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Revision as of 09:31, 8 June 2008

The FMA SAIA 90 is an air superiority aircraft designed and planned by the FMA (Fabrica Militar de Aviones) with collaboration of British Aerospace in the mid-1980s, which was the last stage of ACL project, a project started by the government for an Latin American fighter aircraft (Avion Caza Latinoamericano).

The three stages of the project were:

• The IA 63 Pampa, a trainer attack aircraft, which was already been built. The Vought Pampa 2000 version was entered into the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System in the 1990s.
• The IA 67 Cordoba, a light attack bomber that had never been built. And finally,
• The SAIA 90, an air superiority aircraft with minimum radar cross section, an stealth aircraft.

In military service, the FMA SAIA 90 is designated the F-90 Halcon, and exists in three versions for the Fuerza Aerea de los Estados Confederados, the F-90A Halcon single-seater, the F-90B Halcon twin seater, and the EF-90B Halcon specialised SEAD aircraft.

Technical Details

The parameters of design of the airplane were

• Sustained turn speed of Mach 0.9 at 6000m of height
• Great capacity of acceleration among Mach 0.9 at 1.5 to 9000 m
• High deceleration, independent of the relative speed
• Reasonable combat autonomy with internal fuel
• Minimum radar silhouettes and to IR (Stealth)

Fixed armament consists of a Mauser BK-27. The aircraft can carry two IR AAM's on the wing tips, and four AIM-120,or Condor BVRAAM semi-recessed under the fuselage. Six underwing, and one centreline pylons carry extra air-to-air weapons, air-to-surface weapons and other stores up to a total weight of 8500kg.

Low wing loading, light weight, and relatively powerful engines (GE404) give the aircraft exceptional handling, and it is more than a match for a MiG-29, Flanker, F-16, or F/A-18.

The aircraft's general configuration is highly reminiscent of the F/A-18, however FMA's designers say this is because it is the only reasonable configuration for the achievement of good performance at high angles of attack.

The aircraft has modern avionics, and its radar can detect targets at 150km. The F-90 has the classic cockpit of a 1980's Western fighter, with three MFD's, and Upfront Control Panel, HOTAS, and a wide-angle HUD.

A naval version is proposed as an F/A-18 replacement for the Armada.

With a few exceptions, the F-90 can carry all FAEC tactical weapons including rockets, gun pods, air to air missiles, air to surface, nuclear, chemical, and conventional bombs.

Specifications

• Role: multirole
• Crew: 1, or 2
• Length: 15.53 m
• Height: 3.96 m
• Wing span: 10.95 m
• Wing area: 30 m²
• Wheelbase: 6.60 m
• Empty weight: 7,800 kg
• Max take-off weight: 17,500 kg
• Max wing loading: 266.67 kg/m²
• Max speed: Mach 2.25
• Max climb rate: 15,000 m/min. Ceiling: 15,000 m
• Range: 3380 km
• Engine: 2 GE F404 turbofan
• Armament: 13 hardpoints for a total of 8500kg : 4 under the fuselage, 3 under each wing, 2 wingtip and 1 central harpoint. 1 Mauser BK27 27 mm
• Avionics: Multi mode AESA radar including air to air modes (with a maximum range of 150km) GMTI, SAR, mapping, and terrain following, digital flight control system, multi-function nav/attack system and secure communications
• Cost: $20 million Latin American Pesos

Images

General Arrangement

In flight

Confederate States of Latin America
General: Confederate States of Latin America, Economy of the ECAL, Justice and Law in the ECAL, President Michelle Bachelet, Presidency
Political: Partido Republicano Constitucional, Partido Laborista Socialista, Partido de la Democracia Cristiana
Military: Fuerzas Armadas, Armada, Ejercito, Fuerza Aerea, Infanteria de Marina, Guardia Nacional
Military Aircraft: FMA SAIAL 90, A-4AL Fightinghawk
Armoured Vehicles: TLAM Medium Tank, TLAP Main Battle Tank
Warships: Ship Profiles, Ardiente and Valeroso class destoyers