ISNE Bélos: Difference between revisions
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The '''ISNE Bélos''' is a sixth-generation air | The '''ISNE Bélos''' is a sixth-generation {{wpl|air superiority fighter}}, {{wpl|electronic warfare}}, and {{wpl|SIGINT}} platform in development by [[Willink|Willinkian]] defense contractor [[Institoúto Stratigikón Naftikón Erevnó]]. The Bélos is designed to replace aging fourth-generation aircraft (the Questarian Dauntless and Shrike), augment the 4.5 generation single seat Bantam, as well as replace the F/A-77 Kovas (Havenfighter) as the primary air dominance fighter in Willinkian use; the latter is to be adapted to a multirole/strike role. Initially conceptualized in 2014 as ISNE worked on missile block and cockpit support system updates for the Kovas, the Bélos undertook its first flight in 2021, and is scheduled to reach initial operation in early 2025. In air defense, the Bélos is intended to out-class its regional competitors such as the Project 352 Nukefighter, Supermarine Sea Kestrel (Libertyfighter), and F-23 Helios (Setofighter). The versatility of the platform later caused an expansion of design goals to include replacing all existing electronic warfare and signals intelligence platforms currently in service. | ||
==Development== | ==Development== | ||
ISNE, under its anglicized trade name Strategic Naval Research Institute was a development partner with [[ARES Group]] on the F/A-77 Kovas, also known as the Havenfighter | ISNE, under its anglicized trade name Strategic Naval Research Institute was a development partner with [[ARES Group]] on the F/A-77 Kovas, also known as the Havenfighter. Tasked with cockpit support systems and weapon system integration generally, ISNE was one of two Willinkian manufacturers involved with the project alongside Gloucester Aviation. Further, in Willinkian examples of the aircraft, ISNE took on a greater role in systems integration, translation of software into native [[Willinkian language|Willinkian]], as well as designing a large percentage of the dedicated missile platforms carried by the plane in Willinkian service. Thereafter, it maintained an important localized role in maintenance and service upgrades, having close access to the production process, as well as test-bed aircraft to prototype and integrate new systems. In 2014, amid system upgrades intended to integrate the new [[Cheiron]] Block II SRAAM, ISNE started conceptualizing a successor craft to the Kovas, based on feedback from Willinkian pilots operating the platform, as well as their own experience with the plane's electrical and cockpit management systems. | ||
Generally, the Kovas is a highly regarded platform by pilots | Generally, the Kovas is a highly regarded platform by pilots; capable of (arguably) best in class maneuverability, stability at both low and high speeds, a complex, effective, powerful sensor suit, and possessing high survivability. However, several persistent issues were identified: the modular dual-layer RAM system required frequent inspections and replacements, especially in harsh environments like naval operations; at speeds above Mach 1.5–1.8, the Kovas RAM and composite materials over its lifespan tended to degrade due to aerodynamic heating, reducing stealth performance; the Kovas struggled with heat dissipation due to its powerful radar and engine, leading to IR detection risks and operational inefficiency; and the Kovas skin panels were designed for specific operational wavelengths, limiting adaptability to emerging threats with different radar bands or advanced detection methods. Combat experience with the aircraft demonstrated that the diamond wing and large canards of the Kovas would exacerbate drag and airflow disruption at slow speeds, reducing stability in dogfights or low-speed engagements or at extreme angles of attack. Finally, over time, as systems were upgraded (e.g., avionics, sensors, weapons), the airframe's weight and radar cross-section (RCS) increased, negatively impacting its stealth profile and agility; the "future proofing" intrinsic to the design process of the Kovas was under increasing strain with improvements made in {{wpl|machine learning}} and computing power, stressing the power supply systems in an already complex, electrically demanding aircraft. | ||
==Design== | ==Design== | ||
===Aerodynamics=== | ===Aerodynamics=== | ||
The Bélos sought to improve lift-to-drag ratios while | The Bélos sought to improve lift-to-drag ratios while maintaining low observability, electing for a cranked-kite wing layout. The aircraft retains a similar rear layout to the Kovas, opting for a v-tail with "humped" engine integration into the fuselage. The Bélos mounts diamond-shaped {{wpl|Canard (aeronautics)|canards}} as frontal control surfaces. This cranked-kite-v-tail-canard configuration was selected for its high AoA performance, excellent post-stall maneuvering, excellent yaw and pitch controls, and adaptability to both supersonic and subsonic regimes. At high speeds, the cranked-kite wing reduces wave drag, while at low speeds, canard-assisted vortex lift improves control and stability for landing or dogfighting. The combination of cranked-kite wings and canards ensures excellent longitudinal stability, even in scenarios where the aircraft's center of gravity shifts (e.g., as fuel is expended or weapons are deployed). The V-tail reduces cross-sectional drag while maintaining effective control authority for pitch and yaw, particularly important during high-speed flight. This configuration strikes a balance between stealth, maneuverability, and efficiency. Compared to other configurations, it offers superior multi-role performance by blending stealth optimization with aerodynamic versatility, enabling operations in high-threat environments against advanced radar and missile systems. The inclusion of canards and V-tail enhances agility and control, making it a more robust platform for high AoA and post-stall maneuvers. While it may not achieve the extreme stealth of a tailless design or the simplicity of a conventional wing-tail configuration, it is a well-rounded choice for scenarios demanding both survivability and dominance in contested airspaces. | ||
The Bélos is set up in a configuration reminiscient of the {{wpl|Saab Viggen}}; its wings mounted nearly flush to the lower fuselage, minimizing the frontal radar cross-section (RCS) by reducing exposed edges and surfaces; above-wing engine intakes, mounted on the lower half of the fuselage and blended into the body line via a {{wpl|leading-edge extension}}; and canards mounted on the intakes above the wing. The loss of airflow beneath the aircraft, particularly during low-speed, high-angle-of-attack (AoA) conditions by the wing placement is mitigated by intake and canard placement generating vortex lift at high AoA. This layout blends stealth, high-AoA stability, better lift-to-drag ratios, and superior airflow control to the airframe. | The Bélos is set up in a configuration reminiscient of the {{wpl|Saab Viggen}}; its wings mounted nearly flush to the lower fuselage, minimizing the frontal radar cross-section (RCS) by reducing exposed edges and surfaces; above-wing engine intakes, mounted on the lower half of the fuselage and blended into the body line via a {{wpl|leading-edge extension}}; and canards mounted on the intakes above the wing. The loss of airflow beneath the aircraft, particularly during low-speed, high-angle-of-attack (AoA) conditions by the wing placement is mitigated by intake and canard placement generating vortex lift at high AoA. This layout blends stealth, high-AoA stability, better lift-to-drag ratios, and superior airflow control to the airframe. | ||
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===Avionics=== | ===Avionics=== | ||
The approach to the avionics of the Bélos represent a generational leap in systems engineering, leveraging ISNE's experience with the systems of the Kovas, Willinkian air to air combat experience against Parthia, Allanea, and Prestonia, as well as familiarity and interoperability with numerous technologically advanced platforms flown by Willinkian allies in Haven, Gholgoth, and Greater Dienestad. Whereas many of the aforementioned legacy platforms were engineered in the early 2000s, the Bélos is able to more effectively leverage emergent technologies such as artificial | The approach to the avionics of the Bélos represent a generational leap in systems engineering, leveraging ISNE's experience with the systems of the Kovas, Willinkian air to air combat experience against Parthia, Allanea, and Prestonia, as well as familiarity and interoperability with numerous technologically advanced platforms flown by Willinkian allies in Haven, Gholgoth, and Greater Dienestad. Whereas many of the aforementioned legacy platforms were engineered in the early 2000s, the Bélos is able to more effectively leverage emergent technologies such as artificial intelligence systems, advanced computation, and material and energy engineering to outclass all known existing avionics suites married to fighter aircraft. | ||
Building on the work of Dat' Pizdy Aerospace on the ALRQ/R75 VIAESA mounted in the Havenfighter, ISNE developed a propriety ALRQ/R90 Multi-Band Advanced AESA System (MBAAS), named "''Hagion Phos''" (Willinkian: Ἅγιον Φῶς - "Holy Light"). This system is claimed to be the most advanced mounted to a fighter airframe in the known world, and incorporates a host of revolutionary features, materials, and design elections. ISNE, in examining the landscape of aerial battlefields settled on an emphasis on "see first, shoot first"; engagements often occur at vast beyond visual range distances, and adversaries are able to employ massed fifth generation aerial units, multispectral electronic warfare, near-worldwide reconnaissance, and a multitude of sophisticated surface to air armaments, including hypersonic and direct energy weapons. Further, the friendly nation of No Endorse had experimented with exotic attempts to avoid the traditional emissions problem of "active/passive" emissions with the Nukefighter, which influenced ISNE's design efforts with the Bélos. | |||
Diverging significantly from traditional AESA radar systems that are typically modular and confined to the nose cone or specific radar housings, the ALRQ/R90 opts to radically employ distributed aperture integration; advancement in metamaterials and additive manufacturing permit the ALRQ/R90 to distribute its thousands of compact transmitter/receiver (T/R) modules across the aircraft's airframe and skin. This Dynamic Multi-Layered Array (DMLA) system represents a significant leap forward in radar architecture, leveraging cutting-edge advancements in material science, signal processing, and distributed aperture technology. The DMLA architecture consists of thousands of fully 3D-configurable T/R module arrays, integrated seamlessly across the airframe using distributed aperture configuration (DAC). These T/R nodes are built using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and metamaterial waveguides, allowing for precise control over electromagnetic wave propagation and interaction. These modules are 3D-configurable, meaning they can dynamically adjust their orientation and beamforming characteristics to achieve optimal angular coverage in real time. MEMS actuators within each module enable fine-grained tuning of phase and amplitude, crucial for adaptive beamforming and interference nullification. The waveguides employ tunable metamaterials, which can dynamically alter their electromagnetic properties (e.g., refractive index, permittivity) to optimize signal transmission and reduce losses. This allows the system to manipulate radar waveforms with unprecedented precision, enhancing beam control and enabling capabilities like simultaneous multi-band operation and frequency hopping. | |||
Each T/R node integrates multiple functional layers, including: primary emission/reception layers for handling radar signals; auxiliary EW layers for jamming, deception, and other countermeasures; and cooling layers that utilize microfluidics and graphene-enhanced materials to manage heat generated during high-power operations. The DMLA’s distributed design spreads these T/R nodes across the entire airframe, including the wings, fuselage, and tail. Nodes are arranged in a modular grid, which allows for redundancy and resilience—if one node is compromised, others can take over its function seamlessly. | |||
The DMLA system is capable of performing a wide range of functions simultaneously, thanks to its adaptive beamforming and cognitive radar capabilities. AI-driven algorithms dynamically shape and steer radar beams in real time, allowing the system to track multiple targets, suppress interference, and perform simultaneous search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. 3D beamforming ensures true spherical coverage, eliminating the need for mechanical actuators. The ALRQ/R90 operates across VHF, UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku, and Ka bands, leveraging the DMLA's layered architecture to optimize each frequency band for specific tasks: VHF/L bands for anti-stealth operations, and Ku/Ka bands for high-resolution imaging and targeting. AI-optimized frequency modulation allows the radar to adapt its waveform characteristics to the target environment dynamically, improving resilience against jamming and deception. The ALRQ/90 utilizes "cognitive radar" systems; employing neural-network-based algorithms to analyze target movements, predict trajectories, and refine beam focus dynamically. Self-learning signature databases improve the radar’s ability to recognize and categorize targets without requiring prior manual tagging. In passive mode, the DMLA utilizes coherent passive location techniques, analyzing scattered RF energy to detect and track targets without emitting signals, enhancing stealth. Active mode integrates quantum signal processing (QSP) for improved signal-to-noise ratios and mitigation of interference. | |||
This setup is revolutionary, in several respects: traditional towered designs are limited to directional coverage, requiring mechanical actuation or multiple arrays to achieve broader angular fields. The distributed aperture of the ALRQ/R90 provides true 360° spherical coverage, eliminating blind spots and ensuring comprehensive situational awareness. Existing towered arrays are single-point systems—if the tower is damaged, the radar loses functionality. The distributed design of the DMLA is inherently redundant, with thousands of nodes sharing the workload. | |||
This modularity ensures that the radar remains operational even in the face of physical or electronic damage. Distributed apertures enable simultaneous operation of multiple radar modes, including search, tracking, and electronic warfare, without requiring separate systems. The DMLA’s distributed nodes operate with lower individual power demands, spreading the thermal load and reducing cooling requirements. Distributed T/R modules are also easier to maintain and upgrade, as individual nodes can be replaced or enhanced without affecting the entire system. | |||
The communication and coordination of distributed T/R modules across the airframe of the Bélos is achieved through a highly advanced interconnected data-sharing and signal-processing network. This network integrates high-bandwidth optical interconnects, photonics-based processing, and adaptive synchronization protocols to ensure seamless operation and dynamic task allocation. The distributed T/R modules communicate via an intricate web of fiber-optic connections embedded within the aircraft's structure. These connections enable ultra-high-speed, low-latency data transmission between nodes. Signal distribution relies on photonic waveguides to route radar and communication signals across the system. These waveguides provide near-instantaneous data sharing, critical for real-time beamforming and multi-mode operations. An Airborne Processing and Computational Unit (APCU) oversees the system's broader coordination. The APCU handles resource allocation, prioritization of tasks (e.g., radar, EW, or SIGINT), and ensures synchronization of T/R module operations. The APCU employs quantum processing cores for high-speed computation, enabling it to adapt dynamically to mission requirements. | |||
While the APCU manages overarching system tasks, each T/R module incorporates local computational units (called Logothetis Nodes). These nodes handle basic signal processing, self-calibration, and localized beamforming tasks. This distributed intelligence framework ensures the radar can continue operating even if some modules are damaged or communications are disrupted. The system employs high-precision timing synchronization using GPS-independent atomic clock technology distributed throughout the airframe. This ensures all T/R modules remain phase-locked and can collaborate on tasks such as beam steering and interference cancellation. Phase alignment algorithms, managed by the APCU, dynamically adjust the relative timing and phase of transmitted and received signals across the array to optimize coherence and maximize performance. The T/R modules communicate real-time waveform data to ensure seamless multi-node operations, such as forming a single coherent radar beam or distributing multiple simultaneous beams for different functions (e.g., target tracking and jamming). | |||
Advanced AI systems manage the real-time allocation of T/R modules for specific tasks, such as target tracking, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), or electronic warfare (EW). The AI continuously evaluates mission requirements, environmental conditions, and threat profiles to optimize how each T/R module contributes to the overall system performance. The AI uses predictive machine learning models to anticipate potential challenges, such as jamming attempts or evasive maneuvers by targets, adjusting T/R module behavior preemptively. A modular power grid, referred to as the Ekklision Grid ("Gathering Network"), connects all T/R modules to a centralized yet adaptive power management system. This grid ensures that power is allocated dynamically based on the operational demands of each module. Communication is augmented by the system’s phase-change heat transfer network and graphene-enhanced microfluidic cooling layers, which ensure that the increased heat generated by high-bandwidth communication and radar operations is dissipated efficiently. | |||
All data exchanges between T/R modules and the APCU are protected using quantum-encrypted communication protocols, preventing interception or spoofing by adversaries. This ensures that even in contested electromagnetic environments, the system's distributed architecture remains resilient and secure. The T/R modules communicate over adaptive, frequency-hopping channels that shift in real time to avoid interference or jamming attempts. The application of tunable metamaterial layers and AI-driven frequency modulation in the ALRQ/R90 enables unprecedented adaptability for truly multi-spectral operation across the electromagnetic spectrum. This is a significant leap forward from traditional phased array radar systems, which are typically limited in their ability to adapt dynamically across multiple spectral bands. | |||
===Data management systems=== | ===Data management systems=== |
Revision as of 16:39, 19 December 2024
ISNE Bélos | |
---|---|
Belos in prototype camouflage | |
Role | air superiority fighter |
National origin | Willink |
Manufacturer | Institoúto Stratigikón Naftikón Erevnó |
First flight | 7 June 2021 |
Introduction | Q2 2025 |
Status | In development |
Primary user | Willink |
Produced | 2025- |
Number built | 12 |
The ISNE Bélos is a sixth-generation air superiority fighter, electronic warfare, and SIGINT platform in development by Willinkian defense contractor Institoúto Stratigikón Naftikón Erevnó. The Bélos is designed to replace aging fourth-generation aircraft (the Questarian Dauntless and Shrike), augment the 4.5 generation single seat Bantam, as well as replace the F/A-77 Kovas (Havenfighter) as the primary air dominance fighter in Willinkian use; the latter is to be adapted to a multirole/strike role. Initially conceptualized in 2014 as ISNE worked on missile block and cockpit support system updates for the Kovas, the Bélos undertook its first flight in 2021, and is scheduled to reach initial operation in early 2025. In air defense, the Bélos is intended to out-class its regional competitors such as the Project 352 Nukefighter, Supermarine Sea Kestrel (Libertyfighter), and F-23 Helios (Setofighter). The versatility of the platform later caused an expansion of design goals to include replacing all existing electronic warfare and signals intelligence platforms currently in service.
Development
ISNE, under its anglicized trade name Strategic Naval Research Institute was a development partner with ARES Group on the F/A-77 Kovas, also known as the Havenfighter. Tasked with cockpit support systems and weapon system integration generally, ISNE was one of two Willinkian manufacturers involved with the project alongside Gloucester Aviation. Further, in Willinkian examples of the aircraft, ISNE took on a greater role in systems integration, translation of software into native Willinkian, as well as designing a large percentage of the dedicated missile platforms carried by the plane in Willinkian service. Thereafter, it maintained an important localized role in maintenance and service upgrades, having close access to the production process, as well as test-bed aircraft to prototype and integrate new systems. In 2014, amid system upgrades intended to integrate the new Cheiron Block II SRAAM, ISNE started conceptualizing a successor craft to the Kovas, based on feedback from Willinkian pilots operating the platform, as well as their own experience with the plane's electrical and cockpit management systems.
Generally, the Kovas is a highly regarded platform by pilots; capable of (arguably) best in class maneuverability, stability at both low and high speeds, a complex, effective, powerful sensor suit, and possessing high survivability. However, several persistent issues were identified: the modular dual-layer RAM system required frequent inspections and replacements, especially in harsh environments like naval operations; at speeds above Mach 1.5–1.8, the Kovas RAM and composite materials over its lifespan tended to degrade due to aerodynamic heating, reducing stealth performance; the Kovas struggled with heat dissipation due to its powerful radar and engine, leading to IR detection risks and operational inefficiency; and the Kovas skin panels were designed for specific operational wavelengths, limiting adaptability to emerging threats with different radar bands or advanced detection methods. Combat experience with the aircraft demonstrated that the diamond wing and large canards of the Kovas would exacerbate drag and airflow disruption at slow speeds, reducing stability in dogfights or low-speed engagements or at extreme angles of attack. Finally, over time, as systems were upgraded (e.g., avionics, sensors, weapons), the airframe's weight and radar cross-section (RCS) increased, negatively impacting its stealth profile and agility; the "future proofing" intrinsic to the design process of the Kovas was under increasing strain with improvements made in machine learning and computing power, stressing the power supply systems in an already complex, electrically demanding aircraft.
Design
Aerodynamics
The Bélos sought to improve lift-to-drag ratios while maintaining low observability, electing for a cranked-kite wing layout. The aircraft retains a similar rear layout to the Kovas, opting for a v-tail with "humped" engine integration into the fuselage. The Bélos mounts diamond-shaped canards as frontal control surfaces. This cranked-kite-v-tail-canard configuration was selected for its high AoA performance, excellent post-stall maneuvering, excellent yaw and pitch controls, and adaptability to both supersonic and subsonic regimes. At high speeds, the cranked-kite wing reduces wave drag, while at low speeds, canard-assisted vortex lift improves control and stability for landing or dogfighting. The combination of cranked-kite wings and canards ensures excellent longitudinal stability, even in scenarios where the aircraft's center of gravity shifts (e.g., as fuel is expended or weapons are deployed). The V-tail reduces cross-sectional drag while maintaining effective control authority for pitch and yaw, particularly important during high-speed flight. This configuration strikes a balance between stealth, maneuverability, and efficiency. Compared to other configurations, it offers superior multi-role performance by blending stealth optimization with aerodynamic versatility, enabling operations in high-threat environments against advanced radar and missile systems. The inclusion of canards and V-tail enhances agility and control, making it a more robust platform for high AoA and post-stall maneuvers. While it may not achieve the extreme stealth of a tailless design or the simplicity of a conventional wing-tail configuration, it is a well-rounded choice for scenarios demanding both survivability and dominance in contested airspaces.
The Bélos is set up in a configuration reminiscient of the Saab Viggen; its wings mounted nearly flush to the lower fuselage, minimizing the frontal radar cross-section (RCS) by reducing exposed edges and surfaces; above-wing engine intakes, mounted on the lower half of the fuselage and blended into the body line via a leading-edge extension; and canards mounted on the intakes above the wing. The loss of airflow beneath the aircraft, particularly during low-speed, high-angle-of-attack (AoA) conditions by the wing placement is mitigated by intake and canard placement generating vortex lift at high AoA. This layout blends stealth, high-AoA stability, better lift-to-drag ratios, and superior airflow control to the airframe.
Aerodynamically, the positioning of the engines and V-tail imposes specific challenges and opportunities. The "humped" engine integration creates a broader fuselage cross-section, which slightly increases drag, while also improving lift by contributing to the lifting body effect of the fuselage itself. Furthermore, the outward placement of the V-tail stabilizers enhances yaw and pitch stability by increasing the moment arm relative to the center of gravity. This configuration synergizes well with the diamond-shaped canards and cranked-kite wing, as the canards improve maneuverability and stability at high angles of attack, while the cranked-kite wing offers strong lift-to-drag ratios and low-speed stability. The V-tail's upward and outward angling also contributes to minimizing interference with the airflow over the wings and canards, ensuring smoother aerodynamics overall.
In terms of systems integration, the positioning of the V-tail and engines impacts the internal structure and layout of subsystems. The outward V-tail placement allows for more streamlined heat and airflow management around the engines, improving thermal dissipation and reducing the risk of thermal hotspots that could compromise stealth or operational efficiency. However, this arrangement requires precise engineering of control linkages and structural reinforcements to handle the aerodynamic loads transferred through the extended stabilizers during high-speed or high-G maneuvers.
Stealth
The Bélos employs a multimodal approach to stealth. Its cranked-kite airframe with frontal aspect optimization minimizes radar cross-section (RCS) while maintaining excellent aerodynamic efficiency. The V-tail and carefully blended canards are sculpted to reduce radar returns from all critical angles, leveraging anisotropic materials that scatter radar energy in controlled directions. Its contoured air intakes with boundary-layer diverters are seamlessly integrated into the fuselage, designed to reduce radar exposure while maintaining efficient airflow and minimizing turbulence. The airframe's leading-edge extensions and blended contours work in tandem with structural radar-absorbent material (RAM), ensuring broad-spectrum radar absorption across the X-, S-, C-, and Ku-bands.
The Bélos’ use of structural RAM, woven directly into the thermoplastic-polyamide composite skin, represents a generational leap in Willinkian stealth materials. Unlike traditional stealth coatings, prone to degradation under environmental or operational stress, the carbon-nanotube-based RAM is integral to the airframe itself, providing greater durability, thermal management capabilities, and broad-spectrum radar absorption. Anisotropic elements further enhance this capability, reducing scattering from exposed surfaces such as wing leading edges, canards, and V-tails. Advanced thermal management subsystems, including metallic foam heat exchangers and loop heat pipes, dissipate heat generated by radar absorption and high-speed flight, preserving the aircraft’s thermal signature and reducing infrared visibility.
From a subsystem perspective, the Bélos incorporates active electronic countermeasures (ECM) that exploit advanced signal processing to detect, jam, or deceive enemy radars. Paired with its stealth-optimized propulsion system, including variable-cycle engines with thrust vectoring, the Bélos can operate at supercruise speeds without compromising stealth. The exhaust nozzles, integrated with plasma suppressors and advanced turbine cooling, minimize infrared and radar visibility while maintaining high thrust efficiency. Additionally, the Bélos’ mission systems and sensor suites are designed for low observability, employing stealthy apertures and emitters while ensuring robust situational awareness through data fusion and passive sensor arrays.
Materials
Material engineering was a prime interest in the project, given the experience with the RAM systems of the Kovas. The Bélos employs cutting-edge materials to ensure superior performance in the high-stress environments characteristic of modern aerial combat, prioritizing thermal management, structural integrity, and stealth. Ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are integrated into high-heat regions, such as engine nozzles and leading edges, due to their exceptional heat resistance, low density, and durability at temperatures exceeding 1300°C. These materials outperform traditional aluminum-titanium alloys, which are prone to thermal fatigue, offering lightweight strength ideal for sustained supersonic operations.
The airframe and structural components rely on thermoplastic-polyamide composites (principally PEEK), reinforced with carbon fibers, to create lightweight yet tough skin panels. These composites, fabricated through additive manufacturing, enable the formation of monolithic, seamless panels that eliminate radar-reflective seams, fasteners, and joints while enhancing damage resistance and operational flexibility. Nanostructured titanium-aluminum alloys are selectively used in high-stress areas such as wing spars and fuselage frames, offering unparalleled strength-to-weight ratios and compatibility with surrounding materials, reducing fatigue under extreme aerodynamic loads.
To address the Bélos’ thermal signature and operational heat loads, an active thermal control system combines loop heat pipes and metallic foam heat exchangers. These systems ensure even heat distribution across the airframe, reducing infrared detectability while improving system reliability during prolonged supersonic or supercruise flight. High-temperature radar-absorbing coatings mitigate traditional stealth degradation caused by heat buildup, ensuring consistent low observability even under extreme conditions. Advanced coatings also offer multi-spectral absorption, targeting both radar and infrared frequencies, while resisting erosion and environmental wear.
The Bélos opts to incorporate structural radar-absorbent material (RAM) woven directly into the thermoplastic-polyamide composite skin of the aircraft, rather than being sprayed, painted, or affixed. By embedding carbon-nanotube-based RAM into the skin itself, the aircraft achieves an inherent radar-absorptive capability that eliminates the need for traditional external RAM coatings. This structural RAM exhibits broad-spectrum absorption, effectively countering radar systems operating across X-, S-, C-, and Ku-bands, as well as lower-frequency systems increasingly used in early warning applications. The carbon nanotubes, renowned for their exceptional conductivity and electromagnetic properties, are finely tuned to dissipate radar energy through magnetic and dielectric losses, converting it into heat. To manage this thermal load, the RAM incorporates heat-dissipating properties, leveraging the Bélos' thermal management system to disperse the heat uniformly, preventing hotspots that could compromise performance or stealth.
Additionally, anisotropic materials are strategically woven into the structural RAM at critical points, such as the leading edges of wings, canards, and intake lips, as well as the V-tail surfaces. These materials guide radar energy along controlled paths, redirecting it away from the emitter and preventing backscatter. This design significantly reduces the radar cross-section (RCS), particularly at oblique angles where scattering is most likely. Unlike traditional RAM coatings, which may degrade under environmental stressors or high speeds, the structural RAM is inherently bonded to the aircraft's skin, making it exceptionally durable and resistant to delamination, erosion, or wear caused by extreme temperatures, supersonic flight, or adverse weather conditions.
The benefits of this approach are manifold. First, the weight savings achieved by eliminating separate RAM coatings improve overall performance, including range, agility, and fuel efficiency. Second, the durability of structural RAM reduces maintenance demands, minimizing downtime and life-cycle costs compared to aircraft requiring frequent reapplication of external coatings. Third, the seamless integration of RAM into the Bélos’ skin ensures uniform stealth across the airframe, with no weak points susceptible to radar detection. The broad-spectrum absorption also allows the Bélos to remain stealthy in the face of modern multi-frequency radar systems, including advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and low-frequency over-the-horizon systems.
Powerplant
The Bélos is powered by twin variable-cycle engines, designated internally as the Xiphos-Aether Mk.IV propulsion system. This system outputs roughly 80,000 lbf of thrust. These engines represent the cutting edge of Willinkian aeronautical engineering, combining adaptive-bypass technology, fluidic thrust vectoring (FTV), transpiration cooling, and advanced materials such as nanostructured titanium-aluminum alloys and ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). Each subsystem is meticulously crafted to ensure the platform achieves superior stealth, agility, fuel efficiency, and durability under extreme conditions.
At the heart of the Xiphos-Aether Mk.IV engines lies an adaptive bypass system, permitting three operational cycles the engines can switch between: high-bypass for subsonic fuel efficiency, medium-bypass for transonic maneuvering, and low-bypass for supersonic thrust. This system enables the Bélos to supercruise—sustaining speeds of Mach 1.8–2.2 without afterburners—while maintaining fuel efficiency superior to legacy designs like the F-22’s Pratt & Whitney F119. The engine's bypass ducts are embedded with additively manufactured metallic foam heat exchangers, which efficiently dissipate thermal loads, allowing the engines to operate for extended periods without overheating. This subsystem is critical for enabling extended patrol missions, long-range interception roles, and survivability in contested environments where fuel and thermal management are paramount.
The combustion process is governed by a Staged Combustion Assembly (SCA), which utilizes rich-quench-lean (RQL) combustion techniques. This staged combustion process ensures complete and efficient fuel burn across a range of operational demands. During low-power settings, the system employs a lean mixture for fuel economy, while high-power settings rely on a richer burn to maximize thrust. The quench zone, located between the two combustion stages, rapidly cools the flame to minimize nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, a significant advantage in reducing the Bélos’ heat signature. The SCA is reinforced with CMCs, which provide heat resistance up to 1,800°C, ensuring durability and reliability under high thermal stresses during combat maneuvers or prolonged supersonic flight.
To manage extreme turbine temperatures, the engines employ a transpiration cooling system. This system uses micro-perforated turbine blades through which cool air flows, creating a protective boundary layer that prevents heat buildup. This cooling innovation extends the lifespan of critical engine components while supporting the Xiphos-Aether Mk.IV’s capability to sustain high-speed flight for extended durations. The rotor and stator assemblies of the low-pressure compressor (LPC) and high-pressure compressor (HPC) are constructed from nanostructured titanium-aluminum alloys. These materials provide exceptional strength-to-weight ratios, enabling the LPC and HPC to compress airflow with high efficiency, supporting the variable-bypass system’s adaptive needs.
The inlet ramps of the engines feature adaptive geometries that precisely control airflow to the compressors. These ramps adjust to compress air efficiently at supersonic speeds while minimizing shockwaves and turbulence. Their stealthy faceted design deflects radar energy away from detection systems, seamlessly integrating with the Bélos’ overall low-observable profile. During transonic and subsonic flight, the ramps optimize airflow to maintain efficiency, ensuring that the engines operate at peak performance across all flight regimes.
The Xiphos-Aether Mk.IV engines incorporate fluidic thrust vectoring (FTV) technology, eliminating the need for complex mechanical actuators that might compromise the Bélos’ stealth profile. The FTV system uses streams of compressed air injected strategically into the exhaust plume to redirect thrust. This allows the Bélos to achieve extreme agility at high angles of attack (AoA) and improves its ability to recover from stalls or execute complex post-stall maneuvers. The system is particularly advantageous during dogfights or evasive actions, offering unparalleled maneuverability while maintaining a smooth, stealthy profile. The rear nozzles are axisymmetric with stealth enhancements, incorporating serrated trailing edges and advanced coatings to minimize both radar and infrared signatures. The nozzles also feature variable-area geometries, allowing them to expand or contract based on thrust requirements. This adaptability not only improves propulsion efficiency during takeoff, supercruise, and combat but also enhances the engines’ ability to dissipate heat, reducing their thermal signature. The rear nozzles are coated with heat-resistant RAM materials, further enhancing their stealth capabilities by absorbing radar energy and minimizing reflective surfaces.
Compared to the Kovas, the Bélos benefits from superior efficiency at subsonic speeds, greater thrust at supersonic speeds, and extended endurance in loitering scenarios.
Armaments
Avionics
The approach to the avionics of the Bélos represent a generational leap in systems engineering, leveraging ISNE's experience with the systems of the Kovas, Willinkian air to air combat experience against Parthia, Allanea, and Prestonia, as well as familiarity and interoperability with numerous technologically advanced platforms flown by Willinkian allies in Haven, Gholgoth, and Greater Dienestad. Whereas many of the aforementioned legacy platforms were engineered in the early 2000s, the Bélos is able to more effectively leverage emergent technologies such as artificial intelligence systems, advanced computation, and material and energy engineering to outclass all known existing avionics suites married to fighter aircraft.
Building on the work of Dat' Pizdy Aerospace on the ALRQ/R75 VIAESA mounted in the Havenfighter, ISNE developed a propriety ALRQ/R90 Multi-Band Advanced AESA System (MBAAS), named "Hagion Phos" (Willinkian: Ἅγιον Φῶς - "Holy Light"). This system is claimed to be the most advanced mounted to a fighter airframe in the known world, and incorporates a host of revolutionary features, materials, and design elections. ISNE, in examining the landscape of aerial battlefields settled on an emphasis on "see first, shoot first"; engagements often occur at vast beyond visual range distances, and adversaries are able to employ massed fifth generation aerial units, multispectral electronic warfare, near-worldwide reconnaissance, and a multitude of sophisticated surface to air armaments, including hypersonic and direct energy weapons. Further, the friendly nation of No Endorse had experimented with exotic attempts to avoid the traditional emissions problem of "active/passive" emissions with the Nukefighter, which influenced ISNE's design efforts with the Bélos.
Diverging significantly from traditional AESA radar systems that are typically modular and confined to the nose cone or specific radar housings, the ALRQ/R90 opts to radically employ distributed aperture integration; advancement in metamaterials and additive manufacturing permit the ALRQ/R90 to distribute its thousands of compact transmitter/receiver (T/R) modules across the aircraft's airframe and skin. This Dynamic Multi-Layered Array (DMLA) system represents a significant leap forward in radar architecture, leveraging cutting-edge advancements in material science, signal processing, and distributed aperture technology. The DMLA architecture consists of thousands of fully 3D-configurable T/R module arrays, integrated seamlessly across the airframe using distributed aperture configuration (DAC). These T/R nodes are built using micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and metamaterial waveguides, allowing for precise control over electromagnetic wave propagation and interaction. These modules are 3D-configurable, meaning they can dynamically adjust their orientation and beamforming characteristics to achieve optimal angular coverage in real time. MEMS actuators within each module enable fine-grained tuning of phase and amplitude, crucial for adaptive beamforming and interference nullification. The waveguides employ tunable metamaterials, which can dynamically alter their electromagnetic properties (e.g., refractive index, permittivity) to optimize signal transmission and reduce losses. This allows the system to manipulate radar waveforms with unprecedented precision, enhancing beam control and enabling capabilities like simultaneous multi-band operation and frequency hopping.
Each T/R node integrates multiple functional layers, including: primary emission/reception layers for handling radar signals; auxiliary EW layers for jamming, deception, and other countermeasures; and cooling layers that utilize microfluidics and graphene-enhanced materials to manage heat generated during high-power operations. The DMLA’s distributed design spreads these T/R nodes across the entire airframe, including the wings, fuselage, and tail. Nodes are arranged in a modular grid, which allows for redundancy and resilience—if one node is compromised, others can take over its function seamlessly.
The DMLA system is capable of performing a wide range of functions simultaneously, thanks to its adaptive beamforming and cognitive radar capabilities. AI-driven algorithms dynamically shape and steer radar beams in real time, allowing the system to track multiple targets, suppress interference, and perform simultaneous search-and-rescue (SAR) operations. 3D beamforming ensures true spherical coverage, eliminating the need for mechanical actuators. The ALRQ/R90 operates across VHF, UHF, L, S, C, X, Ku, and Ka bands, leveraging the DMLA's layered architecture to optimize each frequency band for specific tasks: VHF/L bands for anti-stealth operations, and Ku/Ka bands for high-resolution imaging and targeting. AI-optimized frequency modulation allows the radar to adapt its waveform characteristics to the target environment dynamically, improving resilience against jamming and deception. The ALRQ/90 utilizes "cognitive radar" systems; employing neural-network-based algorithms to analyze target movements, predict trajectories, and refine beam focus dynamically. Self-learning signature databases improve the radar’s ability to recognize and categorize targets without requiring prior manual tagging. In passive mode, the DMLA utilizes coherent passive location techniques, analyzing scattered RF energy to detect and track targets without emitting signals, enhancing stealth. Active mode integrates quantum signal processing (QSP) for improved signal-to-noise ratios and mitigation of interference.
This setup is revolutionary, in several respects: traditional towered designs are limited to directional coverage, requiring mechanical actuation or multiple arrays to achieve broader angular fields. The distributed aperture of the ALRQ/R90 provides true 360° spherical coverage, eliminating blind spots and ensuring comprehensive situational awareness. Existing towered arrays are single-point systems—if the tower is damaged, the radar loses functionality. The distributed design of the DMLA is inherently redundant, with thousands of nodes sharing the workload. This modularity ensures that the radar remains operational even in the face of physical or electronic damage. Distributed apertures enable simultaneous operation of multiple radar modes, including search, tracking, and electronic warfare, without requiring separate systems. The DMLA’s distributed nodes operate with lower individual power demands, spreading the thermal load and reducing cooling requirements. Distributed T/R modules are also easier to maintain and upgrade, as individual nodes can be replaced or enhanced without affecting the entire system.
The communication and coordination of distributed T/R modules across the airframe of the Bélos is achieved through a highly advanced interconnected data-sharing and signal-processing network. This network integrates high-bandwidth optical interconnects, photonics-based processing, and adaptive synchronization protocols to ensure seamless operation and dynamic task allocation. The distributed T/R modules communicate via an intricate web of fiber-optic connections embedded within the aircraft's structure. These connections enable ultra-high-speed, low-latency data transmission between nodes. Signal distribution relies on photonic waveguides to route radar and communication signals across the system. These waveguides provide near-instantaneous data sharing, critical for real-time beamforming and multi-mode operations. An Airborne Processing and Computational Unit (APCU) oversees the system's broader coordination. The APCU handles resource allocation, prioritization of tasks (e.g., radar, EW, or SIGINT), and ensures synchronization of T/R module operations. The APCU employs quantum processing cores for high-speed computation, enabling it to adapt dynamically to mission requirements.
While the APCU manages overarching system tasks, each T/R module incorporates local computational units (called Logothetis Nodes). These nodes handle basic signal processing, self-calibration, and localized beamforming tasks. This distributed intelligence framework ensures the radar can continue operating even if some modules are damaged or communications are disrupted. The system employs high-precision timing synchronization using GPS-independent atomic clock technology distributed throughout the airframe. This ensures all T/R modules remain phase-locked and can collaborate on tasks such as beam steering and interference cancellation. Phase alignment algorithms, managed by the APCU, dynamically adjust the relative timing and phase of transmitted and received signals across the array to optimize coherence and maximize performance. The T/R modules communicate real-time waveform data to ensure seamless multi-node operations, such as forming a single coherent radar beam or distributing multiple simultaneous beams for different functions (e.g., target tracking and jamming).
Advanced AI systems manage the real-time allocation of T/R modules for specific tasks, such as target tracking, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), or electronic warfare (EW). The AI continuously evaluates mission requirements, environmental conditions, and threat profiles to optimize how each T/R module contributes to the overall system performance. The AI uses predictive machine learning models to anticipate potential challenges, such as jamming attempts or evasive maneuvers by targets, adjusting T/R module behavior preemptively. A modular power grid, referred to as the Ekklision Grid ("Gathering Network"), connects all T/R modules to a centralized yet adaptive power management system. This grid ensures that power is allocated dynamically based on the operational demands of each module. Communication is augmented by the system’s phase-change heat transfer network and graphene-enhanced microfluidic cooling layers, which ensure that the increased heat generated by high-bandwidth communication and radar operations is dissipated efficiently.
All data exchanges between T/R modules and the APCU are protected using quantum-encrypted communication protocols, preventing interception or spoofing by adversaries. This ensures that even in contested electromagnetic environments, the system's distributed architecture remains resilient and secure. The T/R modules communicate over adaptive, frequency-hopping channels that shift in real time to avoid interference or jamming attempts. The application of tunable metamaterial layers and AI-driven frequency modulation in the ALRQ/R90 enables unprecedented adaptability for truly multi-spectral operation across the electromagnetic spectrum. This is a significant leap forward from traditional phased array radar systems, which are typically limited in their ability to adapt dynamically across multiple spectral bands.