BM-44 Pythón
| BM-44 Pythón | |
|---|---|
 3D rendering of a BM-44A2 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Medium Bomber |
| Manufacturer | |
| Status | In service |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1984 |
The BM-44 Pythón (Bombadière Medían) is a supersonic bomber jointly developed between Inyursta and Nifon. This aircraft represents the first of such joint-ventures between the two countries.
Design
Designed with the intent for high-level bombing of targets with conventional weapons, the BM-44 was optimized for variably payload with attention to speed and survivability. Hardpoints in the bomb bay are arranged 3 x 3 on either side with two additional pylons in the middle, while four wing pylons are available for ordinance or external fuel tanks.
Dubbed by some as "the giant fighter jet", the Python uses a variable-swept-wing system with two vertical stabilizers for increased stability & maneuverability at supersonic speeds, at the cost of additional drag. The Nifonese-designed [NAME HERE] engines provide [THRUST HERE] to the aircraft, allowing it to exceed Mach 1.3 flight.
Initial production models had the BM-44 operating with a four-man crew consisting of pilot, copilot, navigator and weapons control officer. With the addition of internal navigation systems, including GPS and nose-mounted navigation radar (later replaced again by a dual-mode SAR & navigation radar), the need for a navigator was eliminated. By eliminating the need for a navigator, it gave squadrons the flexibility of either operating with a three-man crew or including a second weapons control officer. With later upgrades that would come with the Block III models, a single BM-44 is theoretically capable of guiding in 3 different TV-guided munitions down onto separate targets.
History
In 1986, the BM-44 was deployed against North Guerroca. Exactly four sorties were run, twice targeting Guerrocan artillery, one aborted mission, and the fourth an attack on an HQ facility and supporting logistics depots. Two losses occurred during the war, one BM-44 was shot down by a North Guerrocan S-75G Martyr, and the other intercepted by a [JET FIGHTER HERE].
See also: 1986 Guerrocan War
During the Lolloh-Ruol Wars, the BM-44 would see significant use, both as a strategic bomber and as a form of close air support (CAS). When staving off Lollohian human-wave armies, BM-44s excelled at dropping large quantities of cluster bombs and thermobarics, as well as creating "napalm shields" by dropping firebombs in a linear pattern to "choke" enemy advances into narrow corridors.
Its most notable action was the destruction of a large quantity of Lollohian nuclear warheads in a single night, a move known as "Operation Sunburn". In December, 2010, a trio of BM-44 attacked a Lollohian surface fleet refueling and restocking in the port of Quevril using cruise missiles.
See also: Operation Sunburn
Variants
BM-44A: - First operational service model with a 4-man crew (including navigator). Also referred to as the "long-nosed" model, due to the more pointed and streamline horizontal nose used at the time.
BM-44A1 Block II - 2000 era upgrade including self-designating laser targeting pod and GPS navigation software plus nose-mounted internal navigation radar. This allowed the planes navigator to instead be replaced by a second weapons control officer; also the first of the "snub-nosed" Python models.
BM/R-44E1: - A short-lived model designed for reconnaissance missions over North Guerroca. Removed from service due to political changes and proliferation of UAV technology. Four of six models converted to A2/Block III models, two sold to civilian to become the ARAA-44.
ARAA-44 Pythón dul Scíènce: (Aérocraft de Reserché Altitudes Altos) Two former BM/R-44E1 models converted to civilian high-altitude research aircraft.
BM-44A2 Python Block III - Modern variant. Significant upgrades to features including lightweight SAR radar, software upgrades for longer radio command range of TV-guided munitions, missile warning nodes, DRFM jamming pods built into the underwings and two fuselage slots for towed radar decoys.
BM-44X3 Block IV+: - Also dubbed the "Pythón 2044", the X3/Block III+ is a prototype upgraded model undergoing research & development. Proposed features include increased speed and increased range due to improvements in thrust control, thrust vectoring, significant EW capabilities and the ability to coordinate drone swarms.
Specifications
Crew: 4 (x1 pilot, x1 copilot, x2 weapons control officers)
Speed: Mach 1.35
Range: Transcontinental
Service Ceiling: 18,000m/60,000ft
Payload: 22,000kg/48,500lbs
Hardpoints:
- x8 Internal
- x4 Under-wing
Armament:
Missiles:
- ASM-16 Cetán AShM
- ASM-18 Véda AL-QBM
- AGM-158 JASSM cruise missile
- SSM-5 Agítadairé Cruise Missile
- ASM-4 Leviathan AShM
Bombs:
- CB Bomb Family
- Up to 32 CBU-250 series (x3 per hardpoint)
- Up to 24 CBU-500 series
- Up to 12 CBU-1K & CBU-2K series
- RPBG-13K DTP
- GRBG-15 BRAGA
- AGM-154 JSOW