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VF-19 Excalibur Veritech Fighter (VF-19B, -19C, -19J, -19K, -19S, VT-19)

I. Dimensions:

(VF-19)

(VF-19K)

II. Type:

• Design: Boeing Aerospace Company
• Builders: Boeing Aerospace Company
• (VF-19B, -19C, -19J) : One man all weather aerospace combat mecha, 3 form interceptor veritech fighter. Mass produced version.
• (VF-19S) : One man all weather aerospace combat mecha, 3 form interceptor veritech fighter. Squadron leader version
• (VF-19K) : One man all weather aerospace combat mecha, 3 form sound warfare veritech.
• (VT-19) : Two seat dedicated trainer, 3 form interceptor trainer

III. Service History:

• VF-19B: Served with the RDF Air Force, Navy, and Space Navy from 2055 until being replaced by the -19C.
• VF-19C: Served with the RDF Air Force, Navy, and Space Navy from 2058 until being replaced by the -19J.
• VF-19J: Served with the RDF Air Force, Navy, and Space Navy from 2063 and is still in service.
• VF-19K: Served with RDF Special Space Services from 2064 and is still in service.
• VF-19S: Served with the RDF Air Force, Navy, and Space Navy from 2055 and is still in service.
• VT-19: Served with the RDF Air Force, Navy, and Space Navy from 2055 and is still in service.

IV. Propulsion

• Engines:

(VF-19B)

• 2 x Nakajima FF-2050D fusion turbines each rated at 67,500 kg (662 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 700 MW of power.  The engines generate 26,430 PS during ground combat.
• 10 x Rolls Royce HMM-7 high thrust vernier thrusters, mounted in pairs on the either side of the dorsal in fighter mode, 4 on the back in guardian mode, and 2 more on the back in battloid mode.  Each thruster is rated at 714.3 kg/sec (7.0 kN/sec).
• 22 x Pratt&Whitney LHP08 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; 2 mounted on the outer rear of either nacelle and 1 on the inner rear of each nacelle, 1 directly aft of either the intake, 2 on each foot, 2 on each shoulder, 1 on either side of the arm, 1 on either side of the upper and lower back.  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.

(VF -19C, VT-19)

• 2 x Nakajima FF-2050D fusion turbines each rated at 67,500 kg (662 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 700 MW of power.  The engines generate 26,430 PS during ground combat.
• 6 x Rolls Royce HMM-7 high thrust vernier thrusters, mounted in pairs on the either side of the dorsal in fighter mode, and 2 more on the back in battloid mode.  Each thruster is rated at 714.3 kg/sec (7.0 kN/sec).
• 23 x Pratt&Whitney LHP08 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; 1 on each dorsal wing root, 4 on the upper back in battloid mode, 3 in either shoulder under the armor, 1 on both the front and rear of the shoulder, 1 on either side of the upper leg, 3 on the dorsal behind the cockpit, 1 on either side of the ventral in front of the cockpit.  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.

(VF-19J,)

• 2 x Nakajima FF-2050F fusion turbines each rated at 72,500 kg (710 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 750 MW of power.  The engines generate 27,270 PS during ground combat.
• 6 x Rolls Royce HMM-10 high thrust vernier thrusters, mounted in pairs on the either side of the dorsal in fighter mode, and 2 more on the back in battloid mode.  Each thruster is rated at 744.9 kg/sec (7.3 kN/sec).
• 23 x Pratt&Whitney LHP09 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; 1 on each dorsal wing root, 4 on the upper back in battloid mode, 3 in either shoulder under the armor, 1 on both the front and rear of the shoulder, 1 on either side of the upper leg, 3 on the dorsal behind the cockpit, 1 on either side of the ventral in front of the cockpit.  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.

(VF-19K)

• 2 x Nakajima FF-2050F fusion turbines each rated at 72,500 kg (710 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 750 MW of power.  The engines generate 27,270 PS during ground combat.
• 10 x Rolls Royce HMM-10 high thrust vernier thrusters, mounted in pairs on the either side of the dorsal in fighter mode, 4 on the back in guardian mode, and 2 more on the back in battloid mode.  Each thruster is rated at 744.9 kg/sec (7.3 kN/sec).
• 22 x Pratt&Whitney LHP09 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; 2 mounted on the outer rear of either nacelle and 1 on the inner rear of each nacelle, 1 directly aft of either the intake, 2 on each foot, 2 on each shoulder, 1 on either side of the arm, 1 on either side of the upper and lower back.  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.

(VF-19S)

• 2 x Nakajima FF-2050J fusion turbines each rated at 78,950 kg (774 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 800 MW of power.  The engines generate 27,990 PS during ground combat.
• 6 x Rolls Royce HMM-10 high thrust vernier thrusters, mounted in pairs on the either side of the dorsal in fighter mode, and 2 more on the back in battloid mode.  Each thruster is rated at 744.9 kg/sec (7.3 kN/sec).
• 23 x Pratt&Whitney LHP09 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; 1 on each dorsal wing root, 4 on the upper back in battloid mode, 3 in either shoulder under the armor, 1 on both the front and rear of the shoulder, 1 on either side of the upper leg, 3 on the dorsal behind the cockpit, 1 on either side of the ventral in front of the cockpit.  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-170 thermonuclear fusion reaction auxiliary power generators (one redundant), each capable of producing 700 MW, using the aircraft's stored fuel, with an emergency reserve of 10 lt D₂O/Li solution.

• Fuel Capacity:

• 5,000 lt 70/30 D₂O/Li solution as reactant for fusion engines in fuel tanks inside the wings.

V. Performance:

VI. Electronics:

Radar tracking:

(VF-19B, -19C, VT-19)

• General Electric AN/APG-180 X-Band, spherical pulse-Doppler, providing long-range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes.
• Westinghouse AN/APX-18 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

(VF-19J, 19S)

• General Electric AN/APG-190 X-Band, spherical pulse-Doppler, providing long-range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes.
• Westinghouse AN/APX-22 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

(VF-19K)

• Hughes AN/APG-191 X-Band, spherical pulse-Doppler, providing long-range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes.
• Westinghouse AN/APX-23 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

Optical tracking:

(VF-19B)

• (Head/Turret) Kodak AN/DOS-4300 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.

(VF-19C, VT-19)

• (Head/Turret) Phillips AN/DOS-4700 multi-band digital camera system, for medium range, traversable, UV, infrared imaging and optical band detection and tracking.
• Thomson AN/LT-10 multi-frequency laser designator and ranger.

(VF-19J, -19K, -19S)

• (Head/Turret) Phillips AN/DOS-5700 multi-band digital camera system, for medium range, traversable, UV, infrared imaging and optical band detection and tracking.
• Thomson AN/LT-12 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

(VF-19B,  -19C, -19J, -19S, VT-19)

• Loral AN/ALR-31 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-20 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• General Electric AN/ALQ-280(V) internal countermeasures system
• Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff/Flare Dispensers    
• Westinghouse AN/AMJ-8 Active Missile Jammers
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas
• Bose Loudspeakers producing sound up to 90 decibels.
• Hughes PPBS-04 Pin-Point Barrier System: The VF-19 is equipped with a new mecha-scale pinpoint barrier system for defense. The system can generate a single pinpoint barrier that can be moved anywhere on the mecha and used as a shield against incoming attacks.

(VF-19K)

• Loral AN/ALR-48 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-34 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• General Electric AN/ALQ-305 (V) internal countermeasures system
• Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff/Flare Dispensers    
• Westinghouse AN/AMJ-12 Active Missile Jammers
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas
• Sony holographic projectors. Can be used to produce simple images and 'dazzle' enemy pilots with bright lights
• RRG Sound Energy System SES-01: the VF-19K is equipped with the revolutionary Sound Energy System (SES) developed by Dr. Chiba of UES Germany's science team. The SES allows the pilot to of the VF to focus their spiritia powers and use it for attack and defense.
• Bose Loudspeakers producing sound up to 150 decibels.
• Hughes PPBS-03 Pin-Point Barrier System: The VF-19K is equipped with a new mecha-scale pinpoint barrier system for defense. The system can generate a single pinpoint barrier that can be moved anywhere on the mecha and used as a shield against incoming attacks.

(VT-19)

• Additional: Lasers on head is replaced by a Marconi Spyeye MkII broad spectrum radiation sensors.
• IBM-2600 onboard data interpretation system

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:

(VT-19)

• No armament standard. Dummy munitions are often carried on the VT-19, but these craft are almost never used for combat.

Cannons:

(VF-19C, -19J, -19K, -19S)

• 2 (4 on -19S) x Oerlikon AAL-8 anti-aircraft lasers: The VF-19 mounts a pair (two pair on -19S) of lasers for use in air combat skirmishes and for defensive purposes. The lasers are mounted on the head of the mecha in battloid mode, and are located in the forward dorsal section of the main body pointed rearward in fighter and guardian modes. The lasers can only fire to the rear of the fighter in these modes; they cannot be turned to fire along another arc. Each pulse delivers 4.5 MJ at 180 times per minute.

(VF-19J, -19S)

• 1 x Oerlikon AAL-9 anti-aircraft pulse laser: The VF-19 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 4.2 MJ at 60 times per minute.

(VF-19B, -19C)

• 2 x Mauser REB-25 fixed laser cannons: Two fixed laser cannons are mounted in the wings of the VF-19 near the base of the wing. These lasers can be fired in any mode (the beams exit the hip-mounted wing units in battloid mode) but can only be aimed along the front arc of the mecha. The cannons can each fire a 21 MJ burst every seven seconds at a range of 10 km.

(VF-19J, -19K, -19S)

• 2 x Mauser REB-33 fixed  laser cannons: Two fixed laser cannons are mounted in the wings of the VF-19 near the base of the wing. These lasers can be fired in any mode (the beams exit the hip-mounted wing units in battloid mode) but can only be aimed along the front arc of the mecha. The cannons can each fire a 18 MJ burst every four seconds at a range of 10 km.

One centerline hardpoint may carry:

• 1 x Hughes GU-33 55mm tri-barrel gunpod:  The main weapon of the VF-19 is this tri-barrel gunpod manufactured by Hughes Aerospace.  The weapon is mounted on a special centerline hardpoint beneath the veritech in fighter mode, and is carried right hand in guardian and battloid modes.  It uses magazines of ammo each holding 300 rounds with two additional magazines stored behind the projectile shield.  The gunpod fires a mix of jidori-coated depleted uranium armor piercing spin-stabilized discarding sabot (APSSDS), high explosive armor piercing (HEAP), and tracer rounds at approx. 600 rounds per minute.
• or a number of dedicated military cargoes including, but not limited to; any type of gun pod (except the XS-06), various sensor and jamming pods, and cargo containers.

(VF-19K)

• 1 x RRD SGU-03 120mm single-barrel speaker gun pod: The VF-19K is armed with a very unusual gunpod as a main weapon. Instead of firing standard shells, the gun pod instead fires large- caliber autocannon shells that each contain a high-definition speaker and radio receiver. The shells are armor-piercing and can usually penetrate even the toughest armor, but once embedded in armor plate the speaker pods transmit sound waves into the mecha's body, filling the pilot's cockpit with loud rock music. In addition to their use as a distraction, the speaker pods have been known to cause spiritia reactions in the minds of brainwashed Varauta pilots, occasionally permitting them to defect to the RDF. Due to the large size of the speaker pods only a limited amount can be carried in the VF-19K's gun pod. One spare clip containing twelve speaker pods is mounted on the inside of the mecha's shield. Switching clips can only be done in Guardian or Battloid mode.

NOTE: The centerline hardpoint is actually a retractable grip that extends from the veritech's upper right forearm, just below the elbow actuator. In fighter mode, the grip is on the craft's centerline.

Missile launchers:

• 2 x leg mounted internal missile pallets:  Each leg of the VF-19 contains an enclosed missile pallet which can be customized for different mission objectives and carry a wide variety of air-to-air and multipurpose 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:
  • 2 x AIM-93 Vampire long range air-to air missile
  • or 2 x MPM-26 Sledgehammer long range multi-purpose missiles.
  • or 6 x AIM-99 Falcon medium range air-to-air missiles.
  • or 6 x MPM-25 Saber medium range multi-purpose missiles.
  • or 24 x MPM-23 Dagger high maneuverability mini-missiles on a specialized MER.

Four wing hardpoints (two per wing) can each carry:

• 2 x AIM-93 Vampire long range air-to air missile
• or 2 x MPM-26 Sledgehammer long range multi-purpose missiles.
• or 3 x AIM-99 Falcon medium range air-to-air missiles.
• or 3 x MPM-25 Saber medium range multi-purpose missiles.
• or 1 x UMM-20; Armored container with 15 AIM-90 Pegasus short range air-to-air missiles. The UUM-21 has two groups of five AIM-80s ready to be fired forward and one group of five missiles as a rear-hemisphere defense.
• or 1 x UMM-21; Armored container with 15 MPM-24 Broadsword short range air-to-air missiles. The UUM-20 has two groups of five MPM-20s ready to be fired forward and one group of five missiles as a rear-hemisphere defense.
• or 1 x 1,000 lt reactant/fuel tank. Can store 70/30 D₂O/Li solution.

Two body hardpoints can each carry:

• or 1 x AIM-93 Vampire long range air-to-air missiles.
• or 1 x MPM-26 Sledgehammer long range multi-purpose missiles.

Other Military Cargoes available include:

• HMMP-11: An Armored Box Launcher (ABL) with 4 missile launch tubes for MPM-24 Broadsword missiles, with six reloads per tube for a total of 28 missiles.  Mounted on NP-BP-19 booster pack.
• SES-01: A revolutionary system which amplifies and projects Spiritia energy, allowing the pilot to use his or her Spiritia powers in combat.  In addition the system mounts 2 SEC-01 Sound Energy Converters, 2 SAA-01 Sound Aura Amplification Systems, and 2 Bose 150 decibel speakers.  Mounted to NP-SES-19 booster pack.
• SES-02: A revolutionary system which amplifies and projects Spiritia energy, allowing the pilot to use his or her Spiritia powers in combat.  In addition the system mounts a pair of 150 decibels Bose speakers and a holographic projection system.  Mounts to NP-BP-19-SES booster pack.
• NP-BP-19: A streamline FAWT (Fuel And Weapons Tactical) booster; attaches to the back of Super VF-19 series Excalibur.  Its main engines is a +Nakajima +EF-2060 63,265 kg (620 kN) fusion reaction thruster and is equipped with four Rolls Royce HMM-8 vernier thrusters.  The PBC-22 single-barreled particle beam cannon or the HMMP-11 missile launch tube is mounted to the front of this booster. Note: The PBC-22 is mounted on the starboard (right) side of the Excalibur (see the Super Excalibur Booster/Armor configurations table below). It also contains a probe-and-drogue retractable refueling tube mounted on the upper outboard corner of their NP-BP-11.  Teamed up with the NP-FB-19, HMMP-11 and/or PBC-22 systems, it forms the SSP-19 (Super Space Pack) weapons/armor/thruster suite.
• NP-BP-T19: This is a barrel shaped FAST (Fuel And Sensors Tactical) booster that attaches to the back of Super VT-19 Excalibur.  Its main engines are a pair of Rolls Royce +EF-2025 and is equipped with four Rolls Royce HMM-8 vernier thrusters.  This unit cannot accept any weapons systems. Instead, it contains an additional 800 lt of reactant. Comes with an additional booster that attaches on top of the backpack. Together with the NP-FB-T19 units, it forms the SSPT-19 armor/fuel/thruster suite.
• NP-BP-19 SES: This streamlined FASWT (Fuel And Sound Weapons Tactical) booster that attaches to the back of aVF-19K Excalibur Kai.  Its main engines is a +Nakajima +EF-2060 63,265 kg (620 kN) fusion reaction thruster and is equipped with four Rolls Royce HMM-10 vernier thrusters.  The Chiba SES-02 Sound Energy System and HMMP-15 missile launch tube are mounted on the front of this booster.
• NP-FB-19: This is a set of thrusters and armor that attaches to the Super VF-19's engine nacelle and facilitates maneuvering in space. It is equipped with a CTB-19 conformal fuel tank (3700 lt of reactant) and has three LHP08.  It is also equipped with a Tracor AN/ALE-16 chaff/flare launcher with 120 decoy flares and 60 chaffs.
• NP-FB-T19: This is a set of thrusters and armor that attaches to the VT-19's engine nacelle and facilities maneuvering in space.  Equipped with CTB-19 conformal fuel tank (3700 lt of reactant) and has three LHP08.  It is also equipped with a Tracor AN/ALE-16 chaff/flare launcher with 120 decoy flares and 60 chaffs.
• PBC-22: Single barreled Krupp particle beam cannon, fires 60 MJ of energy up to 45 times per minute. Mounted on the NP-BP-19 booster pack.
• RRG Mk3 Fold Booster Drive: A large cylindrical body that contains a hyperspace fold generator with a range of approx. 30 light years and enough energy to perform two hyperspace folds.

The Super and Strike versions have the following Booster/Armor configurations:

The most common payloads for various mission profile are as follows:

(VF-19K)

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the Excalibur series fighters is composed of lunarium and titanium mix. Aside from the excellent protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and to a adequate extent, particle guns, 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 excellent resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha.

The Excalibur 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:

The VF-19 Excalibur is the result of almost five years of intensive design and research by Boeing Aerospace Company. Designed in 2050 by the brilliant engineer Yang Neumann, the VF-19 is was the first in a new breed of high speed veritech capable of achieving hyper space via a external fold pod. The VF-19's primary mission is interception of enemy strike forces and suppression of enemy fighters. This is a mission it excels at as demonstrated in the Fourth Robotech War 2063-2065.  First tested in 2053 at New Edwards Test Base out in the deserts of Eden, the YF-19 was in a simultaneous competition with Northrop Grumman and their high-tech YF-21(later VF-22) which the VF-19 won.  The first mass-produced version, the VF-19B entered service in 2055. The VF-19B underwent several changes from the original prototype including upgraded engines. The next and more widely procured version of the VF-19, the -19C underwent dramatic modifications. The VF-19C has entirely different wing design and has replaced the forward canard wings with a bank of vernier thrusters. The new wings compensate for the loss of the canard while the thrusters improve space performance. The VF-19C also had a series of head lasers added on, two on the -19C and four on the -19S. The VF-19S was basically a VF-19C with improved engines and an extra pair of head lasers as well as better electrical systems and as such the VF-19S is used only by squadron leaders. The VF-19S upgrade and -19C entered service in 2058 when it became the RDF's front line interceptor an the first delivery occurred in June of 2058.

The VF-19's weapons are varied consisting of a pair of wing mounted lasers in addition to the head lasers. The VF-19 also has a gunpod which, like the VF-11's gunpod, is re-loadable in the field with clips of ammunition. The original VF-19, the -19B and 19S originally had a pair of leg mounted missile bays capable of carrying any type of air to air missile but these were eventually replaced in the -19C and -19S upgrade with a pair of mini-missile launchers. These missiles are more suited to close range combat leaving the long range missiles to hard points. The real edge of the VF-19 however is its amazing advanced radar system. The radar systems used in the VF-19 can track up to 300 targets and engage up to thirty of these targets at once. It also has an incredible long range making able to engage most targets before they close to a range at which they can fire. The VF-19, like all new veritechs is compatible with both FAST pack systems and the new fold booster allowing the VF-19 to operate independent of capital ships.  The VF-19J, the final version of the VF-19 was rolled out in February of 2063. The VF-19J has upgraded engines and laser weapons. The upgrade kits were issued to the field and upgrades were completed at a rapid pace to both the mass produced and squadron leader versions due to the pressures of war.

In 2064, SCO-07 UES Germany, a colony ship encountered the Varauta and the Varauta War began. In the opening battle of the war, a mysterious red veritech appeared in combat and was shown to be a modified VF-19. The VF-19K Fire Veritech was the first sound warfare veritech mecha. The VF-19K was less armed then its counterparts, but contained a guitar stick control system as well as a speaker pod gunpod firing speakers as opposed to bullets. This version of the VF-19 served well during the war, especially in its later stages once the full power of sound and spiritia was discovered by its pilot, Basara Nekki and designer, Dr. Gadget M. Chiba.

During the 4th Robotech War the VF-19 accounted for almost 70% of all aerial kills and achieving an almost 25 to 1 kill ratio. Part of this is due to the craft's high speeds approaching Mach 25 while still retaining amazingly high agility. The wars top scoring pilot, Capt. Isamu Dyson, original test pilot of the YF-19, flew a VF-19S during the war and racked up almost 720 enemy kills before being heavily wounded in the final battle over Earth on Christmas in 2068.  There are no firm plans to replace the VF-19 until at least 2075, but already Boeing Aerospace and other aircraft manufacturers are designing the successor to this stupendous fighter which has attained mythic status enjoyed only by the original VF-1 Valkyrie by both friend and foe alike.

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

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