Mikasa Gallienus MiK-28
| Mikasa-Gallienus MiK-28 | |
|---|---|
| |
| MiK-28 Fallout | |
| Role | Fighter bomber |
| Manufacturer | Mikasa-Gallienus |
| First flight | 1981 |
| Introduction | 1986 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Elatian Air Force |
The MiK-28 (Common Reporting Name: Fallout) is an Elatian single-engine multi-role fighter. Alongside the Sorranus So-30, it is one of two main fighter designs currently in service with the Elatian Air Force.
Origin
Until the 1970's, the two main models of frontline fighters in the Elatian Air Force were the MiK-58 Fishhook and the MiK-70 Flopper. Neither was entirely satisfactory. The Fishhook was a deadly dogfighter, but handicapped by low fuel load and the inability to launch radar-guided air-to-air missiles to beyond-visual range, being equipped with a primitive ranging radar and short-ranged heatseekers only. The MiK-70's fighter variant, on the other hand, was BVR-capable, but heavier than the MiK-58 and lacked its agility whilst being measurably more expensive.
With perennial adversary Belfras introducing new fighter models, such as the Aigios Viper and Aigios Ifrit, it became critical that Elatia fields new fighter models in response. Elatia was plagued by the backwards character of its electronic industry, which resulted in deficient radars and sensors. Its engines were also notoriously prone to short flight hours. However, the traditional advantage of Elatian design burueas was in their understanding of aerodynamics science. It leveraged said strength in order to design a pair of fighters - the heavy, twin-engine Sorannus So-30, as well as the MiK-28 as a lighter, cheaper complementary model.
The MiK-28 first flew in the early-80's and was swiftly introduced. The Elatian Great Freeze of the mid-80's led to a significant disruption of production, but manufacturing of the relatively simple aircraft was never halted entirely. The majority of the aircraft in service today are produced from 1990-onwards.
Design
The MiK-28 is a single-engine fighter. In terms of size, it is a light-medium weight design. In comparison with its contemporaries, it is slightly larger than the Talaharan Warg-600 and Rezese Mi-10.2 Taguato, roughly the same size as the Arthuristan Dynamics Fury, and smaller than the Aigios Ifrit.
Like its larger brother, the So-30, it features semi-crescent shaped wings with large leading-edge root extensions. This conferred upon it significant maneouverability advantages and, for its time (and indeed to this day), it was a formidable dogfighter. However, the initial model, as originally introduced in the early-80's, was highly deficient in terms of sensors. It was supposed to be equipped with a new pulse doppler radar, which became significantly delayed. As a result, it had to use a simpler model originally intended for the MiK-70, which was only able to engage a single enemy aircraft at beyond-visual range.
Whilst designed with secondary ground attack capability in mind, early MiK-28 models did not have any avionics which support the deployment of precision-guided munitions and were restricted to dumb ordnance only against ground targets. For all intents and purposes, the original MiK-28 design was a short-ranged battlefield tactical air superiority fighter, a one-for-one replacement for the legacy MiK-58 which nevertheless shared many of its problems.
MiK-28M
The MiK-28M upgrade of the late-90's was a significant improvement of the original MiK-28 model, featuring a plethora of upgrades. Its most important improvement is the Shok-M pulse doppler radar. With a detection range against fighters out to more than 120km, it is capable of simultaneously providing mid-range guidance to four active radar-guided air-to-air missiles to beyond-visual range. It also has ground-scanning and maritime modes for all-weather ground attack and naval strike capabilities. Combined with a targeting pod, the MiK-28 was transformed into a true multi-role aircraft.
Other improvements included a glass cockpit upgrade with multi-function displays, increased fuel capacity for longer range, a helmet-mounted display compatible with advanced heatseeking short-range missiles, as well as a new self-defence suite with modern radar-warning receiver, self-defence jammer and automatic chaff/flare dispenser.
Currently, the vast majority of MiK-28 models in Elatian Air Force service have been upgraded to the MiK-28M standard.
MiK-28M(S)
The MiK-28M(S) is essentially a MiK-28M model with a navalised airframe. It is capable of operating from the Elatian Navy's 45,000-tonne STOBAR carrier, the ENS Petro Antaŭdiro (Peter the Harbinger). A total of 42 have been procured, consisting of three squadrons of twelve plus a number of two-seat trainers, although owing to the ship's limited capacity only two squadrons may be embarked at any time.
MiK-28M2
The MiK-28M2 is an upgrade of the MiK-28M, introduced in the mid-2010's. It features further advancements including the ShoK-ME PESA radar with improved capabilities, an improved electronic warfare suite, as well as diverterless supersonic inlet. Its engine is uprated to 145kn at full afterburner. It is envisaged that most MiK-28M's will be upgraded to the M2 model by 2030.
The MiK-28M2 is not regarded to be quite as capable as foreign counterparts such as the Ferron Cojgé, UFC Tempest, Aigios Shrike or E-39 Grifo E/F. However, it is measurably cheaper and remains very competitive in capable hands.
Specifications (MiK-28M)
- Length: 15.5m
- Wingspan: 11m
- Height: 5m
- Crew: 1-2
- Empty weight:9,520kg
- Gross weight: 13,300kg clean
- Powerplants: 1 x Nekota-3D turbofan engine, 75kn dry, 132kn with afterburners
- Combat range: 800-1,000km depending on mission profile and external fuel
- Ferry range: 4,000km
- Top speed: Mach 2 at altitude
- Armaments: 1x 30mm chain gun with 150 rounds, 7,000kg external stores, 9x hardpoints (6x wing, 3x fuselage)