Carrier Common Support Aircraft

Carrier Common Support Aircraft C2M Triton S2M Siren
An S2M4 Siren in flight during a deployment to Anagonia.
Role	Multipurpose carrier support aircraft
National origin	Meridon
Manufacturer	Gruening Defense Aerospace
First flight	23 June 1975
Introduction	17 May 1977
Status	In service
Primary user	Meridonian Navy
Produced	1977-present
Unit cost	31 million MD (C2M2)

The Common Carrier Support Aircraft is a Meridonian carrier-capable, twin engine turbofan-powered multirole support aircraft, produced by Gruening Defense Aerospace, which provides the Meridonian Navy's Carrier Task Groups with a fixed-wing platform to conduct support activities. It exists in two primary variants- the C2M Triton is a modular multirole aircraft capable of conducting long-range antisubmarine warfare, aerial refueling, carrier onboard delivery, electronic warfare and intelligence, reconnaissance, and anti-surface warfare. The S2M Siren is a dedicated airborne early warning and control (AEWC) aircraft.

The CCSA program was initiated by the Navy to provide carrier task groups with increased commonality and a multifunction platform able to handle support duties of the combat carrier air group, with a focus on intelligence-gathering abilities and thus long endurance abilities. It has proven to be a workhorse of the Navy's carrier groups. Its distinctive vacuum-like turbofan engines have earned it the name of "War Spangler" after the portable vacuum brand of the same name.

Design

Cockpit displays of an S2M4 with all-glass displays.

Operational History

A C2M2 production model during flight tests.

Operators

Current Operators

• Meridon
• Joseon- 48x C2M2 on order.
• Marquesan- operates 180 variants of C2M and S2M.

Specifications (C2M)

C2M 3-plane view

S2M4 3-plane view, with modernized AM-150 radar.

General Characteristics

• Crew: 2 minimum (copilot/pilot), up to 5 max required (S2M)
• Length: 49.93 ft (15.22m)
• Wingspan: 47.57 ft (14.50m)
• Height:13.78 ft (4.2m)
• Wing Area: 546.59 sq ft (50.78 m2)
• Empty Weight: 13,950lbs (6328 kg)
• Max Takeoff Weight: 51,200 lbs (23223.92 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Merigo C220M high-bypass turbofans producing 15,320 lbf each
• Fuel Capacity: 17,600lbs (7983.22 kg)
• Useful Payload: 15,000lbs (6803.89 kg)

Performance

• Maximum Speed: Mach 0.82 (629 mph, 1012 kph) at altitude
• Service Ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,192 m)+
• Rate of Climb: 5,500 ft/min plus (27.94 m/s)
• Wing Loading: 93.67 lbs/sq ft (139.39632 kg/m2)
• Thrust/Weight: 0.59

Armament

• Payload: 6x wing hardpoints with total capacity for 12,000lbs of payload, and 4x internal hardpoints (torpedo only)
  • Up to 60 sonobuoys

S2M models are capable of carrying wingtip mounted infrared air-to-air missiles only.

Avionics

Basic:

• AW-160 inverse synthetic aperture radar
• AE-161B radar warning receiver
• AI-20C forward looking infrared camera
• AX-13C sonobuoy signal reciever
• AQ-52B retractable magnetic anomaly detector
• AE-220 electronic support measures locator

S2M models:

• AM-142 multifunction radar (S2M-S2M3)
• AM-150 multifunction radar (S2M4)