Volarion Ifrit
 | This article is incomplete because it is pending further input from participants, or it is a work-in-progress by one author. Please comment on this article's talk page to share your input, comments and questions. Note: To contribute to this article, you may need to seek help from the author(s) of this page. |
| Volarion Ifrit | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Carrier-based multirole fighter |
| Designer | Volarion Defence Systems |
| First flight | July 18, 1977 |
| Introduction | April 17, 1982 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary user | Federation Navy See Operators |
| Developed into | Volarion Shrike |
The Volarion Ifrit is a twin-jet fourth-generation supersonic carrier-capable fighter jet used primarily by the Federation Navy. Designed by Aigios Industries at the request of the Federation Navy in a 1974 competition for a naval fighter to replace the ageing air fleet in use at the time. The fighter entered service in the early 1980s as the Navy's primary multirole strike fighter in conjunction with the Aigios Viper air superiority fighter. Since it's production began the fighter has been widely exported on the international market as a major contender in foreign competitions for multirole aerial platforms. It is named after the gold-beaked Ifrit bird that is commonly seen in the south of Belfras.
While the fighter was designed primarily to operate strike missions with extensive focus placed on it's ability to manoeuvre when close to or at stall speeds, it has proven itself capable of serving as an air superiority fighter when required without modifications. By the late 1990s the proliferation of advanced fighter jets around the world necessitated an improvement package for the fighter, resulting in the creation of the Volarion Shrike which entered service in 2000 with the Federation Navy.
Design and development
The Ifrit was developed by Volarion Defense Systems in the 1970s to meet the Federation Navy’s requirement for a lightweight, multirole, carrier-capable fighter aircraft. The program was initiated as part of a broader effort to modernize naval aviation and replace aging platforms that were increasingly unsuited to evolving mission demands. Volarion’s design emphasized versatility, enabling the aircraft to perform both air-to-air combat and ground attack missions. The Ifrit featured a twin-engine layout to enhance reliability and survivability during carrier operations, as well as a rugged airframe equipped with folding wings and a reinforced landing gear for use on naval carriers.
First flown in 1977, the Ifrit was praised for its maneuverability and payload capacity. Early variants were equipped with a basic radar and analog avionics systems, which were considered state-of-the-art at the time. While these features allowed for effective air combat and precision strike capabilities, the platform had limited range and endurance, requiring frequent aerial refueling during extended missions. Despite these limitations, the Ifrit entered service in 1980 and was widely adopted by the Belfrasian Navy. It proved effective in its primary roles and was also used for reconnaissance missions.
Building on the success of the Ifrit, the Ifrit FGR.2 was introduced in the late 1980s as an upgraded variant designed to address the operational shortcomings of its predecessor. The FGR.2 incorporated a number of improvements, including enhanced avionics, a more powerful radar system, and increased fuel capacity for extended range. The airframe was modified to carry additional external stores, improving its versatility for multirole missions. The cockpit was also modernized with better instrumentation to improve situational awareness for pilots.
The FGR.2’s performance upgrades allowed it to transition more effectively between air superiority and strike roles, making it a more flexible platform for both naval and land-based operations. Export variants of the FGR.2 were developed to meet the needs of international clients, further expanding the aircraft’s reach and operational footprint. While the FGR.2 addressed many of the limitations of the original Ifrit, it also highlighted the need for a larger, more advanced successor to keep pace with the changing nature of aerial combat, eventually leading to the development of the Volarion Shrike.
Operational history
Variants
Operators
- Royal Gristo-Serkonan Air Force: 180 aircraft ordered, 90 units domestically manufactured.
Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 1/2
- Length: 56 ft 1 in (17.1 m)
- Wingspan: 40 ft 4 in (12.3 m) with AIM-9 Sidewinders on wingtip LAU-7 launchers
- Height: 15 ft 5 in (4.7 m)
- Wing area: 410 sq ft (38 m2)
- Aspect ratio: 4
- Airfoil: root:NACA 65A005 mod.; tip:NACA 65A003.5 mod.
- Empty weight: 23,000 lb (10,433 kg)
- Gross weight: 36,970 lb (16,769 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 51,900 lb (23,541 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 10,860 pounds (4,930 kg) internally
- Powerplant: 2 × Augment GTO-400 afterburning turbofan engines, 11,000 lbf (49 kN) thrust each dry, 17,750 lbf (79.0 kN) with afterburner
Performance
- Maximum speed: 1,034 kn (1,190 mph; 1,915 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
- Maximum speed: Mach 1.8
- Cruise speed: 574 kn; 1,062 km/h (660 mph)
- Range: 1,089 nmi (1,253 mi; 2,017 km)
- Combat range: 400 nmi (460 mi; 741 km) air-air mission
- Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (2,071 mi; 3,334 km)
- Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (250 m/s)
- Wing loading: 93 lb/sq ft (450 kg/m2)
- Thrust/weight: 0.96 (1.13 with loaded weight & 50% internal fuel)
Armament
- Gun: 1x 20mm rotary cannon
- Hardpoints: 9 total: 2× wingtips missile launch rail, 4× under-wing, and 3× under-fuselage with a capacity of 13,700 lb (6,200 kg) external fuel and ordnance