F-30 Shrike

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Layartebian Defense Corporation F-30 Shrike
Role Multirole lightweight fighter
National origin  Layarteb
Manufacturer Layartebian Defense Corporation
First flight 11 April 2008; 16 years ago (2008-04-11)
Introduction 6 September 2014; 9 years ago (2014-09-06)
Status In-Service
Primary user Imperial Layartebian Air Force
Produced 2012 - Present
Unit cost
$37,500,000 [Domestic]
$42,000,000 [Export]

The Layartebian Defense Corporation F-30 Shrike is a twin-engine supersonic multirole light fighter aircraft originally designed for the export market. However, its performance and versatility led to its adoption by the Imperial Layartebian Military. The Shrike is an all-weather, 4.5 generation aircraft similar to the F/A-50 Golden Eagle and the JAS-39 Gripen.

As a light fighter, the Shrike is designed to be a cost-effective solution for the export market for nations incapable of procuring large and expensive, 4.5 generation fighters such as the Dassalt Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon, or the Layartebian-made F-28 Viper. In addition to serving as a light fighter, the Shrike also has a trainer variant designed to provide modern capabilities for emerging pilot students. The aircraft makes heavy use of fly-by-wire systems, making it a highly agile aircraft, especially when combined with thrust vectoring engines, which is an option available on the aircraft. The fighter has an internal cannon and ten hardpoints for air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance.

Development

Origins

The debut of the F-28 Viper in 2002 provided ample support to the Layartebian Defense Corporation in both the domestic and in export markets. Cleared for export to Tier I and Tier II allies, the Viper quickly became not only the most numerous fighter in Layartebian service but also its most exported fighter in history. Forming the backbone of many nations, the Viper was a resounding success but it had a major limitation to some smaller Tier II and Tier III allies, which was its cost. The Viper, designed as a big, 4.5-generation fighter, came with an export price tag of nearly $100 million and significant operating costs to maintain it in peak, flying condition. To rectify this issue, the Layartebian Defense Corporation undertook Project Shrike, which aimed to produce an export-oriented, light fighter at half the cost of the Viper without sacrificing too much on capability, serviceability, and usability.

Project Shrike began, in earnest, in spring 2005. Multiple project teams were convened and given the task of submitting proposals for a twin-engine, lightweight fighter that would serve in the 21st century the same way that the F-5 Tiger II did in the 20th century. Because development was being done entirely in-house, without a domestic contract and without any export contracts, cost had to be a priority. For that reason, a grand fly-off was not envisioned and only the best design - on paper - was chosen. Design LC-502A was chosen and the prototype phase began in early 2007 with the first prototype rolled out in January 2008. Its first flight was April 11, 2008.

Testing on the LC-502A took on a slower pace than normal, chiefly due to the lack of delivery contracts but the buzz around the aircraft soon garnered steam when in summer 2010, the Imperial Layartebian Air Force approached the Layartebian Defense Corporation about the possibility of evaluating the fighter as a replacement for some retiring aircraft. A strategy review in the Ministry of Defense had determined that an inexpensive, 4.5-generation light fighter could provide economically viable in combat, especially against enemies in disproportionate scenarios, especially in counter-insurgency campaigns. As a result, the LC-502A was given the designation of YF-30.

Concurrently with this level of interest, the Layartebian Defense Corporation propositioned modifying the two-seat LC-502B into a potential trainer aircraft. As a result, the LC-502C prototype was born and it took to the skies in March 2011. Testing on the aircraft continued and export interest grew quickly. All-in-all, six aircraft prototypes per built, two of each variant. Rigorous testing began but came to a three-month delay in May 2013 after PAV-4 suffered a fatal crash, killing test pilot John B. Kelly, a former air force colonel and prestigious member of the air force's flight demonstration team. PAV-4, a YF-30A single-seat design, was being put through high-G maneuvers at very low altitude during a particularly dangerous aspect of its testing program. Disruption of airflow into the starboard engine during a +9G turn at 2,000 ft (610 m) caused the aircraft to enter into a flat spin. The spin was unrecoverable and the extremely low altitude of the spin meant that the recovery parachute system could not deploy quickly enough. Kelly was killed in the crash, having never initiated the ejection sequence, perhaps due to blackout or an effort to recover the aircraft.

Changes were made to the five remaining prototypes and testing resumed in August 2013. Testing of high-G maneuvers was now limited to altitudes in excess of 6,500 ft (2,000 m). No further issues with airflow disruption were noted however.

The YF-30 was dubbed the "Shrike" in line with its project name on August 8, 2012, when low-rate initial production was authorized. The first operational squadron of F-30A Shrikes would reach initial operational capability on September 6, 2014 with the air force. The first T-8A Shrike reached initial operational capability on March 1, 2015 with the air force.

Production

The initial order from the Imperial Layartebian Air Force was for two hundred and eighty F-30A Shrike single-seat combat aircraft and four hundred T-8A Shrike two-seat trainer aircraft. Based on these orders and export orders, the Layartebian Defense Corporation commissioned the first production line for low rate initial production in August 2012 at the Roanoke Aircraft Plant in Roanoke, Virginia. In FY12, six aircraft were produced, rising to sixteen in FY13, thirty-two in FY14, forty-five in FY15, eighty-one in FY16, and ninety in FY17 and FY18 each. Orders and line time is showing a projected eighty-one aircraft in FY19. Orders and production plans for FY20 show 87 aircraft producing. At present, the Virginia line is producing the F-30A and the T-8A exclusively for the Imperial Layartebian Air Force. Based on orders, production will continue through 2022 when the final T-8As will be delivered, lest the Imperial Layartebian Air Force order more.

A second production line at the Montgomery Production Plant in Montgomery, Alabama, which is one of three LDC manufacturing facilities between Montgomery and Columbus, Georgia, was commissioned in FY14 with the production of nine aircraft. This rose to twenty-one in FY15, thirty-three in FY16, forty-two in FY17, and fifty in FY18. The projection for FY19 is for sixty-one aircraft. Orders and production forecasts for FY20, FY21, and FY22 have the plant producing sixty-four aircraft per year. The Montgomery facility produces aircraft solely for the export market.

All told, as of 2019, there have been six hundred and fifty-seven Shrikes produced, four hundred and forty-one just for the Imperial Layartebian Military. The Shrike has been available for export to Tier I (The October Alliance or TOA) and Tier II allies since 2014 and Tier III partners since 2018.

Upgrades

Initial versions of the F-30 Shrike were of the Block 1 variant. In total, forty Block 1 variant aircraft were produced from FY12 to FY14. The initial operational capability (IOC) Shrikes had very limited air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities and were largely used for pilot transition training. Insofar as air-to-air ordnance was concerned, they could only carry the AIM-9M Sidewinder and for air-to-ground ordnance, they could only carry unguided, iron bombs of the Mark 80 series.

Production of the Block 5 variant began in FY14 with a total of one hundred and forty-nine aircraft produced from FY14 to FY16. The Block 5 upgrade is considered the full operational capability and it was also the first export model and the first trainer model. The Block 5 variant integrated the full suite of air-to-air weapons such as the radar-guided AIM-120 AMRAAM and air-to-ground weapons, including precision-guided munitions such as the the JDAM and the Paveway bombs, the AGM-65 Maverick, the AGM-84 Harpoon, and the AGM-154 JSOW.

Production of the Block 10 variant began in FY16 and it is the variant currently in production. Four hundred and sixty-eight aircraft have been produced to this variant. The Block 10 integrated more weapons and provided for avionics upgrades fixing a number of flaws in the datalink system of the Block 1 and the Block 5 variants. It integrated long-range cruise missiles and newer air-to-air missiles and anti-ship missiles, giving expansion on the aircraft's capabilities. In domestic variants, the Block 10 upgrade allows the Shrike to carry nuclear weaponry.

Development on a Block 15 variant is on the horizon but it is not expected to be introduced into production until sometime in 2021. Expected improvements will mainly be to the aircraft's systems providing improved compatibility with 5th generation fighters.

Design

Overview

The Shrike is a twin-engine, lightweight, supersonic, multirole, tactical fighter aircraft. It is born out of the designs of lightweight fighters such as the F-5 Tiger II, the Gripen, the JF-17, and the FA-50. Comparatively, the Shrike is closer to the Gripen in terms of size and weight than other lightweight fighters. The Shrike is capable of 9-g maneuvers and it can reach Mach 2 in level-flight at altitude. A frameless, bubble canopy affords the pilots superb visibility in dogfights and significant innovations were taken in the cockpit to help pilots reduce the effects of g-force during maneuvers. These innovations included side-mounted controls and a reclined seat. The aircraft has a favorable thrust-to-weight ratio, providing significant power in acceleration and turning.

The Shrike is armed with a 30-millimeter internal cannon, the GAU-20/A Revolver Cannon, which is located in an under-fuselage, port-side mount. The aircraft has ten hardpoints for the mounting of a number of air-to-air, air-to-ground, and miscellaneous stores to complete its mission. The Shrike is classified as a 4.5-generation fighter but, to keep costs low, stealth and radar cross section reductions were kept to a minimum. By the nature of the aircraft's design and its small size, it does not present a larger radar cross section than to other fighters of comparable generation and size. Much of the aircraft's construction is from lightweight composites, which help aid in this reduced RCS however.

General Configuration

The Shrike is an impressively agile aircraft in all speed regimes, whether slow or supersonic. This is largely achieved through a relaxed stability design, which means that the aircraft is aerodynamically unstable. Without its fly-by-wire system, it would be very difficult to fly and for that reason, all fly-by-wire systems have triple redundancy to ensure survivability in battle.

The airframe, largely made out of lightweight composites, has an estimated lifespan of 8,000 hours and it can withstand -4g to +10g; however, maneuvers over +9g will deform and damage the wings, requiring replacement. A G-limiter onboard the aircraft prevents maneuvers in excess of +9g, primarily to prevent G-LOC or G-force induced loss of consciousness. Because G-LOC at low altitude is almost always fatal, the Shrike is equipped with an auto-GCAS system that prevents a ground collision. The auto-GCAS system automatically corrects for diving maneuvers and automatically returns the aircraft to level or climbing flight to prevent collisions with the ground. This system was credited with preventing two crashes during the prototype and evaluation phase of the aircraft's development.

The Shrike has a wing design similar to that of the FA-50 Golden Eagle. To generate extra lift, the aircraft is equipped with fore-body strakes that extend up to the cockpit from the wing. The Shrike does not have canards though despite this, the aircraft has excellent low-speed handling due to its powerful engines. Because of its light weight and high thrust output, the fighter is capable of short takeoffs and it can operate on highway and unimproved airstrips, though the latter do require some preparation to ensure foreign objects are not present.

The Shrike is not designed to be a carrier-born aircraft but, despite this, it is equipped with an arrestor hook for emergency landings or short-runway landings. The aircraft is equipped with an automated landing system, which is identical to that installed in naval aircraft. This aids recovery even in the worst weather conditions, making the Shrike suitable for all air forces in the world.

Cockpit

Because the Shrike is both a trainer and a fighter, it comes in two cockpit configurations. In both configurations, the Shrike's cockpit is a glass cockpit, incorporating multiple multi-function displays. These allow the pilots to choose from any number of displays allowing for robust aircraft control. The principles of data fusion are highly present in the cockpit, which aims to reduce the workload on the pilot, especially in the single-seat variant.

Controls are fully HOTAS or Hands on Throttle and Stick, with the flight control stick on the right and the throttle on the left. This is done chiefly to aid in control during high G-force maneuvers but also to provide additional room in front of the pilot, especially with regards to the display screens. Both the pilot and the RIO/WSO sit on ACES II zero-zero ejection seats, reclined to 30° to aid in high G-force maneuvers. The reliability of the ACES II makes it the primary ejection seat in Layartebian aircraft.

In both trainer and combat variants, the pilot has access to two, LCD multi-function displays or MFDs. These are situated left and right of the center of the pilot's console. Both are 5 inches (12.7 cm) square. In the center of the console are four, small, digital displays for a variety of functions such as the artificial horizon, compass, altimeter, Mach indicator, and so on and so forth. Each of these displays are 2.5 in (6.35 cm) square. In combat variants, the WSO has a different cockpit setup, which does not include dual controls. In this setup, the WSO has two much larger MFDs. Each one is 5 inches (12.7 cm) in width but 8 inches (20.32 cm) in height. The WSO has access to the same four, small, digital displays as the pilot, as well as other flight systems. In trainer variants, the rear cockpit has dual controls. All primary MFDs have a resolution of 1024 pixels x 1024 pixels while the smaller, displays have a resolution of 480 pixels x 480 pixels.

The canopy of the Shrike is made from a flexible, polycarbonate material that is designed to flex during bird strikes to ensure survivability. Regardless of variant, the canopy is a single piece, bubble canopy with superior visibility. The canopy is not coated with any special materials for RCS reduction.

The head-up display or HUD of the Shrike is identical to that of the F-16 Falcon, having been taken from the F-16C Block 50/52 variant. This was done solely to reduce cost. It, like all systems within the cockpit, is compatible with night-vision goggles. In addition, the aircraft's systems are also compatible with helmet-mounted display or HMD systems.

Climate control systems in the cockpit provide for air conditioning and heating systems and the aircraft's cockpit is equipped with a redundant backup life-support system to counteract potential hypoxia-related issues.

Avionics

The avionics of the Shrike are an upgrade of what might be normally found in a fighter of its size and capacity. This contributes to the a good portion of the aircraft's cost but it also enables the Shrike to compete with larger and more advanced 4.5-generation aircraft.

For basic functionality, the Shrike is equipped with a GPS and an inertial navigation system. The aircraft can utilize Instrument Landing System or ILS for landing in poor weather or other conditions. The aircraft has a ground proximity warning system and Link 16 capabilities, which can be expanded to new standards. All aircraft feature these systems but domestic and export aircraft have different advanced systems such as radar and ECM.

Detection Systems

Shrikes in service with the Imperial Layartebian Military are equipped with the AN/APG-91 solid-state, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. The radar is composed of 775 transmit/receive modules, which provide near-instantaneous beam steering and frequency hopping capabilities. This makes the radar an LPIR radar. The radar has a diameter of 23.62 inches (600 mm) and a weight of 331 lb (150 kg). It has a peak power output of approximately 11.625 kilowatts but an average pulse significantly less. Each T/R module is 4.4 inches (112 mm) long by 1.18 inches (30 mm) width by 0.47 inches (12 mm) thick. They weigh only 2.82 oz (80 g) each but can handle 15 watts of maximum power.

The AN/APG-91(V)-2 of the Shrike is a derivative of the AN/APG-91(V)-1 of the F-28 Viper but it is smaller and less capable. The radar is capable of tracking as many as 32 aircraft at once, of which 6 can be engage simultaneously. Air-to-air modes include: range while scan (RWS), track while scan (TWS), single-target track (STT), and dogfight. Because the radar is a synthetic aperture radar, it can provide high-resolution mapping. In air-to-ground modes, the AN/APG-91(V)-2 can engage both stationary and moving targets as well as seaborne targets. The radar also has terrain-following capabilities. The AN/APG-91(V)-2 operates on X band. Export Shrikes are equipped with the Elta ELM-2052 radar instead.

The use of the radar, despite its LPI capabilities, means that the Shrike is still actively transmitting emissions. To counter this, the Shrike is equipped with the AN/AAS-48 IRST. Mounted on the nose just forward of the canopy, the AN/AAS-48(V)-1 IRST provides passive detection via infrared capabilities. It has a range of 50 miles (80 km) head-on and 90 miles (145 km) for the rear with limited air-to-ground capabilities. Against supersonic targets, these ranges increase. The system is entirely passive and functions on two IR bands, 3 - 5 µm and 8 - 11 µm. It has a field of view of 180° x 75° and can simultaneously track up to 500 targets. The IRST is a weather-dependent system however and it is not useful against ground targets. In a dogfight, the IRST is also equipped with a ranging laser, which aids the cannon. Export Shrikes are equipped with the OSF IRST system.

For ground-attack missions, the Shrike would carry an AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pod. The Sniper can be mounted on chin pylon, where it provides downward-focused FLIR and laser-designation. It can be used for nap-of-the-earth flying without utilizing the terrain-following capabilities of the Shrike's radar. The Sniper pod provides high-resolution imagery and laser-designation up to 50,000 feet (15,250 m). All versions of the Shrike would require the Sniper for laser-designation or ground-targeting FLIR.

Self-Defense Systems

To defend against threats, the Shrike is equipped with the AN/ASQ-238 Electronic Countermeasures Suite. The version specifically deployed on the Shrike is the AN/ASQ-238(V)-5 system. It provides an assortment of jamming and warning systems. This includes the AN/ALR-94 Radar Warning Receiver, which provides 360° detection for radar-based threats out to as far away as 300 mi (480 km).

While the AN/ALR-94 provides warning against radar-based threats, the Shrike has the AN/AAR-52 Missile Warning System for non-radar threats, primarily infrared-guided missiles. The AN/AAR-52 is a dual-mode system that utilizes infrared and ultraviolent detection to warn the pilot of approaching missiles. The use of both systems is done to help counter the advantages and disadvantages of each. Infrared-based alert systems detect the hot rocket motor of incoming missiles but they are not all-weather systems, which UV-based systems are. IR-based systems are highly effective against air-to-air missiles while UV-based systems are better against surface-to-air missiles. The AN/AAR-52 utilizes these systems thus to warn the pilot of approaching missiles that might escape the AN/ALR-94.

Beyond warning the pilot of approaching threats, the ECS can also jam them. Against radio frequency (RF) threats, the system employs the AN/ALQ-229 for jamming. The AN/ALQ-229 provides not only full spectrum jamming of a wide area but also directional jamming for focused lethality. The AN/ALQ-229 is also effective against monopulse seekers such as the AIM-120 AMRAAM. Against these missiles, the AN/ALQ-229 utilizes "Cross-eye techniques." To achieve this, there are transmitters placed on each wing of the aircraft with a 180° phase shift. This angle-deception technique forces the seeker of the incoming missile to realign its antenna and in doing so gives the missile incorrect tracking data causing the missile to miss entirely. However, the system is not effective against two separate seekers coming from different bearings. Export Shrikes carry the AN/ALR-67 Radar Warning Receiver, the AN/AAR-56 Missile Approach Warner, and the AN/ALQ-214 RF Jammer.

Beyond radars, IRSTs, and ECM systems, the Shrike is also equipped with a number of physical countermeasures in the form of chaff, flare, and decoys. All Shrikes are equipped with AN/ALE-47 dispensers for chaff and flares. Each dispenser can hold up to 30 chaff bundles or flares and there can be up to five configurations for chaff and flare loads. The Shrike mounts four on the fuselage with all four in the rear of the aircraft. These can be supplemented with weapons pylons equipped with chaff dispensers. A Shrike with these pylons can mount two such pylons on stations 2 and 9, with each pylon adding three dispensers, bringing the potential total up to ten dispensers.

In addition, the Shrike mounts two AN/ALE-58 high-capacity dispensers on stations 1 and 10. These high-capacity dispensers can hold up to 160 chaff or flare cartridges; however, they are typically loaded with chaff so that the under-fuselage dispensers can be loaded with flares. All told, a Shrike utilizing all of its available chaff and flare dispensers can carry up to 320 cartridges in its AN/ALE-58 dispensers, 180 chaff cartridges in its pylon dispenser, and 60 medium or 120 small flare cartridges in its fuselage AN/ALE-47 dispensers. In addition, the Shrike can carry several chaff-dispensing pods. In its basic configuration it can carry up to four chaff-dispensing pods on its inner four wing pylons. For pods, the Shrike can carry the AN/ALE-37A Chaff Pod, the AN/ALE-41 Chaff Pod, or the AN/ALE-43 Chaff Pod. The AN/ALE-37A weighs 277 lb (126 kg) and it can carry up to two, 120-round payload modules for a total of 240 rounds of chaff, flares, or decoys. The AN/ALE-41 weighs 360 lb (163 kg) and the AN/ALE-43 weighs 626 lb (284 kg) and both utilize rolls of chaff to create long corridors.

Performance

The Shrike - as a 4.5-generation fighter - has comparable performance to the JAS-39 Gripen. Because of its size and capabilities, it is not meant to match the performance of larger, 4.5-generation fighters such as the F-28 Viper, the Dassalt Rafale, or the Eurofighter Typhoon. Against 5th generation fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II, the Shrike is not meant to be competitive on the battlefield. It would take a highly skilled pilot integrated in a robust, fighting force to defend against 5th generation threats.

Top speed for the Shrike at sea-level is Mach 1.08 (822 mph; 1,323 km/h; 714 kn). At altitude, the Shrike is capable of a top speed of Mach 2 (1,320 mph; 2,125 km/h; 1,147 kn). The Shrike has a maximum ceiling of 55,000 ft (16,765 m) and its initial rate of climb is 40,000 ft/min (203.2 m/s). The Shrike is not necessarily designed to supercruise but it has the ability to maintain a cruising speed above Mach 1 without afterburners with a very light weapons load. However, despite this, the advantages are outweighed by the disadvantages and the Shrike is not normally flown in this capacity.

Insofar as maneuverability is concerned, the Shrike is a highly agile fighter. With its standard engines, the Shrike is capable of withstanding -4g to +10g but a G-limiter caps this to -3g to +8.5g. With thrust-vectoring, the Shrike's maneuverability can match that of many high-performance, 4.5-generation fighters.

With its typical combat load, the Shrike has a combat radius of 400 mi (650 km). Its unrefueled, ferry range is 1,600 mi (2,575 km). Its takeoff run at sea-level is 355 meters (1,165 ft) while its landing run is 800 meters (2,625 ft) with a landing chute. This can be decreased with an add-on, drogue chute. Installation of the braking chute would be done in the base of the tail. The typical landing chute measures 16 ft (4.87 m) in diameter, which is towed 15 ft (4.57 m) behind the aircraft. Without a landing chute, its braking distance is 1,500 meters (4,921 ft).

Propulsion

The Shrike is a twin-engine fighter and it is powered by a pair of low-bypass, afterburning, turbofan engines. Each engine is capable of providing up to 6,382 lbf (28.39 kN) of thrust dry and up to 11,023 lbf (49.03 kN) with full afterburner. When equipped with 2D thrust-vectoring paddles, they allow vectoring of ±20° along the pitch axis. The Shrike is capable of performing some post stall maneuvers, sometimes referred to as supermanueverability when equipped with thrust-vectoring paddles. To date, Layartebian variants of the Shrike are not equipped with thrust-vectoring paddles.

The LDC-TF-29A engine that powers the Shrike measures 121 in (3.07 m) in length with a diameter of 24.41 in (0.62 m). Each engine weighs 1,420 lb (644 kg). The engine has an axial compressor with three fan and six, high-pressure, compressor stages. There is also one high-pressure turbine and one low-pressure turbine stage. Specific fuel consumption at military thrust is 0.725 lb/(lbf-h) (74 kg/(kN-h) and at full afterburner it is 1.8 lb/(lbf-h) (183.6 kg/(kN-h). It has an overall thrust-to-weight ratio of 7.8:1 and an overall pressure ratio of 26:1.

Feeding these engines is an internal fuel supply of 5,512 lb (2,500 kg) in four, internal fuel tanks. The main fuselage tank holds 322 gal (1,219 L) of fuel while a reserve tank holds just 100 gal (379 L). Each wing tank holds 200 gal (757 L) for a total of 822 gal (3,112 L) of JP-8 fuel, which weighs approximately 6.71 lb per gallon or (0.8 kg per liter). Externally, the Shrike can carry three drop tanks on its centerline and innermost wing pylons. On the centerline pylon, the Shrike can carry a single tank between 300 gal (1,135 L) and 330 gal (1,250 L). On its innermost wing pylons, the Shrike can carry any fuel tank between 300 gal (1,135 L) and 370 gal (1,400 L). A typical configuration mounts one 300-gal tank and two 370-gal tanks, increasing the fuel supply by 126% for a total fuel capacity of 1,862 gal (7,047 L) or 12,494 lb (5,667 kg).

Lastly, beyond the fuel supply that the Shrike carries with it at takeoff, it is capable of aerial refueling or air-to-air refueling (AAR). The Shrike is equipped for probe-and-drogue refueling with a fueling receptacle mounted in its nose on the starboard side. The Shrike is not equipped for boom refueling nor can this capability be retrofitted.

Weapons

The Shrike is - first and foremost - a combat aircraft and no combat aircraft would be complete without its weaponry. Across its ten hardpoints, the Shrike can carry up to 11,575 lb (5,250 kg) of ordnance in addition to its internal cannon. These hardpoints are mounted centerline, along the fuselage, at the chin, and across the wings and wingtips.

Internal Cannon

The Shrike's internal cannon, on domestically-built fighters, is the GAU-20/A Revolver Cannon, which is identical to the French GIAT 30M 791. The 30-millimeter cannon fires the 30x150mm B projectile at a muzzle velocity of 1,025 m/s (3,360 fps). The cannon has a selectable rate of fire that allows for rates of fire of 300, 600, 1,500, or 2,500 rounds per minute, which allows Shrike pilots to tailor their ammunition expenditure based on target and situation. Higher rates of fire are better used in dogfighting, where windows of opportunity are measured in quarters of seconds while slower rates of fire are useful in strafing where ammunition expenditure is critical to the number of runs available. The standard ammunition load for the Shrike is 150 rounds.

Export Shrikes can be sold with three other guns instead. The first is the M61A2 Vulcan cannon, a six-barrel, Gatling gun with 250 rounds. The other two options are the GAU-12/U Equalizer with 125 rounds and the Mauser BK-27 with 150 rounds. There are other cannon options available but they depend on size, weight, power requirements, and ammunition capacities.

The Shrike is capable of mounting several gun pods on its centerline hardpoint. This includes the SUU-16/A, the SUU-23/A, and the GPU-5/A. The SUU-16/A and the SUU-23/A both utilize the M61A1 Vulcan and carry 1,200 rounds of ammunition. The SUU-16/A weighs 1,650 lb (748 kg) and utilizes a ram-air turbine for power, requiring the aircraft to be flying over 300 mph (261 kn; 483 km/h). It has a fixed rate of fire of 6,000 rpm. The SUU-23/A weighs 1,730 lb (785 kg) and it is self-powered, meaning that the minimum speed requirements of the SUU-16/A are removed. It has a fixed rate of fire of 6,000 rpm too. The GPU-5/A pod utilizes the GAU-13/A Gatling gun, a scaled-down derivate of the infamous GAU-8/A Avenger. The GAU-13 has four barrels to the GAU-8's seven but both fire the 30x173mm round. The GPU-5 pod holds 353 rounds and it weighs 1,325 lb (601 kg) empty but 1,854 lb (841 kg) loaded. It has a fixed rate of fire of 2,400 rpm. The GPU-5 pod requires a heavily stressed hardpoint due to recoil and firing effects, which the Shrike has.

External Hardpoints

For external hardpoints, the Shrike has a single hardpoint centerline, one hardpoint in the chin position on the fuselage, three hardpoints on each wing, and one hardpoint on each wingtip. Together, they can carry a wide-array of air-to-air and air-to-ground ordnance as well as sensor pods and other, miscellaneous equipment.

The centerline hardpoint is rated for up to 2,425 lb (1,100 kg). On this hardpoint, the Shrike can carry a single store. This pylon is limited to carrying gun pods, drop tanks, sensor pods, or ECM pods. Typically, this pylon is used to mount a 300-gal (1,135 L) external drop tank. In addition, this pylon is capable of mounting the MXU-648 Travel Pod. This pylon cannot carry missiles or bombs.

The chin pylon, which is located forward and to the starboard side of the aircraft's underside fuselage is rated for up to 550 lb (250 kg). This pylon is limited to carrying sensor and ECM pods and it is typically where the Shrike would carry its Sniper pod.

The innermost wing hardpoints are each rated for up to 2,800 lb (1,275 kg) of ordnance each. They can be used to carry a wide array of munitions from air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles to bombs, ECM pods, and drop tanks up to 370 gal (1,400 l). These are the only hardpoints capable of carrying anti-ship missiles and 2,000 lb (900 kg) class stores due to the dimension limitations of other hardpoints. These cannot carry rocket pods however due to their proximity to the fuselage of the aircraft, but they can carry chaff-dispensing pods. They are compatible with the MXU-648 Travel Pod.

The center wing hardpoints are rated to carry 880 lb (400 kg) of ordnance each. They can be used to carry air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles as well as rocket pods and bombs. They could be used to carry ECM pods as well but not targeting pods or reconnaissance pods. They can carry air-to-ground rocket pods and chaff-dispensing pods.

The outer wing hardpoints are rated to carry 355 lb (160 kg) of ordnance each. Because of their light weight, they are limited to carrying on air-to-air missiles, light air-to-ground missiles, small rocket pods, and light bombs of the 250 lb (100 kg) class.

The wingtip hardpoints are rated at 255 lb (115 kg) each, and they are primarily for short-range, air-to-air missiles. They are wired to carry ECM pods, but these pods must be light and small enough to conform to the weight and size limitations.

Insofar as ordnance types are concerned, the Shrike is set up for Western ordnance. However, it can be reconfigured to support Russian ordnance; however, only one type can be supported at once.

Operational History

Layartebian Service

Imperial Layartebian Air Force

The F-30A/B Shrike achieved initial operating capability (IOC) in 2014 and the T-8A Shrike in 2015. Full operational capability came with the Block 5 variant shortly thereafter in 2016. Production is scheduled to continue through 2022 at this time and the Imperial Layartebian Air Force will continue to be the primary user of the Shrike. While combat versions of the Shrike are aiding to replace the final squadrons of F-16 Falcons still in service, the T-8A Shrikes have begun to replace the T-38 Talon en masse. The age of the T-38 has meant priority is being given to the trainer versions rather than the combat versions insofar as production is concerned.

Foreign Service

Mexico

The Mexican Air Force acquired the F-30A/B Shrike and the T-8A Shrike as part of the Havana Cooperative Agreement IV arms deal, which was valued at over $4 billion. As part of the deal, the Mexican Air Force acquired 88 F-30 variants and 16 T-8 variants. Deliveries of both variants began in 2016. All 104 aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2022, replacing the last of the F-5 Tiger II fighters in the Mexican Air Force.

The Mexican Air Force is planning on five squadrons of F-30s with 12 single-seat A and 4 twin-seat B variants per squadron. The T-8A trainers will all serve in one squadron for pilot training along with eight, F-30B variants for operational unit conversion training.

The Shrike has not been used in combat by the Mexican Air Force. Experts believe it is only a matter of time before aircraft will be used to strike cartel targets in the further escalating drug conflict.

Variants

Prototype Models

  • YF-30A - Main single-seat prototype, became F-30A
  • YF-30B - Main twin-seat prototype, became F-30B & the T-8A

Production Models

  • F-30A/B Shrike - Primary combat-oriented variants
    • Block 1 - IOC aircraft with limited air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities
    • Block 5 - FOC aircraft with full air-to-air integration and full air-to-ground integration
    • Block 10 - Newly built and upgraded Block 1 & 5 aircraft with updated avionics, corrections to the datalink system, and integration of new weapons not previously available or operational during the Block 5 planning phase
  • T-8A Shrike - Two-seat jet trainer
    • Block 1 - IOC aircraft with identical capabilities to the F-30B Block 1
    • Block 5 - FOC aircraft with identical capabilities to the F-30B Block 5

Operators

Domestic Units

 Layarteb

A total of XXX have been ordered out of a planned XXX. There have been XXX aircraft delivered by 2019 with all aircraft anticipated to be delivered by YYY.

Foreign Units

 Mexico (E2)

A total of 118 have been delivered out of a planned 118 aircraft ordered as of 2019.

  • Mexican Air Force - 56 delivered out of 104 ordered as of 2019
    • F-30A Shrike (24)
    • F-30B Shrike (16)
    • T-8A Shrike (16)

Operational Losses & Accidents

Domestic Service

There have been several incidents involving the Shrike. The first such incident was on May 11, 2013 when a YF-30A stalled and entered a flat spin at very low altitude, killing the pilot, John B. Kelly. Kelly was flying at under 2,000 feet (610 m) when he initiated a series of high-G maneuvers. Disruption of airflow into the engine during a +9G turn caused the aircraft to stall and enter a flat spin, which was unrecoverable. The low altitude of the spin meant that the recovery parachute could not be deployed in time. PAV-4 was destroyed on impact with the terrain and Kelly never ejected. A report could not conclusively verify if Kelly was conscious at the time of the crash, perhaps due to G-LOC.

The second incident involving a Shrike occurred during acceptance trials. A twin-seat F-30B Block 1 aircraft encountered a bird strike incident during takeoff. The loss of both engines combined with the low speed and altitude of the aircraft forced both pilots to eject. They were recovered unharmed, but the aircraft crashed shortly thereafter, destroying the airframe.

One T-8A Shrike trainer was lost in 2018 due to pilot error. During night landing trials, a student pilot misjudged the runway and landed 500 ft (150 m) short of the runway. The aircraft was severely damaged and written off as a result. Both the student pilot and the instructor pilot survived the landing but were severely injured. Neither would ever fly again.

A second T-8A Shrike was lost during bad weather in 2019, also due to pilot error. While flying a simulated, low-level penetration mission, a student pilot crashed the aircraft into the side of a mountain when he became disoriented. The crash killed both the student pilot and the instructor pilot.

Foreign Service

Specifications

General Characteristics

  • Crew: 1 [F-30A] or 2 [F-30B/T-8]
  • Length: 48.39 ft (14.75 m)
  • Wingspan: 31.17 ft (9.5 m)
  • Height: 13.94 ft (4.25 m)
  • Empty Weight:
    • 13,669 lb (6,200 kg) [F-30A]
    • 14,771 lb (6,700 kg) [F-30B/T-8A]
  • Payload Weight: 11,575 lb (5,250 kg)
  • Fuel Capacity: 5,512 lb (2,500 kg)
  • Maximum Takeoff Weight: 31,967 lb (14,500 kg)
  • Power Plant: 2 x LDC-TF-29A afterburning turbofan engines
    • Dry Thrust: 6,382 lbf (28.39 kN) each
    • Thrust with Afterburner: 11,023 lbf (49.03 kN) each

Performance

  • Maximum Speed:
    • High Altitude: Mach 2 (1,320 mph; 2,125 km/h; 1,147 kn)
    • Sea Level: Mach 1.08 (822 mph; 1,323 km/h; 714 kn)
  • Range:
    • Combat Radius: 400 mi (644 km)
    • Ferry Range: 1,600 mi (2,575 km)
  • Service Ceiling: 55,000 ft (16,765 m)
  • Rate of Climb: 40,000 ft/min (203.2 m/s)
  • Maximum g-load: -3g to +8.5g [Limited] or -4g to +10g [Structural]
  • Takeoff Distance: 300 meters (1,165 ft)
  • Landing Distance: 800 meters (2,625 ft)

Armament

Avionics

  • AN/AAS-48(V)-1 IRST [Domestic]
  • AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispensing System
  • AN/ALE-58 High-Capacity Dispener
  • AN/APG-91(V)-2 AESA Radar [Domestic]
  • Elta ELM-2052 AESA Radar [Export]
  • AN/ASQ-238(V)-5 Electronic Countermeasures Suite [Domestic]
    • AN/AAR-52 MWS
    • AN/ALQ-229 RF Jammer
    • AN/ALR-94 RWR
  • AN/ASQ-238(V)-5E Electronic Countermeasures Suite [Export]
    • AN/AAR-56 MWS
    • AN/ALQ-214 RF Jammer
    • AN/ALR-67 RWR

Links

Notes

See Also

References

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