Colomas P-343
| Colomas P-343 | |
|---|---|
 MC-353S Midnight Whisper | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light Propellor Craft |
| Manufacturer | Colomas Aerospace |
| Status | In service |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1989-present |
| Introduction date | 1990 |
The P-343 is a light transport and cargo plane developed by Colomas Aerospace. It is used primarily as a mail carrier and low-capacity passenger airliner, finding common use with the numerous small local airports connecting remote and disconnected communities. Primarily built as a short take-off capable aircraft that can operate even from grassy or dirt airfields, a number of upgrades and design adjustments have expanded the role of the airframe.
History
Prior to 1985, the small Inyurstan aerospace company Colomas had been involved entirely with domestic modification and small-scale production of foreign airframes. At this point, they began work on their first indigenous design, aiming to create a rugged and lightweight airplane to capitalize at the incoming growth of air travel between developing parts of the country.
In 1988 P-343-01 flew from a runway owned by Colomas Aerospace between Medílla and Cordoba to a 290m long grass runway outside of San Driss on the northwestern coast of Marindino, and promptly returned to Cordoba International Airport to great a crowd of potential investors, government officials and aerospace enthusiasts.
Military Use
Soon after, the Aéroforça D'Inyursta began limited use of the aircraft as an unarmed light transport, and was subsequently developed into multiple military versions thereafter. The CS-343N Alcatraz is an anti-submarine aircraft designed to extend the range and loiter time of carrier battlegroups. Due to its short take-off capabilities, the CS-343N can take off from amphibious assault ships.
Doctrinal changes foresaw the need for a cheap, manned fixed-wing aircraft that could take off from highways and poorly-maintained runways and deliver anti-ship ordinace to targets off the Inyurstan coast as an interim solution until UCAV development, VTOL development and/or both progressed to affordable and sustainable levels. The resulting product was the A-347 Boomslang II, a gun-less indirect attacker capable of operating at over 200 potential locations across eastern & central Inyursta.
Variants
- P-343A/B: Standard version. Passenger capacity of 5 (six including pilot).
- P-343E: Later production version with SysTech EC-2066v3 engines for improved fuel efficiency.
- P-353: Extended length version. Passenger capacity upped to 12.
- P-347: Shortened cabin "sport" version with only 2 seat capacity but increased aerial performance.
- C-353A: Basic transport variant in use with the Inyurstan Air Force. Can carry 16 paratroopers or up to 24 troops.
- MC-353S Midnight Whisper: Clandestine mission variant utilized by special forces. Includes unspecified avionics upgrades and radar-absorbent coating.
- CS-343N Alcatraz: Anti-Submarine warfare variant in use with the Inyurstan Navy. Designed to carry 2-6 Pu-30 GLASS torpedoes, as well as sonobuoys & depth charges. Includes front-mounted surface scan radar and rear-compartment mounted Magnetic Anomoly Detectors.
- OP/A-343F Boomslang: Scout/Attack version. Armed with various air-to-surface weaponry, including: x2 .50 Caliber MG, x2 GIAT M20A1 20mm cannon pods, x4 wing pylons with provisions for AGM-114 Hellfire, GBU-44/b Viper Strike, ASM-7 STRIKE, as well as various rockets and bombs.
- OP/A-343G Boomslang: "Light Gunship" version. Removes fixed 20mm gun pods. Armament includes one rear compartment-mounted twin-barrel 14.5mm HMG station.
- A-347 Boomslang II: Attack version with passenger/cargo space removed and fitted with additional internal fuel tanks and an internal weapons bay. Can carry up to x1 ASM-4 Leviathan, x3 ASM-8 Barracuda (x1 internal, x2 wing pylon), x9 ASM-7 STRIKE (x3 internal, x6 wing pylon), or any combination thereof.
