Chronicle Technology: 01a~q Variable Fighter

[Sketchley]

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Chronicle Technology: 01a Variable Fighter

Front

Caption: Based on information obtained from the SDF-1, a VF is one of the weapon systems that OTM is adopted into, it is a Variable Fighter.  It is developed to combat giants, and it became the core military power of the UN Forces thereafter.

Variable Fighter
The Anti-"Giant" multipurpose variable air/space fighter [craft].

A variable fighter (VF) is a air/space fighter that has adopted OTM (Over Technology of Macross) into it.  The special quality it ought to do is from a air/space craft fighter form to the ground-combat humanoid weapon battroid form, and able to transform into Gerwalk form, which is an intermediate silhouette of battroid and fighter; and (the UN Forces) have acquired this all-purpose craft with capabilities that cannot be done in past aircraft.

The circumstances that the VF became essential is the existence of a huge battleship that crashed into South Ataria Island in 1999.  The huge battleship is built with unknown technologies, and what's more, it turned out that the operators (of the giant battleship) were "giants" with a 10 m height.  The UN government of Earth [Earth Unity/unified government] that accepted this challenge and had been started, and in the midst of repairing [improving] the giant ship to make it useable for humans (hereafter called SDF-1 Macross), obtained OTM and put it into [made it into] an anti-giant weapon that (the UN Government) pressed on [advanced] with the development of.  Thus, the research and development of the VF started as a 10 m tall class weapon that aims at anti-giant combat/communication.

The development of the VF had been advanced by the tri-services of the air force, navel forces and marine army, that wanted [requested] air warfare capability from an anti-alien 10 m class humanoid type weapon (hereafter Battroid configuration) that was assumed to be able to grapple and do land battle.  The result of the cooperative development of the tri-services was a variable craft based on a jet fighter.  The design team, combined from several companies, that started in February, 2001, by repeated trial and error, completed the VF-X prototype in early 2006.  However in digression, the VF-0 was committed to the UN Wars, and it was based on a prototype similar to the VF-X, but it mounted a jet engine instead of the still-being-tested thermonuclear turbine engine.  Afterwards, in November, 2008, close to when the Macross goes into service, the first mass produced VF-1 is completed, and handed over to the UN Forces.  As for the VF-1 that was just born, it included a nuclear fusion turbine engine, energy conversion armour and various OTM, and the completion was seen as a multipurpose weapon composed of the characteristics of a (jet) fighter and a ground-warfare humanoid weapon.

Related Matters
Combat With Giants:
The opposing force to the VF is a "giant" combat race called Zentraadi.  In Space War I, the VF-1 opened up the fight with the Zentraadi, with their main force of giant warships and battle pods.  In the midst of this, even though there is little actual combat data, the VF-1 is shown to have a greater combat efficiency than the battle pods.  Moreover, the VF-1 in battroid form did grapple [go hand to hand] with Zentraadi, and proved the initial operational assumption as correct.

Caption: Giant = Zentraadi of a 10 m class existed.  Because the Zentraadi were equipped with highly mobile weapons,  the VF-1 was necessary and indispensable.

Caption: Because the height of a battroid and a Zentraadi are almost the same, a battroid and Buritai (Breetai) grappled [went hand to hand] inside of Buritai's [Breetai's] warship.

Reverse

Kinds of Variable Craft
Though in the preceding paragraphs, the variable craft that had adopted OTM was generically called "variable fighter", variable craft other than the fighter = jet fighter actually exist, too.  This is the usual other aerospacecraft functions, the same as the divisions into attack (aircraft), bomber (aircraft) and so on; VA (Variable Attacker), VB (Variable Bomber) and so on are put to practical use and put into use in their respectively different functions.  However, from the era of FAST pack and so on optimized VF-1, the multipurpose nature of other VFs are exceedingly high, and excluding the VE (Variable Elint) to which substitution doesn't work easily, the meaning of a VF's (specialized?) existence begins to fade.

VF (Variable Fighter)
Even though it is based on a specification aimed at combat in aerial and space clashes and hand-to-hand warfare, a VF does anti-ground and anti-warship attacks according to it's equipment, and as it's multipurpose nature is high, long-distance invasion is also possible.

VT (Variable Trainer)
For flight training.  The standard is as a two-seater so an instructor can also board the craft, and it is given a colouring that stands out.  It's basis is a slightly refit VF; and if it is armed, it is fit for battle.

VE (Variable Elint - Early Warning Craft)
In an air region far from the base or fleet, it is responsible for control [operations] and reconnaissance.  Based on a two-seater type, there are many airframes equipped with a giant rotodome and large sensors.

VA (Variable Attacker)
It is primarily concerned with ground attacks and so on.  Even though it has low maneuverability and it's hand-to-hand ability is inferior, compared to a VF, the VA has the advantages of excellent bullet resistance as well as being able to be equipped with a large amount of munitions.

VB (Variable Bomber)
It carries out ground and anti-warship attacks.  It has a specification that takes the performance inclination of the VA to the extreme, is the largest class of variable airframe, and is equipped with the maximum degree of firepower and bullet-resistance.


Variable System
Also, conventional aircraft before the VF also have thrust vectoring nozzles, variable-sweep wings, and has moveable parts, such as folding wings and so on, for space saving inside a carrier.  These mechanisms and high durability hinges, moveable armour plate and so on, have continued to be inherited and developed from the first variable craft including the VF; in addition by adopting OTM, a wondrous [marvelous] variable system has been completed.

A thermonuclear reaction engine is installed in both legs in battroid form, and this leg part composes the engine block in fighter form (prior to the VF-1, the VF-0 is equipped with conventional engines in an identical place).  The greater part of variable craft inherited this system, and at this point in time, it may be said that the basic model of the variable system had been completed.  Moreover, by adopting a swing wing that when swept back parallel becomes part of the fuselage so that the main wing doesn't become obstructive easily, even in battroid form, is a point adopted into the mechanism [organisation] of a lot of variable craft.


Caption: The gerwalk form, with it's features of stability when hovering, low vibration [oscillation] and so on, was discovered by chance while testing.  This form, that seems to be unfinished [incomplete, halfway], is one of the benefits of the transformation mechanism.

Caption: The legs, which can take a free angle, even in the fighter form, enables a mobility, such as a sudden deceleration which surpasses an airbrake, and so on.  Such behaviour [conduct] cannot be achieved without a variable mechanism.


Variable Mechanism Expansion [transformation] Chart

Caption: Fighter

Fighter form with straight (line) shape engine parts and main wings, tails and so on expanded [extended].  The gun pod is installed on the arms folded in the center.

Caption: gerwalk

Gerwalk form with expanded bird-like legs together with expanded arms.  Because the leg engines are mainly used for hovering, the battroid mode back [dorsal] rockets are exposed for propulsion.

Caption: Battroid

Battroid form, with the area of the engine part intakes having rotated 180° from their original point, and the vectoring nozzle has opened and become the foot-ankle assembly.  The main wings and tails have folded and turned into the back.

[Sketchley]

<UNPUBLISHED>

01b Variable Fighter

Variable Fighter: VF armaments that are composed of 3 kinds.

Front:

Reverse

[Sketchley]

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Chronicle Technology: 01c Variable Fighter

Cover of issue #22 (which the article came in) has:
GPU-9 (VF-0)
BP-14D (YF-21/VF-22)
GU-15 (VF-11B)
MC-17A (VF-17)
AVPAGC/MEDC30-EX-A (VF-171EX)
BGP-01β Beam Gunpod / Beam Grenade (launcher) (VF-27)
GU-XS-06 (VF-11C Full Armour)
SSL-9B Doragunofu (Dragnof) Anti Material Sniper Rifle (VF-25G)

Front A:

The machine gun pod that is worthy of the main axis of a VF's weaponry equipment.

Extra Report:
Internal Machine Gun For VF
(...)

Caption
In the main-wing of the Anti-UN Alliance's SV-51 is a 12.7 mm Gsh-231 Machine Gun (...)

Caption
In the 2050's era, the New UN Forces main VF, the VF-171, on both sides of the cockpit, are internal machine guns. (...)

Caption
The Internal machine gun for the VF-25 (Raminton (Rammington) ES-25A / ROV-25)
It is possible to mount the 25 mm Raminton ES-25A in the main wing root.  It is also possible to mount the 25 mm ROV-25 beam machine gun (graph/image is of the beam machine gun).


Reverse A:
Birth of the VF's Gun Pod
(...)

Caption
(...)

Structure of the Gun Pod
(...)

Extra Report:
(...)
SV-51's Gun Pod
Gsh-371.  It has a 55 mm bore and it's bore is larger than the GPU-9, however it only has 120 rounds. (...)

Fz-109's Gun Pod
(...)

Fz-109's Blaster
(...)

Gun pod Characteristics
(...)
Caption
(...)

Possible to Use in All Modes
(...)
Caption
(...)

??? Variety of Different Warheads/Bullets???
(...)
Caption
(...)

Possessing a Powerful Close Range Attack
(...)
Caption
(...)

???Not Disrupted by Jamming???
(...)
Caption
(...)

Front B:

Basic Model
(...)
Caption
(...)

VF-0 Use
The first gun pod, the GPU-9.  (...)

VF-22 Use
The VF-22S's BP-14D.  (...)  (Includes: Stealth nature, cartridgeless bullets, Hawaado (Howard) and GE Alliance made)

Multifunction & Compound Type
(...)
Caption
(...) (Includes: the Poachers at Zola use a (combined?) harpoon and machine gun type)

VF-11B Use
(...)

VF-17 Use
(...)


Beam Cannon/Gun Type
(...)
Caption
(...)

VF-171EX Use
(...)

VF-27 Use
(...)


Large Size & Heavy Fire Power Type
(...)
Caption
(...)

VF-11C (Full Armoured Thunderbolt) Use
(...)

VF-25G Use
(...)

Reverse A:
???Non-Lethal Special Gun Pods???
(...)
Caption
(...)

VF-5000 Use
(...) (Shock Gunpod)

VF-19 Kai Use
(...)

Spiritia Absorption Type
(...)


Extra Report
Variable Fighters not equipped with Gun Pods
(...)

FBz-99G Zaubaaguran
(...)
Caption
(...)

VB-6 Keenihhi Monstaa
(...)
Caption
(...)


The above is a scanlation... maybe more later.  Maybe.

[Sketchley]

01d Variable Fighter

Front:
The guided weapon "missile" that has been made highly efficient together with a VF


Reverse

[Sketchley]

01e Variable Fighter

Front:

VF that has obtained the defensive capacity that equals an armoured combat vehicle.

Reverse

[Sketchley]

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Chronicle Technology: 01f Variable Fighter

Front A:
Variable Fighter: Super Parts, VF High Manueverability Option(s)
(...)

Extra Report:
The First Age Type Super Parts in Actual Combat
(...)

VF-0 Use
(...)

SV-51 Use
(...)

Reverse A
VF Structural Problems and Super Parts
(...)

Structure Of Super Parts
(...)

Additional Unit Mounting Position [location] and Coexistance with Normal (VF) Weapons
(...)

Increased Armament
(...)

FAST Pack's Additional Propulsion Ability (Main Booster Unit)
(...)

High Manueverability Vernier
(...)

Connecting Part
(...)

Extra Report
Super Parts drawn for the Movie

VF-1S Use Strike Parts
(...)

VE-1 Use/VT-1 Use
(...)

Functions of the Super Parts
(...)

Improvement of Manueverability [mobility]
(...)

Strenthening of Firepower
(...)

Extension of Operation Time in Combat
(...)

Correspondance to Transformation (of a VF) and Purge Function
(...)

Front B
Space Use Super Parts
(...)

VF-1 Use
(...)

VF-25 Use (SPS-25S/MF25)
(...)

Atmospheric Use Super Parts
(...)

VF-17 Use
(...)

VF-19 Use
(...)

Extra Report
Simple Type Super Parts
(...)

YF-19 Use
(...)

YF-21 Use
(...)

Reverse B
Non-Super Part ways of Making a VF Highly Mobile [have High Manueverability]
(...)

Incompatible with Transformation Booster Type
(...)

VF-1 Use
(...)

VF-11B Use
(...)

Sound Booster
(...)

VF-19 Kai Use
(...)

Extra Report:
Improvement of Strategic Mobility [Manueverability] By Fold
(...)

[Sketchley]

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Chronicle Technology: 01g Variable Fighter

Front A:
Variable Fighter: Increased Armour and Increased Armaments System Developed For VF Use.
(...)

Extra Report:
Armour Increasing Type of Super Parts
(...) VF-25 use SPS-25S/MF25 (...)

Caption: (...)

Caption: It's possible to equip the living body of a Zentraadi with VF-25 use Super Parts.

Reverse A
Armoured Pack in Actual Combat
(...)


Extra Report
Performance Differences between Armoured (VF) and Battroid (mode VF)
(...)

Chart: (clockwise from top)
Attack Power: 10:5
Defensive Power: 10:5
Manueverability: 5:7
Mobility: 5:7
Cost Performance: 2:7
All-purposeness: 4:7

Red: when equipped with armour pack
Blue: when not equipped with armour pack

(...)


Characteristic [feature] of Armour Pack equipped VFs
(...)

Structure of an Armour Pack equipped Craft
(...)

Increased Armour
(...)

Increased Armaments
(...)

Supplementary Vernier (thrusters)
(...)

Armour Part Structure
(...)


The First Age [Period] Armoured Pack (VF-0 and VF-1 use)
VF-0 USe PWS-0X Armoured Pack
(...)

VF-1 Use GBP-1S Armoured Pack
(...)


Front B
Feature of each Armoured Pack Mechanism
(...)

Additional Armour - investigating the bullet resistance
(...)

Additional Armament - equipped with a great (volume of) firepower
(...)

Armour Purge Mechanism - strengthening operability by eliminating (removing) dead weight
(...)

Supplementary Verniers - alleviating the degredation of manuverability and mobility
(...)


Extra Report
VF Use shield
(...)

Caption: (...)

Caption: There has been an increase in armour in the shield of the VF-25 use super parts.

Armoured Canopy
(...)

Caption: It is easy to acquire an external image out of the armoured canopy with a sensor in the VF-27, which is controlled by a pilot who's been changed into a cyborg,

Caption: Fz-109 Erugaazorunn (Elgazorn) - the armoured canopy type of the Varoota Forces main VF.  The Varoota Forces armoured cockpit was able to decend thuroughly [completely] and was adopted into the Az-130, FBz-99G, and so on.

The peak of traditional armoured packs and the appearance of a type for variable mechanisms (VF-11, VF-25, VF-171 use)
VF-11 Use APS-11 Armoured Pack
(...)

VF-25 Use APS-25A/MF25 Amoured Pack
(...)

VF-171 EX Use Heavy Weapon Pack
(...)



Reverse B
Armour Pack unequipable VFs
(...)

Heavy Fighter Series VFs
(...)

Variable Attackers and Variable Bombers
(...)

Extra Report:
Armoured Packs for other than Battroid Form
(...) VF-25, VF-171, VF-1

Caption: the armoured packs of the VF-25, VF-171EX and so on support all forms, and boast of an advanced operability.

Caption: The Armoured Gerwalk features a giant beam cannon on it's back.  It is unable to transform if the packs are not removed.

[Sketchley]

01h Variable Fighter

Front:
Engines and cockpits that corresponded to VFs

Reverse

[Sketchley]

01i Variable Fighter

Front:
The escape system of a VF that is modelled on the traditional fighter craft.


Reverse

[Sketchley]

01j Variable Fighter

Front:
The Transformation System that is worthy of the core of a VF


Reverse

[Sketchley]

01k Variable Fighter

Front:
The 3 standard forms that establish the all-regime operational capability of a VF

Reverse

[Sketchley]

01l Variable Fighter

Front:
The Variable Craft Group who have a specialized employment duty

Reverse

[Sketchley]

01m Variable Fighter

Front:
Development History 1: The Birth of an anti-alien variable fighter

Reverse

[Sketchley]

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Technology: 01n Variable Fighter
Front:
Caption: After Space War I, the decendants of the VF-1, which had had it's performance inconsistancies identified, were received, and the development of new models of VFs was advanced.  However, a lot of airframes had both merits and demerits, and the new model craft that was able to be called the definitive edition was not born easily.

Variable Fighter Development History 2: The true successor crafts of the VF-1 that appear 20 or more years later

The VF-1 Valkyrie, whose first mass produced machine rolled out in November, 2008, is the central figure that led to victory in SWI.  However, the performance in fighter form didn't greatly exceed that of a conventional fighter craft.  Still, without the assistance of Super Parts, it has the problem of a small [narrow, confined] combat radius in space.  Therefore, including the airframe, whose design is advanced during the great war (SWI), there was an implementation of the development of various new models of VF after the great war.

By the accumulation of know-how in SWI, Overtechnology obtained through harmony with the Zentraadi and so on, it tends to appear that the hurdles of the development of new models of VFs are lowered.  However, there were great stumbling blocks blocking here.  Which make the improvement of high performance of the dual use in and outside of an atmosphere craft difficult to master.

The majority of the VFs adopted right after the conclusion of SWI were the space oriented VF-4 Lightning III, aerodynamic stressing VF-5000 Star Mirage and so on; all having a performance tendancy which is biased.  In that, even space-dedicated craft, like the VF-5, existed; and this can be called the "dedicated craft ideology", in which a VF has prominence in each regime.  However, the UN Forces actively did not want a VF for each regime.  As the Human Race Seeding Plan progressed, the UN Forces desired an all-purpose fuselage, that could shoulder missions coming and going in and out of an atmosphere, and could be exclusively used guarding an emigrant fleet, operating on a colonized planet, and so forth.  For that, in both space and the atmosphere, the development of a VF that was able to demonstrate an advanced performance was needed.  And then, a lot of technological difficulties were cleared, and at last, a general-purpose VF that was able to called the true successor craft of the VF-1 was born.  It is the VF-11 Thunderbolt.

Though the VF-11 is an all-purpose, master of the air (combat) type of fighter, it shows abilities exceeding that of the VF-4, VF-5000 and so on in each regime, and was adopted as the UN Forces' main force VF.  That system [control] style adoption year was 2030.  From the birth of the VF-1, truly 20 or more years had passed.


Extra Report: Rise of [appearance of] Emergent [new] VF manufacturers
As VF development continues, the unification and reorganization of military enterprises progresses.  As a result, there is the creation of "Shinsei Industry", that amalgamated the aircraft development sections of Shinsei, Shinakasu Heavy Industry, Stonewell Bellcom and so on, and "General Galaxy", established [founded] by the core of the OTEC company.  Thereafter, these two companies became the core of VF development.

Caption: The Shinsei Industry series, starting with the VF-5000, developed the VF-11, VF-19, VF-25 and so on.

Caption: The General Galaxy series turned out the VF-9, VF-14, VF-17, VF-22, VF-171, VF-27 and so on.


Reverse
Change in armament equipment and stealthiness
The VF-1 kept fixed armament and internal firearms [guns] to a minimum, and kinds of firearms were mounted under the body, wings and so on.  However, in the VF-4, internal style charged particle beam cannons, semi-recessed style missiles and so on were adopted [employed].  Moreover, micro-missile launchers are built into the forearms and legs of the VF-5000, which advance the internalization of armament equipment.  It is thought that this is because of the trend stressing stealthiness was getting stronger, and (due to it) the passive stealth ability of airframes had risen.  In addition, in fighter and gerwalk forms the equipment form with the head laser machinegun (used) for rear defensive power in a dogfight, is adopted into the VF-5000; and (the form) is adopted into many other VFs thereafter.

Caption: At the time of the VF-4's start of creation in February, 2012, the internalization of kinds of firearms had advanced, and a pioneering increase in VF stealthiness had been established.

Caption: The VF-11 had adopted leg multi-weapon bays, leg-undercarrage hatch machined in a zigzag line, and so on, for the improvement of stealthiness.


Extra Report: The pilots that took part in the development of new model VFs
High skill level pilots, who had lived through [survived] SWI, also contributed in the development of the new model VFs.  The famous pilots who were test pilots include the VF-4's Hikaru Ichijo and the VF-9's Miria Fariina Jiinasu.  During the time that Miria was an instructor [teacher, professor] at the Eagle's Nest Dogfight [air warfare] Tactics Centre, she is also known for having called for the installation of the cannards on the VF-11; and along with Maximilian Jiinasu, verified the cannards effectiveness in the military rescue operation of the UN Government chairman's aide.

Caption: After SWI, Hikaru Ichijo also acted as the VF-4's test pilot, serving at Apollo Base.

Caption: Miria Fariina Jiinasu

Caption: Miria, who is Zentraadi, didn't only test VFs, but is also said to have taken part in the development of the Quadlunn-Rhea.


New Model VFs that Specialize in Areas of Operation
From the VF Ability Improvement Type of Craft Development Plan, if you exclude the VF-3000 Crusader that Stonewell Bellcom had presented, all VFs until the VF-11 have a biased capability towards either space or atmosphere.  It was difficult for both high performance and all-purpose [general purpose] capabilities to coexist in the technological strength at that time, and it is thought that the origin [cause] (of the bias) was from trial and error and so on  by each manufacturer.  However, technology of the Zentraadi series was also introduced, and it is correct that the performance (of VFs) improved greatly.


Development Genealogy Chart from the VF-1 to the VF-11
(pink) General-purpose Type
(blue) Outside of atmosphere (space) specialized type
(orange) In atmosphere specialized type

(light gray section) Stonewell Balcom ~ Shinsei Industries Series
(pink) VF-1
(pink) VF-3000
(blue) VF-4
(orange) VF-5000
(pink) VF-11

(dark gray section) General Galaxy Series
(orange) VF-9
(pink) VF-14


In atmosphere Use
In the type emphasizing operation in an atmosphere, the VF-5000 of Shinsei Industry is known.  It has adopted the blended wing body, and the stressing of its aerodynamics can be perceived.  As for the design itself, in the process of putting the VF-1 to practical use, Zentraadi technology was invested into it.

VF-5000G
It also excells in visibility from it's frame-less canopy.  The it's planning had begun in 2011, and it became the main-force craft in the later half of the 2020's.


Out of atmosphere Use
With the VF that are appropriate for space use, the Stonewell Bellcom VF-4, space dedicated VF-5 and so on are famous.  The design of the VF-4 is advanced before the end of the war, and the increased prototypes were judged to have a 40% increase in fighting power [ability] over the VF-1.  After control systems were adopted, its deployment advanced as the successor of the VF-1.

VF-4
Three hulled [torso] type of VF.  Production begun in February 2012, and it was deployed to the Megaroad 01 and so on.  After 2020, it was the main force craft.


Light Fighter
General Galaxy's VF-9 Cutlass is known as a light support VF.  It adopts cannards and forward swept wings, and one can perceive from it's appearance that it is considered to be for for atmospheric operation.  Though it's performance doesn't project, many are used on frontier planets because it excells at being multi-purpose and having a low price.

VF-9
It's feature is it's forward swept wings, and it is chiefly used for support missions.  It started development in 2018, and mass production started in 2022.


VF-11/VF-14
Concerning the successor to the VF-4 (a general purpose VF which is substantially the successor of the VF-1), there was a competition done between Shinsei Industry's VF-11 and General Galaxy's VF-14.  As a result, the VF-11, which excelles in general-purpose along with having reliable [solid] design, is adopted, and it's deployment as the main force VF is advanced.

Caption: The VF-11 is a general-purpose VF that exhibits high performance both inside and outside of atmosphere, and is systemizing control in the 2030s.  It took an active part as the main force craft at the end of the 2040's.

Caption: Though the VF-14 was defeated at the selection, because it is large and dogged [tenacious], as well as a lengthy cruising range, it is adopted into frontier immigrant planets, special forces and so on.


VF-11B
It has canards and a variable main wing, and it's mobility in atmosphere is also high.  It excelled in lightness and high power, as well as potential.

VF-14
With a VF that aims at a new classification of large long-range fighter bomber, it also has excellent offensive abilities.  The fighter form is near that of the VF-4.

[Sketchley]

01o Variable Fighter

Front:
Variable Fighter Development History 3: The AVF Development Plan that trifled with political decisions

Reverse