F/A-26B

"Carrier based air-superiority fighter that can be configured for ground attack roles."

― Aircraft Description

The F/A-26B "Wasp" is a twin-engine, multirole fighter and the second playable aircraft added to VTOL VR in v0.0.7 on the 31st of January 2018.

It is known for its large armament capacity, giving it the ability to equip a myriad of different weapons while still maintaining an acceptable Thrust to Weight Ratio. Its ability to perform a wide variety of combat roles makes it an excellent multirole fighter and a reliable choice for almost any mission.

Strategy

In comparison to most other playable aircraft, the F/A-26B has superior engine power and weapon capacity, allowing it to take significantly more weaponry into battle. Its radar enables it to function as an Air-Superiority Fighter in battle, fighting off hostile aircraft to ensure that its allies can safely act out their roles in battle. It is capable of deploying deadly, radar-guided missiles, such as the medium-long range AIM-120C for Beyond Visual Range (BVR) engagements or the older, low-medium range AIM-7. Alongside the radar guided missiles, the F/A-26B also has access to various short-range heatseeking missiles, such as the AIM-9, the modern AIRS-T or the older AIM-9E, making it a formidable threat to other aircraft at most ranges.

Additionally, the F/A-26B is capable of equipping many different Air-to-Ground munitions that allow it to attack a wide variety of targets and perform various different roles such as Strike, Close-Air-Support (CAS) and Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD). For this role, the F/A-26B has access to an optional AN/AAQ-28 Targeting pod which is necessary for precise target desiganation as well as guidance for various weapons such as the AGM-65 or GBU-12. For a more comprehensive list of available weapons, see the Armament section below.

The F/A-26B has access to three external fuel tanks as well as a conformal fuel tank, which allows it to significantly extend its combat range and flight time at the cost of increased weight and decreased maneuverability.

Armament

The F/A-26B has a rotary cannon, as well as hardpoints on the belly of the aircraft to mount different kinds of armaments. See article below for more information on hardpoints:

Main article: F/A-26B Hardpoints

Avionics

Specifications

General Characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 20.8m
Wingspan: 18.9m
Height: 6.74m (Gears down), 5.25m (Gears up)
Wing area:
Empty weight: 44,092 lb (20,000 kg)
Gross weight: 57,240 lb (25,964 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 112,545 lb (51,050 kg)
Fuel capacity: 13,148 lb (5,964 kg, 7,100L) internal, or 48,334 lb (21,924 kg, 26,100L) with 3x 4,200L external tanks and 6,400L CFT
Powerplant: 2 x Afterburning turbofan engines, 21,075.83 lbf (93.74 kN) thrust each dry, 34,283.35 lbf (152.49 kN) with afterburner
Aircraft health: Fuselage: 100, Wing root: 70 (each side), Wingtip: 70 (each side), Elevon: 70 (each side), Vertical stabilizer: 80 (each side), Engine: 50 (each)
- AI unit health: 40

Performance

Maximum speed:
Cruise speed:
Combat range:
Ferry range:
Service ceiling:
G-Limit: 10 G
- G-Damage threshold: 11.5 G
Roll rate:
Wing loading:
Thrust/weight (TWR): 1.20

Countermeasures

120/120 Flares & Chaff
2x AN/ALQ-131 Electronic countermeasure pod (Optional)