Great Mechanics.DX 4: Macross F and Variable Fighters; History of VFs

[Sketchley]

Please extend the courtesy of proper citation via linking when you quote or paraphrase this translation.

072
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073
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074-77
The openning up of a new Macross legend?  "Macross F" keywords

1: Story
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2: Stage Setting
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3. Campus
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4. Character
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5. SMS = PMC
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6. Vajra
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7. Military Forces
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8. Idol
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[Sketchley]

078-079
The VF that opens up the new "Frontier": VF-25
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When in Fighter Form
Length: 18.72 m
Width: 15.50 m (wings at maximum extension)
Height: 4.03 m (not including main landing gear)

When in Battroid Form
Height: 15.59 m (including laser machinegun)

The next generation VF that the UN Forces boasts of

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Super Pack
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Armour Pack
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080-081
A collection of every setting the successive generations of Macross productions that VFs are seen in
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Super Dimensional Fortress Macross
(1982)
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Super Dimensional Fortress Macross: Do you remember love?
(1984)
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Macross 7
(1994)
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Macross Plus
(1994)
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Macross Zero
(2002)
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082
Genealogy of VFs and their development
VF technology history leading to the VF-25

Translator's note: the following is based on a flow chart.  The progressions, branches and whatnot are being written in brackets () to convey the chart in general.  The question marks are as they appear in the original.

SV-51
↓
? (translator's note: Macross Chronicle, published later, indicates SV-52)

VF-0 Pheonix
↓
VF-1 Valkyrie: Stonewell Bellcom 2008-2015

        (progression branches into two)

(left branch)                                              (right branch)
VF-1                                                             VF-1
↓                                                                  ↓
VF-4 Lightning: Stonewell Bellcom                   VF-3000 Crusader: Stonewell Bellcom / Shinnakasu
↓                                                                  ↓
VF-5 ?                                                           VF-5000 Star Mirage: Shinsei Industry
(sub branch)                                                  ↓
↓                                                                  ↓
Light Fighter: VF-9 Cutlass?: General Galaxy   ↓

↓                                                                  ↓
        (left and right branches merge)

Competing prototypes
VF-11 Thunderbolt: Shinsei Industry 2030-
vs.
Special Forces Type VF-14 Nightmate: General Galaxy / Messhi 2028

VF-11
↓
Competing prototypes
General Purpose type VF-19 (YF-19) Excalibur: Shinsei Industry 2041-
vs.
Special Forces type VF-22 (YF-21) Sturmvolgel: General Galaxy 2042-

VF-19
↓
General Purpose type VF-25

(there's a seperate branch running parallel to the main branch between the VF-11 and VF-19 section)
Special Forces VF-17 Nightmare: General Galaxy
↓
VF-171: General Galaxy

Where have the changes in the many [multiplicity] of VF series been?
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[Sketchley]

083-90
VF History con't

VF-0 Pheonix
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Dr. Chiba's comment:
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Ghost Pack
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Armoured
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D Type
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SV-51
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Dr. Chiba's comment:
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VF-1 Valkyrie
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Dr. Chiba's comment:
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Battroid: VF-1J, VF-1A, VF-1D, VF-1S
GERWALK
Fighter

Optional Armament Equipment
Strike Valkyrie
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Super Valkyrie
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Armoured Valkyrie
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VE-1 Elint Seeker
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VT-1 Ostrich
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VF-4 Lightning III
Though it's ability in space surpassed the VF-1...

It was developed as a successor craft to the VF-1, and it's theme was the improvement of mobility in space which was especially assumed to be the VF-1's problem.  The structure of the airframe is greatly different from the VF-1, and though it has a highly original silhouette, the experimental craft didn't have the function of transforming to battroid.  Moreover, as it has atmospheric manueverability inferior to the VF-1 because it was aimed at space, there were those that didn't call it the complete successor (to the VF-1).


VF-9 Cutlass
Contrary to the VF-4, it is hypothesized for use in an atmosphere.

A light fighter used on frontier planets.  Though the main wing is swept forward, having existing fighter construction is it's greatest feature.  Under the prerequisite of using it in the atmosphere of a planet, it seems to have become such a shape due to lift being generated by the main wing, counteracting stalls and so forth.

Dr. Chiba's comment:
Though the VF-9 was created as a light fighter, in substance, it might be in a support fighter role.  It's ranking is said to be not main, but as a sub-machine.


VF-14 Vampire
Heavy fighter-attacker with high cruising ability

The model that competed with the VF-11 to be the successor of the VF-4 in the seat of main fighter.  Though the VF-14 was consequentially defeated, one part of the fleet valued that space flight ability, and they were the original users of it.  The airframe construction is pretty unique, and it is a pretty large craft whose sides are also durable as it is an attack craft used in long-range invasions.  It is an airframe that embodies the eccentricity of the General Galaxy company.


VF-3000 Crusader
A refined VF that keeps the concept of the VF-1

An airframe that advances the VF-1.  It's pet name is "Crusader".  Though the airframe composition was enlarged a little, there are a lot of parts that basically emulated the VF-1, and it can be said to be the model that keeps the concept (of the VF-1).  However, the mark of improvement is seen in the transformation mechanism, and so on.

Dr. Chiba's comment: Translator's note: this comment stradles both the VF-3000 and VF-5000, and is applicable to both.
Though the VF-3000, VF-5000 and so on weren't mainstream, they may be in the position of being used as springboards for discussion.  At the time, in brief, from the VF-1 until the appearance of the VF-11, the system is considerably chaotic, and each manufacturer has been trying and erring with one thing after another.  Though the VF-5000 might have been mass produced, the numbers must have only been a few right to the end.


VF-5000 Star Mirage
Do you participate in the successor craft duel with stealth as the weapon?

It was designed as one of the possible successor craft to the VF-4.  Stealth is stressed more compared to the VF-3000, therefore the form is also different from the VF-3000.  The special characteristic of the airframe was it's principal objective of operation in an atmosphere.  On planet Zola, the patrol force had the VF-5000G, a derivative model, as it's main fighter.

VF-5000D
VF-5000G


VA-3 Invader
The Attacker that can be operated anywhere on land, in sea, air and space

VA, an abbreviation of Variable Attacker, is a widely known variable attack craft.  Even though it is an aircraft, the possibility of action underwater is it's feature (it is equipped with ordinance as well as a harpoon launcher.)  Though it's mobility in air is not high, it's armour is thick and strong as it's main point is thought to be ground attack.  At the planet Zola, a derivative model was used by the whale poaching group.

VA-3 Kai


VB-6 Konig Monster

It's an airframe that improved the Destroid Monster and was made out to be a Variable Bomber (variable raiding craft).  The traces of the Destroid age remain in GERWALK form.  Though it's main armament are a 4-barreled railgun, it is also used as an auxillary thrust (system) when flying.  As it received the points of that stengthened armament and the ease of operation from the capability of flight, it has also been used in active service for nearly 30 years from planning to even 2059.

Dr. Chiba's comment:
The Konig Monster seems to be unexpectedly popular (laughs).  The prototype model's flight ability was even lower, furthermore it was a powerful airframe that had the Destroid type of stress on firepower.


VF-11 Thunderbolt
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Dr. Chiba's comment:
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VF-11C
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Armoured
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VF-11 MAXL Kai
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YF-19/VF-19 Excalibur
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Dr. Chiba's comment:
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YF-19
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Emerald Force Use
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Aerospace Booster
Patrol Force Use
Fire Valkyrie

YF-21/VF-22 Sturmvogel
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Dr. Chiba's comment:
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VF-17/VF-171 Nightmare
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Dr. Chiba's comment:
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VF-17D
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VF-17S
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VF-171
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091
Dr. Chiba Short Interview
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[Sketchley]

092-093
Analysis: the Image Sources of VFs
VFs have often intentionally taken the image and motif of real-world aircraft.  Here, let's verify the relation between real craft and VFs.

Variable Fighter and Variable Wing Craft: F-14 and VF-1A
F-14 Tomcat
(The relation of the F-14 and VF-1) is probably doesn't need to be said at this late hour.  Because it is said that the final transformation idea of the VF-1 was completed after Director Kawamori realized that the arms could be put between the engines of the F-14, it can also be said that (the final transformation) was exactly the result of the trial transformation of the F-14.  However, the ingenious solution was done without horizontal stabilizers.  Though the components are thusly seen as almost the same, it is understood that the design is considerably different.


Peculiar Engine Mounting: SR-71 and VF-4
SR-71 Blackbird
The design of this VF-4 was designed as an advanced Valkyrie at the time of the broadcast of "Super Dimension Fortress Macross" (it appears as as a model in the original story).  The form of the engine mounts is reminiscent of the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.  Moreover, this craft has a design more close to the SR-71 than the V-BR-2, which was designed simultaneously as one of the craft of Advanced Valkyrie.


Discontinued craft from a competition prototype: YF-23 and YF-21
YF-24 Black Widow II
The motif of the YF-21 is more direct than the YF-19 and is the YF-23 Blackwidow II, which was the unsuccessful prototype in the American airforce's next main fighter competition, which was also the motif of the work (Macross Plus) itself (the F-22 Raptor won the competition and is presently the state of the art fighter).  Actually, the YF-21 and YF-23 look very similar in both design as well as numbering.

Experimental Craft with forward swept wings: X-29 and YF-19
Grumman X-29
The feature of the YF-19 is the adoption of the forward swept wings (leaving out those special qualities).  The X-29, which is an airframe that experimented on forward swept wing craft in the 80's and 90's, might be one of the motifs.  What is also more surprising is that the real Sukhoi Su-47, that was introduced after the designing of the YF-19, is said to be the spitting image of the YF-19!

The state of the art stealth shape at the time: F-117 and VF-17
F-117 Nighthawk
If you look at it, the motif of the VF-17 is understood to be the F-117 Nighthawk, the first ever stealth craft.  However, if you really look at it, the actual design is considerably different.  Incidentally, the setting of the VF-17 where it is developed before the VF-19 has a similar connection to that of the real world F-117 and F-22.

Image of the craft of the formerely East countries: Su-27 and SV-51
Su-27 Flanker
The SV-51 that is a VF of the anti-UN forces that appear in "Macross Zero" has the rare for a Macross series image of a formerly Eastern fuselage.  If we dare to say the image of the SV-51, it might be that of the Su-27 Flanker, the main power of the real formerly Eastern countries.

Delta-winged experimental craft: F-16XL and VF-0D
F-16XL
The VF-0 of "Macross Zero" is the two-seater D type with delta wings that appeared.  Because this lineage of VFs came to an end afterwards, it is thought of as an experimental craft.  Though the F-16XL existed as a delta-winged F-16 fighter jet, it also ended as an experimental craft.

Airframes that VFs inhereted names from
The names of famous craft from the past are often used as the pet names of VFs.  Let's introduce one part of that.

XB-7 Valkyrie, P-38 Lightning, F-8 Crusader, F-4U Cutlass, Dehavaland Vampire, A-10 Thunderbolt, P-47 Thunderbolt, Me262 Sturmvolgel.

VFs that are more realistic from the application of (real world) airplane motifs.
It is said that when Director Kawamori Shouji designs a VF, he is invariably thinking that it is a "flying design".  Though it might seem to be obvious, most of the airplanes that come out in anime, movies and so on are designs that cannot actually fly.  Of course, though one can see the coolness of the results of their degrees of freedom in their designs, Director Kawamori is a designer who doesn't walk on such an easy road.

(...)

094
Special Appendix: VF Spec List

VF-0 Pheonix (A/B/D/S Types)
Design Production: Northrum Gruman / Rockwell / Shinsei
Length: 18.69 m
Weight: 16,191 Kg (D type is 16,805 Kg)
Engine: (main) EFG-127 Turbofan jet engine Kai, (Auxilliary) 3x Shinakasu ARR-2 Rocket motor
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.74 (Mach 2.62 D type) *when at 11,000 m altitude
Cruising Range: 2,075 Km with standard dorsal fuel tank (2,400 Km D type)
Climbing Limit: 25,000 m (26,500 m D type)
Armament: Fixed Armament: 1x (A/B/D types) 2x (S type) Laser Machinegun; Standard Armament: 1x GPU-9 35 mm Gattling Gunpod, maximum loading of 12 AMRAAM-2 Medium-range air-to-air missiles (Raytheon & Bifors AIM-200A I/ALH guidance)
Defensive Armament: Flare and Chaff Dispensor System (1x AN/ALE55, IDECM)(AN/ALQ220A), Active Stealth System (ASS-PS110), SWAG Energy Conversion Armour System (AWAG/RA105).


SV-51
Design Production: Joint Development by Sukhoi / Israeli Aircraft Industries / Dornier
Length: 22.77 m
Weight: 17,800 Kg
Engine: (main) Aviadvigatel D-30F6X Turbofan jeti, (Auxilliary) 2x VTOL use lift fans
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.81 at 11,000 m altitude
Cruising Range: 2,075 Km when equipped with standard Micro-missile launcher / Auxillary Fuel composite pods
Climbing Limit: 22,500 m
Armament: Fixed Armament: 1x Gsh-231 12.7 mm machinegun; Standard Armament: 1x Gsh-371 55 mm Gunpod, 2x micro-missile launcher / auxillary fuel composite pods (18x Turopov SA-19 MI/IR Guided Micro-missiles)
Defensive Armament: SPO-15C 360° Passive Radar Warning Receiver System, APP-60 Flare and Chaff Dispenser system, RP-51 Active Stealth System, SW-51 SWAG Energy Conversion Armour System.


VF-1A Valkyrie
Design Production: Northrum / Stonewell
Length: 14.23 m
Weight: 13,250 Kg
Engine: Shinakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Royce FF-2001 Thermonuclear Turbine x2 (Auxillary Machine: 3x liquid rocket booster)
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.81 at 10,000m, Mach 3.87 at above 30,000 m.
Cruising Range: infinite
Climbing Limit: above satellite orbit (when using a booster)
Armament: Fixed Armament: 1x Head Mauler ROV-20 Laser Machinegun; Standard Armament: 1x Howard 55 mm 3-barrel GU-11 Gunpod


VF-1J Valkyrie
Design Production: Stonewell / Bellcom / Shinakasu Heavy Industry
Length: 14.23 m
Weight: 13,250 Kg
Engine: Shinakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Royce FF-2001 Thermonuclear Turbine x2 (Auxillary Machine: 3x liquid rocket booster)
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.81 at 10,000m, Mach 3.87 at above 30,000 m.
Climbing Limit: above satellite orbit (when using a booster)
Armament: Fixed Armament: 2x Head Mauler ROV-20 Laser Machinegun; Standard Armament: 1x Howard 55 mm 3-barrel GU-11 Gunpod, Reaction Warheads, etc..


VF-1S Valkyrie
Design Production: Stonewell / Bellcom / Shinakasu Heavy Industry
Length: 14.23 m
Weight: 13,250 Kg
Engine: Shinakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Royce FF-2001 Thermonuclear Turbine x2 (Auxillary Machine: 3x liquid rocket booster)
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.81 at 10,000m, Mach 3.87 at above 30,000 m.
Cruising Range: infinite
Climbing Limit: above satellite orbit (when using a booster)
Armament: Fixed Armament: 4x Head Mauler ROV-20 Laser Machinegun; Standard Armament: 1x Howard 55 mm 3-barrel GU-11 Gunpod, Reaction Warheads, etc..


Super Valkyrie
* Special [unique] equipment for space use.
Design Production: Shinakasu Heavy Industry
Additional Equipment: FAST packs (leg propellant tank, Dorsal Sub-boosters, Arm micro-missile pods)
Additional Armament: Micro-missiles


Armored Valkyrie = GPS-1S (Protect Weapon System) Equipment
*Initially corresponds only to the VF-1J
Design Production: Shinakasu Heavy Industry
Additional Armament - Fixed Armament: 2 3-barrel Ericon GA-100 High-speed Armour-Piercing Crusher in each arm (3 shots per launcher, for a total of 18 shots), 56 shot Ericon GH-32 Grenade Crusher (without a second shot loaded, for volley firing only).


Strike Valkyrie
* A 2-barrel beam cannon added to the FAST pack equipment of a Super Valkyrie
Design Production: Shinakasu Heavy Industry
Additional Equipment: 2-barrel beam cannon (replacing the left dorsal booster's micro-missile pod)


VF-1 Super Ostrich
Length: 14.23 m
Weight: 13,250 Kg
Engine: Shinakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Royce FF-2001 Thermonuclear Turbine x2 (Auxillary Machine: 3x liquid rocket booster)
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.81 at 10,000m, Mach 3.87 at above 30,000 m.
Cruising Range: infinite
Climbing Limit: above satellite orbit (when using a booster)
Armament: none (as the result of being an unarmed training craft)
Defensive Armament: Attitude Control Thruster


VE-1 Elint Seeker
Length: 14.23 m
Weight: 13,250 Kg
Engine: Shinakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Royce FF-2001 Thermonuclear Turbine x2 (Auxillary Machine: 3x liquid rocket booster)
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.81 at 10,000m, Mach 3.87 at above 30,000 m.
Cruising Range: infinite
Climbing Limit: above satellite orbit (when using a booster)
Armament: Fixed Armament: 1x Head Mauler ROV-20 Laser Machinegun; Standard Armament: 1x Howard 55 mm 3-barrel GU-11 Gunpod, all sorts of control systems (large radome, etc.).
Defensive Armament: Attitude Control Thruster


VF-4 Lightning
Design Production: General Galaxy
Length: 14.92 m
Weight: 13,950 Kg empty
Engine: Shinnakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / RR FF-2450B Thermonuclear Booster [buster] turbine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 3.02 at 10,000m, Mach 5.15 at 30,000 m.
Climbing Limit: 35,000 m (there is no zoom rise effect)
Armament: Standard Armament: 2x single barrel charged particle beam cannon (1 each on both twin nacelle), 1x 3-barrel charged particle gattling cannon,
12x semi-conformal type (half-embedded body) medium-range guided missile (6x in each twin-hull), 30 mm 6-barrel gattling cannon (D, S types), Gu-11 55 mm 3 barrel gun pod (D, S types)


VF-9 Cutlass
Design Production: General Galaxy
Length: 11.2 m
Weight: 7,500 Kg empty


VF-11 Thunderbolt
Design Production: Shinsei Industry
Length: 15.51 m
Weight: 9,000 Kg
Engine: Shinsei / P&W / Royce FF-2025G Thermonuclear Turbine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 3.50+ at 10,000m, Mach 8.20+ at 30,000 m.
Armament: Fixed Armament: 1x Laser Machinegun; Standard Armament: 1x Anti-air Pulse Laser, 1x 30 mm 6-barrel Gunpod
Defensive Armament: 2x Chaff & Flare Dispensers


VF-14 Vampire
Design Production: General Galaxy / Messhii
Engine: Shinakasu Daimuraa FF-2770D Thermonuclear Engine x2


VF-5000 Star Mirage
Design Production: Shinsei Industry
Length: 14.03 m
Weight: 8,300 Kg empty
Engine: Shinsei / P&W / Royce FF-2015RB Thermonuclear Reaction Turbine Engine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.85+
Cruising Range: unlimited
Climbing Limit: above satellite orbit (when using a booster)
Armament: Standard Armament: 1x anti-air laser cannon, 1x gun pod, 1x micro-missile launcher, other


VF-17 Nightmare
Design Production: General Galaxy
Length: 15.63 m (16.13 m T type)
Weight: 11,850 Kg, (12,200 Kg T type)
Engine: Shinakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Roy FF-2100X Thermonuclear Booster [Buster] Turbine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 4.0+ at 10,000m, Mach 21.0+ at above 30,000 m.
Armament: Fixed Armament: 2x Laser Machinegun; Standard Armament: 2x (4x S type) Anti-Air Laser Gun, 2x Medium Bore Laser Beam Gun, 7-barrel Gunpod, 2x Micro-missile Launcher


VF-19 Excalibur
Design Production: Shinsei Industry
Length: 18.47 m
Weight: 8,550 Kg (S & F types), 8,400 Kg (C type) Kg empty
Engine: Shinsei / P&W / RR FF-2550J (S type), FF-2550F (F type) Thermonuclear Booster [Buster] Turbine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 5.1+ at 10,000m, Mach 21.0+ at 30,000 m.
Armament: Fixed Armament: 2x (S/C types) or 1x (F type) Laser Machinegun; Standard Armament: 2x REB-23 Semi-fixed Laser Machinegun, 1x GU-15 Gunpod, 24x Micro-missiles, 6x Medium Range Missile, other
Defensive Armament: 1x PBS-03F Pin-point Barrier System.


VF-22 Sturmvolgel II
Design Production: General Galaxy
Length: 19.62 m
Weight: 9,340 Kg empty
Engine: Shinnakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / RR FF-2450B Thermonuclear Booster [Buster] Turbine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 5.07 at 10,000m, Mach 22 at above 30,000 m.
Armament: Standard Armament: 1x Ericon AAB-7 Anti-Air Beam Gun, 2x REB-22 Laser Beam Gun, 2x GE GV-17L Gunpod, 4x Bifors BML-02S Micro-missile launcher.
Defensive Armament: 1x Hughes PBS-03F Pin-point Barrier System, 2x Stabilizer and Shield.


YF-19 (Prototype)
Design Production: Shinsei Industry
Length: 18.62 m
Weight: 8,620 Kg (S type), 8,550 Kg (F type), 8,400 Kg (C type) Kg empty
Engine: Shinsei / P&W / RR FF-2550J (S type), FF-2550F (F type) Thermonuclear Booster [Buster] Turbine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 5.1+ at 10,000m, Mach 21.0+ at 30,000 m.
Armament: 2x (S/C types) or 1x (F type) REB-30G Anti-Air Laser Machinegun, 2x REB-23 Semi-fixed Laser Machinegun, 1x Bifors GU-15 Gunpod, 24x Micro-missiles, 6x Medium Range Missile, other
Defensive Armament: 1x PBS-03F Pin-point Barrier System.


YF-21
Design Production: General Galaxy
Length: 19.62 m
Weight: 9,550 Kg empty
Engine: Shinnakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / RR FF-2450B Thermonuclear Booster [Buster] Turbine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 5.06 at 10,000m, Mach 20+ at above 30,000 m.
Armament: Standard Armament: 1x Ericon AAB-7 Anti-Air Beam Gun, 2x REB-22 Laser Beam Gun, 2x GE GV-17L Gunpod, 4x Bifors BML-02S Micro-missile launcher.
Defensive Armament: 1x Hughes PBS-03F Pin-point Barrier System, 2x Stabilizer and Shield.


VA-3M Invader
Design Production: Northrum / Gruman
Length: 16.20 m
Weight: 13,330 Kg empty
Engine: Shinakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / Royce FF-2020A Thermonuclear Reaction Turbine Engine x2
Maximum Speed: Mach 2.2+
Armament: Standard Armament: beam gun, 6x High-manueverability missiles, 12x micro-missiles, Torpedoes (only when underwater)


VB-6 Konig Monster
Design Production: Shinakasu / Northrum & Gruman
Length: 29.78 m
Weight: 101,900 Kg empty
Engine: (a) Shinnakasu Heavy Industry / P&W / RR FF-2025BX Thermonuclear Turbine x2, (b) Shinakasu / Viggers combined Electromagnetic Plasma Rocket Engine & Rail Gun system x4
Maximum Speed: Mach 1.7+ at 10,000m, Mach 3.2+ at above 10,000 m.
Cruising Range: almost unrestricted (within atmosphere)
Armament: Standard Armament: 1x 4-barrel 320 mm Rail Gun turret, 1x Anti-Air, Anti-Ground Machinegun turret, 2x rapid-fire Anti-Air, Anti-Ground Close Range Small High Manueverability missile launcher.


095-098
Special Interview: Yoshino Hiroyuki
"Macross F" Series Composition

(...)