F-30 Shrike

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Layartebian Defense Corporation F-30 Shrike
Role Multirole lightweight fighter
National origin  Layarteb
Manufacturer Layartebian Defense Corporation
First flight 11 April 2008; 16 years ago (2008-04-11)
Introduction 6 September 2014; 10 years ago (2014-09-06)
Status In-Service
Primary user Imperial Layartebian Air Force
Produced 2012 - Present
Unit cost
$37,500,000 [Domestic]
$42,000,000 [Export]

The Layartebian Defense Corporation F-30 Shrike is a twin-engine supersonic multirole light fighter aircraft originally designed for the export market. However, its performance and versatility led to its adoption by the Imperial Layartebian Military. The Shrike is an all-weather, 4.5 generation aircraft similar to the F/A-50 Golden Eagle and the JAS-39 Gripen.

As a light fighter, the Shrike is designed to be a cost-effective solution for the export market for nations incapable of procuring large and expensive, 4.5 generation fighters such as the Dassalt Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, or the Layartebian-made F-28 Viper. In addition to serving as a light fighter, the Shrike also has a trainer variant designed to provide modern capabilities for emerging pilot students. The aircraft makes heavy use of fly-by-wire systems, making it a highly agile aircraft, especially when combined with thrust vectoring engines, which is an option available on the aircraft. The fighter has an internal cannon and ten hardpoints for air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance.

Development

Origins

The debut of the F-28 Viper in 2002 provided ample support to the Layartebian Defense Corporation in both the domestic and in export markets. Cleared for export to Tier I and Tier II allies, the Viper quickly became not only the most numerous fighter in Layartebian service but also its most exported fighter in history. Forming the backbone of many nations, the Viper was a resounding success but it had a major limitation to some smaller Tier II and Tier III allies, which was its cost. The Viper, designed as a big, 4.5-generation fighter, came with an export price tag of nearly $100 million and significant operating costs to maintain it in peak, flying condition. To rectify this issue, the Layartebian Defense Corporation undertook Project Shrike, which aimed to produce an export-oriented, light fighter at half the cost of the Viper without sacrificing too much on capability, serviceability, and usability.

Project Shrike began, in earnest, in spring 2005. Multiple project teams were convened and given the task of submitting proposals for a twin-engine, lightweight fighter that would serve in the 21st century the same way that the F-5 Tiger II did in the 20th century. Because development was being done entirely in-house, without a domestic contract and without any export contracts, cost had to be a priority. For that reason, a grand fly-off was not envisioned and only the best design - on paper - was chosen. Design LC-502A was chosen and the prototype phase began in early 2007 with the first prototype rolled out in January 2008. Its first flight was April 11, 2008.

Testing on the LC-502A took on a slower pace than normal, chiefly due to the lack of delivery contracts but the buzz around the aircraft soon garnered steam when in summer 2010, the Imperial Layartebian Air Force approached the Layartebian Defense Corporation about the possibility of evaluating the fighter as a replacement for some retiring aircraft. A strategy review in the Ministry of Defense had determined that an inexpensive, 4.5-generation light fighter could provide economically viable in combat, especially against enemies in disproportionate scenarios, especially in counter-insurgency campaigns. As a result, the LC-502A was given the designation of YF-30.

Concurrently with this level of interest, the Layartebian Defense Corporation propositioned modifying the two-seat LC-502B into a potential trainer aircraft. As a result, the LC-502C prototype was born and it took to the skies in March 2011. Testing on the aircraft continued and export interest grew quickly. All-in-all, six aircraft prototypes per built, two of each variant. Rigorous testing began but came to a three-month delay in May 2013 after PAV-4 suffered a fatal crash, killing test pilot John B. Kelly, a former air force colonel and prestigious member of the air force's flight demonstration team. PAV-4, a YF-30A single-seat design, was being put through high-G maneuvers at very low altitude during a particularly dangerous aspect of its testing program. Disruption of airflow into the starboard engine during a +9G turn at 2,000 ft (610 m) caused the aircraft to enter into a flat spin. The spin was unrecoverable and the extremely low altitude of the spin meant that the recovery parachute system could not deploy quickly enough. Kelly was killed in the crash, having never initiated the ejection sequence, perhaps due to blackout or an effort to recover the aircraft.

Changes were made to the five remaining prototypes and testing resumed in August 2013. Testing of high-G maneuvers was now limited to altitudes in excess of 6,500 ft (2,000 m). No further issues with airflow disruption were noted however.

The YF-30 was dubbed the "Shrike" in line with its project name on August 8, 2012, when low-rate initial production was authorized. The first operational squadron of F-30A Shrikes would reach initial operational capability on September 6, 2014 with the air force. The first T-8A Shrike reached initial operational capability on March 1, 2015 with the air force.

Production

The initial order from the Imperial Layartebian Air Force was for two hundred and eighty F-30A Shrike single-seat combat aircraft and four hundred T-8A Shrike two-seat trainer aircraft. Based on these orders and export orders, the Layartebian Defense Corporation commissioned the first production line for low rate initial production in August 2012 at the Roanoke Aircraft Plant in Roanoke, Virginia. In FY12, six aircraft were produced, rising to sixteen in FY13, thirty-two in FY14, forty-five in FY15, eighty-one in FY16, and ninety in FY17 and FY18 each. Orders and line time is showing a projected eighty-one aircraft in FY19. Orders and production plans for FY20 show 87 aircraft producing. At present, the Virginia line is producing the F-30A and the T-8A exclusively for the Imperial Layartebian Air Force. Based on orders, production will continue through 2022 when the final T-8As will be delivered, lest the Imperial Layartebian Air Force order more.

A second production line at the Montgomery Production Plant in Montgomery, Alabama, which is one of three LDC manufacturing facilities between Montgomery and Columbus, Georgia, was commissioned in FY14 with the production of nine aircraft. This rose to twenty-one in FY15, thirty-three in FY16, forty-two in FY17, and fifty in FY18. The projection for FY19 is for sixty-one aircraft. Orders and production forecasts for FY20, FY21, and FY22 have the plant producing sixty-four aircraft per year. The Montgomery facility produces aircraft solely for the export market.

All told, as of 2019, there have been six hundred and fifty-seven Shrikes produced, four hundred and forty-one just for the Imperial Layartebian Military. The Shrike has been available for export to Tier I (The October Alliance or TOA) and Tier II allies since 2014 and Tier III partners since 2018.

Upgrades

Initial versions of the F-30 Shrike were of the Block 1 variant. In total, forty Block 1 variant aircraft were produced from FY12 to FY14. The initial operational capability (IOC) Shrikes had very limited air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities and were largely used for pilot transition training. Insofar as air-to-air ordnance was concerned, they could only carry the AIM-9M Sidewinder and for air-to-ground ordnance, they could only carry unguided, iron bombs of the Mark 80 series.

Production of the Block 5 variant began in FY14 with a total of one hundred and forty-nine aircraft produced from FY14 to FY16. The Block 5 upgrade is considered the full operational capability and it was also the first export model and the first trainer model. The Block 5 variant integrated the full suite of air-to-air weapons such as the radar-guided AIM-120 AMRAAM and air-to-ground weapons, including precision-guided munitions such as the the JDAM and the Paveway bombs, the AGM-65 Maverick, the AGM-84 Harpoon, and the AGM-154 JSOW.

Production of the Block 10 variant began in FY16 and it is the variant currently in production. Four hundred and sixty-eight aircraft have been produced to this variant. The Block 10 integrated more weapons and provided for avionics upgrades fixing a number of flaws in the datalink system of the Block 1 and the Block 5 variants. It integrated long-range cruise missiles and newer air-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles, giving expansion on the aircraft's capabilities. In domestic variants, the Block 10 upgrade allows the Shrike to carry nuclear weaponry.

Development on a Block 15 variant is on the horizon but it is not expected to be introduced into production until sometime in 2021. Expected improvements will mainly be to the aircraft's systems providing improved compatibility with 5th generation fighters.

Design

Characteristics

The Shrike is designed as a cost-effective, light fighter, which means that features available on modern aircraft such as stealth coatings and thrust vectoring controls are absent on the Shrike. By virtue of it being a small aircraft, the Shrike has a reduced radar cross section from the frontal aspect and there is some care taken to shield its fan blades but by no means is the fighter considered stealthy. To best utilize the fighter, it is meant to be flown at low-level to take advantage of terrain masking, where its avionics and agility allow it to fly through even the most harrowing terrain.

The fighter features a blended wing body to provide additional lift for its small shape. It does not feature canards and it has a single, vertical stabilizer. The aircraft features triple-redundant, digital, fly-by-wire controls. It is a twin-engine design with a bubble canopy for maximum visibility. The Shrike carries all of its weapons externally except for its gun and it features a compact design with a wet wing.

For its size, the Shrike packs a considerable punch, especially in the area of maneuverability. It is rated to perform maneuvers between -3G and +8G though it can be pushed to +9G without damage to the airframe. It is recommended only to stress the airframe to this level with a minimum loadout of two, wingtip, air-to-air missiles. Helping the Shrike in its agility are its two, powerful engines, which allow a fully loaded Shrike to be airborne in 1,000 m (3,281 ft). At combat weight however, the Shrike can be airborne in as little as 355 m (1,165 ft). To aid in landing, the Shrike features a drag chute measuring 16 ft (4.87 m) in diameter, which is towed 15 ft (4.57 m) behind the airframe. With a drag chute, the Shrike can stop in just 800 m (2,625 ft) and without it, this is nearly doubled to 1,500 m (4,921 ft).

Powerplant

The Shrike is powered by two, afterburning, turbofan engines. They do not feature thrust vectoring control but they are capable of being modified with pitch-control paddles, though at additional expense. Layartebian fighters do not have thrust vectoring controls installed as of 2017 nor are there plans to fit them except to a limited number of T-62C Shrikes for familiarization purposes with fifth-generation aircraft.

Each engine has a maximum output of 6,382 lbf (28.39 kN) on military power and 11,023 lbf (49.03 kN) in full afterburner. There are three afterburner stages, which allow for multiple scenarios. Selecting mode 1 is useful for air combat and maneuvers while mode 2 is useful for takeoff and performance climbing. Mode 3 is designed for maximum performance at the expense of fuel consumption. At full military power, the specific fuel consumption is 0.725 lb/(h*lbf). In full afterburner however, this increases to 1.8 lb/(h*lbf).

At sea level, in full afterburner, the Shrike will exhaust its internal fuel supply in as little as 130 seconds while at an altitude of 36,000 ft (11,000 m), this can be extended to 4 minutes. As the Shrike is a small aircraft, its fuel carriage is limited.

The Shrike has four internal fuel tanks, two in the fuselage and one in each wing. The main fuselage tank holds 322 gal (1,219 l) of fuel while a reserve tank holds just 100 gal (379 l). Each wing tank holds 200 gal (757 l) for a total of 822 gal (3,112 l) of fuel. This equals a fuel load of 5,512 lb (2,500 kg). Fuel is drained first from the two wing tanks, then the main fuselage tank, and lastly the reserve tank. On the reserve tank, at minimum throttle, at sea level, the Shrike has approximately 6 minutes of flying time remaining.

To augment its small fuel supply, the Shrike can carry up to three, external drop tanks on its centerline and innermost wing hardpoints. Each of these can hold a single 315 gal (1,192 l) tank while only the innermost wing hardpoints can carry the larger 370 gal (1,400 l) fuel tank. Fuel tanks larger than this are not cleared for the aircraft. By carrying three, 315 gal (1,192) tanks, the Shrike can increase its fuel supply by 115% and with a maximum fuel tank configuration of two 370 gal (1,400 l) tanks and one 315 gal (1,192) tank, the Shrike can increase its fuel supply by 128%.

In a full ferry configuration, the Shrike can fly as far as 1,600 mi (2,575 km). Combat radius for an air-to-air missile is 400 mi (644 km) and for a hi-lo-hi mission with a full bomb load, it is 180 mi (290 km). The fighter has a maximum ceiling of 55,000 ft (16,765 m) and in an air-to-air configuration, using maximum afterburner, the Shrike has a climb rate of 40,000 ft/min (203.2 m/s). Its maximum speed at sea level is 822 mph (1,323 km/h), which equates to Mach 1.08. At altitude, its maximum speed is 1,320 mph (2,125 km/h), which equates to Mach 2. While the airframe is capable of flying faster at altitude, it is not recommended.

Avionics

Though the Shrike is designed to be cost-effective, which precludes the use of expensive, stealth features and thrust vectoring; it is not handicapped by its avionics suite. In fact, the avionics suite of the Shrike is arguably the most expensive component of the aircraft, pound-for-pound. The Shrike features a state-of-the-art, compact radar designed to give it the ability to fight on the modern battlefield. It features an infrared search and track system for emissions control and a sophisticated ECM suite.

The primary detection system is its radar, the AN/APG-91(V)-2. Designed roughly around the same dimensions as the AN/APG-67 radar, the AN/APG-91(V)-2 weighs just 175 lb (80 kg) and features a state of the art, AESA system. The radar is an X band radar operating at 9.0 GHz. The radar features 400 transceivers, each with a maximum power output of 15 watts. While this would give the radar a maximum peak power of 6 kilowatts, the radar is only rated for 2.5 kilowatts peak due to cooling limitations. The average pulse power is nominally under 250 watts. The radar features a wide array of modes. For air combat, the crew can select range while scan (RWS), track while scan (TWS), boresight (ACM), single target track (STT), velocity search with ranging (VSR), and long range scan (LRS) modes. For ground combat, the crew can select ground map (GM), ground moving target (GMT), or maritime (SEA) modes. The radar is equipped with a terrain-following function as well.

For passive detection, the Shrike mounts the AN/AAS-48(V)-2 IRST, a compact derivative of the AN/AAS-48(V)-1 that weighs just 172 lb (78 kg). The system has a maximum azimuth of ±90° and an elevation range of -15° to +60° creating a significant cone forward and to the sides of the aircraft. Its detection range against fighter-sized targets is 37 mi (60 km) from the rear and 10 mi (16 km) from the front. The IRST is equipped with a laser-ranging device, which has a range of 9 mi (15 km) against airborne and 12.5 mi (20 km) against ground targets with an accuracy of 5 m (16.5 ft). Its instant field of view is 10° x 7.5° and it can be operated autonomously to search out targets for the crew.

Defending the Shrike is an array of electronic and physical countermeasures and warning systems. On domestic aircraft, this is the AN/ASQ-238(V)-5 Electronic Countermeasures Suite, which features the AN/ALR-94 radar warning receiver, the AN/AAR-52 missile warning system, and the AN/ALQ-229 RF jammer. The AN/AAR-52 is a dual-mode system that uses both UV and IR detection systems while the AN/ALQ-229 is equipped with a low-band receiver and transmitter and a high-band receiver and transmitter with a frequency range of 1 to 35 GHz.

Export Shrikes are equipped with a comparable system. The ECM is the AN/ALQ-165 Airborne Self-Protection Jammer. The ASPJ is equal in its range and capability to the AN/ALQ-229. For missile detection, the Shrike features the AN/ALR-74 radar warning receiver, the same as used in the F-16 Falcon. The missile warning system is the AN/AAR-57, which is a UV-based missile warning system.

Both domestic and export versions of the Shrike carry the AN/ALE-47 chaff and flare dispensing system. The aircraft has 4 dispensers located on the fuselage of the aircraft just underneath its engine compartments. Each dispenser can hold magazines that allow for 30 chaff bundles or flares or 15 larger flares. To complement the AN/ALE-47 dispensers, the Shrike also carries two AN/ALE-58 dispensers on its wingtips. Each of these dispensers adds an additional 160 chaff or flare packets in a high-capacity dispenser.

For utilization of laser-guided bombs, the Shrike cannot self-guide munitions without a pod, though it can drop bombs guided by ground teams. To facilitate this, the Shrike has a single, fuselage hardpoint for the carriage of laser-designation pods. In Layartebian service, this hardpoint is often occupied by a AN/AAQ-33 Sniper XR pod.

While the Shrike is not equipped with towed decoys or decoy dispensers, the aircraft is compatible with certain pylons that allow for decoy dispensers or towed decoys. These are not typically fitted to Layartebian aircraft however.

Cockpit

The Shrike's cockpit is based on those of multiple 4.5-generation aircraft using some influence from fifth-generation aircraft as well. The goal of the cockpit design team was to create a fully functional cockpit that would reduce workloads on single pilots and truly share workloads on two pilots. Because of the different roles of the Shrike, there are three cockpit configurations. The single-seat F-62A offers a workload-reduced, single-pilot cockpit while the two-seat F-62B offers a backseat cockpit with a layout geared to the role of the weapon system's officer or WSO. The trainer T-62C offers identical cockpits to both the pilot and the instructor with dual controls.

A feature that the Shrike possesses that no other Layartebian aircraft possesses without retrofit is a collision avoidance system named the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System or Auto-GCAS. The Auto-GCAS system prevents controlled flight into terrain if the pilot has lost consciousness due to excess g-forces. The system, which is proven effective, will ensure that an aircraft not under pilot control rights itself with a +5G recover that will turn an aircraft from any attitude into a wings level, upright position. It works for G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC), cockpit decompression and hypoxia, and even spatial disorientation as can happen at night or in bad weather over water. The use of the Auto-GCAS is considered invaluable on training aircraft but is soon to be retrofitted onto combat aircraft as well. With the Shrike, it is present from the get-go.

The layout of the cockpit in the Shrike is conventional in that there is a physical HUD, a side-stick and throttle with full HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick) compatibility, and it is fully compatible with night vision goggles (NVGs). In the standard layout, the stick is located on the right and the throttle on the left. Between the throttle and the stick, there are twenty-four programmable buttons and roller switches, which can be fully customized by each pilot in accordance to his or her needs. The system is fully compatible with all commercial Helmet Mounted Displays (HMDs) to provide seamless integration for existing aircraft or upgrade programs.

There was considerable discussion on whether or not to include the Pilot Voice Input (PVI) system that is present on the F-60 Firefly. The PVI system is a direct, voice activated system that allows a pilot to control non-critical systems with only voice commands. The system requires significant voice training for each pilot but in the end, it can store as many as 200 commands that can be activated with a response time of just 200 ms. Average recognition capability is 95%. Overall, the PVI system allows for control of twenty-six systems. However, in the end, this option was not installed on Shrike aircraft though programmers and hardware developers on the design team allowed for future retrofitting of the PVI system.

The pilot sits on an ACES II zero-zero ejection seat that is reclined by 17° to reduce the stresses of G-forces on the pilot during maneuvers. The cockpit is fully climate controlled and it is linked to a proven, reliable on-board oxygen generating system (OBOGS), which has been rigorously tested to ensure it is not prone to failures related to particulate inhalation and hypoxia systems. The canopy of the Shrike is a single-piece, bubble canopy that affords excellent visibility. The canopy is not lined with gold to reduce its radar cross section as that would have not been cost-effective for the aircraft. The canopy is made out of a strengthened, polycarbonate material designed to protect the pilot against debris and bird strikes.

Beyond these features, the pilot has a very functional cockpit. The HUD of the Shrike is a wide-angle system with a field of view of 35° wide by 25° high. It can be programmed to a wide array of symbols that are compatible with existing symbols used by any nation in the world. It also features custom features to allow for unique symbology. In the event of a bird strike, the HUD is designed to collapse to provide another safety feature for the pilot. A rubber buffer strip on the HUD is there to shield the canopy as it flexes during bird strikes to avoid shattering.

The pilot has two primary liquid-crystal (LCD) multifunction displays (MFDs). Each of these represent the newest MFDs available to Layartebian aircraft production. Located left and right, they each measure 6 in (15.24 cm) wide by 8 in (20.32 cm) tall. Each MFD offers full RGB colors programmable to 16.7 million colors in an 8-bit configuration or 262,144 colors in a 6-bit configuration. It can also be programmed to monochrome. They offer a response time of 25 ms and 768 x 768 resolution. There are fourteen button groups around each MFD with three on the top and bottom each and four on the sides. Each group features two buttons to allow for forward and backwards or up and down. Alternatively, on some menus, these buttons provide as many as twenty-eight options per MFD. Each MFD is interchangeable to allow for full customization for the pilot. In addition, these MFDs can function as single or split modes. In a single mode, the entire display is viewable but in split modes, the MFD allows for a top and a bottom section. The top section is a 6 in (15.24 cm) square display and the bottom section is a 2 in (5.08 cm) by 6 in (15.24 cm). This can be further segmented into two 2 in (5.08 cm) by 3 in (7.62 cm) units so that a single MFD can contain as many as three windows. The pilot could have the left MFD featuring the radar, the RWR, and the IRST display while the right can feature the TGP view and the weapons selector. This adds for maximum functionality.

A secondary MFD is played center and it measures 5 in (12.7 cm) square. It features only a single display that cannot be segmented, twenty-six buttons, and the same color and resolution specifications as the main displays have. This can be used for map and navigation functions, flight system functions, or hold any of the systems of the aircraft whether it is the TGP, the radar, the RWR, et cetera.

The pilot has two small, digital screens each measuring 2 in (5.08 cm) square above the secondary MFD which allow for artificial horizon and the compass. A digital fuel gauge is located to the right of the right-hand primary MFD along with two other digital displays for angle of attack (AOA) and vertical velocity (VVI). A digital fault screen is located on the lower right side just above the clock. There are switches and selectors on both the right and the left side arm panels. In the center of the cockpit is a programmable selector keypad like that on the F-16 Falcon.

While both the F-62A Shrike and the T-62C Shrike feature this layout, the F-62B Shrike features a different layout. In the F-62B Shrike, the pilot has the same layout as the F-62A Shrike but the back-seat officer or WSO has a different layout.

In the F-62B Shrike, the WSO mans the weapon systems. He or she can launch weapons but his or her primary role is to operate the weapons so that they are ready to be employed, allowing the pilot to focus on flying. To aid the WSO in this function, he has two large MFDs each measuring 12 in (30.48 cm) wide and 9 in (22.86 cm) tall. Each features forty-four buttons around its edges and the screens can be used in dedicated, single-screen views or split into multiple segments that split each screen in half and then offer smaller views in each segment to allow for as many as six displays per MFD. The WSO has a side stick for control of the TGP, which features twelve buttons that can be programmable per his or her wishes. The WSO also has access to two 5 in (12.7 cm) square MFDs that can be used for secondary purposes. Typically one will be set to the RWR and the other will be set to the weapon modification page allow for customized, weapon settings. These are located above the main MFDs. Resolution on the main displays is 1024 x 1024 but they are equipped with the same color depth as the pilot's MFDs.

Armament

As a light fighter, the Shrike does not carry as much ordnance as most 4.5-generation fighters but for its size and weight, it is capable of carrying a respectable payload of 11,575 lb (5,250 kg) across ten external hardpoints.

Cannon

The standard cannon equipped on all variants of the Shrike is the GAU-20/A Impulse Revolver Cannon, which is fed by an internal magazine of 150 rounds. The GAU-20/A is the Layartebian designation of the Amastoli-designed Model 278 Autocannon. It fires a 27x151mm shell out of a 70-caliber barrel at varying rates of fire. The cannon is mounted internally along the port wing root.

Export Shrikes can be equipped with several cannons. The system is limited to a weight of 400 lb (180 kg) and magazines are limited to an internal volume of 2,200 in³ (36,000 cm³). With these limitations, the follow gun options are offered standard: the M61A2 Vulcan with 300 rounds, the Mauser BK-27 with 150 rounds, the GIAT 30M 791 with 145 rounds, or the GSh-30-1 with 100 rounds. Other configurations could be available pending dimension and weight limitations.

For cannons with a laser-aided targeting system such as the GAU-20/A and the GSh-30-1, the IRST is fully compatible.

External Hardpoints

The Shrike is equipped with ten external hardpoints with two underside and eight on the wings and wingtips. The total capacity of ordnance is 11,575 lb (5,250 kg) but combat configurations will see a much lower ordinance weight due to size limitations and range requirements.

The centerline hardpoint of the Shrike is rated to 2,425 lb (1,100 kg) and is normally used to carry external drop tanks up to 315 gal (1,192 l). This hardpoint can also be used to carry ECM and targeting pods and it is not wired for bombs or missiles though it can be configured to hold bombs of the 2,000 lb (900 kg) class.

The shoulder hardpoint, located forward to the portside underneath the aircraft is purely for carrying ECM or targeting pods. It is rated to just 550 lb (250 kg). Reconnaissance pods can also be carried if they fit the weight limitations.

The innermost wing hardpoints are each rated to carry 2,800 lb (1,275 kg) each. They can be used to carry a wide array of munitions from air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles to bombs, ECM pods, and drop tanks up to 370 gal (1,400 l). These are the only hardpoints capable of carrying anti-ship missiles and 2,000 lb (900 kg) class stores due to the dimension limitations of other hardpoints. These cannot carry rocket pods however due to their proximity to the fuselage of the aircraft.

The center wing hardpoints are each rated to carry 880 lb (400 kg). They can be used to carry air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles as well as rocket pods and bombs. They could be used to carry ECM pods as well but not targeting pods or reconnaissance pods.

The outer wing hardpoints are each rated to carry 355 lb (160 kg). These hardpoints are limited to air-to-air missiles, light air-to-ground missiles, small rocket pods, and light bombs of the 250 lb (115 kg) class.

The wingtip hardpoints are each rated at 255 lb (115 kg) and are primarily for light air-to-air missiles, primarily dogfight missiles. These are wired for light ECM pods despite some being light enough to be carried. Upgrades may provide this capability however.

Operational History

Post-Conquests

Introduced into service with the Imperial Layartebian Air Force in 2014, the F-62 Shrike was not utilized in any combat operation in 2015 or 2016; however, in 2017, they were deployed to Sergipe in a close air support role. A single squadron of F-62A Shrikes rotated into Sergipe in June 2017, all of which were Block 10 variants. They have flown several low-risk sorties as of the end of 2017 with no losses or missions worthy of note.

The T-62C Shrike has transitioned into being the primary jet trainer for the Imperial Layartebian Military. Its use has been received positively by both pilots and instructors and the aircraft has had a good safety record thus far with two incidents, one of which resulted in the loss of the crew.

Foreign Use

Export-model F-62 and T-62 Shrikes have not performed any combat missions as of the end of 2017 and have not reported any incidents either.

Variants

Prototype Models

  • YF-62A - Single seat light attack prototype
  • YF-62B - Two-seat light attack prototype
  • YF-62C - Two-seat trainer prototype

Production Models

  • F-62A Shrike - Single-seat, light attack fighter ($37.5 million)[n 6]
    • Block 1 - Initial operating variant with limited integration of short-range air-to-air and unguided air-to-ground ordnance
    • Block 5 - Integration of precision-guided, air-to-ground ordnance
    • Block 10 - Full integration of available air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance
  • F-62B Shrike - Two-seat, light attack fighter ($37.5 million)[n 6]
    • Block 1 - Initial operating variant with limited integration of short-range air-to-air and unguided air-to-ground ordnance
    • Block 5 - Integration of precision-guided, air-to-ground ordnance
    • Block 10 - Full integration of available air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance
  • T-62C Shrike - Two-seat trainer ($35 million)[n 6]
    • Block 1 - Initial operating variant with no weapons capabilities
    • Block 5 - Limited integration of short-range air-to-air and unguided air-to-ground ordnance
    • Block 10 - Full integration of available air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance

Operators

 Layarteb (942 Planned)

Export Customers

Template:Standard table ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Country ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|F-62A ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|F-62B ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|T-62C ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Total ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Users ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Notes |----- |Libya |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"| |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"|32 |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"|24 |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"|56 |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"|Royal Libyan Air Force |colspan="1" style="text-align: left"|Delivered 2016 |----- |Mexico |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"| |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"| |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"|50 |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"|50 |colspan="1" style="text-align: center"|Mexican Air Force |colspan="1" style="text-align: left"|Delivered 2017 |----- ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|Totals ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|0 ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|32 ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|74 ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"|106 ! style="text-align: center; background: #aacccc;"| ! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"| |}

Accidents

There have been three incidents with the Shrike in Layartebian service. Two have resulted in crew deaths while one resulted in a write-off to the airframe.

The first incident happened while the aircraft was still in its prototype phase. Flight test vehicle PAV-4, a YF-62A, crashed on May 11, 2013 killing test pilot John B. Kelly. Kelly, a former air force colonel with three kills in air combat was conducting high-G combat maneuvers over Langley, Virginia. During one such maneuver, airflow into the starboard engine was disrupted, causing the engine to stall. In an attempt to restart the engine, Kelly inadvertently caused an asymmetric thrust scenario that induced a flat-spin at an altitude of just 500 ft (152 m). Perhaps unaware of his altitude in the situation, Kelly did not initiate ejection and the aircraft crashed moments later, killing Kelly and destroying the airframe.

The second incident happened on April 18, 2015 when a T-62C suffered a gear collapse during its takeoff roll. The pilot of the trainer rapidly deployed the parachute and brought the aircraft to a halt. However, because of the gear collapse, the aircraft caught fire underneath the cockpit, forcing both pilots to escape from the airframe across the wing. Neither pilot was injured but the airframe was written off and subsequently scrapped.

The third incident occurred on June 18, 2017. The aircraft was being flown by a trainee with an instructor pilot in the rear seat on a low-level, nighttime, training sortie. Flying without terrain following radar utilizing night vision goggles, the aircraft inadvertently collided with a high-tension power line tower, sheering off the starboard side wing. The aircraft was immediately thrown into a spin that prevented ejection due to an inverted attitude. The plane crashed into the ground killing both crewmen seconds later.

Specifications

General characteristics

Performance


Armament

  • Guns: 1x GAU-20/A Impulse Revolver Cannon with 150 rounds
  • Hardpoints: 10 total: 1x centerline rated at 2,425 lb (1,100 kg); 1x chin rated at 550 lb (250 kg); 2x inner-wing rated at 2,800 lb (1,275 kg) each; 2x center-wing rated at 880 lb (400 kg) each; 2x outer-wing rated at 355 lb (160 kg) each; and, 2x wingtip rated at 255 lb (115 kg) each for a total capacity of 11,575 lb (5,250 kg) of external ordnance.
  • Rockets: LAU-10-series rocket pods, LAU-61-series rocket pods, LAU-121-series rocket pods, LAU-5003-series rocket pods
  • Missiles:
  • Bombs:
  • Other: 3x 315-gal (1,192 L) external drop tanks, 2x 370-gal (1,400 L) external drop tanks

Avionics

  • Sensors
  • Countermeasures

Links

Links

Notes

1.^ F-62B: 14,771 lb (6,700 kg)
2.^ Figure notes for an air-to-air mission. For a hi-lo-hi mission, the combat radius is 180 mi (290 km).
3.^ Figure is for performance takeoff at combat weight. For max weight, takeoff distance is 1,000 m (3,281 ft).
4.^ Figure is for a light load and using the drag chute. Without the drag chute, landing distance is 1,500 m (4,921 ft).
5.^ Export-model Shrikes are equipped with the AN/ALQ-165 Airborne Self-Projection Jammer.
6.^ Export aircraft carry a 10% higher cost.
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