Talk:AFOH/@comment-14850713-20150403090731/@comment-14850713-20150404040930

OOC: Thanks! Credit goes to Kevin, Boony and Enterprise for sparking my interest. Now, in honor of AFOH's time-honored (read: boneheaded) tradition of using realistic upgrades to in-game weapons for RP...

IC:

The High Command has decided on a 2-step phasing-in of the Future Air Combat System (FACS).

FACS 1.1 will commence immediately with the installation of AI guidance, prop-fan engines (replacing the radial engines, for near-transonic speed and increased payload), fuselage strengthening (to handle the increased stress due to higher speed and wing loading), more powerful radar, and new weapon systems (radar-assisted gunsight, guided bombs/rockets, AAMs and ASMs) to existing Corsair and Dauntless airframes (OOC: as AFOH has thousands of these airframes in service). The whole fleet will receive the engine, airframe, radar and weapons upgrades (dubbed FACS 1.1b) while 40% of these will add the AI guidance system developed from UAC technology (FACS 1.1a).

Development of FACS 2.1 delta-winged, near-hypersonic stealth fighter-bomber will continue. Codenamed "Diable", it will incorporate advanced engine and stealth technology derived from the Durandal program but will not mount the latter's miniaturized nuclear reactor. It will thus be much smaller and designed to fit into AFOH carriers, but with shorter range and need for aerial refueling. It will be of STOBAR configuration and will be armed with Type 95 mod 7 25mm cannons and guided bombs/missiles/torpedoes in internal weapons bays. Block 2.2 will add AI guidance and aerospace capabilities. Due to the higher priority given to the FACS 1.1 program, it is being contemplated to offer the Diable for export as a potentially cheaper alternative to the AIF P-99 Spitfire II or F-65 Rogue Cat.