AFASF-10 Donnola Air Superiority Fighter

Ersilia AFASF-10 Donnola
A Ruvelkan Donnola on approach to land.
Role	Fighter aircraft
National origin	Cacerta
Manufacturer	Ersilia Defense and Aeronautics
First flight	2 April 1962
Introduction	10 June 1965
Retired	5 May 1985 (CRAF; as fighter)
Status	In limited service
Primary user	Cacertian Royal Air Fleet Cacertian Royal Navy Ruvelkan Imperial Air Force
Produced	1962—1986
Variants	AFASF-10P (NSF-11) AFASF-10E AFASF-10GE AFASF-10M

The Ersilia AFASF-10 Donnola (Weasel) is a third-generation, variable-sweep wing fighter aircraft that was designed by Ersilia Defense and Aeronautics in the 1960s. It was the first Cacertian aircraft equipped with a look-down/shoot-down radar and beyond-visual-range missiles. The Donnola served as the mainline fighter of the Cacertian Royal Air Force from its introduction in 1965 until being replaced by the AFASF-12 Drago in 1983.

Large numbers of the Donnola were sold to Ruvelka in the early 1970s where it also served as the Imperial Air Force’s main fighter aircraft. While it has largely been superseded by Dragos in RIAF service, large portions of the Donnola fleet were pressed into service during the Zemplen War with many serving as reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft. They continue to serve in a limited role in the RIAF today.

Variants

AFASF-10

The original production variant of the Donnola.

AFASF-10P (NSF-11)

In 1966, Ersilia developed the Portaerei variant of the Donnola which became the primary carrier-borne fighter of the Cacertian Royal Navy until the introduction of the NSF-12 Albatro. The AFASF-10P also fulfilled a ground-attack role unlike the original Donnola.

AFASF-10E

The 10E (Esportazione) was developed in 1970 after Ersilia was approached by representatives of the Ruvelkan Imperial Air Force who expressed interest in purchasing the Donnola. Instead of the Cacertian-built electronic suite, Ruvelka provided the necessary components.

AFASF-10GE

The 10GE (Guerra Elettronica) is an electronic warfare variant of the Donnola that first entered service with the Cacertian Royal Navy in 1971. It was developed from the AFASF-10P at the request of the Navy for a carrier-based electronic warfare and electronic countermeasure aircraft to support a carrier strike wing's fighters. It was later adopted by the Air Fleet in 1973 and is in the only variant of the Donnola still in service with the Cacertian Armed Forces.

AFASF-10M

In 1978, Ersilia began developing the AFASF-12 Drago utilizing knowledge of the Donnola’s combat performance in the Refusal War against the Syaran-built Nephele. Taking into account the Donnola’s poor dogfighting abilities, Ersilia developed the AFASF-10M (Migliorato) as a stop-gap while development of the Drago was ongoing. The 10M had vastly improved controls and avionics that allowed it to perform somewhat better in the dogfighting role.

Operators

Current Operators

• Cacerta; Cacertian Royal Air Fleet, Cacertian Royal Navy—The electronic warfare variant of the Donnola remains in service with both the Air Fleet and Navy.
• Ruvelka; Ruvelkan Imperial Air Force—166 currently listed as part of the RIAF’s inventory. Many of these remaining Donnola’s have been converted to the 10GE and house advanced ECM suites.

Former Operators

• Cacerta; Cacertian Royal Air Fleet—The CRAF retired the Donnola as a frontline fighter in 1985. Much of its fleet was converted, sold, or scrapped.

Specifications

General Characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 16.7 m (54 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 13.97 m (45 ft 10 in) fully spread; 7.78 m (25 ft 6 in) fully swept
• Height: 4.82 m (15 ft 10 in)
• Wing Area: 37.35 m² (402 ft²) fully spread; 34.16 m² (367.16 ft²) fully swept
• Gross Weight: 14,840 kg (32,717 lbs)
• Max Takeoff Weight: 17,800 kg (39,242 lbs)
• Powerplant: 1 × EDA-1962 Afterburning Turbojet

Performance

• Maximum Speed: Mach 2.35 (2,499 km/h, 1,553 mph) at altitude
• Range: 1,900 km (1,200 mi, 1,000 nmi)
• Combat Range: 1,500 km (930 mi, 810 nmi) with standard weapons load; 2,550 km (1,580 mi, 1,380 nmi) with standard weapons load and three drop-tanks
• Ferry Range: 2,820 km (1,750 mi, 1,520 nmi) with three drop-tanks
• Service Ceiling: 18,300 m (60,000 ft)
• Rate of Climb: 230 m/s (45,000 ft/min)

Armament

• Guns: 1 × 23 mm with 260 rounds
• Payload: 3,000 kg (6,600 lbs) across wing, wing-glove, and fuselage pylons