Gruening F7M Wedgetail
| Gruening F7M Wedgetail | |
|---|---|
| |
| A pair of F7Ms of the Meridonian Air Forces, showcasing the distinctive foldable twin-tails. | |
| Role | Stealth aircraft Multirole fighter |
| National origin |  Meridon
|
| Manufacturer | Gruening Defense Aerospace |
| First flight | 14 August 2014 |
| Introduction | 30 March 2023 |
| Status | In active service |
| Primary user |  Meridon Defense Forces
|
| Produced | 2016-present |
| Number built | 24 |
| Unit cost |
95.1 million MD (F7M)
|
The Gruening F7M Wedgetail is a Meridonian carrier-capable, supersonic, twin engine, single seat, twin tail, stealth jet fighter. Envisioned to supplement and replace older models of aircraft in service with the Meridon Defense Forces and increase commonality, the project is unique in that it is the first joint venture of a fighter aircraft from the initiation of the project to include both Air Forces and Navy design inputs since the 1960s- prior, Air Force fighter designs had fallen through, resulting to the utilization of Navy designs, as was the case for the F5M Lynx and the F6M Wasp programs.
The Wedgetail was designed from its inception to be a multi-role oriented stealth fighter capable of most combat missionsets required of fighter aircraft, including air superiority, ground attack, close air support, electronics warfare, maritime strike, reconnaissance, interdiction, and the employment of standoff weaponry. The Wedgetail is also unique in that it is one of the few aircraft globally that features compatibility for both 'probe and drogue' and boom- method refueling, owing to differing operational requirements from the Air Forces and Navy.
Marketed as a 5.5 generation fighter,
The Wedgetail is currently being introduced to flying squadrons in the Air Forces, with the Navy expected to field its first operational squadron in late 2023.
Development
Design
Operational History
Variants
- F7M
- Initial operational variant, first fielded 2023.
Operators
Current Operators
- Meridon- 32 in service of F7M variant.
Former Operators
Specifications (F5M6)
General Characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 61 ft 4 in (18.7m)
- Wingspan: 39 ft 4 in (12 m)
- Height: 16 ft (4.9 m)
- Wing Area: 790 sq ft (735 m2)
- Empty Weight: 45,624 lb (20,694 kg)
- Max Takeoff Weight: 76,820 lb (34,844 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Hollon AFT11 afterburning turbofans
- Fuel Capacity: 14,600lb internal, 2x optional 267gal (1,756lb/797kg) external tanks
Performance
- Maximum Speed: Mach 2.52 (3,112 km/h, 1,934 mph) at altitude
- Service Ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,288 m) +
- Rate of Climb: 45,000 ft/min plus (230 m/s)
- Wing Loading: 74 lb/sq ft (361 kg/m2)
- Thrust/Weight: 1.07, 50% fuel and internal stores
Armament
- Guns: 1 × Mark 40 20mm cannon with 450 rounds
- Payload: 6x internal hardpoints, with option for 6x wing-mounted hardpoints, capacity of 17,000lb (771kg)
