Altomare C.87 Ciclone

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Altomare C.87 Ciclone
Panavia Tornado F.3, Italy - Air Force JP6705530.jpg
A C.87 aircraft of the 333° Squadrone Caccia, 33° Stormo
Role Fighter/interceptor
National origin  Luminerra
Manufacturer Altomare Aviation
First flight October 11, 1981
Introduction 1987
Retired 2023
Status Retired
Primary user Lumenic Air Force
Developed from Altomare A.79 Ciclone

The Altomare C.87 Ciclone is a fighter aircraft designed and produced by Altomare Aviation intended to replace the Licanan I-36 and Notreceauen Prévoyance Cygne aircraft in service with the Lumenic Air Force. The aircraft is a is a long-range, twin-engine, variable-sweep wing interceptor aircraft. Developed from the Altomare A.79 Ciclone fighter-bomber, the C.87 was originally developed during the Omandan Continental War as a means for the Lumenic Air Force to intercept Soviet Order bombers before they could launch attacks against their targets, it was equipped with an extremely powerful radar and beyond-visual-range missiles.

Though the C.87 served well during the Omandan Continental War and into the years that followed, and remains in service with the Lumenic Air Force, it is intended to ultimately be replaced by more modern multirole combat aircraft like the Scorza C.96 Squalo and the Altomare C.11 Spettro stealth fighter aircraft.

The 33° Stormo was the last formation of the Lumenic Air Force to operate the C.87. The 33° Stormo recieved replacements for its C.87 aircraft in March of 2023 and now operates the Scorza C.96 Squalo.

History and development

The requirement for a long range interceptor aircraft for the Lumenic AIr Force had been noted as early as the late 1950's following observations made by the Lumenic Legion regarding combat operations conducted by Soviet Forces in northern and central Omand. Lumenic Air Force pilots operating with the Royal Mejian Army Air Corps described the effectiveness of Soviet supersonic tactical bombers, such as the new Voloshin Vo-22M bombers, as well as more common threats like the Lyadov Ly-17 fighter-bombers and lamented their lack of ability to intercept these aircraft prior to them reaching their targets.

Allied fighter aircraft, such as the Lumenic Altomare C.53 Passero and the Costa Mejian ARCSA L-1 Halcón had absolutely no chance of intercepting the majority of Soviet aircraft. In 1961, following the introduction of the Notreceauen Prévoyance Épée III, Allied fighter pilots began to see some limited success against tactical strike aircraft, most notably the slower Ly-17's, however, the higher and faster flying Vo-22 remained largely immune to interception efforts, and the Voloshin Vo-160, introduced in 1967, was completely immune to indigenous built allied aircraft's attempts to intercept them when operating at their service altitude and speed.

In 1963, the Lumenic and Notreceauen entered into an agreement to jointly develop a new tactical fighter aircraft intended to meet and neutralize the threat posed by both Soviet tactical and air superiority aircraft. The Programme d'avion de combat d'urgenc or Emergency Fighter Program, eventually resulted in the development and deployment of the Prévoyance Cygne. However, the Lumenic Air Force was unable to obtain the aircraft in any reasonable number as production and deployment was prioritized for Notreceauen units. In fact, the Cygne, known as the C.73 in Lumenic service, would not see widespread service in the Lumenic Air Force until well after the 1972 invasion of Luminerra, eventually reaching operational capacity in 1978, finally phasing the Altomare C.53 Passero out of fighter wings, religating the inferior aircraft to fighter-bomber squadrons until its eventual total retirement in 1982.

Faced with an inability to obtain sufficient numbers of C.73's prior to the invasion of Luminerra, the Lumenic government turned to the Republic of Licana for assistance. Licana, a long time trading partner of Luminerra, was weary of the Soviet advance into southern Omand, and clearly saw the threat posed to their economy should the Lumenic rare eath metal mines fall into Soviet hands. As such, the nation was already examining its options to secure their investments. As one means to that end, the Licanan government authorized the sale of its retired I-36 fighter aircraft to Luminerra. A total of 520 aircraft remained in the Licanan inventory as of 1970, and the majority of the aircraft were transferred to Lumenic control between 1968 and 1970.

All indigenous aircraft development was halted in Luminerra in 1972 following the Soviet penetration of the Ultima Castellum; the final defensive line constructed by Luminerra and Notreceau in the northern Vi Castis Mountains, near the modern day Lumenic-Notreceauen border. At the time, the Lumenic Air Force and the Royal Defense Research Agency had been working to develop a variety of next generation aircraft, including aircraft utilizing stealth technology to defeat the advancing Soviet forces. One such project underway was what would eventually become the Altomare A.79 Ciclone, a variable-sweep wing tactical interdiction strike fighter that would serve as the basis for the development of the C.87.

Development work for the C.87 began as early as 1970, though did not see any significant advancement until 1978, following the removal of Soviet forces from Luminerra. Development began in earnest in 1979, with the first prototype of the C.87, converted from an existing A.79 airframe, being completed in 1981. This prototype, designated YA.81, first flew in October of that same year.  Development of the airframe and avionic systems were mostly well in hand by 1983, but production was delayed while Luminerra worked to develop a suitable radar set for new aircraft. A suitable beyond-visual-range missile had already been selected by developed and was in use by the Lumenic Air Force, designated as the Vaccari Lancia, later designated the AIM-73 under the Lumenic Legion 1995 Common Designation System. Technical assistance from the Licanan government played a large role in speeding up development of a suitable radar set, with the Licanan AN/AWG-9 serving as technological examples to assist in research and development of the C/ARA-85 radar.

Operational history

The C.87 aircraft was retired on March 27, 2023 when the 33° Stormo "Vanguardia" received Scorza C.96 Squalo aircraft to replace its remaining C.87 aircraft.

Variants

  • YA-81 - Prototype version constructed form ane xisting A.79 airframe. First flew in 1981.
  • C.87: Initial 1987 production version. 54 produced before the C.87B was accepted.
  • C.87B: 1989 upgrade to the production version, replacing the troublesome Aleo Fulmine engine with the more reliable Vaccari AE-2141. All C-.87 aircraft upgraded to the C.87B standard by 1991.
  • C.87C: 1996 upgrade to the production version, introduced improved avionic systems as well as a redesign of the short-range missile hardpoints to increase carriage capacity and allowance for the newer AIM-95 missile to be carried. Total carriage improved from two AIM-81 missiles to four AIM-95 infrared homing air to air missiles.

Operators

Formner

Specifications

Orthographically projected diagram of the C.87 Ciclone
The C/ARA-85 radar and C.87C Ciclone at the National Aviation Museum in Corgeno, Notteri

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 18.68 m (61 ft 3 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.91 m (45 ft 8 in)
  • Height: 5.95 m (19 ft 6 in)
  • Wing area: 26.6 m2 (286 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 14,500 kg (31,967 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 27,986 kg (61,699 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Vaccari AE-2141 afterburning 3-spool turbofan, 40.5 kN (9,100 lbf) thrust each dry, 73.5 kN (16,500 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 2,400 km/h (1,491 mph; 1,296 kn) / M2.2 at 9,000 m (29,528 ft)
  • Combat range: 1,853 km (1,151 mi; 1,001 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 4,265 km (2,650 mi; 2,303 nmi)
  • Endurance: 2 hr combat air patrol at 560–740 km (348–460 mi) from base
  • Service ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)

Armament

Avionics

See also

Related
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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