Soong F-1

F-1
Soong F-1
Role	Maritime patrol aircraft
National origin	Monsilva
Manufacturer	Soong Aerospace Company
First flight	28 September 2007
Introduction	2013
Status	In service (33)
Primary users	Monsilvan Navy Gjorkan National Armed Forces
Produced	2007–present
Number built	60

The Soong F-1 is a Monsilvan maritime patrol aircraft developed and manufactured by Soong Aerospace Company. Unlike many maritime patrol aircraft, which are typically conversions of civilian designs, the F-1 is a purpose-built maritime aircraft with no civil counterpart and was designed from the onset of the role. It is one of the first operation aircraft in Terraconserva to make use of fly-by-optics control system.

The F-1 entered service with the Monsilvan Navy as a replacement for the Soong F-3 Chung Kwei. On 26 March 2013, the Monsilvan Navy took delivery of the first two operational F-1 aircraft. The F-1 is also in service with the Gjorkan National Armed Forces.

Development

Observing that its fleet of Soong F-3 Chung Kwei aircraft had been in service for some time, the Monsilvan Navy began searching for a replacement maritime patrol aircraft. Since other similar aircraft produced abroad did not meet the Navy's requirements, the development of a purpose-built indigenous aircraft became necessary. The Monsilvan Defense Agency submitted the domestic development of a F-X maritime patrol aircraft as part of a defense plan.

The F-X shares some components with the Y-X, later designated as the twin-engined Soong Y-2, another indigenously developed aircraft to replace the Soong C-1 cargo aircraft. Although the F-X and Y-X designs were originally independent, it was decided that having common components to both designs would be useful and economically more efficient. The Defense Agency mandated that the two aircraft share identical body components; common components include the cockpit windows, outer wings, horizontal stabilizer, and other systems. Internal shared parts include the auxillary power unit, cockpit panel, flight control system computer, anti-collision lights, and gear control unit. Due to the different roles of the two aircraft, they remain distinctly seperate. The sharing of development resources had allowed for a large reduction in overall development costs, which when including the Y-2, were reported in 2007 as being ¥15.7 billion.

In addition to a level of commonality with the Y-2, one proposed derivative of the F-1 is a civilian airliner, the proposed project has typically been referred to as the Soong YFX. If development is pursued, the YFX would make extensive use of technology and components of the F-1, such as the wingbox, empennage, and fuselage.

Design

The Soong F-1 is a purpose-built maritime patrol aircraft equipped with four engines. The F-1 is powered by four podded turbofan engines underneath the low-set wings. The four-engine low-wing loading design adopted for the F-1 results in a flight profile with better maneuverability and stability at low-speed, low-altitude flight and allows the aircraft to continue its mission in the event of a single engine failure. As well as greater operational survivability, the high-bypass engines provide for quiet, fuel-efficient operation. The F-1 has reduced transit times in comparison to turboprop-powered competitors, and the turbofans are quieter, making it more difficult for submerged submarines to detect it acoustically.

The F-1 is equipped with many modern technologies and features, particularly in terms of its avionics and missions systems. One such key feature is the use of fly-by-optics flight control system, which essentially replaces the standard metal wiring with optical fibre cables. This has the effect of decreasing electro-magnetic disturbances to the sensors in comparison to more common fly-by-wire control systems. The F-1 is one of the first production aircraft in the world to be equipped with such a flight control system.

The F-1 is also equipped with various sensors to enable the aircraft to perform its primary purpose of detecting submarines and surface vessels; these include the actively electronically scanned array (AESA) radar which uses a total of three antennas to provide 240 degree coverage, and infrared/light detections systems for surface detection. The F-1 is also furnished with a magnetic anomoly detector (MAD) embedded into the aircraft's tail, along with deployable sonobouys, which are used for the detection of submerged submarines. Sophisticated acoustic systems are also used for this purpose. The F-1 has an AI system to assist TACCO operations, developed by the Monsilvan company NJIDU; this advanced combat direction system directs the TACCO operator to the optimal flight course to attack a submarine.

A large bomb bay housed within the main fuselage contains the bulk of the aircraft's munitions. The bomb bay is supplemented by a toal of eight external hardpoints mounted on the wings. Weapons available on the F-1 include torpedoes, aerial mines, depth charges, air-to-surface missiles, or bombs. Armaments are managed by a stores management system, which includes a newly developed Universal Stores Control Unit (USCU) capable of accommodating hundreds of different munitions, including future ones and precision weapons.

Specifications

General characteristics

• Crew: 3 flight crew: 3 mission crew: 8
• Length: 38 m (124 ft 8 in)
• Wingspan: 35.4 m (116 ft 2 in)
• Height: 12.1 m (39 ft 8 in)
• Max takeoff weight: 79,700 kg (175,708 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 996 km/h (619 mph, 538 kn)
• Cruise speed: 833 km/h (518 mph, 450 kn)
• Range: 8,000 km (5,000 mi, 4,300 nmi)
• Combat range: 2,500 km (1,600 mi, 1,300 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 13,520 m (44,360 ft)

Armament

• Hardpoints: 8 (2x on each wing and 2x on each wing root) and eight internal bomb bay stations with a capacity of 9,000 kg (19,842 lb) +,

See also

• Soong Aerospace Company
• Soong Heavy Industries
• Soong Y-2