Developed in 2036 to a Navy specification, the A-12 Dragon is a small plane capable of carrying a big package (up to 24,500 lbs of bombs and missiles). The protoypes performed very well and an order was immediately placed for 200 Dragons. Unfortunately, just as the production line was being readied, the Navy and Marines underwent several cutbacks and the contract was canceled.
Fortunately, Harrision Aeronautics was able to market the bomber to several state militias as well as other nations. The plane was not overly expensive for its role and was highly regarded. Since 2038, some 1,500 of the planes have been built, about one half remaining in North America. Aside from its intended role as a strike bomber, the Dragon also has been used to patrol territorial waters and, with the 180 cf weapon bay sealed and refitted with electronics and sensor operators, as a oberservation plane. Ironically, no one has operated the A-12 from a carrier.
The A-12 is slightly unusual in that it has no external stealth cloaking; this was intentional, since such a feature would be wasted when carrying external stores, the plane instead relying on EW systems. Actual ordnance load varies, ranging from 88 unguided 250-lb bombs to 22 laser-guided 1000-lb bombs. Stats for three bombs types are provided. A Sidewinder II is normally carried on each wingtip.
Subassemblies: Body +4, two STOL Wings +2, three Retractable
Rough Field Wheels +2
P&P: two turbofans (5,000 lbs thrust each), produces 100
kW power, 1 rE-cell
Fuel: 320 gallons jet fuel (fire chance: 7) in two two self
sealing wing tanks (100 gallons each) and one self-sealing fuselage tanks
(120 gallons), 2.13 hours (1209 miles @ 80% speed fully loaded)
Occ: 2 NCS
Cargo: 28 cf empty space
| Armor | All | ||||
| Body | 4/15 C | ||||
| Wings | 4/15 C | ||||
| Wheels | 2/5 |
Weaponry
2* 30mmC autocannons [Bo:F] (300 APEX each)
weapons bay (6100 lbs) [Bo:U]
1 * 200 lb hardpoint [LWing:U] (1 Sidewinder II missile)
1 * 200 lb hardpoint [RWing:U] (1 Sidewinder II missile)
2 * 4000 hardpoints [LWing:U]
2 * 4000 hardpoints [RWing:U]
Equipment
Body: two long range scrambled radio, three medium range laser
comms, two IFF, hardened minicomputer, two hardened small computers, two
terminals, air-search radar (35 miles, Scan 20), ground search radar (20
miles, Scan 19), thermograph (25 miles, Scan 19), LLTV (100x, +6/+12),
military GPS, inertial navigation system, advanced radar/laser detector,
advanced bombsight, laser designator (20 miles), laser spot tracker, terrain
following radar, 2-man environmental system, 6 man-hours limited life support
for two crew, compact fire suppression system, autopilot, two ejector G-seats,
duplicate controls, two decoy dischargers (chaff, flare), 10 discharger
refills, deceptive jammer (rating 4)
Statistics
| Size: 16'x43'x57' | Payload: 27,500 lbs | Lwt: 39,304 lbs (19.65 tons) |
| Volume: 890 cf (Size Mod: +3) | Maint.: 12 hours | Price: $3,007,000 |
HT: 11 (12 unloaded)
HP: 1280 [body], 852 [each wing]
Fully Loaded
| aSpeed: 708 | aAccel: 5 | aDecel: 48 | aMR: 12 | aSR: 5 | aDrag: 149.5 |
| Stall: 107 mph | Takeoff: 314 yds | Landing: 284 yds |
Bay Loaded, Hardpoints Empty
| aSpeed: 868 | aAccel: 6 | aDecel: 60 | aMR: 15 | aSR: 5 | aDrag: 99.5 |
| Stall: 94 mph | Takeoff: 219 yds | Landing: 223 yds |
Design Notes
Frame is heavy for 600 cf superior streamlined body, two 115 cf wings
and 60 cf wheels. The vehicle is sealed and features IR cloaking.
New Weaponry
30mmC autocannon: one long barrel, heavy automatic, caseless
SAPHE ammo: Dam 9dx3(0.5) Cr plus 5d[2d] Exp, Malf Ver, Type Cr, SS
20, Acc 16, 1/2 Dam 1500 yds, Max 6300 yds, ROF 8*; $7 and 1.1 lbs per
shell; cannon $22,000, 228 lbs
Sidewinder II (127mm short-range AAM):
IIRH, normal HEPF-ABF warhead, Dam 6dx128 [20d] Exp, Skill 19, Max
25,000 yards (14.8 miles), Speed 2000 yds/sec, 195 lbs, $29,800
250-lb freefall bomb:
'normal' 228mm HE warhead, Dam 6dx594 [12d], 250 lbs, $2000
Laser-Guided, Retarded 500-lb bomb:
SALH, 'normal' 273mm HE warhead, Dam 6dx1176 [12d], Skill 13, 500 lbs,
$7,850
Laser-Guided, Retarded 1000-lb bomb:
SALH, 'normal' 356mm HE warhead, Dam 6dx2664 [12d], Skill 13, 1000
lbs, $14,700