Vertega V-12

The Vertega Oppirus V-12 Tempest (: Vertega V-12 Vihar) is a Granzerian supersonic, stealth multirole fighter developed by the Vertega Corporation during the late 1990s and early 2000s and entered service with the Granzerian Air Force in mid-to-late 2005. It is intended to eventually replace older interceptors and some multiroles. The aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but also has ground attack, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence capabilities. The V-12 Project was a joint venture between the Granzerian and Elesarian government, with the Elesarian firm Sava developing the engines.

The aircraft was variously designated K-12 and V-12 before it formally entered service in December 2005 as the V-12A. After a protracted development, the GrAF considers the V-12 critical to its tactical air power, and says that the aircraft is unmatched by any known or projected fighter. The Tempest's combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and situational awareness gives the aircraft unprecedented air combat capabilities.

Airframe
The V-12 is a large twin-engine aircraft, the design of which makes extended use of composite materials to increase structural strength and stability, as well as reduce its weight. The design shares many similarities with the Chazicarian, as the V-12 is partly based on the same basic design principles.

Stealth
The V-12 was designed to be highly difficult to detect and track by radar. Measures to reduce radar cross-section include airframe shaping such as alignment of edges, fixed-geometry serpentine inlets that prevent line-of-sight of the engine faces from any exterior view, use of radar-absorbent material (RAM), and attention to detail such as hinges and pilot helmets that could provide a radar return. The V-12 was also designed to have decreased radio emissions, infrared signature and acoustic signature as well as reduced visibility to the naked eye. The aircraft's flat thrust vectoring nozzle reduces infrared emissions to mitigate the threat of infrared homing ("heat seeking") surface-to-air or air-to-air missiles. Additional measures to reduce the infrared signature include special paint and active cooling of leading edges to manage the heat buildup from supersonic flight. Compared to previous stealth designs, the V-12 is less reliant on radar-absorbent materials, which are maintenance-intensive and susceptible to adverse weather conditions. The V-12 can undergo repairs on the flight line or in a normal hangar, unlike many stealth aircraft which require climate controlled hangars.

Electronics, countermeasurs and Avionics
Key avionics on V-12 include the Vertega VAWLoR-03 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the Vertega VAT-S13 radar warning receiver (RWR). The VAWL LoR-03 is a multifunctional missile warning, ultraviolet and infra-red search-and-tracking, missile reporting and aircraft detection system, that provides spherical coverage around the aircraft. The VAT-S13 consists of 30 antennas blended into the wings and fuselage for all-round coverage. Jákob Tar, former V-12 program head at Vertega, described it as "the most technically complex piece of equipment on the aircraft."

Engines
The V-12 makes use of two powerful Sava TBA afterburning pitch thrust vectoring turbofan engines. The TBA provides the aircraft with a maximum speed of Mach 2.5.

Variants

 * VV-5118.3: Prototype variant. Three were built.
 * V-18A: Standard production variant.
 * V-18AK: Export version with downgraded radar and stealth. Currently only offered to select countries.
 * V-18S: Upgraded variant under development, expected to enter service in 2020.

Operators

 * Granzery: The Granzerian Air Force operates approximately 164 V-18 fighters, with a further 106 on order, last unit expected to be completed in late 2023.
 * Elesar: TBA