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The Alteran Aerospace P.123 Falcon is an Alteran twin-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed exclusively for the Alteran Air Defence Force (AADF). The result of the AADF's Future Offensive Combat Aircraft (FOCA) programme, the aircraft was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but also has ground attack, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence capabilities. The prime contractor, Alteran Aerospace, built most of the P.123's airframe and weapons systems and conducted final assembly, while a number of multi-national companies provided the wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and training systems.

Despite its protracted development and various operational issues, AADF officials consider the P.123 a critical component of the service's tactical air power. Its combination of stealth, aerodynamic performance, and avionics systems enable unprecedented air combat capabilities.

Service officials had originally planned to buy a total of 400 ATFs. In 2009, the program was cut to 180 operational production aircraft due to high costs, a lack of clear air-to-air missions due to delays in adversary fighter programs, a limitation on exports, and development of the more versatile P.125 Osprey.

Development

The AAe P.123 Falcon is a twin-engine all-weather fifth-generation Alteran-led, multi-nationally developed multi-role fighter, being designed by Alteran Aerospace (AAe) with technological assistance from a variety of nations. The aircraft is slated to replace a variety of frontline multi-role fighters within the air forces of the consortium and is being planned to be offered to foreign air forces as well. Alteran, Ostehaar, Corindia and Athara Magarat all contributed to the programme. The initial design was a contender for the AADF's Future Offensive Combat Aircraft (FOCA) programme, which also saw the development of the P.109 Vulture and later the P.125 Osprey.

On 15 December 1993, Alteran's Ministry of Defence decided to design, develop, and manufacture an indigenous next generation air-to-air combat fighter which would replace Alteran's P.112 Gadwall and eventually complement their fleet of P.109 Vulture fleet. Initially, Alteran's CfD extended a funding package of Ͼ20 million, which was allocated for a 2-year conceptual design phase that will be performed by AAe. AAe officials completed the conceptual stage in 1995, with a report being prepared and served to the Chief Executive for approval of the development phase budget and framework. Simultaneously, both the CfD and AAe began to investigate the possibility of foreign investment and the forming of a multi-national consortium to see the aircraft developed. After a series of lengthy and intense discussions, it was decided that the governments of Alteran and Keomora would foot much of the bill for its development.

Alteran Aerospace and Ostehaar's Satre Aerospace led the design, entry and development aspects of the project. Altera's Rowlands focused primarily on the production and testing of the aircraft's engines, while AAe, Athara Magarat's Akash Company and Satre Aerospace developed the airframe and other components. Additional components, including the landing gear, were developed and manufactured by Corindia's Aeromada Incorporada company. Both AAe and Lockspear Aerospace Company were responsible for final assembly. Altera's Van Howell Technologies company handled the development and installation of the infrastructure for the communications system.

Prime contractor Alteran Aerospace manufactured the majority of the airframe and performed final assembly at their assembly plant in Ludlum. P.123 production was split up over many subcontractors across contractor nations in a bid to gain support from both the multi-national consortium and the Alteran government - though this production split may have contributed to increased costs and delays. Many capabilities were deferred to post-service upgrades, reducing the initial cost but increasing total program cost.

Design

The P.123 Falcon is a fifth-generation fighter that is considered more advanced that currently fielded 4.5th generation stealth aircraft technology by the AADF. It is one of the first operational aircraft to combine supercruise, supermanoeuvrability, stealth, and sensor fusion in a single weapons platform, within the region. The Falcon has clipped delta wings with a reverse sweep on the rear, the notable lack of rear elevators, and a retractable tricycle landing gear. Flight control surfaces include leading-edge flaps, flaperons, ailerons, rudders on the canted vertical stabilisers; these surfaces also serve as speed brakes.

The aircraft's dual afterburning turbofan engines, developed by Rowlands PLC, are closely spaced and incorporate 2D pitch-axis thrust vectoring nozzles with a range of ±35 degrees; each engine has maximum thrust in the 37,500 lbf (167 kN) class. The P.123's thrust-to-weight ratio in typical combat configuration is nearly at unity in maximum military power and 1.25 in full afterburner. Maximum speed without external stores is estimated to be Mach 1.6 during supercruise and greater than Mach 2 with afterburners.

Carrying on the tradition of other AAe aircraft, the P.123 counts itself among the many aircraft that can perform supercruise speeds, or sustain supersonic flight without using fuel-inefficient afterburners; it can intercept targets which subsonic aircraft would lack the speed to pursue and an afterburner-dependent aircraft would lack the fuel to reach. The Falcon's high operating altitude is also a significant tactical advantage over prior fighters. The use of internal weapons bays permits the aircraft to maintain comparatively higher performance over most other combat-configured fighters due to a lack of aerodynamic drag from external stores. The P.123's structure contains a significant amount of high-strength materials to withstand stress and heat of sustained supersonic flight. Respectively, titanium alloys and composites comprise 39% and 24% of the aircraft's structural weight.

The P.123 is highly manoeuvrable at both supersonic and subsonic speeds. Computerised flight control system and full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) make the aircraft highly departure resistant and controllable. The Falcon's relaxed stability and powerful thrust-vectoring engines enable the aircraft to turn tightly and perform very high alpha (angle of attack) manoeuvres such as the Herbst manoeuvre (J-turn) and Pugachev's Cobra. The aircraft is also capable of maintaining over 60° alpha while having some roll control.

The Falcon's aerodynamic performance, sensor fusion, and stealth work together for increased effectiveness. Altitude, speed, and advanced active and passive sensors allow the aircraft to spot targets at considerable ranges and increase weapons range; altitude and speed also complement stealth's ability to increase the aircraft's survivability against ground defences such as surface-to-air missiles.

Variants

Tranche One (2009 - )

First production version, dedicated multi-role variant, powered by a Rowlands Aerospace 'Baxter' Mk.I engine, outfitted with eight external hardpoints (six under-wing, two wing-tips) and an internal bay with up to eight revolving mounts. Produced from 2009. Subsequent upgrades (Block 2 and Block 3) upgraded its avionics, radar and combat systems. A single seat option was developed, designated by the letter 'T', but has not been considered by many prospective customers.

Tranche Two (2016 - )

An exclusive variant produced only for Altera, this variant utilises an array of upgrades not available to international customers; including new sensors and antennas, hardware refresh, cockpit improvements, and a helmet mounted display and cuing system. Other enhancements being developed include IRST functionality for a Missile Launch Detector (MLD) developed by Van Howell Technologies and more durable stealth coating based on the P.125 Osprey's. The Tranche Two variant/upgrade is expected to be used until - and alongside the planned P.128 Merlin. A maritime version was developed for use with the Ascendence Class carrier, featuring navalized features - including arrestor cable hooks and a reinforced landing gear for CATOBAR use.

Tranche Three (2021 - )

Although not technically in production, the Tranche Three programme is set to be a testbed for technologies incorporated in the planned P.128 Merlin 6th Generation Fighter, including new AR cockpit equipment, improved radar, communications and tracking hardware, and technologies developed by Conway AR. Although not officially recognised as an in-production variant by the Alteran Government, AAe has hinted at its possible production as it nears the introduction of the P.128 in the late 2020s/early 2030s.

Operators

• Air Defence Force - Alteran republics

• Maritime Defence Fore - Alteran republics
  

Liveries

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Merito non pareret. | By merit, not birth.