Sorranus So-30

Sorranus So-30
So-30 Flayer
Role	Heavyweight fighter bomber
Manufacturer	Soranus Design Bureau
First flight	1985
Introduction	1988
Status	In service
Primary user	Elatian Air Force/Jhengtsang Air Force

The Sorranus So-30 (NATA reporting name: Flayer) is a two-seat heavyweight fighter-bomber jointly developed by Elatia and Jhengtsang. Entering squadron service in the Jhengtsang Air Force in the late-1980's, and its Elatian counterpart in the early-1990's, the So-30 is the most sophisticated combat aircraft fielded by either air force up to that point in time. Originally configured solely for the air superiority role, the So-30 has gained strike capabilities through more recent upgrade programs.

As it is too expensive to be fielded in great numbers, So-30's are typically reserved for the most critical missions, whilst single-engined fighters are deployed for the greater proportion of tactical tasks - the MiK-28 Fallout for Elatia and the J-10 Firebird for Jhengtsang.

Origins

The Elatian Air Force of the 1960's to 1980's relied on single-engined fighters such as the MiK-58 Fishhook and MiK-24 Flopper. They had certain features which were well-liked, such as their ruggedneess, dependability and economy. However, reflecting upon a variety of Elatia's national weaknesses at the time, they were deficient in other areas, notably in terms of avionics and sensors technology. Yet others had a mixed track record - Elatian engines were known to be very reliable, for instance, but had noticeably shorter service lives than their North Thalassan or Tsurushiman counterparts.

By the late-1970's, the Elatian Air Force resolved to field a heavy fighter in order to compete with foreign counterparts, such as the Belfrasian Aigios Viper, the Arthuristan/Okenawan Cyclone and Tsurushiman Kai-79. Aerodynamics has always been a strong suit of Elatian aerospace engineers and, for the new project, they decided to experiment with a crescent-shaped wing in combination of long leading edges, in order to reduce drag at high speed whilst increasing lift for turning movements. This resulted in an aircraft with relaxed stability, which Sorranus intended to solve using emerging technology such as a fly-by-wire control system and flight control software.

The project was regarded as promising. However, the Elatian Great Famine of 1983-1987 and the catastrophic associated economic difficulties arising therefrom completely derailed the program. In order to keep it going, the Sorranus Design Bureau, with the encouragement of the authorities, for all intents and purposes relocated to Jhengtsang, carrying with them all the necessary technical documentation, blueprints, windtunnel models and other dissiderata of aircraft development. There, they benefited from the burgeoning computer science field of their host country, which sped up the development of the aircraft. The first prototype was flown in 1985 and in 1989 the production model began to enter squadron service in the Jheng Air Force.

Meanwhile, in Elatia, with economic problems rapidly abating owing to the Fundamental Reforms of the new Supreme Prophet, as well as significant investment from countries such as Mutul, there was a renewed interest in spending for national defence, even while the wasteful aspects of the military, such as the gigantic conscript army, were discarded post-haste. The first So-30 was inducted into Elatian service in 1991. In 1993, the aircraft was first demonstrated to a global audience at the Flamshead Air Show in Arthurista, performing spectacular routines such as the Cobra maneuver. This was regarded by many commentators at the time as a symbol of Elatian recovery.

Design

The So-30 is a twin-engined, heavyweight tactical fighter, using its significant thrust and maneouverability to combat enemy fighter aircraft. It was one of the first fighters in the world to have a super-maneouverable design, owing to its advanced aerodynamic configuration. In the air superiority role, it typically carries four radar-guided beyond visual range missiles, four short-ranged heatseeking dogfight missiles, as well as a drop tanks to extend its range.

The first production aircraft had a number of weaknesses. These were primarily in relation to the 'intangibles', such as human-machine interface. The aircraft's cockpit was a basic affair with analogue dials, although it did feature a HUD. Likewise, whilst it possessed an Infrared search and track device, its pulse-doppler radar had poor multi-target capability, being only able to track ten aircraft simultaneously in track-while-scan mode and engage two of them, although the large size of the radome ensured that it had reasonably good range through sheer power.

The definitive So-30M version of the early-2000's corrected many of the initial production version's faults. The pilot interface was significantly upgraded into a glass cockpit configuration, featuring multiple large panel LED screens, as well as a helmet mounted display for compatibility with new generations of off-boresight heatseeking missiles. It features a new PESA antenna and supports digital signal processing, enabling it to track 20 targets and engage 4 out to around 150-180km. It also possesses new surface attack capabilities. In conjunction with a targeting pod, it can be used to deliver precision guided munitions against ground targets. Certain aircraft also possess a maritime search mode in order to enable the fighter to carry and launch anti-ship missiles.

The So-30M2 version was developed in the 2010's, and it is envisaged that all So-30M's will eventually be upgraded to that standard. The centrepiece of the upgrade is the new Jaguar radar. Although still a PESA design, it takes full advantage of the large radome and ample power available, such that it matches or exceeds the capabilities of many smaller AESA designs. The Jaguar radar can track 30 air targets out to 350-400km and engage them with eight. Engines are uprated from 122kn with afterburners to 140kn.

Although initially designed for the air superiority role, the heavy payload and long range of the So-30 also made it a formidable strike platform subsequent to the -M and -M2 upgrades. The fact that it was designed from the outset as a two-seater was a major boon towards this development, as the rear-seat WSO significantly reduces the pilot's workload by operating the aircraft's weapons and countermeasures systems when performing strike missions in hostile airspace using precision-guided munitions.

Specifications (Sorranus So-30M)

• Length: 18.669m
• Wingspan: 14m
• Height: 5.38m
• Crew: 2
• Empty weight: 18,800kg
• Gross weight: 26,000kg
• Powerplants: 2 x Nekota-3G turbofan engine, 75kn dry, 122kn with afterburners
• Combat range: 1,500km
• Ferry range: 4,500km
• Top speed: Mach 2 at altitude
• Armaments: 1x 30mm chain gun with 150 rounds, 8,000kg external stores, 12x hardpoints