GtB 59 Ornyal

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GtB 59 "Ornyal"
File:GtB-59.png
A GtB 59s from Angmar Airforce Base
Role Supersonic Interceptor
National origin  Dniegua
Manufacturer Goteburg Flygtfabrik
Borzov propulsion
Designer Rham Sjögren
First flight 02 September 1956
Status Operational
Primary user Dnieguan Air Force
Number built 522
Unit cost
$2,200,000 Flyaway cost (1974)


The GtB 59 'Ornyal' is a twin seat Dnieguan high speed, high level interceptor aircraft made to defend continental Skandera from high altitude strategic bombers. Designed and produced by Goteburg Flygtfabrik of Goteyals, Dniegua, the airframe was mated with two KD-93F afterburning turbojets from the famous Borzov Propulsion companies project Arkan family of high speed propulsion engines. The fastest fighter aircraft of the era with an airspeed of mach 3.3, the GtB 59 never realized its role as a a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor for defense against bombers with the introduction of intercontinental Ballistic Missiles in the 1960s; however, the GtB 59 remained a highly capable strike fighter and point-defense interceptor. Mid-service life upgrade further allowed the aircraft to become more effective at individual roles.

The GtB 59 was highly criticized in its early days due to enormous cost and complexity; however, the aircraft remained a valuable test bed for Borzov Propulsion and the Dnieguan Airforces Narkeusten Aviation for the testing of Object 167 Miljnor, which would later become one of the most ambitious aircraft of the Dnieguan Aircraft industry, the NkB-78 supersonic bomber, which used design cues and elements from the Ornyal. Armament suites, fuselage design elements and systems eventually influenced the Skanderan Aviation Retaliator, a jointly produced three-engine fighter aircraft.

Design

During the early 1950s, the Dnieguan Airforce proposed a very high-performance, long-range interceptor. On 20 July 1954, formal development of what became known as Project Falken was approved, planned as a replacment for several high-altitude interceptors and fighters. The specification was laid down on 6 October 1954, calling for an interceptor that could fly at 60,000 ft (18,000 m) at a speed of Mach 2.0 (2,450 km/h), with a range of 1,600 km. It was to have a two-man crew and at least two engines. A further consideration was that an integrated fire-control system would be fitted, allowing the interception of bomber-sized targets at distances of at 60 110 km; and three targets to be destroyed during a single mission.

Of the four interested companies, contracts for preliminary studies were issued to Narkeusten, Goteburg Flygtfabrik and DFAB on 11 October 1954, five days after the specification's release. Of the paper designs, the Goteburg Flygtfabrik proposal, dubbed "GTF-236", seemed the most promising. The GTF 236 shared some similarities with the GtB 59, although the most obvious differences were the additions of two finlets at the midspan of the horizontal stabilizers, and canards. Political and budgetary difficulties led to the cancellation of the program on 1 March 1955.

After considerable confusion, the program was reinstated on 11 April 1955 with Goteburg Flygtfabrik awarded a contract for six prototypes. The designation GtB R-12 was issued, also known as "Weapon System 202A" (WS-202A). The company designation was "Ornyal", although it was basically identical to the GTF-236. At the time, Air Defense Command anticipated an order for 312 aircraft.

The resulting design went through considerable evolution, owing to both its cutting-edge technology and continual redefinition of the RDAF requirements. Early revisions prominently featured canards, with a span of 6.04 m, and a wing of 53.5° sweep. The aircraft in this configuration would have had a maximum takeoff weight of 45,088 kg with a 23,113 m operational ceiling. In addition to the GtB 59 interceptor role, Goteburg Flygtfabrik proposed it as an escort fighter for the then-prototypical NkB-78 supersonic bomber. Commonality between the Nkb-78 bomber and the Gtb 59 included the escape capsule and Borzov companby engines (until 1968). Another role considered was for the GtB 59 to be "gap-fillers" for the Distant Early Warning (DEW) system; because of its great speed, the GtB could scan up to 720,000 square kilometers per hour.

In order to extend range, the GtB was equipped with special streamlined supersonic wing tanks which provided virtually no degradation to overall aircraft performance, allowing it to reach near top speed at altitude for prolonged periods of time. In addition, the GtB 59 was equipped with Dnieguas first airborne air search pulse Doppler radar, the AVR 54/091, which could track, target, engage and, using a RbFy 51E Air-to-Air missile, destroy a Gladeus Gu-18 at a range of 220km as proved by a 1966 test. Armed with up to five long-range air-to-air missiles stowed in six internal weapons bays, the armament was changed several times depending on role, configuration and era, though typically these internal weapon stows could carry up to 550kg of ordinance. One bay was typically dedicated to targeting and search sensors.

Operational History

The first 36 aircraft were delivered 4-8 September 1959 to airforce bases at Chavporkal, Gotaland and Prydwynd, equipping the 24th, 33rd and 42nd Aero-interceptor squadrons of the 4th Fighter Wings. This represented control areas of Dnieguan Air Guard Command (DAGCOM) North, DAGCOM Center, and DAGCOM West against incursion from flights passing to the north, incursions over the antarctic circle, and incursions from sea.

The first and only foreign deployment of the GtB 59s came during the Kolenomese War of Liberation, where pilots from 81st Aerointercepter Squadron shot down a number of enemy fighter aircraft. On Decmber 21st 1974 Tail no. 328 piloted by Capt. Holing Ekholm and Lt. Ingor Löfgren was shot down over Ka Lang Mai, both of whom were rescued by members of the Aisling 1st Pararescue Battalion.

Specifications

Orthographically projected diagram of the GtB 59 Ornyal.

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

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