GURPS Vehicle:  F-29 Advanced Tactical Fighter
Tech Level 8
Douglas Cole
dhampton@merle.acns.nwu.edu

This is a counterpart, albeit a much more advanced one, than the last fighter I posted to the Vehicles Book.  While the other design is a general purpose craft, this one is primarily an air superiority craft.  It takes maximum advantage of the latest sensors, computers, and stealth masking technology.  It also has a similar system found in the AH-64, in that the laser is slaved to the pilots pupils.  However, it also has a built in CIWS program allowing the laser to attempt to shoot down incoming missiles, so long as they are in front of the plane.  This swivel mount for the laser makes a devastating fly-by attack possible, while at the same time preventing collision, and allowing debris avoidance.  

The computer has a database with 10,000 common sensor signatures, allowing instant target designation and recognition upon detection--especially LADAR detection (MAD sensors probably also record a distinctive signature).

Vessel:  Advanced TL8 Air Superiority Fighter

Structure:  
683 cu. ft. Heavy body; advanced materials .  Max load: 40,980 lbs.  Superior streamlining, sealed body, and combat stressed, forward swept wings with fuselage canards.  Aircraft lands on unpowered retractable wheels. (DR 10 HT 103)

Power and Propulsion:  
High Performance Variable Bypass Turbojet with 17,500 lbs thrust.  The engine comes equipped with 2D thrust vectoring, and an afterbuner.  Fuel tankage is 840 gallons in a self sealing fuselage tank, and two self sealing 310.2 gallon tanks in the wings.  Total fuel capacity 9,544 lbs of jet fuel.  The aircraft is equipped with a drogue for midair refuelling.

Accommodations:
One cramped internal womb seat, equipped with an ejection system.  Vision is provided by a virtual panorama, allowing the pilot station to be completely armored.

Accessories, Defensive:
30 Chaff dispensers, 30 flare dispensers, Advanced IR cloaking, limited lifesystem with 12 hours endurance, NBC sealed, Radar Locator, Light deceptive radar jammer, Improved Sound Baffling, Radical Stealth.

Accessories, Sensors
Extreme Range Thermograph (Scan 22), Advanced Long Range LADAR (Scan 23; Rangefinder Option), Medium range MAD (Scan 12), Advanced Long Range RADAR (Scan 25; Missile Guidance and Rangefinder Options), Virtual Panorama.

Accessories, Offensive
Sensor Rangefinders add +3 to hit for laser fire by pilot.  HUDWAC w/ pupil scanner (-10 SS for laser), Automatic Laser Designator.

Accessories, Computers
Optical Avionics Computer (Genius Microframe, Complexity 5).  Software:  Database, 10,000 sensor signatures; Sensor Operation, Radar (15- or +4); Sensor Operation, Ladar (15- or +4); Sensor Operation, MAD (15- or +4); Sensor Operation, Thermograph (15- or +4); Targetting, Laser (+5); Targetting, Missiles (+5); Targetting, Bombs (+5); CIWS (11-); Routine Vehicle Operation (14-).

Navigation and Communications
INS, GPS, IFF, Long Distance Secure Radio with Radio direction finder, Laser Communicator

Weapons
Heavy Strike Laser in Extendable 180 degree miniturret (powered by 25 E cells in fuselage).  4 Internal Weapons bays for Med. AAM.  4 wing hardpoints.

Armor:
External Armor:  DR 10;  Component Armor:  Pilot Station:  DR 50, Engine Housing, DR 100.

Cargo Space:  3 cubic Feet.

Statistics and Performance:
Cost:  $25,419,556
Design Mass:  25,373 (includes assumed 1000 lb payload on hardpoints)
Max Additional Payload:  15,607 lbs
Max Speed:  1108 mph empty/945 mph at max load
Afterburning Speed:  1269mph empty/1082 mph at max load
Endurance:  3.65 hours at cruise, .91 hours at afterburner.
                     Air Radius:  1,747 miles; Strike Radius 1,489 miles
Top Ground Speed:  240.17 mph
Stall Speed:  15 mph (!)
Acceleration:  18.47 mph/sec
Aerial MR: 11; Aerial SR: 6; Ceiling: 113,300 ft; Size Modifier +4; Radar Signature: -3; IR Signature: +3; Acoustic Signature +1