Masaoka Group Type 81
| Masaoka Group Type 81 Furaribi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type 81 | |
| Role | Supersonic strategic heavy bomber |
| National origin | Dayashina |
| Manufacturer | Masaoka Group |
| Designer | Kazuo Rokuda Noboru Eto |
| First flight | 1976 |
| Introduction | 3 December 1981 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Republic of Dayashina Air Force |
| Produced | 1981-1997 |
| Number built | TBD |
| Unit cost |
>$281 million (1997)
|
The Masaoka Group Type 81 "Furaribi" is a supersonic variable sweep wing heavy bomber in service with the Republic of Dayashina Air Force. It is the sole strategic bomber in service with Dayashina as of 2020.
The Type 81 was envisioned as a solution to Dayashina's need to replace aging fleet of strategic bombers and to surpass the next generation of threats proposed by Menghean air defence units and surface vessels. Furthermore, it filled a desire for Dayashina to develop advanced domestic strategic bombing capacity, breaking reliance on old or foreign strategic bombers for parts of possible retaliatory strikes. Masaoka Group won the bid to develop the Type 81, drawing preliminary design and dimensional elements from the ongoing Hallian B-1 programme, following decades of domestic study of strategic bombing aircraft as means of retaliation for a possible Menghean nuclear strike. MkG would enter its Type 81 concept into Hallia's strategic bomber bid unsuccessfully.
Dayashina halted production of the Type 81 in 1997 as a part of its steady detente with Menghe. Since its introduction in 1981, the Type 81 has undergone a grueling number of upgrades for its electronics, survivability, and weapons carrying capacity. It has seen combat during the 1991 Invasion of Kouraki and the 2019 Invasion of Vyzhva. As of 2020, the Republic of Dayashina Air Force had TBD Type 81's in service.
Development and design
The Type 81 was built to fulfill Dayashina's need for a supersonic, very long range, high payload strategic bomber for operations over Menghe during the Cold War. Declassified documents from the Ministry of Defence suggest that it was built specifically with the capability to strike Menghean nuclear infrastructure and form a part of Dayashina's policy of conventional mutually assured destruction. The study preceding the development of the aircraft lasted decades, with prototypes and early mockups being submitted by most of Dayashina's primary aerospace defence companies. Masaoka Group consistently looked to draw influence from what was known about strategic bomber programmes in other nations, such as the Hallian B-1 programme and the Glaso-Anglian supersonic Victor programme. Designers Kazuo Rokuda and Noboru Eto eventually lead MkG's presentation of what would become the Type 81 to the Ministry of Defence, which finally accepted their design in the mid 70s. A number of delays held the early stages of the programme back, mostly relating to the allowance of time for experimental, innovative aviation concepts to be cleared for application on the Type 81.
Upgrades
The Type 81 has been regularly upgraded since the start of its production, with programmes to increase and diversify its weapons carrying capacity taking precedence. Furthermore, it has seen the integration of better data-linking capacities, communications capabilities, targeting pods, user interface units, and an internal rotary launcher (for enhanced carrying capacity and Mosquito integration). Most recently, Dayashina's fleet of Type 81s has been upgraded to carry Masaoka Group's AN/APG-83 AESA, one of the most advanced aerial radars in the world, derived from the capabilities of the Type 5's AN/APG-77. Today, it boasts a full package of avionics developed domestically by MkG, Mitsuna, and Ibaraki.
Operators
Republic of Dayashina Air Force:
1st Bomb Wing, Central Air Command
- 103 Bomb Squadron, Nakaya Central Air Base
- 111 Bomb Squadron, Matsuko Air Base
- 124 Bomb Squadron, Ora Jima Air Base
2nd Bomb Wing, Southern Air Command
- 201 Bomb Squadron, Gyuji Air Base
- 204 Bomb Squadron, Takena Air Base
3rd Bomb Wing, Territorial Air Command
- 307 Bomb Squadron, Shogazu Air Base
- 328 Bomb Squadron, Aijuku Air Base
- 344 Bomb Squadron, Taga Air Base
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 4
- Length: 134.6 ft (41.02 m)
- Wingspan: 124.4 ft (37.92 m)
- Height: 29.5 ft (8.99 m)
- Wing area: tbd ft2 (tbd m2)
- Empty weight: 187,000 lb (84,822 kg)
- Loaded weight: 320,000 lb (145,150 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 477,000 lb (216,364 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × Mitsuna BT-121 afterburning turbofan
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.25
- Range: over 5,900 mi (over 9,400 km)
- Combat radius: 3,444 nu (5,543)
- Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 5,678 ft/min (28.84 m/s)
Armament
- Hardpoints: 6 external hardpoints for of ordnance with a capacity of 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg),with provisions to carry combinations of:
- Missiles:
- Bombs:
Avionics