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TL8 Turbo-Ramjet Interceptor

This is an early TL 8 design. It is primarily intended to serve as an interceptor, though it could, if required, perform close-air support missions (though cheaper turboprops are preferred for such roles). By mid-TL 8, it would likely only be found in third-world countries.

In the air-to-air role, it normally carries six 127mm SAMs in the bay (195 lbs each) and, if required, one under each wing. In the CAS role, it normally carries two SAMs on the hardpoints and three laser-guided 500-lb retarded bombs in the weapon bay (it also requires another vehicle or a forward observer to illuminate the target).

Unless noted otherwise, all components that are "facing specific" are mounted Front.

 Subassemblies: two high agility wings, three small retractable wheels
 Body Features: excellent streamlining
 Propulsion: two 9000 lb thrust afterburing turbo-ramjets, each consumes 405 gph jet fuel per hour
 Weaponry: 20mmC rotary cannon, 1000x20mmC SAPHE rounds or 660x20mmC APEX rounds, one 200-lb hardpoint under each wing, weapon bay with 1500-lb capacity
 Instruments and electronics (body): air-search radar (100 miles, Scan 23), terrain-following radar, two long range scrambled radios, military GPS, one hardened minicomputer, two hardened small computers, one terminals, advanced laser/radar detector, digital camera, HUDWAC, laser spot tracker
 Miscellaneous: 2 Dischargers (1 chaff, 1 flare) with 5 refills each, fire extinguisher system
 Controls: Computer
 Occupancy: Short
 Passengers: None
 Crew: Pilot in normal ejectable G-seat
 Environmental Systems: 6 man/hours limited life support, environmental controls for one man
 Power: 180 kW drawn from turbojets
 Fuel: three self-sealing fuel tanks (150 gallons body, 150 gallons each wing), 450 gallons jet fuel
 Access, Cargo and Empty Space: body: 56.1 cf access, 6.195 cf empty; each wing: 17.5 cf empty
 Volumes: Body 365 cf, each Wing 40 cf, Wheels 18.25 cf; Surface Area: Body 306 sf, each wing 140 sf, wheel 42 sf, Total Area 629 sf
 Structure: medium frame
 Structural Options: sealed, automatic variable sweep wings, folding wings, basic stealth, basic IR cloaking
 Hit Points: Body 459, each Wing 211, Wheels (each) 42
 Armor: PD 4 DR 20 advanced composite
 Statistics (full payload): Empty Weight 10,957, Loaded Weight 14,535 lbs (7.27 tons), Volume 405.5 cf, Size Modifier +4, Loaded Price $2,693,158, HT 11 (HT 12 if bay empty)
 Air Performance (Hardpoints Loaded/Bay Full): Stall Speed 115 mph, drag 39.3, Top speed 1850 mph, aAccel 25, aDecel 38, aMR 10, aSR 5, Takeoff run 165 yards, Landing run 329 yards
 Air Performance, afterburners lit (Hardpoints Loaded/Bay Full): Stall Speed 115 mph, drag 39.3, Top speed 2270 mph, aAccel 37, aDecel 38, aMR 10, aSR 5, Takeoff run 135 yards, Landing run 329 yards
 Air Performance (Clean/Bay Empty): Stall Speed 108 mph, drag 29.3, Top Speed 2150 mph, aAccel 28, aDecel 43, aMR 11, aSR 5, Takeoff run 137 yards, Landing run 291 yards
 Air Performance, afterburners lit (Clean/Bay Empty): Stall Speed 108 mph, drag 29.3, Top Speed 2625 mph, aAccel 42, aDecel 43, aMR 11, aSR 5, Takeoff run 112 yards, Landing run 291 yards

[The performance figures above do not account for the variable sweep wings; see p.VE160 for details].

New Weapons
20mmC rotary cannon: six long barrels, electric gatling
SAPHE ammo: Dam 6dx3(0.5) Cr plus 1d+2 Exp, Malf Crit, Type Cr, SS 30, Acc 14, 1/2 Dam 1250 yds, Max 5500 yds, ROF 30; $2.72 and 0.453 lbs per shell

For missiles, see the TL8 jet interceptor or TL8 CAS turboprop.