Verdástrun B57 Eltanin
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| B57 Eltanin | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Role | Strategic bomber |
| National origin |  Carloso
|
| Manufacturer | Verdástrun |
| First flight | 25 September 1966 |
| Introduction | 14 November 1969 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Carlosian Air Force |
| Produced | 1966–present |
| Number built | >100 |
The Verdástrun B57 Eltanin is a long-range, jet-powered flying wing strategic bomber in service with the Carlosian Air Force. It serves alongside the supersonic B58 Lesuth and stealth B72 Sheratan. It is an evolution of the Emergency War-era B45 Alracis, a turboprop aircraft used extensively in the bombing of Bourgougia. In operation since 1969, it is designed to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons.
Initially considered an unlikely contender for the Carlosian Air Force's requirements due to its limited payload capacity and unimpressive range caused by faulty, inefficient engines, an extensive redesign which saw, among other changes, the six TBD turbojets replaced by two large, powerful turbofan engines made it a serious competitor, subsequently being accepted for service. Serial production began in 1969 and ended in 1991 with a total of 588 airframes built. It first saw combat in the Bourgougian Blitz in 1987, flying approximately 10,000 sorties over the course of the conflict and dropping over 80,000 tonnes of bombs on Bourgougian infrastructure. Three aircraft would be lost to combat during the Blitz, one being shot down by an air-to-air missile while two others were shot down by long-range surface-to-air missiles. It also saw action during the Carlosian intervention in the Acrary Civil War and Operation Aúger.
The B57 Eltanin remains in service as the flagship strategic bomber of the Carlosian Air Force, having undergone several extensive upgrades which have modernised avionics and reduced weight by removing obsolete equipment. Combat capabilities have also been expanded, allowing it to carry air-launched anti-ship, ballistic and cruise missiles. 90 remain in combat service, with several dozen more mothballed and the remainder scrapped for spare parts. Despite its age, it is expected that the B57 Eltanin will serve well into the future with the Carlosian Air Force, potentially as late as the 2050s or 2060s.
Development
Design
Overview
Configuration
Armament
Avionics
Engine
Operational history
Variants
- B57A
- Initial production variant.
- B57B
- B57C
- Entered service immediately after the Bourgougian Blitz following the loss of three aircraft to missile fire. Included an updated electronic warfare suite and chaff pods. Improvements to the bomb bays were also made, allowing better intergration of air-launched cruise and ballistic missiles.
- B57D
- Newest variant which entered service in 2011. Upgraded engines and a new radar.
Operators
Specifications
Data from the Carlosian Air Force
General characteristics
- Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, bombardier, defensive systems officer)
- Length: ()
- Wingspan: ()
- Height: ()
- Powerplant: 2 × Jardaín non-afterburning turbofans, 95 kN () each
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 2.4
Armament
- 3 internal bays for 23,000 kg of ordnance
- 8 × air-launched cruise missiles
- 4 × air-launched ballistic missile