PAF-15S/MTD

The PAF-15S/MTD (Short Takeoff and Landing/Maneuver Technology Demonstrator), also known as the STOL/MTD, was an experimental combat jet program created by iConnect Aeronautics Research for PASA and the Frosian Warriors to replace older, turbojet driven aircraft. It remained in the PASA testing stage until the advent of the Frosian War and the capture of the planes by the Ed Island Expeditionary Forces. The program was later continued by the Ed Island Astronaut Corps' Testing Division, who made great use of the aircraft and their derivatives.

Development
In 2008, the Free Republic of Guymed was looking towards adopting 4.5th generation aircraft to match that of the Antarctican Air Force. Cooperating with PASA and iConnect, the project for a high-tech fighter for the Frosian Warriors had begun. Initially modified from a group of seven P-15Cs purchased from the USA, the aircraft were fitted with a combination of reversible engine thrust, jet nozzles that could be deflected by 20 degrees, and canard foreplanes. The weapon systems on the aircraft remained unchanged, although the innermost hardpoints were deleted as they were obstructed by the foreplanes. Planning and development went on for years until 2010, when the first STOL/MTD took to the sky. Despite the high budget for the program, it was allowed to continue due to the exceptional performance of the aircraft.

By 2013, three more aircraft were modified bringing the total up to ten. These ten were to be used in the first combat squadron of PAFs, known as the Lightning Squadron. Unfortunately, introduction of the PAF-15S/MTD was interrupted by the annexation of Guymed by Shops Island.

The Penguin Aero-Fighter program was shut down after the Frosian Islands were annexed by Shops Island, but much of the data and hardware, including the ten prototypes, were mothballed due to cost overruns and the dissolution of the Guymed Air Force. In 2014, the entirety of the PAF program was sold to Ed Island after they showed interest in a super-maneuverable aircraft based off of the F-9 chassis. The PAF program was continued in Ed Island by the name of the Maneuverable Fighter Program, in which Lightning Squadron was reinstated in the EIAC as a test squadron. The PAF-15S/MTD was quickly replaced in EIAC service by the F-9 ACTIVE, a similarly-modified variant of the F-9, of which the P-15 is a license-built derivative.

Description
Modified from standard P-15s, the PAF-15S/MTD most notably possessed canards fitted to the front of the aircraft improve pitch maneuverability. Additionally, by using a combination of the movable nozzles and vanes in the jet pipe, the STOL/MTD can direct exhaust forward, outward or at an angle of up to 20 degrees away from the aircraft to produce a pitch larger than possible with conventional elevators. These abilities were most notably displayed when the aircraft was able to roll without use of the outer ailerons. The STOL/MTD was designed with the intention to be used at wet or bomb-damaged runways, and displayed the ability to land on just 500m of runway, compared to the 2,300m for the standard P-15. Overall the aircraft performed well beyond expectations, and were only hindered by the cancellation of the program by Shopper officials.

Specifications

 * Crew: 2
 * Length: 19.42m (63.7ft)
 * Wingspan: 13m (42.8ft)
 * Height: 5.64m (18ft 6in)
 * Empty Weight: 15,876 kg (35,000 lb)
 * Loaded Weight: 21,319 kg (47,000 lb)
 * Maximum Take-Off Weight: 31,930 kg (70,400 lb)
 * Powerplant (x2): W-229 turbofan engines, equipped with 20 Degree three-dimensional thrust vectoring nozzles
 * Dry Thrust: 63.88 kN each
 * Thrust with Afterburner: 129 kN each


 * Maximum Speed: Mach 2.1
 * Service ceiling: 18,288 m (60,000 ft)
 * Combat Radius: 1,270km (790 miles)

Weapons

 * 1x 20mm 6 barrel rotary snowball cannon
 * 4x AIM-92 ice missile
 * 6x AGM-65 ice missile
 * 8x GBU-16 ice shard bomb
 * 6x RL-70 ice flechette rocket

Trivia

 * It is based on the real life F-15S/MTD research fighter used by NASA.