BAU Shrike
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| BAU Shrike | |
|---|---|
| <imgur w=300>qclcKUC.png</imgur> | |
| Role | Interceptor, air superiority and multirole combat aircraft |
| Manufacturer | BAU Systems |
| Designer | Belfras Aerospace United |
| First flight | 19th January 1972 |
| Introduction | 25th November 1976 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Republic Navy |
| Produced | 1976 - Present |
The Belfras Aerospace United Shrike is a fourth-generation, supersonic, twin-jet, fighter aircraft. The Shrike was developed for the Republic Navy's New-Era Fighter Program (NERP).
The Shrike first flew in January 1972 and made it's first deployment in 1976 with the Republic Navy aboard RNV Argu, replacing the aging BAU Cutlass. The Shrike serves as the Republic Navy's primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and tactical reconnaissance platform. The Shrike was upgraded three times throughout the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000's for continued service with the Fleet's carriers.
Design
The Shrike was the result of the Republic Navy's New-Era Fighter Program (NERP), which was enacted to find a next-gen successor to the BAU Cutlass, which was still being held as an active service and popular naval fighter.
Operational History
The Shrike began operational usage with the Republic Navy in 1976, serving alongside the older Cutlass until the end of 1978, at which point a full inventory of the BAU Shrike F.1 was received and existing stocks of the Cutlass was sold off to former colonial holdings.
Variants
BAU Shrike E.2
- Two-seat Electronic Warfare version.
BAU Shrike FGR.4
- Two-seat carrier-capable, multi-role fighter. Latest fielded version.
BAU Shrike T.2
- Two-seat carrier-capable trainer version. Can be reconfigured for combat role, but would not serve as effective replacement for FGR.4
Foreign Variants
Operators
Specifications (FGR.4)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two (Pilot and Weapons Officer)
- Length: 19.15 m ()
- Wingspan: Spread: 19.56 m (Swept: 11.59 m)
- Height: 4.88 m ()
- Empty weight: 19,840 kg ()
- Loaded weight: 27,720 kg ()
- Max. takeoff weight: 33,740 kg ()
- Powerplant: 2 × 2× Venturum Dynamics FE-150-VD-150 afterburning turbofans, Wet: ()Dry: 27,000 pounds (12,150 kg) per engine each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h)
- Combat radius: 926 km ()
- Ferry range: 2,960 km ()
- Service ceiling: +50,000 ft ()
Armament
- Guns
- 1 × 20mm Mk. 25 6 barreled gatling cannon w/ 650 rounds
Hardpoints: 10 total: 6× under wings, 4× under fuselage with a capacity for 14,500 lb (6,6000 kg) of ordnance and fuel tanks.
- Loading configuration
- Missiles
- Air-to-air missiles
- Air-to-ground missiles
- Bombs
- JDAM Precision-Guideed Munitions
- Others
Avionics
- BriteCloud Radar Decoy System
- SABR-E Scaleable Multi-Function AESA Radar
- ISR-22 Decoy Deployment System
- Thunderbolt Combat Interface
- Attached Targeting pods