Build your own fighter!

[Rybo]

Okay, this isn’t as cool as the title sounds, but I think it’s pretty fun. I found the concept on the F-16.net forums and I have adjusted quite a bit. Original thread here: http://www.f-16.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=51252&p=349850#p349850

Here’s the ROE:

Your aircraft currently has no sensor suites, data links, or countermeasures of any kind. It has the kinematic characteristics of a Cessna 172, the un-refueled range of a MiG-29, and the radar cross section of a Boeing 737.

You have $150 to “spend” building your fighter/strike-fighter. Post what you choose using the following criteria:

Signatures

• Very low observable RCS: $20
• Low observable RCS: $10
• Very low observable IR signature: $20
• Low observable IR signature: $10
• Very low observable electronic emissions: $20
• Low observable electronic emissions: $10
• Small size: $10

Sensors

• Standard radar: $20
• AESA radar: $30
• IRST: $20
• Electronic emissions receiver: $20
• Short range infrared Distributed aperture system (can be used for missile queuing): $30
• Passive Long range electronic distributed aperture system: (only for detection): $30
• RWR: $5

Navigation Systems

• GPS: $5
• INS: $5
• TACAN: $5
• ILS: $5

Performance

• Sustained turning performance (can’t choose instantaneous turning performance): $20
• Instantaneous turning performance (can’t choose sustained turning performance): $20
• Slow speed, high AOA performance: $30
• High Mach, dash speed: $20
• Super cruise: $30
• Quick acceleration $20
• Quick deceleration $10
• Post stall maneuverability: $10
• Combat radius greater than 300 miles: $30
• Cruise ceiling greater than 50,000 feet: $30
• STOVL or VTOL: $30
• Carrier capable: $30
• All-weather: $15

Weapons/Payload

• Gun: $5
• Rear aspect IR missiles: $10
• SARH missiles (requires a radar): $10
• ARH missiles (requires a radar): $15
• All aspect HOBS capable IR missiles (only available with the purchase of an HMCS): $15
• All aspect HOBS capable active radar guided missiles (only available with the purchase of an HMCS and requires a radar): $20
• Iron bombs: $5
• LGBs: $10
• GPS bombs (requires GPS): $10
• Anti-radiation missiles: $10
• Cluster munitions: $10
• MITL weapons: $15
• Large payload (can’t be purchased if purchasing ‘small size’): $15
• Internal payload (can’t be purchased in conjunction with large payload): $30

Accessories (for lack of a better term)

• HMCS: $15
• High bandwidth secure data link: $20
• ECM: $20
• Flares: $10
• Chaff: $10
• Towed Decoy: $20

Feel free to provide feedback on prices and total cost. I came up with the numbers that I did after a lot of “builds” and trying to balance cost vs budget after seeing some of the feedback on the F-16.net thread. Have fun!

[Rybo]

My fighter would be:

Low observable RCS - $10
Standard radar - $20
RWR - $5
GPS - $5
INS - $5
Sustained turning performance - $20
Quick acceleration - $20
Gun - $5
SARH missiles - $10
All aspect HOBS IR missiles - $15
HMCS - $15
Flares - $10
Chaff - $10

TOTAL - $150

[Blu3wolf]

LO RCS $10
Datalink $20
AESA radar $30
HMCS $15
AA HOBS IR missiles $15
ARH missiles $15
Gun $5
INS $5
RWR $5
PSM $10
Quick acceleration $20

And thats all she wrote. I’m surprised GPS without INS is an option. Painful tradeoffs involved there. I think if I was to do it again, Id need to define the aircraft mission better first. Possibly secure funding to build two different planes, for that matter.

[MaddogK]

AESA radar: $30
Electronic emissions receiver: $20
INS: $5
TACAN: $5
Gun: $5
Rear aspect IR missiles: $10
SARH missiles (requires a radar): $10
ARH missiles (requires a radar): $15
ECM: $20
Flares: $10
Chaff: $10
RWR: $5

Total $145

… tho I must ask why is the RWR and Electronic emissions receiver not the same thing ? Wouldn’t the RWR be part of the ESM suite ?