AB-2 "Tacocat" Stealth Bomber

AB-2 Tacocat
Two Block II Tacocats during a training exercise
General information
Type	Stealth strategic heavy bomber
National origin	Amador
Manufacturer	Irilyn Defense Solutions
Status	In service
Primary users	The Imperial Air Force Seclya
History
Manufactured	1999 - 2032
Introduction date	April 1, 2000
First flight	13 June 1994 (1994-06-13)
Variants	Block I, Block II, Block III

The AB-2 “Tacocat” Stealth bomber is an Amadorian heavy strategic bomber featuring extremely low-observable stealth technology, designed to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses, and partake in lengthy strike missions from across the globe without being seen. It is a subsonic flying wing with a crew of two developed by Irilyn Defense Solutions beginning in 1989 with initial developments, while the aircraft officially entered service in early 2000 with a production run from 1999 - 2032. The bombers can drop conventional and thermonuclear ordinance. It may also carry air-to-surface standoff weapons while still in its stealth configuration. The “Tacocat” derives its name from the national icon, King Tacocat, a popular animated figure in Amadorian media.

Development of the Tacocat began in 1989 following the establishment of the Advanced Technologies Bomber Project aimed at replacing the aging AB-1 “Callon”, Amador’s first attempt at a stealthy bomber aircraft. Production of the aircraft officially began in 1999, when the first “Tacocat” rolled off the assembly line. The “Tacocat” would stay in production until 2032, with 132 having been produced. 129 remain in active service, while two were lost to pilot malfunction and another sustaining heavy damage from a fire that proved too costly to repair. The AB-2 is expected to stay in service well into the 2050s. It will be succeeded by the AB-3 "Berren" which is in development.

The Tacocat was designed to be modular, allowing upgrades throughout its decades of service to cope with rapidly increasing technological gains of nations throughout the world. The Tacocat is separated into three distinct blocks, each fielding successive and more advanced avionics and configurations than the last: Block I, Block II, and Block III.

The AB-2 can perform missions at high altitudes up to 50,000 feet; it possesses an unrefueled range of 4,346 nautical miles and can fly more than 8,000 nautical miles with a singular midair refueling. It is the second aircraft to enter service with stealth technologies after the AB-1 "Callon" subsonic bomber.

The AB-2 has seen extensive combat operations since entering service; its first being bombing sorties on Hakulic forces during the War of the Leaves, where it performed above expected perimeters, decimating enemy positions and knocking out key military infrastructure, enabling Seclyai and Amadorian forces to gradually overwhelm the human supremacists. The AB-2 would also see service in the Laefold War, striking key military targets. The Blockade of Palmyrion once more saw the AB-2 used to strike Unitarist forces blockading Palmyrion with extreme prejudice. The Second Blood War in 2034 would see the Tacocat perform long-range missions against Hakulic forces in Scailand from Kva Norale, decimating naval and land infrastructure during the Amadorian Blockade of Scailand.

Design

Flight Controls

A flying-win design, the AB-2 uses a complex quadruplex computer controlled fly-wire flight control system that can automate and manipulate flight services regardless of pilot inputs in order to maintain appropriate stability and increase overall safety of the craft. Flight actuation incorporates hydraulic and electrical components designed with a high level of redudance and fault-diagnostic capabilities, while also retaining its promiment modular capabilities for future system upgrades. The AB-2 receives flight conditions on the external atmospheres such as current air speed and angle of attack from pitot-static sensing plates.

Iriliyn has investigated and applied several means of directional control that would correct infringement on the aircraft's radar profile as minutely as possible. Engine thrust has been a key plot point in the craft's aerodynamic design from the beginning: as thrust affects pitching and rolling through drag and lift, the design has been corrected to affected the radar cross-section lightly, if at all. The wing's edges possess various pairs of control surfaces; though most are used throughout the aicraft's flight envelope, the inner elevons are normally used at low speeds during landings and intial climb. Contact damage is avoided through the clever use of nose-down pitching, dropping the elevons to a drooped position until high airspeed has been acquired and steadied.

Stealth

The AB-2's low-observable "stealth" characteristics allow it to penetrated sophisticated anti-aircraft defense while also allowing it to attack heavily defended target. The stealth is derived from reduced acoustics, infrared, visual, and radar signatures to evade a plethora of detection systems that could be used to detect the Tacocat. Its tealth also reduced the use of supporting aircraft, as it can pierce the strongest defenses. It is considered a force multiplier. As of 2032, no instances exist where the AB-2 has had a missile launched at it.

The AB-2 is painted with anti-reflective paint to reduce optial visibility during daylight operating flights, while its contrasting gray blends well into the the sky. An upward-facing light sensor alerts the pilot to increase of reduce altitude to match varying changes in illuminance during missions. While its stealth enables it to avoid radar and the likes, it is still vulnerable to visual interceptions at ranges of 10-15 nmi or less. The aircraft is stored in specialised air-conditioned hangers that preserve its stealth coating - the are estimated to cost in excess of $10 million. The coating is replaced every four years through specialised means for the AB-2's surfaces to be inspected, cleaned, and repaired before reapplying its special coating.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 2: pilot (left seat) and mission commander (right seat)
• Length: 62 ft 4 in (19 m)
• Wingspan: 151 ft 7 in (46.20 m)
• Height: 15 ft 1 in (4.60 m)
• Wing area: 5,140 sq ft (478 m²)
• Empty weight: 53,250.75 lb (24,154 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 159,752.25 lb (72,462 kg)
• Fuel capacity: 63,900.9 pounds
• Powerplant: 4 × 4x AmaIrilyn-71Q non-afterburning turbofans, 16,000 lbf (71 kN) thrust each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 630 mph (1,014 km/h; 547 kn) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m) altitude / Mach 0.95 at sea level
• Cruise speed: 575 mph; 926 km/h (500 kn) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m) altitude
• Range: 5,001 mi; 8,049 km (4,346 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 52,000 ft (16,000 m)
• Wing loading: 67.3 lb/sq ft (329 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: .40:1