Talk:AFOH/@comment-14850713-20151204171932

IC:

The Strike Fighter - Experimental (SFX) has been initiated to develop the next-generation multi-role combat aircraft. While the Diable FA-6M has proven to be a highly effective fighter, it suffers in the strike role due to limitations in payload (as all ordnance are carried in the internal bays to maximize stealth) and un-refueled range. These were initially deemed acceptable as the long-range strike mission was assumed by the Vautour FB-10DS. Designed primarily as a dual-role (atmospheric and aerospace) fighter, the Vautour delivered excellent results but was deemed too expensive to risk on terrestrial missions.

The development of the "J" version of the Diable for the YIN served as an impetus for the SFX. As the YIN required a longer-ranged aircraft with greater focus on interdiction, the FA-6J featured conformal fuel tanks which improved combat radius but not weapons capacity. Wishing to have both, DORAD decided against a Diable upgrade in favor of a clean-sheet project.

The SFX is larger and faster than the Diable but smaller and slower than the Vautour. It is also purely atmospheric and sacrifices some stealth in favor of greater internal payload. As the name suggests, it is optimized for the strike role, and features the more advanced avionics of the FA-6J. Due, however, to wartime commitments and the High Command's historical preference for incremental upgrades to existing weapons systems, it is not yet green-lighted for prototype testing, and development continues.