This new system allowed the use of a lead-collision attack in place of the previous lead-pursuit-curve technique. F-89D Main production version which saw deletion of the six 20-millimeter cannon in favor of 104 rockets in wing pods, installation of new Hughes E-6 fire-control system, AN/APG-40 radar and the AN/APA-84 computer. YF-89D Conversion of one F-89B to test new avionics and armament of F-89D. DF-89B F-89Bs converted into drone control aircraft. F-89B Second production version with upgraded avionics. DF-89A F-89As converted into drone control aircraft. Fitted with revised tailplane and six cannon armament. F-89A First production version, eight built. Fitted with more powerful 5,100 lbf (22.69 kN) dry (6,800 lbf (30.25 kN) wet) Allison J35-A-21A engines and revised, pointed nose with cannon armament. XF-89 First prototype, powered by two 4,000 lbf (17.79 kN) Allison J35-A-9 engines. 2 × MB-1 (later AIR-2) Genie nuclear armed rocket.42 “Mighty Mouse” Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets.2 × pods of 52 2.75 in (70 mm) “Mighty Mouse” Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets, for a total of 104.Powerplant: 2 × Allison J35-A-35 afterburning turbojet engines, 5,440 lbf (24.2 kN) thrust each dry, 7,200 lbf (32 kN) with afterburner.
XFJ-01 Shiranui Second ( Phase 1| Phase 2| Phase 3).Imperial Japanese Tactical Surface Fighters/Attackers ĭespite its troubled development history, the A-12 was deployed into live combat, beginning in 1999. The latter two reasons have also significantly increased the procurement cost of the A-12. Deployment ĭeployment of the A-12 was greatly delayed due to a combination of factors, such as the tangle of merging companies during its development phase, the complexity of its transforming mechanism, and the exotic and highly-developed technologies used in its systems. Other optional armaments include a 12-shot multipurpose missile VLS. However, development lags in the railgun have resulted in current A-12s being equipped with a 76mm rapid-fire cannon instead. įurthermore, the adoption of nuclear power for the A-12's systems has enabled it to be equipped with a railgun for support use during shore-landing operations. Combined with countermeasure support from its own submarine tender, magnetism-based propulsion systems, and the adoption of nuclear power into its systems, the A-12 can maintain an almost-soundless long-distance cruising capability without the need to resupply. These countermeasures are designed with both radar and other sensors in mind, giving the unit an impressive anti-detection coverage that is commonly referred to as "stealth capabilities". Perhaps the greatest innovation applied to the A-12 is the inclusion of detection countermeasures into the TSA's frame, similarly to Lockheed Mardin's flagship TSF, the F-22A Raptor. Other variations in equipment, such as missile launchers, also exist for the support modules. The A-12 has also retained the supercarbon manipulators of the A-6 for melee combat, and is armed with four additional 120mm smoothbore cannons on its support equipment modules. Īs a TSA designed to surpass the A-6, the A-12 is even more heavily armed than its predecessor each arm houses a pair of 36mm chainguns and a pair of 12.7mm heavy machineguns, equating to four 36mm chainguns and four 12.7mm heavy machineguns in total. When Boening announced their decision to pull out from the development team, around the time of their takeover of McDaell Doglam, Lockweed Mardin was left to shoulder both the production and maintenance of the A-12. Originally developed by General Dynomics and McDaell Doglam, the A-12's development was later passed to Lockweed Mardin and Boening after both companies absorbed General Dynomics and McDaell Doglam, respectively. 4x 120mm smoothbore cannons/ missile launchersġ2-shot multipurpose missile VLS (optional)Ī 3 rd generation Tactical Surface Attacker, the A-12 Avenger can be considered the direct successor to the A-6 Intruder, and is currently in service with the US Marine Corps.