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FV-23 Mantis
FV-23 Mantis in landing configuration
Role	Stealth multirole fighter
National origin	Jin Yi
Manufacturer	Actaeon Aerospace Workshop
Design group	Sector I
First flight	15 December 2022
Introduction	12 July 2023
Status	In Production
Number built	550
Unit cost	$90 million

The FV-23 Mantis is a 5th generation fighter designed and manufactured by Actaeon Industries for the Divine Eternal Kingdom of Jin Yi and currently used by both the Eternal Navy and the Eternal Air Force. It first flew in 2022 and began pre production trials that year. The aircraft was accepted for production in mid 2023 and the first deliveries occurred later that year. The aircraft has been successively upgraded with sixth-generation technology and has served as a testing bed for the F6XX Air Combatant Program, which is responsible for its successor, the FV-32 Hyena. Along with older aircraft, it serves as the backbone of the current Jin air fleet. There are currently 550 aircraft in service with an estimated 1,700 aircraft planned to be acquired over the life cycle of the Mantis, which is projected to be into the 2070s.

Design

Airframe

Gallium Nitride transistors

Avionics

The FV-23 has an advanced avionics package, integrating many features from future 6th-generation fighter programs. The primary among these is the Next Generation Cockpit System, which has been gradually integrated across multiple variants. Stage 1 was a cockpit spanning display, which replaced many traditional controls, displays, and status lights with a full color display the spans the entire length of the instrument panel in front of the pilot. This technology integrates many of the previous functionality found on board the aircraft into a seamless system which displays relevant data, based on what the pilot is doing. The center of the NGCS are two main primary processing computers; the Essential Functions Unit and the Non-Essential Functions Unit. Both are internally networked in the aircraft, but run two separate software architectures. The Non-Essential Functions Unit integrates artificial intelligence into the aircraft, which is capable of assisting the pilot in executing quick decision making and responding to threats faster than human reflexes. This system has been slowly tested and integrated into the aircraft's architecture with in-flight software update capability via satellite being introduced in 2028. The Non-Essential unit has varying levels of control, based on configuration and is even capable of piloting the aircraft and responding to threats. Despite advancements, the unit is not fully capable of replacing the pilot, which was never the program's goal. The Essential Unit is designed to be separated somewhat from the main aircraft computer system and protects the essential flight control and weapons control units and is able to cut off the Non-Essential unit in the event of a malfunction, ensuring the pilot can always maintain control of the aircraft if necessary.

Another key advancement integrated in the NCGS, which was fully integrated in 2030, is the Full Spectrum Immersive Reality Helmet. Utilizing sensors of different types located around and in the cockpit canopy and a pilot helmet that is integrated into the aircraft, the system provides a full, 360 degree virtual reality view of the surrounding area as if the cockpit canopy is not present. The system also renders the aircraft with the exception of the cockpit displays and controls in such a way that the pilot can see through it, providing a comprehensive view of the area. Displays, sensors, and warnings can be moved to different locations around the pilot in full virtual reality. Different views can be rendered as well, with a popular one being FLIR mode. Live data can be acquired in real time from nearby bases, weather stations, and civilian locations and allow the pilot to triangulate his exact location as well as access real time feeds such as the weather and temperature. In the event of an emergency, the helmet has its own built in sensors which allow it to display a traditional helmet visor so the pilot is not blinded in the event of a malfunction with the FSIRH. Another component of the system being integrated is vital sign monitoring, which requires a special flight suit that is connected to the aircraft's systems. With this, the pilot's vitals are monitored in real time by the Non-Essential Unit and this data is shared with the base the aircraft originated from. In the event of a health concern with the pilot, the NEU and the operations room can make decisions to safely get the pilot back to base, up to even allowing the NEU to withdraw from the combat zone and get the pilot safely home.

Variants

FAA/C26 "Sphingidés"

The République Autonome d’Arcadie would begin investigating adoption of the FV-23 in 2024, after the failure of the MPA/M06N to reach key design points repeatedly. It would eventually, after two years of negotiation with Jin Yi, reach an agreement to allow for the purchasing of 200 airframes, and has been in ongoing negotiations since 2026 to work out a system for domestic manufacture. These airframes would have avionics designed for the failed M06N replace Jin's own, and as such would be declared the FAA/C26 "Sphingidés" - or the Force Aérienne Acadienne / Combattant Model 26 "Hawkmoth". The primary changed features are the removal of artificial intelligence features, the integration of the Sauveuse Electronic Warfare Suite, incorporation into Arcadie's own Voyageuse Integrated Communications and Command Suite (including C4I, IFF/SIF, and BMS systems), and the ability to utilize off-boresight targeting for Arcadie's own missiles and bombs through the Marguerite Helmet Display System.

Arcadie currently operates 160 of the 200 purchased airframes, with the remaining 40 either being in the retrofitting process or being used as testbeds for new systems to be integrated.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: one (pilot)
• Length: 17.4 m (57 ft 1 in)
• Wingspan: 11.6 m (38 ft 1 in)
• Height: 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 50 m² (540 sq ft)
• Max takeoff weight: 30,000 kg (66,139 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Shalung KVN-24 afterburning turbofans, 65.32 kN (14,680 lbf) thrust each dry, 93.24 kN (20,960 lbf) with afterburner

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 at high altitude
  • Mach 1.30 at sea level
• Combat range: 1,210 km (752 mi; 653 nmi) on internal fuel, or 1,950 kilometres (1,210 mi) with aerial refueling
• Service ceiling: 16,500 m (54,100 ft)

Armament

• Hardpoints: 6 x external, and internal bay with a capacity of up to 8,000 kilograms (18,000 lb),,
• Missiles:
  
  • Air-to-air missiles:
    • 12 x medium-range
  • Air-to-ground missiles:
    • 8 x supersonic
• Bombs:
  
  • 8 × 500 kg deep-penetration bombs
  • 30 x smaller bombs

Avionics

• Electrophaze AC-25 AESA radar
• Distributed aperture system (DAS) optical early-warning system
• Electro-optical targeting system (EOTS)