Mitsuna Type 80
| Mitsuna Type 80 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Air superiority and strike fighter |
| National origin | Dayashina |
| Manufacturer | Mitsuna Glasic International Aircraft |
| First flight | 1979 |
| Introduction | 1980 |
| Status | In production and service |
| Primary users | Dayashina Hanhae Shijuku |
| Number built | >500 |
| Unit cost |
~$87 million (Type 80 K+)
|
The Mitsuna Type 80 is a twin-engine, all weather air superiority and strike fighter based on the Glasic International Aircraft Eagle produced under licence by Mitsuna. Dayashina is the single largest customer of the GIA Eagle. The Type 80 features multiple variants, including the Type 80 K+, which is a heavily modernised and improved version of the Type 80.
Development and design
The GIA Eagle was selected and purchased as the winner of Dayashina's Generation Zero competition, held by the Dayashinese Ministry of Defence with the objective of replacing its aging arsenal of early Cold War era fighter aircraft. The GIA Eagle competed against entries from the giants of the Dayashinese defence industry, including the Masaoka Group's Type 77 prototype and Ibaraki's Type Z prototype. GIA's Eagle won the competition on the basis of its allowance for a larger, more diverse array of armaments. The MkG Type 77 and Type Z both displayed superior mobility, but offered a smaller effective combat range and were not built to accomodate the array of armaments that the GIA Eagle to take. Furthermore, the GIA Eagle was originally constructed with the capability of fitting avionics and technology made by MkG, including the advanced AN/APG-63 radar, easing the purchase along.
Dayashina's initially purchased GIA Eagles were purchased to its standards, and with modularity in mind to allow for the integration of Dayashinese electronics and avionics future models.
Improvements and upgrades
Over time, Dayashina has sought to constantly upgrade its fleet of Type 80s. The Dayashinese Ministry of Defence went through with plans to improve the design starting in the 80s, steadily refitting and inserting new domestic components and electronics into the airframe. Type 80 Bs were fitted with improved computers, electronic warfare systems, and engines, with a variety additions and replacements which resulted in increased weapons load capacity and better fuel efficiency. Furthermore, it implemented the MkG Type 2 helmet mounted display, offering a comprehensive upgrade to the initial system, considered on par with late-production Striker HMD models. Most of the upgrades were contracted through Mitsuna, MkG, and Ibaraki, which all remain heavily invested in the Type 80 programme today. Later, in 2007, production of the Type 80 K would begin, which featured further improvements to the Type 80 B's carrying capacity, and most notably integrating an all-digital electronics warfare system developed by the Masaoka Group. Furthermore, it implemented the Masaoka Group's AN/APG-83, offering an upgrade to the aging APG/63 and a more capable AESA. In 2015, Dayashina began producing the Type 80 K+, which introduced RCS-reducing technology to the Type 80 K model, implemented the Keikō I/II HMD, and a final improvement to its weapons carrying capacity.
Operational history
Kouraki War (1991-1994)
The Type 80 first saw conflict in the first Kouraki War, serving as Dayashina's main land-based air asset during its invasion of the country with Anglia. The Type 80 accounted for 41 air-to-air victories over Kouraki pilots using an assortment of mostly aging Letnian airframes. The Type 80s were a critical asset in quickly establishing initial air superiority, spearheading the Coalition air effort for weeks until air superiority was achieved. Over the course of the conflict, five Type 80s were lost, three to ground fire, and two during an strike by Kouraki forces on a Coalition airbase.
Vyzhvan War (2019)
Preceding the 2019 Invasion of Vyzhva, Dayashinese Type 80 Ks and Type 80 K+s were deployed to bases across the VDC in the wake of a wave of terror attacks in VDC cities committed by Vyzhvan affiliated assets, and subsequent nuclear threats sourcing from Vyzhva. The Type 80s of the RDAF played a major role in the initial decapitation strikes alongside the Eagles of the ARTG, launching standoff missiles at critical targets in mainland Vyzhva, including military bases, government establishments, and major pieces of infrastructure. Dayashinese pilots were responsible for XX of the 28 aerial kills racked up by Eagle-derived airfames in the invasion. Throughout the war, Type 80s remained on hand for sustained airspace control and as support elements to ground troops, dropping precision guided munitions on Vyzhvan ground formations and fortifications.
Bakhriyan Civil War (2019-2020)
During the Bakhriyan Civil War, the Shijukunese Air Force utilised Type 80 Ks in decapitation strikes and ground support roles, much reflecting the usage of Dayashinese Type 80s in the Vyzhvan War. Shijukunese Type 80 Ks were responsible for the majority of aerial kills on Bakhriyan aircraft, and bombarded Bakhriyan and Maracaiban ground positions throughout the war. The Shijukunese Air Force lost five Type 80s throughout the conflict, three to ground fire, one to friendly fire, and one to human error. On multiple occasions, Dayashina was accused of sending its own pilots to operate Shijukunese Type 80 Ks, but there was never any substance brought to this claim.
Variants
- Type 80 A
- Initial export, C.1 built to Dayashinese specifications
- Type 80 B
- Initial production model, twin seat multirole fighter, built 1980-2002
- Type 80 K
- Improved model, both single and twin seat, electronics refit and upgrade, built and re-manufactured 2008-2015
- Type 80 K+
- Reduced radar-cross section and carrying capacity enhancements, better HMD, built 2015-present
Specifications (Type 80 K)
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 63.75 ft (19.43 m)
- Wingspan: 42.83 ft (13.05 m)
- Height: 18.5 ft (5.63m)
- Wing area: 608 ft² (56.48 m²)
- Airfoil: Root: NACA 64A006.6; Tip: NACA 64A203
- Empty weight: 28,000 lb (12,700 kg)
- Loaded weight: 44,500 lb (20,185 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 81,000lb (36,741kg)
- Internal fuel: 13,850 pounds (6,280 kg)
CFT fuel: 9,500 pounds (4,300 kg) - Powerplant: 2 × Mitsuna MT-110 Afterburning turbofan
- Dry thrust: 20,010 lb (89 kN) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 36,000 lb (160.15 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed:
- At sea level: Mach 1.2 (920 mph, 1,480 km/h)
- At altitude: Mach 2.5 (1,920 mph; 3,090 km/h) 40,000ft, 60% fuel, four MRAAM, four SRAAM
- Combat radius: 500 nmi (926 km) with 6,510kg war-load on a hi-lo-hi profile
- Ferry range: 3,100 nmi (5,742km) with three drop tanks and conformal tanks
- Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (19,812 m)
- Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
- Wing loading: 112 lb/ft² (546 kg/m²)
- Maximum g-load: +9/-3g
Armament
- Guns: 1× 23mm Rotary cannon with 475 rounds
- Hardpoints: 4× under-wing, 4x wing-rails 12× conformal and 1× centreline with a capacity of up to 23,000 lb (10,000 kg) of stores
- Missiles:
- Bombs:
Avionics
- Helmet-Mounted Display
- Keikō helmet mounted display
- Radar
- MkG AN/APG-83
- Targeting Pods
- Litening laser targeting pod
- Electronic Warfare
- Ibaraki G-1 internal electronic-warfare system
- MkG AN/ALQ-131 electronic countermeasures pod
- MkG MLD
- MkG RWR