After engaging the new fighters of the EBSIS and their high maneuverability because of the TVC (Thrust Vector Controls), it was decided that they would modify their conventional fighters with the same system. Since it is the newest fighter in the RDF Arsenal, the UF-14 was chosen as the first fighter to be modified with Thrust Vector Controls. The system was to have been fitted on the F-22 and F-23 fighters in the United State Air Force but they were cancelled and replaced by the production of the Veritech Fighter. Like most advanced fighters, the UF-14 is a computer controlled fly by wire system and the TVC system was relatively easy to add to the fighter. The system was proposed for the original design but was dropped to speed construction. The TVC system allows the direction of the thrust of the engines to be changed which increase the fighters maneuverability, allows for short take offs and landing, and allows for maneuvers that cannot be done with standard engines. A good example of this is the Cobra which flips the nose of the fighter up quickly and slows it down quickly. The UF-14 has two added forward canards to increase the control surfaces.

The armor is the same as carried on the Standard UF-14 Interceptor and the high power auto-cannon was retained but it was decided to add missiles to the payload of the fighter. The fighter has a total of four hard points which each can carry one long range missile, two medium range missiles, or four short range missiles. The hard points are partially conformal which reduces the effect of missiles carried on the performance of the fighter. Pilots will usually try to launch all of the missiles before entering into a dogfight.

While not as popular as the Veritech Fighter, the UF-14 is popular with the RDF Forces. Pilots, wanting to have a name for the fighter, has dubbed the fighter the Black Widow and several pilots have had their fighters painted black with a red hourglass on the top.

Vehicle Type: RDF Jet Interceptor
Crew: One

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Wings (2):	100 each
	[2] Rudders (2):	50 each
	[3] Canards (2):	15 each
	Cockpit:	100
	Landing Gear (3):	5 each
	[2] Engine (2):	100 each
	[3] Main Body:	200

Notes:
[1] Destroying a Wing will cause the plane to crash
[2] Destruction of rudders or one elevator will still allow the fighter to be controlled by the varying of power levels and changing the direction of the engines but fighter has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable and pilot must eject to survive.
[3] Destroying one or both Canards will result in reducing bonuses to dodge by 2
[4] The destruction of one engine will reduce the fighters top speed by half and give the pilot a -2 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10% penalty to piloting. Destruction of both engines will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot may attempt a emergency landing or pilot can choose to eject.
[5] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the Aircraft down completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight.

Speed:
Driving on Ground (Taxiing): Only possible for take offs and landings as well as for parking and storage. Speed is 40 mph (64 kph) when traveling and not on take off or landing. Because of the vectoring of the thrusters, the fighter can take off in a short distance.
Flying: Unload with missile, the UF-14E can reach a top speed of Mach 3 (2,224.4 mph/3,579.8 kph) on full afterburner (the fighter can only last a few minutes at that speed). Fully loaded with missiles, the UF-14E can reach a top speed of Mach 2.8 (2,076.1 mph/3,341.1 kph) on full afterburner. The fighters normal cruise is about 600 mph (965.6 kph) but varies on situation. The fighter has a maximum altitude of 55 miles (88.5 km)
Range: 2000 nautical miles (2,301.5 miles / 3,704.0 km) with an ordnance load. Fighter has approximately 25% better range when fighter is carrying no ordnance. The fighter can be refueled in the air.

Statistical Data:
Height: 23.5 feet (7.2 meters)
Wingspan: 53 feet (16.2 meters)
Length: 58.2 feet (17.7 meters)
Weight: 10.8 tons (9.8 metric tons) lightly loaded, and 12.5 tons (11.3 metric tons)
Power System: Conventional, Two GTL-220 afterburning turbofans, uses aviation fuel
Cargo: Minimal (Storage for small equipment), does not include hard points.
Market Price: Not sold

Weapon Systems:

1. High Speed Auto Cannon: The weapon system is mounted under the main body of the fighter and fires explosive and armor piercing rounds that are capable of inflicting large amounts of damage. The weapon system fires forward and is used for both dogfighting and strafing ground targets.
   Maximum Effective Range: 6,000 feet (1,800 meters)
   Mega Damage: 1D4x10 per ten round burst (Inflicts 1D6 per round)
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
   Payload: 1800 rounds (180 bursts)
2. Hard Points (4): The UF-14E has a total of four recessed hard points on the fighters wings. A hard point can carry four short range missiles, two medium range missiles, or one long range missile but hard point must carry all the same type of ordnance. The hard points could carry bombs as well but the fighter generally carries missiles.
   Maximum Effective Range: Varies by missile type for missile and varies by altitude bombs are dropped at (See Robotech RPG book for missiles).
   Mega Damage: Varies by missile or bomb type (See Robotech RPG book for missiles).
   Rate of Fire: Missiles can be fired and bombs can be dropped one at a time per hard point. Multiple hard points can be linked as one attack but must be the same size (light, medium, or heavy) and style of ordnance (all missiles or bombs in a volley)
   Payload: 1 long range missile, 2 medium range missiles, or 4 short range missiles per hard point.

Special Equipment:

• Radar: Medium range radar capable of tracking both air targets and ground targets. The radar system also has terrain following capacity. The fighter can track up to 10 targets simultaneously and can target and fire on up to ten targets simultaneously. Range: 200 miles (173.8 nautical miles/ 321.9 km)
• E.S.M.: Radar Detector, Passively detects other radars being operated.
• FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared. Allows pilot and weapons officer to get visuals on targets at night.
• Active Jamming Pod: Pod takes place of all ordnance on the Hard Point. Causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that it is jamming, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to all radar guided weapons.

+2 to Strike with auto cannon
+3 to dodge
+5 to dodge while traveling over 250 Mph

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By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).

Copyright © 2000, Kitsune. All rights reserved.