A-14 Voodoo II
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The A-14 Vudu (Voodoo) II is a new low-observable, long-range heavy strike aircraft in service with the Fuerza Aerea de los Estados Confederados , and the Armada del los Estados Confederados.
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Development
The A-14 Voodoo II was started under the APTF program (Aviones de Combate para Todas las Fuerzas, All Forces Combat Aircraft) during 1987. The aim of APTF was to find a common airframe to replace the F-15, F-4E, Mirage IV, and F-4G in the Air Force, and the F-14, Buccaneer in the Navy. It was also to provide a support jamming aircraft. This overly ambitious requirement was derided as "TFX II" in reference to the Tactical Fighter Experimental programme initialted in the US in the early 1960's which led to the F-111.
By 1990, the Ministry of Defence was coming around to this view as well, and abandoned the project. However, much important work had been done, and the MOD issued a new requirement calling for a single type to replace the Mirage IV in the Air Force, and the Buccaneer in the Navy, this requirement being known as NAA (Nuevos Aviones de Ataque, New Attack Aircraft).
NSP called for an two types of aircraft, one land-based, one carrier-based with the following attributes:
- Low-observability
- Supercruise
- Heavy conventional weapons load of up to 16000kg
- Internal carriage of ordnance
- The ability to carry 2 cruise missiles internally
- Self-defence capability to include not only ECM, but air-to-air weapons
- A range of at least 3500NM unrefuelled
- Network Centric Warfare capabilities
- High commonality between Navy and Air Force variants
Two designs were shortlisted, one from FMA, the other from AirTex.
Air-Tex offered a variant of the F-22 Raptor, which is currently manufactured by AirTex under contract from the Air Force. The proposed aircraft, unofficially dubbed F-22E was to be a stretched, twin-seat version of the F-22. This design was rejected in favour of FMA's proposal.
FMA went beyond the contract requirements by including a short and/or unprepared airfield capability. This, and the open architecture of the avionics meant that their definitive design took only a few hours to convert from land-based to carrier-based operations. The naval and land-based aircraft are identical except for their landing systems. This design was chosen in 1994, and a contract for five prototypes was placed, 3 for the Air Force, 2 for the Navy. These were delivered from 1996 to 2001.
The first flight took place on April 8, 1998 from Chile. Trials proceeded with aircraft undergoing all possible tests, including deploying every type of aerial conventional weapon in the ECAL's arsenal, and drill versions of every aerial nuclear weapon. The Navy's aircraft initially participated in trials alongside the Air Force. During 2004, the Navy commenced carrier trials.
During mid-2005, the trials were completed, and the aircraft, designated A-14, and given the name Voodoo II was declared ready. 60 have been deployed by the Air Force. Navy trials are in the process of being completed, and the Navy has deployed 10 aircraft.
The approximate unit cost of the A-14 is $94 million pesos.
The Aircraft
General Information
The A-14 Voodoo II is a low-observable, supercruising, heavy strike aircraft with a crew of two. It has a large trapezoidal delta wing, and two small vertical stabilisers. The A-14 is a very large aircraft, being the heaviest aircraft yet operated by the Fleet Air Arm from aircraft carriers. It has a very strong tricycle undercarriage, with a nose wheel leg capable of extending over 43 inches to increase angle of attack when operating from inadequate runways. The main wheel legs are extremely strong to cope with carrier and rough field landings, and the tyres are large, wide, low-pressure tyres. The placement of the jet intakes above the wing not only hides the engines from gound based radar, it removes the engines from Foreign Object Damage danger. The jet exhausts are cooled in dry power to reduce the infra-red signature.
The A-14 Voodoo II has demonstraded a blind, first-pass supersonic weapons delivery capability, while remaining undetected. This capability is unique to the A-14.
The A-14's self defence capability is second to none. Its stealth capabilty has shown itself effective against all known and projected defences. Its supercruising performance (Mach 1.5 in dry power) means it need not engage, and in the unlikely circumstance of the A-14 having to engage an enemy aircraft, it is quite agile for its size, and carries Beyond Visual Range missiles, and dogfight missiles. A Mauser BK27 27mm Cannon provides last-ditch defence, as well as adding to the A-14's close support capability.
Armament
The aircraft carries a Mauser BK27 27mm for close-in fighting, and strafing.
The Voodoo II has three internal weapons bays. The main bay, called the Offensive Stores Bay is 9.3 metres long, 2.7 metres wide, and is designed to be loaded with packs, to which the armament is attached. This makes aircraft turnaround very rapid, as all that must happen to refill the bay is to remove the old pack, and install the new pack. This pack is "plug-and-play", meaning that once installed, the pack is connected to the aircraft's systems, and the pack sends to the Stores Management System the contents of the pack.
The following can be carried in the Offensive Stores Bay:
- 3 AGM-172 Shadow
- 4 Llama Cruise Missiles
- 4 AM-39 Exocet
- 8 AGM-154 JSOW's
- 6 AGM-158 JASSM's
- 8 GBU-12 500lb LGB
- 6 GBU-16 1000lb LGB
- 6 GBU-24 2000lb LGB
- 6 GBU-27 2000lb Penetrating LGB
- 2 GBU-28 4700lb Penetrating LGB
- 28 GBU-30 500lb JDAM
- 6 GBU-31 2000lb JDAM
- 21 GBU-32 1000lb JDAM
- 2 GBU-37 4700lb JDAM
- 28 GBU-38 500lb JDAM
- 65 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs
- 6 Mk-84's
- 21 Mk-83's
- 28 Mk-82's
- 15 BLU-107 Durandals
- 28 Mk 62 500lb Quickstrike Mines
- 21 Mk 64 1000lb Quickstrike Mine
- 6 Mk 65 2000lb Quickstrike Mines
- 8 Mk 60 CAPTOR's
- 28 Mk 36 500lb Destructor Mines
- 21 Mk 40 1000lb Destructor Mine
- 6 Mk 41 2000lb Destructor Mines
- 18 Cluster Bombs
- 6 Type 3 Bomb
- 12 Type 6 Bomb
A reconnaissance pack can be installed in place of the weapons packs. This pack provides a set of optical cameras, infra-red sensors, down-looking Synthetic Aperture Radar, retractable oblique cameras, and extra fuel. The type of sensors can be varied, and the exact types carried are classified.
The other two bays, called Port or Starboard Defensive Stores Bays are 6 metres long, and each carry two Python 4's or 5's on Trapeze launchers, and two Rafael Derbys.
The A-14 has six wing hardpoints rated up to 5,000lbs. These can take any of the weapons carried internally in standard quantities per pylon. They can also carry:
- AGM-65 Maverick
- AGM-88 HARM
- AGM-124 Wasp (6 14-round, or 12-round launch pods)
- AGM-130
- AGM-142 Popeye
- Brimstone
- CRV7 Unguided Rockets
- GBU-15
- Rafael Python 3, 4, 5
- Rafael Derby
- Condor BVRAAM
Accomodation
The two man crew consist of a Pilot seated in the front, and a Navigator in the rear. Both men sit on Martin-Baker Mk. 16 ejector seats under a single-piece pressurised canopy.
The front cockpit contains an 20x20 Master Situation Display, 3 15.8x15.8 Flight Situation Displays, a touch screen Upfront Control Panel, two 10x7.5 Secondary Situation Displays, and a Wide-Angle HUD.
This depicts a prototype cockpit, without the definitive UCP.
The pilot uses a sidestick controller which is part of a quintuply-redundant fly-by-light flight control system.
The rear cockpit contains 2 20x20 Tactical Situation Displays, and 1 35x20 Strategic Situation Display. The Navigator has two sidestick controllers which control all sensor and weapon systems.
Each pilot wears a new helmet, containing both a Helmet-Mounted Display, and a Helmet-Mounted Cuing System. Both components are easily detachable in the event of an ejection in order to save weight.
Avionics
The A-14 has an Integrated Avionics Package. The IAP revolves around 3 Common Integrated Processors (CIP). Normally, one handles flight control, one the radar, and the third handles the weapons, although any one CIP can perform all functions.
The centrepiece of the A-14's sensor package is the Smith Electronics/CEA Technologies Integrated Tactical Airborne Radar. ITAR is a development of the AN/APG-77. The ITAR system includes a 1500-element nose array, with two 700-element side arrays. ITAR performs in all air-to-air and air-to-ground modes, including Ground Moving Target Indicator. The resolution is sufficiently high in Synthetic Aperture mode to supplement optical cameras. The ITAR also acts as a terrain following radar.
A retractable turret contains a FLIR, EO sensor, and a laser designator. The images from this sensor can be saved to one of the aircraft's hard drives as either stills, or video. Recording is begun automatally if a weapon is deployed using the system. Recording ceases after the predicted flight time of the weapon launched.
The A-14 uses Link 16, Link 24, and a Federal Defence Force-proprietry system called DEFLINK. Export aircraft do not contain DEFLINK.
Propulsion
The A-14 uses two F-129 afterburning turbofans. These produce maximum speeds of Mach 2.5 (afterburning), and Mach 1.4 (dry). The unrefuelled range is 3850NM.
Proposed Upgrades
An upgrade to the landing systems has been proposed. The new system would be a multi-mode system for both carrier, and runway landings.
Images
Specifications
| Contractor | FMA, ENAER |
| Roles |
|
| Length | 31.3 metres |
| Wing Span | 17 metres |
| Empty Weight | 27215kg |
| Maximum Take-Off Weight | 58513kg |
| Propulsion | 2 F129 Afterburning Turbofans |
| Crew | 2 (1 Pilot, 1 Navigator) |
| Speed | Mach 2.3 (reheat), Mach 1.5 (dry) |
| Range | 3550 Nautical Miles |
| Ceiling | 66000ft |
| Unit Cost | $94 million Latin American Pesos |
