JAS-26 Draken

Aestrup JA26 Draken
Role	Air superiority fighter Multirole fighter
National origin	Acrea
Designer	Aestrup ASA
First flight	6 August 1978
Introduction	13 July 1988
Status	In active service
Primary users	Royal Acrean Air Force Ruvelkan Imperial Air Force Royal and Imperial Quenminese Air Force

The Aestrup JA26 Draken is a twin-engine, 4.5 generation fighter designed by Aestrup ASA for the Acrean Air Force. Although initially purpose-built as a dedicated air superiority fighter and interceptor as it was introduced in 1988, subsequent upgrades have turned the aircraft into an effective and capable multirole fighter.

The Draken is known for its excellent, proven flight characteristics with excellent manoeuvrability. The Draken stands out in its kinematic performance and energy capability; most modern Drakens are equipped with variants of MDA's EJ-900 series of engines, known for their high thrust and throttle responsiveness. The aircraft was introduced with only simple air-to-ground capability, which was only updated over a decade into the fighter's service life. The aircraft is compatible with a wide range of armaments to suit its major customers.

Design

Although originally designed to be a supremely effective air superiority fighter, the Draken gradually grew into a capable multirole fighter. The Draken uses a close-coupled delta-wing and canard configuration that provides excellent transonic and supersonic high-energy agility, and upon entering service was powered with a pair of EJ-900-89 afterburning turbofans providing nearly 32,000 lbf in reheat. These engines enabled the Draken's exceptional acceleration, top speed, and high altitude performance compared to other contemporary fighters. Additionally, the EJ-900-89 was fitted with the then-new MATV thrust vectoring system that would become standard to all MDA EJ-900 series engines produced afterwards.

Operational experience by Acrean pilots throughout numerous engagements in the 1990s and 2000s and Ruvelkan pilots during the Zemplen War demonstrated the Draken's flight control mechanics as one of its most valuable features; the aircraft's advanced computers and flight control systems which could operate and change independent of pilot input depending on external variables provided a notable advantage during aerial engagements. Complex manipulation of control services by the flight computer is deliberately intended to emphasise a focus on employing rather than flying the fighter.

Avionics

The modern Draken uses the GUNGNIR integrated avionics suite a key aspect of which is its sensor fusion and sensory integration; information gathered through its multitude of sensors and systems are filtered, synthesised, and displayed on the pilot's display to enhance situational awareness and reduce the workload of the pilot. Key sensors on the aircraft are its Kobalt-Zeiss AR/ASM-06 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, MDA ERMG-11 electronic warfare and countermeasure system, and a Kobalt-Zeiss OS/IRN-D suite which includes the aircraft's infrared search and track sensor slaved to a magnified optical sight, a separate electro-optical targeting system, and its infrared distributed aperture system, and its CNI suite. The avionics of the Draken are designed to communicate with one another to complement roles; i.e. the AESA radar provides a component of the electronic warfare system. They filter and synthesise the information gathered and present it as a cohesive and comprehensive picture of the battlespace to the pilot. The AR/ASM-06 radar is reported to provide a tracking range in excess of 150km, and is complemented by the OS/IRN-D, a component of the Draken's SOL combat systems suite. The OS/IRN-D's IRST allows the aircraft to detect airborne targets at a reported range of up to 100km, and surface or sea targets at 10km. Full target tracking and identification is reportedly slightly closer than the maximum detection range of the IRST, while tracking range with necessary quality and precision for weapons guidance is further limited. A primary function of the IRST is use against opposing 5th generation aircraft to allow it to detect, vector onto, and engage said aircraft. It can also use this capability to vector onto and track enemy aircraft without eliciting radar emissions that would reveal its presence. The OS/IRN-D's distributed aperture system consists of several infrared optical sensors arranged around the aircraft that works in conjunction with the aircraft's RWR to provide all-aspect missile launch warnings for both radar-guided and infrared-guided munitions, as well as increased situational awareness. Although the sensors can detect and provide a basic track to the pilot, they are unable to provide adequate tracking for weapons. The pilot's head-mounted display tracking was considered sufficient to provide tracking for the aircraft's high-off boresight M-9 IRSS missiles. To complement the OS/IRN-D, SOL provides conformal electronic countermeasure pods distributed along the wing roots of the aircraft, and can mount additional pods at the rear root of the tail and mounted over wingtip pylon launch rails. Networking with the missile warning system provided by the SAIRST, the SOL pods can use directed infrared light to attempt to confuse or spoof the seeker of incoming infrared missiles, enhancing survivability especially when combined with other defensive measures like flares and evasive manoeuvring. The Draken can rapidly provide and receive information and targeting data to and from friendly aircraft via datalink, although it does not possess a radar as powerful as dedicated AEWC platforms. The deliberate upgradeability designed into the airframe both via software and ease of hardware replacement allows these systems to be easily and efficiently swapped and updated.

The ERMG-11 embedded electronic warfare suite, integrated with its avionics, is a critical component of the Draken's survivability in modern airspace. The ERMG-11 is a gallium nitride-based electronic warfare suite which uses networked sensors ad emitters, both onboard and from other platforms, giving the pilot an ability to silently geolocate airborne and ground-based threats while preventing its own detection through actively countering enemy sensors. Working in conjunction with other GUNGNIR-equipped fighters, linking allows the individual aircraft to have exceptional situational awareness even without an active AEW&C aircraft for support. This situational awareness allows a Draken pilot to avoid threat zones, while its electronic warfare systems allow them to obfuscate enemy sensors, all together resulting in an exceptional ability to remain undetected.

Variants

JA26C/D

The second major variant introduced in 1985. The airframe received improvements to lower its radar cross section and thermal signature. From Tranche 4 onward, JA26C/Ds were fitted with an enhanced aerodynamic upgrade package which includes reshaped fuselage strakes, extended trailing-edge flaperons, and leading-edge root extensions yielding a wing lift increase of 25%, increased turn rate, tighter turning radius, and improved nose-pointing ability at low speed, and 100% greater roll rate.

JA26E/F

The last major Acrean production variant of the Draken introduced in 2005 with avionics and performance upgrades. The avionics upgrade package included a new AESA radar as well as updated GPS, IRST, and electronic countermeasure systems, as well as achieving true multirole capability with the addition of new air-to-ground systems. Improvements were made in the cockpit with new LCD multifunction displays with greater fidelity and resolution. The airframe was updated with new leading edge slats and enhanced elevon and canard boosters, and the engines were upgraded to the EJ-910-03, increasing thrust to a rating of 35,000 lbf in reheat.

MC-5

Originally designated the JA26C(QN), this is a variant of the JA26C Tranche 3 produced for Quenmin. Avionics systems were replaced with domestic Quenminese systems, with some Acrean systems unable to be exported, lower-rated EJ-860-89 engines which were more familiar to Quenminese maintainers and industry, and operate at lower temperatures.

L2013 K.I/II Keselyű

Originally designated as JA26C(K), the L2013 K.I variant comprises JA26C Tranche 2 and Tranche 3s delivered to Ruvelka in 2008 and 2009. These aircraft were all refitted to Tranche 2 standard, and received modification with Ruvelkan avionics and instrument indicators. Later models delivered in late 2009 and 2010 featured refurbished cockpits with Ruvelkan-language labeling. The L2013 K.II was originally designated as JA26E(K), and are variants of the JA26E delivered to Ruvelka beginning in 2013.

• • MC-5:
• JA26C: Second major variant which introduced substantial upgrades to the Draken's air-to-ground capability by incorporating improved air-to-ground ordnance delivery systems. First examples were delivered to the RAAF in 1995.
• JA26D Block I: Two-seat strike and trainer variant of the JA26C.
  • L2013 K.II Keselyű:
• JA26E:
  • JA26E Block II: New production and retrofit package with improvements to lower radar cross section and thermal signature. Includes a new distributed aperture system and updated datalink to achieve full interoperability with the EF-662 and EF-650.

Operators

Current Operators

• Acrean Air Force
• Ruvelkan Imperial Air Force
• Royal and Imperial Quenminese Air Force

Specifications (JA26E)

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 15.69 m
• Wingspan: 10.95 m
• Height: 5.28 m
• Wing Area: 51.2 m²
• Empty Weight: 11,000 (24,251 lbs)
• Max Takeoff Weight: 23,500 kg (51,809 lbs)
• Powerplant: 2 × MDA EJ-900-5 afterburning turbofan, 90 kN (20,233 lbf) dry thrust, 145 kN (32,500 lbf) reheat
• Fuel Capacity: 5,000 kg (11,000 lbs)

Performance

• Maximum Speed: Mach 2.2 at altitude
• Mach 1.25 at sea level
• Mach 1.5 supercruise at altitude
• Service Ceiling: 20,000 m (65,000 ft)

Armament

• Guns: 1 × 20 mm cannon with 640 rounds
• Payload: 15 total hardpoints, 14 weapons-capable and 1 designated for a FLIR/ECM/EW pod
  • 14 weapons-capable: 4 designated for ARH or SARH missiles; 2 designated for IR missiles or EW/ECM pods, 8 designated for either air-to-air or air-to-ground armaments
  • 1 non weapons-capable: Designated for FLIR, electronic countermeasures, or electronic warfare pod
  • Example "missile truck" configuration: 2 x M-9 IRSS, 16 x M-13 MSRA