Vertega V-10

From Atlas
V-10 "Cyclone"
Granzerian Vertega V-10K
Role Multirole fighter
National origin  Granzery
Manufacturer Vertega Aerospace
Vrtlac (TLV-27)
First flight 1983
Introduction 1986
Status In service
Primary user Grozyar Air Force
Produced 1986-present
Number built 2,000+
Developed from Vertega V-8 Blizzard

The Vertega V-10 Cyclone is a twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, carrier-capable, multirole combat jet, designed to fulfil the roles of both a fighter and attack aircraft. Designed by Vertega, the V-10 was derived from the earlier Vertega V-8 Blizzard fighter in the 1970s for use by the Granzerian Royal Air Force and Granzerian Royal Navy. The Cyclone is also used by other countries military forces, and is the most exported multirole aircraft in Atlas, fielded by fifteen nations.

The V-10 has a top speed of Mach 1.8 (1,034 knots, 1,190 mph or 1,915 km/h at 40,000 ft or 12,200 m). It can carry a wide variety of bombs and missiles, including air-to-air and air-to-ground, supplemented by the 20-mm LP-08 cannon. It is powered by two Vertega VO322-78T afterburning turbofan engines, which give the aircraft a high thrust-to-weight ratio. The V-10 has excellent aerodynamic characteristics, and has been regularly upgraded since its initial deployment. The Cyclone's primary missions are fighter escort, suppression of enemy air defenses, air interdiction and close air support.

Despite the age of the V-10 and introduction of more advanced aircraft such as the Vertega V-12, the V-10 remains in mass production and projected to remain in mass-production until at least 2025.

Development[edit]

The Vertega V-10 was initially developed as an upgrade of the V-8 Blizzard for the Granzerian Royal Navy to replace the ageing KmFzG-13 Weisserrabe carrier-borne aircraft. The initial Prototype G.2E variant was modified with folding wings, upgraded engines, upgraded cockpit, completely redesigned frontal section, high-lift devices, as well as a reinforced undercarriage and arresting gear for use as a carrier-borne fighter for Granzerian Juhasz Kiraly-class carriers. The GRN continued to use the V-10T and V-10FT naval fighter variants until the 1996 introduction of the Viktor Franz Turanok-class aircraft carriers which were large enough to carry the larger V-10KT naval fighters.

The GRAF at the time was to use the Chazicarian KmFzG-7 Boxfalke as a primary multirole aircraft to supplement the V-8 Blizzard and replace their own ageing Weisserrabe and K-3/5/7 Lightning aircraft. The Boxfalke was to serve in conjunction with an inexpensive multirole strike aircraft which was to be determined by the GRAF, entered in this competition were the RrFzG-5e Möwe, TBA and Vertega V-10, the Cyclone outperformed the other aircraft of the competition and an enlarged variant was selected as the multirole strike fighter of the GRAF. Due to the success of the V-10 as a fighter, the GRAF cancelled ongoing Boxfalke orders to use the inexpensive Vertega V-10 as the primary multirole and air superiority aircraft of the GRAF.

Operational history[edit]

A Prototype V-10S in flight

Variants[edit]

  • Vertega G.2E V8S2: 1983 Prototype version.
  • V-10T: Initial production naval fighter with folding wings, high-lift devices, and arresting gear; entered service in 1986.
  • V-10A: Initial production CTOL GRAF variant; entered service in 1987.
    • I-10S: Initial production two-seat operational conversion trainer.
    • V-10AK: Export version of the V-10A with slightly downgraded radar with multiple target tracking ability and AAM-AE compatibility.
      • V/E-10AK(M): Micsütem produced variant of the V-10AK with modernised avionics, radar and targeting. Known commonly as the Hurricane.
  • CF-03: Chilokveri variant of the V-10 Cyclone
  • V-10F: Upgraded version.
    • V-10LF: The single-seat V-10LF is a dedicated air superiority fighter variant of the Cyclone designed to counter the Stasnovan Su-35 and Chazicarian KmFzG-7 Boxfalke. It was largely identical to the V-10F with thrust vectored engines and actuated forebody strakes.
    • V-10FK: Export variant of the V-10F.
    • V-10FT: Carrier-borne variant.
  • V-10K/KKÜ: The single-seat V-10K and two-seat V-10KKÜ, both officially named Super Cyclone, carry over the name and design concept of the original V-10 but have been extensively redesigned by Vertega. The Super Cyclone has a new, 25% larger airframe, larger rectangular air intakes, more powerful engines, and an upgraded avionics suite.
    • V-10KLF: Air superiority variant of the V-10K based on the V-10LF with actuated forebody strakes and 3d thrust vectoring engines.
    • V-10KK: Export variant of the V-10K, .
    • V-10KT: Carrier-borne export variant of the V-10K. Known commonly as the Sea Cyclone or also as Kati
    • F-10K: Designated Electronic warfare variant, known as Thunderstorm.
    • L-27: Lavikonan variant of the V-10 Cyclone.
  • V-10S: Variant of the V-10 with conformal fuel tanks, actuated forebody strakes, upgraded radar, and reduced radar cross-section. Production began in 2016 and 300 units are expected to be upgraded by 2021. Commonly known as the Stealth Cyclone.
    • V-10SK: Export variant of the V-10S, with downgraded avionics and radar.
    • V-10SKT: Carrier variant of the V-10S
    • V-10SW: Variant of the V-10S for the Volgarian Air Force. Similar to the standard V-10S but lacking thrust-vectored engines.
A Granzerian V-10FT takes off from an aircraft carrier

Operators[edit]

Specifications (V-10K)[edit]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 17.1 m
  • Wingspan: 12.3 m
  • Height: 4.7 m
  • Wing area: 38 m2
  • Empty weight: 10,400 kg
  • Loaded weight: 16,770 kg
  • Max takeoff weight: 23,500 kg
  • Powerplant: 2× Vertega VO322-78T Afterburning Turbofans

Performance

Armament

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