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VAB-5 Pirate Veritech Heavy Bomber (-5A, -5B, -5D, -5S)
EVAB-5B Tracker Electronic Warfare Veritech (-5B)

I. Dimensions:

(Standard)

(EVA-5B Tracker)

II. Type:

• Design: Northrop Grumman Corporation and Dassault Aviation
• Builders: Northrop Grumman Corporation and Dassault Aviation
• (VAB-5A, -5B) : Two man all weather aerospace combat mecha, 3 form veritech heavy bomber. Mass produced version.
• (VAB-5S) : Two man all weather aerospace combat mecha, 3 form veritech heavy bomber. Squadron leader version.
• (VAB-5D) : Two seat trainer with operational capabilities, 3 form veritech heavy bomber trainer.
• (EVA-5B) : Two seat electronic intelligence/reconnaissance mecha; 3 form veritech.

III. Service History:

• VAB-5A: Served with the RDF Air Force and Space Navy from 2058 until replaced by the -5B.
• VAB-5B: Served with the RDF Air Force and Space Navy from 2062 and is still in service.
• VAB-5D: Served with the RDF Air Force and Space Navy from 2058 and is still in service
• VAB-5S: Served with the RDF Air Force and Space Navy from 2058 and is still in service
• EVA-5B: Served with the RDF Air Force and Space Navy from 2060 and is still in service.

IV. Propulsion:

• Engines:

(VAB-5A, -5D)

• 4 x Pratt&Whitney FF-2070B fusion turbines each rated at 52,500 kg (515 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 650 MW of power.  The engines generate 24,210 PS during ground combat.  These engines are mounted in pairs on the dorsal fuselage in bomber mode, on the back in battloid mode.
• 2 x Pratt&Whitney FF-2075B fusion turbines each rated at 24,600 kg (241 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 300 MW of power.  The engines generate 16,756 PS during ground combat.  These engines are mounted in the nacelles in bomber mode, and the legs in battloid mode.
• 12 x Pratt&Whitney LHP08 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; 2 on either side of each engine nacelle in fighter mode, 2 on the dorsal nose, and 2 on the ventral nose.  Each thruster is rated at 143 kg/sec (1.4 kN/sec).
• Vernier vents on the wings, as part of the aircraft's space roll control.

(VAB-5B, EVAB-5B)

• 4 x Pratt&Whitney FF-2070C fusion turbines each rated at 57,300 kg (562 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 680 MW of power.  The engines generate 24,590 PS during ground combat.  These engines are mounted in pairs on the dorsal fuselage in bomber mode, on the back in battloid mode.
• 2 x Pratt&Whitney FF-2075C fusion turbines each rated at 28,700 kg (281 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 320 MW of power.  The engines generate 17,030 PS during ground combat.  These engines are mounted in the nacelles in bomber mode, and the legs in battloid mode.
• 12 x Pratt&Whitney LHP09 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; 2 on either side of each engine nacelle in fighter mode, 2 on the dorsal nose, and 2 on the ventral nose.  Each thruster is rated at 153 kg/sec (1.5 kN/sec).
• Vernier vents on the wings, as part of the aircraft's space roll control.

(VAB-5S)

• 4 x Pratt&Whitney FF-2070A fusion turbines each rated at 59,500 kg (583 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 700 MW of power.  The engines generate 24,810 PS during ground combat.  These engines are mounted in pairs on the dorsal fuselage in bomber mode, on the back in battloid mode.
• 2 x Pratt&Whitney FF-2075A fusion turbines each rated at 29,000 kg (284 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 325 MW of power.  The engines generate 17,100 PS during ground combat.  These engines are mounted in the nacelles in bomber mode, and the legs in battloid mode.
• 12 x Pratt&Whitney LHP09 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; 2 on either side of each engine nacelle in fighter mode, 2 on the dorsal nose, and 2 on the ventral nose.  Each thruster is rated at 153 kg/sec (1.5 kN/sec).
• Vernier vents on the wings, as part of the aircraft's space roll control.

• Auxilliary Powerplant:

• 2 x General Electric APU-185 thermonuclear fusion reaction auxiliary power generators (one redundant), each capable of producing 900 MW, using the aircraft's stored fuel, with an emergency reserve of 10 lt D₂O/Li solution.

• Fuel Capacity:

• 15,000 lt 70/30 D₂O/Li solution as reactant for fusion engines in fuel tanks inside the wings.

V. Performance:

VI. Electronics

Radar tracking:

(VAB-5A, -5D, EVAB-5B)

• General Electric AN/APQ-115 multi-mode navigation and attack radar system providing long range tracking and targeting of ground targets.
• Westinghouse AN/APX-18 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

(VAB-5B, -5S)

• Phillips AN/APQ-125 multi-mode navigation and attack radar system providing long range tracking and targeting of ground targets.
• Westinghouse AN/APX-20 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

Optical tracking:

(VAB-5)

• (Head/Turret) Phillips AN/DOS-4900 multi-band digital camera, for medium range, traversable, UV, infrared imaging and optical band detection and tracking.
• Thomson AN/LT-9 multi-frequency laser designator and ranger.

(EVAB-5B)

• (Head/Turret) Thomson AN/DOS-5300 multi-band digital camera, for medium range, traversable, UV, infrared imaging and optical band detection and tracking.
• Thomson AN/LT-9 multi-frequency laser designator and ranger.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

(VAB-5A, -5D)

• Loral AN/ALR-33 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-22 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Kowalczyk AN/ALQ-283(V) internal countermeasures system
• Boeing Aerospace AN/ALQ-284 jammer power management system
• Motorola AN/ALQ-286 false target generator
• 2 x Motorola AN/ALQ-287 tail warning set
• Tracor AN/ALT-3 noise generator
• 2 x Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff/Flare Dispensers    
• 2 x Westinghouse AN/AMJ-8 Active Missile Jammers
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas

(VAB-5B, 5S)

• Loral AN/ALR-40 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-28 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• General Electric AN/ALQ-296(V) internal countermeasures system
• Boeing Aerospace AN/ALQ-297 jammer power management system
• Motorola AN/ALQ-298 false target generator
• 2 x Motorola AN/ALQ-299 tail warning set
• Tracor AN/ALT-4 noise generator
• 2 x Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff/Flare Dispensers    
• 2 x Westinghouse AN/AMJ-12 Active Missile Jammers
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas

(VAB-5D)

• Additional: Lasers on head is replaced by a Marconi Spyeye MkV broad spectrum radiation sensors.
• IBM-2055 onboard data interpretation system

(EVAB-5B)

• Loral AN/ALR-40 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-28 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse AN/QRC-130 Infra-red Counter Measures (IRCM)
• Thomson AN/ASD-80 signal detector/receiver
• Kowalczyk AN/ALQ-295(V) internal countermeasures system
• Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff/Flare Dispensers    
• Westinghouse AN/AMJ-8 Active Missile Jammers
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas
• Kowalczyk AN/ALQ-290 multi-spectrum jammer stored internally in place of the 2 gunpods.
• Bose Loudspeakers producing sound up to 90 decibels.
• Head sensors are supplemented with
• Marconi Spyeye MkV broad-spectrum radiation scanners.
• General Electric AN/ALQ-291 active laser jamming systems.
• Special hardware and software for more effective battle management against active defenses. This especially increases the effectiveness of any mounted anti-radiation missiles, compared to ARM missiles mounted on a standard version, because the Battle Management System will automatically prioritize threats and lock on to them with the appropriate missile selection. This information is routinely shared with all friendly crafts' computers, warning the other pilots of possible threats to their aircraft, and the data-link allows other aircraft to serve as the launch platforms for additional AR missiles.

NOTE: Various sensor systems like Inverted Synthetic Aperture Radar, high-definition cameras, radiation sensors, motion scanners et cetera may be pod-mounted on the wing and center body hardpoints.

VII. Armament:

(VAB-5D)

• No armament standard. Dummy munitions are often carried on the VAB-5D, but these craft are almost never used for combat.

Cannons:

• 1 x Oerlikon AAL-9 anti-aircraft pulse laser: The VAB-5 also mounts a single pulse laser for use in air combat skirmishes and for defensive purposes. The laser is mounted on the head of the mecha in battloid mode, and is located in the central dorsal section of the main body pointed rearward in fighter and guardian modes. The laser can only fire to the rear of the fighter in these modes; it cannot be turned to fire along another arc. Each pulse delivers 6 MJ at 60 times per minute.

(VAB-5A)

• 2 x Mauser REB-25 fixed laser cannons: Two fixed laser cannons are mounted under the wings of the VAB-5 near the base of the wing. These cannons fire forward out of the lower main wing in fighter mode, or out of the palms of the mecha's hands in battloid mode. The cannons can each fire a 21 MJ burst every seven seconds at a range of 10 km.

(VAB-5B, -5S)

• 2 x Mauser REB-33 fixed  laser cannons: Two fixed laser cannons are mounted in the wings of the VAB-5 near the base of the wing. These cannons fire forward out of the lower main wing in fighter mode, or out of the palms of the mecha's hands in battloid mode.  The cannons can each fire a 18 MJ burst every four seconds at a range of 10 km.

Two leg weapons bays can each carry:

(VAB-5A, -5B, -5S)

• 1 x Three Star GU-34 105mm six-barrel gunpod: As a close defensive weapon, the VAB-5 carries a pair of GU-34 gunpods produced by Three Star Heavy Industries. The gunpod is mounted on a special internal hardpoint in the right and left leg of the veritech, and is hand-held in guardian and battloid modes. The GU-34 uses a large internal magazine containing 360 rounds, firing at 600 rounds per minute. Ammunition is a mix of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium armor piercing spin-stabilized discarding sabot (APSSDS), high explosive armor piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds.

Missile launchers:

• 2 x Shoulder mounted internal missile pallets: To carry it it's primary mission of delivering a large number of missiles into the combat area, the VAB-5 Pirate carries several internal missile pallets across its fuselage and body.  The largest of these is carried in the shoulder/engine nacelles of the massive bomber.  This pairs of internal missile pallets is configurable for various mission objectives and able to carry several different types of missiles.  When armed, the pallet doors open and the launcher can extend from the sides allowing all missiles to be fired at once.  The available launcher payloads for each pallet include:
  • 4 x AGM-34 Claymore long range air-to-ground missile.
  • or 4 x AGM-40 Murasame long range air-to-ground missile.
  • or 4 x MPM-17 Scimitar long range (280 km) combined IIR and active/passive radar guided multi-purpose missiles.  Various warhead options.
  • or 16 x AGM-46 Katana medium range air-to-ground missile
  • or 16 x MPM-25 Saber medium range multi-purpose missiles.
  • or 33 x AGM-41 Nodachi short range air-to-ground missiles.
  • or 33 x MPM-24 Broadsword short range multi-purpose missiles
  • or 4 x RMS-5 Armageddon long range nuclear cruise missiles.
  • or 2 x RMS-7 Planetbuster long range nuclear cruise missile.
• (All models except EVA-5B) 2 x Upper fuselage mounted internal missile pallets:  In addition to the massive shoulder launchers, the VAB-5 has 2 internal missile pallets located on top of the fuselage.  They are located on either side of the head in battloid mode.  When armed the pallet doors open up allowing the missiles or bombs to be launched.  The available launcher payloads for each pallet include:
  • or 6 x AGM-46 Katana medium range air-to-ground missile.
  • or 6 x MPM-25 Saber medium range multi-purpose missiles.
  • or 15 x AGM-41 Nodachi short range air-to-ground missiles.
  • or 15 x MPM-24 Broadsword multi-purpose short range missiles.
• 2 x Rotary internal missile pallets: A unique and deadly weapon in the VAB-5's arsenal is a pair of 'rotary' missile pallets.  The specialized launchers rotate while firing allowing for the rapid release of all missiles despite it not having any pallet doors and only one firing tube.  Both launchers share the same internal missile magazine.  The available launcher payloads for each pallet include:
  • 30 x MPM-25 Saber medium range multi-purpose missiles.
  • 60 x MPM-24 Broadsword short range multi-purpose missiles
  • 100 x MPM-23 Dagger multi-purpose mini-missiles
  • 60 x AIM-80 Hawk short range air-to-air missile
• 2 x Lower fuselage mounted internal missile pallets:  The VAB-5 carries an internal pallet on either side of the fuselage where its primary missile loadout is carried.  When armed the pallet doors open up allowing the missiles or bombs to be launched.  The doors are designed for minimal intrusion on the stealth construction of the VAB-5 so as not to give away its position. The available launcher payloads for each pallet include:
  • 6 x AGM-34 Claymore long range air-to-ground missile.
  • or 6 x AGM-40 Murasame long range air-to-ground missile.
  • or 6 x MPM-26 Sledgehammer long range multi-purpose missiles.
  • or 12 x AGM-46 Katana medium range air-to-ground missile
  • or 12 x MPM-25 Saber medium range multi-purpose missiles.
  • or 25 x AGM-41 Nodachi short range air-to-ground missiles.
  • or 25 x MPM-24 Broadsword short range multi-purpose missiles
  • or 6 x RMS-5 Armageddon long range nuclear cruise missiles.
  • or 4 x RMS-7 Planetbuster long range nuclear cruise missile.
  • or 25 x Mk 12 LDGP (Low Drag General Purpose) 250 kg (conical) or 260 kg (retard) free-fall bombs.
  • or 12  x Mk.13 LDGP 500 kg (conical) or 510 kg (retard) free-fall bombs.
  • or 6 x Mk.14 LDGP 900 kg free-fall bomb.
  • or 25 x GBU-46 Paveway V LGB (Laser Guided Bomb) Guided Bomb Units (GBU); a Mk. 12 LDGP bomb configured to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam.
  • or 12 x GBU-48 Paveway V LGB; a Mk. 13 LDGP bomb configured to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam. 
  • or 6 x GBU-44 Paveway V LGB; a Mk. 14 LDGP bomb configured to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam.
  • or 4 x GBU-50B/B PAVEWAY V 1000 kg LGB; Hard target penetrator (HTP).
  • or 12 x CBU-12/E Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW) cluster munition; 450 kg cluster munition.
  • or 12 x CBU-13/C SFW cluster munitions.
  • or 12 x CBU-10/C SFW cluster munitions.
  • or 12 x CBU-7/B or B/B GATOR cluster bombs.
  • or 22 x Durandal airstrip destruction bombs.
  • or 10 x Mk 100 Eel lightweight anti-ship/anti-submarine torpedoes.
  • or 10 x Mk 101 Marlin lightweight anti-ship/anti-submarine torpedoes.
  • or 10 x ASB-100B; 1,000 kg depth bomblet cluster.
  • or 10 x Mk. 105 Quickstrike; 1000 kg aircraft laid bottom shallow water anti-ship mine.

NOTE: The weapons bays can also carry recon and cargo pods other than the above.

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the VAB-5 is a low-mass lunarium tungsten composite plating that is the standard for most Terran veritech fighters. Aside from the good protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and fair against, particle guns too, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon's energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The armor stops all small arms fire, and has good resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha.

The Pirate provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for one day maximum.

IX. Development:

Content by Jeffrey R. Spillner, Ron Ferrara, Charles Jesse Casimir
Copyright © 1998-2001 Jeffrey R. Spillner,  Ron Ferrara, Charles Jesse Casimir 

Page Last Updated on January 21, 2001 @ 01:00 GMT