ISNE Bélos
| ISNE Bélos | |
|---|---|
| |
| Belos in prototype camouflage | |
| Role | air superiority fighter |
| National origin | Willink |
| Manufacturer | Institoúto Stratigikón Naftikón Erevnó |
| First flight | 7 June 2021 |
| Introduction | Q2 2025 |
| Status | In development |
| Primary user | Willink |
| Produced | 2025- |
| Number built | 12 |
The ISNE Bélos is a sixth-generation air dominance fighter in development by Willinkian defense contractor Institoúto Stratigikón Naftikón Erevnó. The Bélos is designed to replace aging fourth-generation aircraft (the Questarian Dauntless and Shrike) and augment the multirole Bantam in Willinkian air service, as well as replace the F/A-77 Kovas/Havenfighter as the primary air dominance fighter in Willinkian use; the latter is to be adapted to a multirole/strike role. Initially conceptualized in 2014 as ISNE worked on missile block and cockpit support system updates for the Havenfighter, the Bélos undertook its first flight in 2021, and is scheduled to reach initial operation in early 2025. In air defense, the Bélos is intended to out-class its regional competitors and legacy platforms such as the Project 352 Nukefighter, Supermarine Sea Kestrel (Libertyfighter), and F-23 Helios (Setofighter).
Development
ISNE, under its anglicized trade name Strategic Naval Research Institute was a development partner with ARES Group on the F/A-77 Kovas, also known as the Havenfighter, being tasked with cockpit support systems and weapon system integration generally , one of two Willinkian manufacturers involved with the project alongside Gloucester Aviation. Further, in Willinkian examples of the aircraft, ISNE took on a greater role in systems integration, translation of software into native Willinkian, as well as designing a large percentage of the dedicated missile platforms carried by the plane in Willinkian service. Thereafter, it maintained an important localized role in maintenance and service upgrades, having close access to the production process, as well as test-bed aircraft to prototype and integrate new systems. In 2014, amid system upgrades intended to integrate the new Cheiron Block II SRAAM, ISNE started conceptualizing a successor craft to the Kovas, based on feedback from Willinkian pilots operating the platform, as well as their own experience with the plane's electrical and cockpit management systems.
Generally, the Kovas is a highly regarded platform by pilots, capable of (arguably) best in class maneuverability, stability at both low and high speeds, a complex, effective, powerful sensor suit, and possessing high survivability. However, several persistent issues were identified: the modular dual-layer RAM system required frequent inspections and replacements, especially in harsh environments like naval operations; at speeds above Mach 1.5–1.8, the Kovas RAM and composite materials over its lifespan tended to degrade due to aerodynamic heating, reducing stealth performance; the Kovas struggled with heat dissipation due to its powerful radar and engine, leading to IR detection risks and operational inefficiency; and the Kovas skin panels were designed for specific operational wavelengths, limiting adaptability to emerging threats with different radar bands or advanced detection methods. Combat experience with the aircraft demonstrated that the diamond wing and large canards of the Kovas would exacerbate drag and airflow disruption at slow speeds, reducing stability in dogfights or low-speed engagements or at extreme angles of attack. Finally, over time, as systems were upgraded (e.g., avionics, sensors, weapons), the airframe's weight and radar cross-section (RCS) would increase, negatively impacting its stealth profile and agility; the "future proofing" of the Kovas was under increasing strain with improvements made in machine learning and computing power, stressing the power supply systems in an already complex, electrically demanding aircraft.