Arthuristan Dynamics/Ahuriri Avionic Development Super Cyclone
| Arthuristan Dynamics Cyclone | |
|---|---|
| File:Cyclone 7.png | |
| Arthuristan Dynamics Cyclone | |
| Role | Heavy tactical fighter |
| Manufacturer | Arthuristan Dynamics/Ahuriri Avionic Development |
| First flight | 2001 |
| Introduction | 2004 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Fleet Air Arm, Commonwealth Air Force |
Fifth-generation fighters are anticipated to enter Arthuristan service in increasing numbers. However, a substantial proportion of the Arthuristan tacair fleet remained legacy 4th-generation types. As such, the De Havril subsidiary of Arthuristan Dynamics decided to create a deep-modernised version of the old Cyclone as a rival design to Supermarine's Arthuristan Dynamics Tempest. The Ministry of Defence found merits in both designs and authorised the production of both models. While 5th generation fighters are gradually introduced into service, it is envisaged that new Super Cyclones would continue to be produced in substantial numbers, as these advanced 4.5+ Generation fighters are still more than capable in handling most missions, not to mention being cheaper to build than advanced stealth designs.
Due to the high costs of the project, the Ministry of Defence decided to embark upon a cheaper, more limited FGR3 upgrade instead. The Super Cyclone, however, continued to be developed by Ahuriri Avionic Development for service in the Tauā Ea and Tauā Moana of Onekawa-Nukanoa.
Avionic modifications
Offensive sensors
The most important upgrades were to the aircraft's avionics and countermeasures. The Super Cyclone features the new Mark 2.5 LPI AESA radar. This is complemented by L-band emitters on the wingtips and tail, optimised for the detection of low-RCS aircraft at long range. Unlike earlier fixed plate PESA and AESA radars, the Mark 2.5 is tilted at an angle and mounted on a rotary 'wide field-of-view' repositioner. This enables the aircraft to overcome the fixed plate radar's issue with power drop-off at the azimuth units and allows the aircraft to track targets and guide missiles towards them at much more acute angles than before, enabling him the Tempest pilot to break earlier in a BVRAAM duel and thereby increasing his survivability.
The Super Cyclone has two sets of offensive IR sensors. The first, the nose-mounted AEOTS (Advanced Electro-Optical Targeting System) IRST, was designed for long range air to air detection (up to 100km). It has been upgraded with Quantum Well Imaging Photodetectors ("QWIP") technology, able to simultaneously image in multiple wavebands, including very long wavebands emitted by cool surfaces, significantly enhancing its ability to detect aircraft designed with IR stealth in mind. The second offensive IR sensor is the ARBALEST targeting pod, which includes a forward-looking thermal imaging sensor, an electro-optical TV camera and a laser rangefinder/target indicator.
Defensive sensors
Super Cyclone introduced two early-warning systems. The first, the Hydra Receiver Array, is composed of a network of radar-warning receivers. While primarily intended as a defensive suite, its ability to detect low-powered beams from LPI AESA radars also allows it to be used as a powerful passive sensor with all-round, spherical coverage. This is complemented by the Silver Bow DASS (Defensive Aid Sub-System), featuring six IR detector apertures placed around the fuselage to provide all-round passive surveillance and missile-launch detection capability. Aside from their defensive function, they can also assist the pilot in acquiring targets through entirely passive means and cue weapons towards these targets.
Countermeasures
The original Cyclone relied on conventional chaff and flare dispensers to defeat radar- and infrared-guided munitions respectively. The Super Cyclone introduced a number of improvements. The first of these is the ERIS EW suite. While conventional EW systems can detect, track and jam radar signals. Another new feature of the Super Cyclone upgrade package was the BriteCloud Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) jammer, a disposable smart radar decoy device which is a direct replacement of legacy chaff systems, although it makes use of legacy old chaff-dispensing devices. Instead of flares, which are increasingly ineffective against thermal imaging technology, the Super Cyclone makes use of a Directional Infrared Counter Measures suite, which utilises infra-red lasers to jam, degrade or destroy the IIR-guidance package on the tip of a missile through its aperture.
Data fusion
The avionics’ ‘data fusion’ capability allows for the presentation of the high volume and complex load of information from all these sensors as a single, easy to use picture projected into the TopSight Helmet Mounted Display, allowing for maximum combat effectiveness and minimal workload for the pilot. The combination of the helmet mounted display and spherical, all-round coverage sensors also allows the pilot to make maximum use of the capability of high off-boresight weapons in close WVR air to air combat.
Networking
Also upgraded was its networking capability. It has a new communications suite, combining Link-16 and MADL, allowing secure uplink with the CAF’s cutting edge stealth fighters through the ARTEMIS battlenet. This not only allows the fighters to share information with other units, but also enable them to share tracking, targeting and other data over the battlenet, allowing them to warn each other of potential dangers immediately after detection by one platform and guide each others' weapons towards their targets.
Kinematic improvements
Finally, the Cyclone's already impressive kinetic performance envelope was further improved with the addition of maneouverable canards, uprated engines and dual-axis thrust vectoring nozzles. The new E-20 engines produce 145kn of thrust with afterburners and allow the aircraft to supercruise without when not heavily laden, while the new canards and 2D thrust-vectoring nozzles significantly enhanced the aircraft's agility in both BVR and WVR combat. The addition of conformal fuel tanks provides a great increase in combat radius while reducing the RCS penalty which usually comes with drop tanks. The original fly-by-wire setup was extensively reworked into a fly-by-optics system.
Signature-reduction measures
In an effort to reduce RCS, a layer of RAM coating was applied to strategic spots on the upgraded airframes, while panel joints were smoothed over, similar to measures taken with the F-12E/F King Cobra and Rafale airframes. Conformal weapon bays were developed for the fighter, enabling it to carry four munitions internally, as well as four on semi-concealed hardpoints along the large recessed centre-groove between the engines, thereby reducing radar signature.The tails were canted in order to reduce RCS to an even greater extent.
Specifications
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Engines: 2 x Rollers Engineering E20A variable cycle thrust vectoring turbofans, 145kn each with afterburners
- Wingspan: 15.3m
- Length: 22m
- Height: 5.9m
- Empty Weight: 18,500kg
- Top speed: 2,700 km/h at high altitude
- ceiling: 17,288m
- Combat radius: 1,800km with CFT
- Sensors: Mark 4 agile beam LPI AESA radar, wingtip L-band and tail x-band emitters, Silver Bow DAS system, Advanced Electral-Optical Targeting System (AEOTS) thermal imaging IRST, Hydra Receiver Array
- Countermeasures and Electronic Warfare: Eris EW suite, BriteCloud disposable radar decoy, Directional Infrared Counter Measures System
- Armaments: 1 × 27mm cannon, 4x hardpoints in conformal weapons bays, 4x recessed/semi-concealed hardpoints on fuselage in trough between engines, 4x hardpoints on wings, 10,400kg of munitions
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era