KB/KBO "Wyvern"

KB/KBO Wyvern
Role	Multirole fighter
National origin	Neo-Korea
Manufacturer	Miyamoto Ltd
Designer	Miyamoto Ltd
First flight	January 7th, 2009
Introduction	August 2nd, 2011
Retired	2048 (planned)
Status	In active service, gradually being phased out
Primary user	Neo-Korean ADF
Produced	2011-2030
Number built	300
Program cost	c. 2.25 Billion MD
Unit cost	c. 75 million MD
Variants	KB/KBO "Strike Wyvern", KB/KT "Sea Wyvern"

The KB/KBO Wyvern is a Neo-Korean supersonic, twin-engine, tandem-seat, 4/4+ generation multirole strike fighter built by Miyamoto Ltd and operated by the Neo-Korean Aerial Defense Forces. It was the result of a number of development programs taking place during the Invasion of Jungg'o, and would first see service during the 2015 Marquesan Intervention, where it would prove itself as a broadly capable fighter far surpassing the TSS / SSM series of fighter craft.

The Wyvern was designed from its inception to utilize limited-stealth technologies, such as an internal weapons bay and radar-absorbent paint. It was designed to fulfill a number of roles which were seen as "underdeveloped" in the airforce, such as SEAD, Air Superiority, Electronic Warfare, and anti-naval support, the latter becoming especially relevant after the Chilokver naval strikes on Neo-Korea during the Jungg'o Invasion.

The Wyvern was variably marketed as a 4+ or 4.5 generation plane throughout its history, although it is arguable that it achieved this capacity until later variations of the craft, owing to deficient performance with regards to the radar-absorbing paint.

Development

During the Invasion of Jungg'o, the then-in service SSM-90 would prove itself to be deficient in several roles it had previously been thought capable at - owing to the age of the frames and the inability to properly install the avionics required for modern conflict, they would take severe casualties to ground-based systems despite the poor equipment of much of the Jungg'o army. This disparity was made even more clear when the planes were unable to stop the bombing of key positions by a Chilokver carrier, which almost halted the offensive and could have resulted in a failure to end the war if the carrier had not been forced to withdraw.

With these failures in mind, a program to rapidly create a more modern framework for an multirole plane was initiated in 2005, first seeing results in 2009, owing to already existing plans for a plane of this sort and the support of Neo-Korea's Iminchebol. The plane itself would begin being acquired for the airforce in 2011 - after the end of the Jungg'o invasion, but in time for the 2015 intervention into Marquesan.

Over time the plane would be variantized for different purposes, eventually culminating in the creation of the KB/KBO "Super Wyvern" as a ground-focused variant of the craft. The Wyvern is gradually being replaced by the KB/JTB "Super Raven", although full-phasing out is only scheduled to occur in 2048.

Design

Overview

The Wyvern is based, in many ways, on the design of both the SSM-90 and the Meridonian F5M6 "Super Lynx", in the sense that it fulfills similar roles and incorporate some similar technologies. More specifically, it incorporates a similar Fly-by-Wire system, greater integration for helmet-display systems, stand-off weaponry, and other technologies. It uses a large amount of composite material to reduce weight, incorporates a twin-wheel landing gear in the nose and two near the back of the plane, and additionally utilizes the Akira MLA-30 as an ejection system, alongside several other means to increase pilot survivability.

Engine

The Wyvern utilizes the SuKo Ltd GPM11 Afterburning Turbofans, decided upon over other competing options due to the ease of scaling production and the general balanced performance of the systems in comparison to other offerings. The Wyvern is capable of aerial refueling, which increases its range by a great extent. The engines are smokeless, and provide an approximate 16,636lbs of dry thrust.

Avionics

The Wyvern incorporates an advanced sensor suite, incorporating the Karasu Aokakesu AESA radar, the Sūkikyō infra-red search and track system, and the MIMIC / THINK FAST electronic countermeasure suite. It is additionally incorporated into Karasu's CJSS system, allowing it to share information to ground, naval, and other aerial assets rapidly. It can also carry certain additional assets for communication or spotting upon wing-mounted hardpoints.

Operational History

The Wyvern would participate in the 2015 Marquesan Intervention, where aces such as Furukawa Ayako would prove its capacity to engage in conflict against modern Marquesan airframes. Only an approximate 18 Wyverns were shot down during the course of the intervention, although sources debate if this is because of regular action taken to shield them from the worst periods of conflict or if it is due to technological advancement.

Variants

Same-Frame Variants

Wyvern-0
Prototype variant, utilized to test production standards. Last remaining Wyvern-0 is located in the Omiskan Aeronautical Research Structure's main lobby.

KB/KBO Wyvern
Main production two-seater variant, first entering service in 2011.

Wyvern/20
Upgrade of the Wyvern undergone in 2020, designed to update the craft to then-modern standards and allow for interconnectedness with the Karasu CJSS. Additionally incorporated uprated engines and a superior variant of the Bluejay AESA Radar.

Wyvern/30
Final upgrade of the Wyvern entering existence in 2030. Incorporated the Karasu Keiro-0Z Distributed Aperture System, the NK-FUZAN electro-optical tracking system (replacing the Sūkikyō), integrated the Yatagarasu Helmet Display System, and incorporated the NKAI77 Electronic Warfare System. Only 200 Wyverns were updated to this standard, with the rest remaining as the Wyvern/20.

Variable-Frame Variants

KB/KBO "Strike Wyvern"
Variant of the plane designed for precision strike and anti-ground roles, entering existence in 2018. Replaced the SSM-97 in that role after the Jungg'o Invasion.

KB/KT "Sea Wyvern"
Variant of the Wyvern designed for VTOL-based carrier operation, with 50 being made. While successful, it was believed that establishing a platform designed for this role from the ground-up was a more viable action (a line of thought eventually leading to the Sea Raven), and as such they were decommissioned.

Operators

• Neo-Korean Aerial Defense Force

Specifications

General Characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 16m (52ft 5.921in)
• Wingspan: 18m (59ft)
• Wing Area: 56.25m^2 (605.47sqft)
• Height: 4.8m (15ft 8.976in)

• Empty Weight: 10,000kg (22,046lbs)
• Fuel Weight: 6,000kg (13,227lbs)
• Gross Weight: 16,000kg (35,273lbs)
• Armament Weight: 2,000kg (4,409lbs)
• MTOW: 18,000kg (39,683lbs)

• Control Scheme: Fly-by-Wire/Optics
• Powerplant: 2x SuKo GPM11 Afterburning Turbofan, 74kN (16,636lbf) dry, 110kN (24,728lbf) wet
• Body Characteristics: Semi-Monocoque made with composite materials and a radar-absorbent coating, divertless supersonic inlets.
• Wing Characteristics: Blended-Wing Body with Canards
• Body Characteristics (Cockpit): Bubble Canopy, with a Head-up-Display, Helmet-mounted sight integrated with all available missiles

Performance

• Maximum Speed: Mach 2.25 (2,400km/h, 1,500mph, 1,300kn) at altitude
• Supercruise Speed: Mach 1.1 (1,400km/h, 870mph, 760kn)
• Ferry Range: 5,400km (3,355mi, 2,915nmi)
• Maximum Range (Internal): 3,600km (2,236mi, 1,943nmi)
• Combat Range: 1,600km (990mi, 860nmi)
• Service Ceiling: 18,000m (59,000ft)

• Wing Loading: 320kg/m^2
• Rate of Climb: 280m/s (918f/s)
• Time to Ceiling: 1 Minute and Four Seconds
• Thrust to Weight: 1.2:1

Armaments and Avionics

• Guns:
  • Internal 20mm Revolving Cannon (Wyvern)

• Missiles/Bombs:
  • 2x Internal Hardpoints with a capacity of 1,000kg each, common armament loadouts listed below:
    • Air-Air:
      • 5x 200kg “Mōru” BVR Missiles per Hardpoint, 10 total
    • Mixed:
      • 2x 200kg “Mōru” BVR Missiles per Hardpoint, 4 total
      • 6x 100kg “Seido” Precision-Guided Anti-Ground Missiles per Hardpoint, 12 total
    • Ground-Focused:
      • 2x 500kg Michibika-Reta-Te Bombs per Hardpoint, 4 total

• Avionics:
• Karasu Aokakesu (Bluejay) AESA Radar
• Karasu Sūkikyō (Cardinal) Infra-Red Search and Track operating in IR bands 3-5 and 8-11
• NKAI-88 “MIMIC”- Electronic Countermeasures Suite
• NKGAEB-32 “THINK FAST” ECM-Resistant Frequency Hopping System
• Integration with Karasu CJSS