Arthuristan Dynamics Mercury
| Arthuristan Dynamics Mercury | |
|---|---|
| |
| The Mercury S.3 | |
| Role | Strike / Electronic Warfare |
| Manufacturer | Arthuristan Dynamics |
| First flight | 1958 |
| Introduction | 1962 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Fleet Air Arm, Commonwealth Air Force |
The Arthuristan Dynamics Mercury is a long range strike aircraft of Arthuristan origin. Originally introduced in the early-60's, it was originally designed to provide the Fleet Air Arm and Commonwealth Air Force with low-level 'below the radar' attack capability. Owing to the requirements of low-altitude flight, the Mercury possesses a very durable airframe resistant to metal fatigue, and possesses very stable low-level characteristics. Despite the fact that it is incapable of supersonic flight, at below 150m it is faster than most aircraft with a theoretical top speed of mach 2.
The Mercury S.3 configuration, following a 1980's upgrade package using various Belfrasian 'off-the-shelf' components, became the definitive variant of the Mercury strike aircraft. It featured an "Attack Navigation System, which was a pod incorporating terrain-following radar and wide-field FLIR for night- and all weather low-altitude operations. Those aircraft outfitted for land-attack mission may in addition carry a targeting pod for laser- or electro-optical guided weapons. BLue Fox radar sets were installed on the aircraft enhanced their search and targeting capabilities against sea and land targets.
Other upgrades included 'bulging' bomb bay doors to accommodate additional fuel, as well as compatibility with up to four ACM-2 Renove anti-ship missile. The aircraft's self-defence capabilities were also improved with the incorporation of new jammer, radar-warning receiver and chaff/flare dispenser units.
A round of minor upgrades, in combination designated the "S.3+", was implemented in the 1990's. These included the addition of SATNAV and the reconfiguration of the cockipit to make it compatible with night-vision goggles. Some were equipped with surplused AN/APG-65 radars from the Commonwealth Air Force's fleet of Aigios Ifrit,
The strike variant of the Mercury has been replaced by the UFC Tempest. However, the Mercury ECR electronic warfare aircraft remains in service in limited numbers.
Mercury ECR
The Mercury ECR is an electronic warfare variant of the Mercury, specifically designed to carry out SEAD missions, or to support strike packages by protecting friendly aircraft against enemy SAM's. It is equipped with six Belfrasian ALQ-99 tac-jammer units in the bomb bay, with their multi-function (omnidirectional and directional) antennae projecting out in a canoe-shaped structure between the forward undercarriage and the bomb bay. An ALQ-41 jammer is also carried for self-defence jamming. The Mark-7V Radar Warning Receiver is mounted as a bulb atop the vertical stabiliser. This unit is responsible for detecting and prioritising threat radars for power-managed jamming by the ALQ-99 or ALQ-41 units. It also has a secondary function in providing targeting information to any anti-radiation missiles the aircraft may carry on its external pylons.
While strike variant Mercuries have been retired, the ECR has not been retired and is sustained in service by spare parts liberated from scrapped strike aircraft. They will likely remain until sufficient numbers of UFC F-29 Hurricane are available to take over its specialist electronic warfare and defence-suppression functions.
Specifications (Mercury Strike Variant)
- Length: 19.33m
- Wingspan: 13.41m
- Height: 4.97m
- Crew: 2
- Empty weight: 14,000kg
- Loaded weight: 28,000kg
- Powerplants: 2 x Rollers Spey turbofans, 50kn each
- Top speed: 1,074km/h at 60m
- Armaments: 1x internal rotary launcher in bomb bay for 5,443kg ordnance, 6x underwing pylons for 2,000kg ordnance
- Combat radius: 2,000km with drop tanks
- Sensors: Mark-64 navigation//attack radar, Attack Navigation System pod (incorporating terrain-following radar and wide-field FLIR)
- Countermeasures: RWR, jammer, chaff/flare dispensers