Redisan military has announced that Mi-14 aircraft are expected to serve through 2040 at the earliest.

Design

Overview

The Mi-14 is a fifth generation multirole combat aircraft that is considered a third generation stealth technology under the Royal Redisan Air Force Technology Classification System. It is the first aircraft in any of its respective national air forces to introduce full Supermaneuverability, supercruise, stealth, and sensor fusion. It incorporates cropped-delta wing technology borrowed from older Reze aircraft designs with modern high performance control surfaces such as leading-edge flaps, flaperons, ailerons, rudders on the canted vertical stabilizers, and all-moving horizontal tails (stabilators); for speed brake function. The twin R320 three spool turbofans are closely spaced and incorporate pitch-axis thrust vectoring. Each engine produces 20,000 kg of thrust each and allows the aircraft to reach speeds of mach 2 under full afterburner. Though not initially so, later variants have been configured for STOL in order to utilize at different airfields. An operational VTOL variant has also been produced but is not currently utilized outside of Orun Redisus.

In order to facilitate multiple mission roles, the aircraft comes with both internal weapons bays and external hardpoints, which can be unloaded or effectively removed which allows extreme control over sources of parasitic drag. The aircraft is fully equipped to perform air to air combat at heights of 54,000 feet which provides a significant improvement on deployment range of air to air missiles and additional effective range for JDAMs. The higher operational altitude also improves the operation of sensors and weapons systems. The airplane's structure contains a significant amount of high-strength materials to withstand stress and heat of sustained supersonic flight. Respectively, titanium alloys and bismaleimide/epoxy composites comprise 42% and 24% of the structural weight.

Armament

The Mi-14 is equipped with a powerful suite of weapons to give it the ability to comfortably fulfill many missions profiles. The primary armament load for the Mi-14 is carried in three external weapons bays, one large central bay and two smaller bays at the base of each wing. The main bay is split along the center of the aircraft and can accommodate five air to air missiles and two additional missiles can be stored in the smaller bays for additional engagement. The bays are all modular, allowing rapid reconfiguration for different payloads. Larger weapons take up more space, allowing less to be carried, while smaller payloads allow for more to be carried. Each bay is equipped with a hydraulic system for rapid operation of the bay doors, which only need to be open for a second to launch weapons. Hydraulic arms quickly actuate and release the weapons. Four additional hardpoints can be removed or added for external weapons loads, electronic warfare pods, recon pods, and extra fuel tanks as necessary.

A Reaper XM 30 mm revolver cannon is located in the left wing root behind a retractable door. The determination of a powerful main armament was made early on for capable dogfighting. The design team was displeased with the performance of the previous models, which had been extensively tested aboard other aircraft. It was improved upon and deployed as the reaper XM. The gun has six barrels and is capable of up to 6,000 rpm. The revolver design also allows the weapon to fire rapidly, preventing any individual barrel from heating up excessively. Though the aircraft carries limited ammunition for the cannon, it was determined that the speed at which encounters happen would rapidly see ammunition depleted regardless.

Stealth

The Mi-14 was designed to be difficult to detect and track by radar. RCS reductive measures include airframe shaping such as alignment of edges, fixed-geometry serpentine inlets and curved vanes that prevent line-of-sight of the engine faces and turbines from any exterior view, use of radar-absorbent material, and attention to detail such as hinges and pilot helmets that could provide a radar return. The Mi-14 was also designed to have decreased radio emissions, infrared signature and acoustic signature as well as reduced visibility to the naked eye. Flat thurst vectoring nozzles reduce heat output and lower the possiblity of infrared missile tracking locking onto the aircraft. Various measures were undertaken on the airframe as well with the application of a special topcoat and active cooling of leading edges to manage the heat buildup from supersonic flight.

It was determined that the aircraft would be less reliant on RAM due to the maintenance-intensive aspect of the material and its susceptibility to adverse weather conditions. Later models include a Signature Assessment System which delivers warnings when the material is degraded enough to necessitate repair. The exact RCS has not been released but OJW officials have stated that the aircraft has roughly the same cross signature as a bird or marble. It is also possible to mount a Luneburg lens reflector to mask RCS.

Avionics, Controls, and Cockpit

Variants

Variant Notes
Xi-14-M1 Initial prototype variant that first flew in 2005. Several key modifications were requested by various partner nations before production approval.
Xi-14-M2 Second prototype that flew in late December of 2006 incorporating requested changes. Accepted for production starting early 2007.
Mi-14-M1 Initial production variant beginning deliveries in 2007.
Mi-14-M2 Improved production variant introduced in 2010 with modular avionics systems.
Mi-14-M2.CV VTOL equipped carrier variant released in 2012 for operation on X carrier.
Mi-14-M3 First cycle refresh introduced in 2016 with updated avionics systems. First aircraft to employ the Next Generation In Flight Informational Interface, which uses virtual reality to provide a 360 degree interactive visual display of the aircraft's surroundings inside the pilot's helmet.
Mi-14-M4 New life cycle refresh VTOL variant for service on X carrier ordered by Sante Reze. Two squadrons are set to be operational by early 2022.

Specifications

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

  • Cannons: 1x 30 mm cannon
  • Missiles: 8x various air to air missiles
  • Other Ordinance: Additional ground attack munitions as required in different configurations.

Operators

See Also

Comparable Aircraft

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