Triax AB-121 Nightshade
| AB-121E/F Nightshade ABX | |
 | |
| TAEC AB-121E Nightshade | |
| | |
| Role | Advanced Stealth Strategic Bomber |
| National Origin | Californian Empire |
| Manufacturer | Triax Aeronautics Engineering Corporation |
| First Flight | 7 September 2226 |
| Introduction | 15 December 2226 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary Users | Californian Empire |
| Produced | 2226-Current |
| Number Built | 558 (8 test and 550 operation aircraft) |
| Program Cost | Đ20.82 billion CES ($44.75 billion USD) |
| Unit Cost | Đ131.67 million CES ($283.1 million USD) |
| Developed From | TAEC EB-119 Vampire, TAEC XB-121 |
| Developed Into | TAEC AB-121A, AB-121B/C, AB-121D, AB-121E/F |
| Variants | TAEC AB-121A Vampire, AB-121B/C Strike Vampire, AB-121D Vampire II, AB-121E/F Nightshade |
Contents
Overview
The Triax AB-121 Nightshade is an advanced four-engine supersonic jet-powered stealth strategic bomber used by the Californian Empire Air Force (CEAF). It was first envisioned in the 2190s as a supersonic bomber with Mach 2 speed, and sufficient range and payload to replace the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. It was developed into the AB-121B, primarily a low-level penetrator with long range and Mach 1.25 speed capability at high altitude.
Designed by Triax Aeronautics, development was delayed multiple times over its history, as the theory of strategic balance changed from flexible response to massive retaliation and back again. Each change in stance changed the perceived need for manned bombers. The initial AB-121A version was developed in the early 2220s, but its production was canceled, and only four prototypes were built. The need for a new platform once again surfaced in the early 2230s, and the aircraft resurfaced as the AB-121B version with the focus on low-level penetration bombing. Production went ahead as the E & F versions would be operational as the "Advanced Technology Bomber" (which became the Nightshade). The AB-121B entered service in 2226 with the CEAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a nuclear bomber.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Role: Advanced Stealth Strategic Bomber
- Crew: 4 (aircraft commander, copilot, offensive systems officer and defensive systems officer)
- Length: 172 ft (52.4 m) absolute. 160 ft (48.76m) fuselage.
- Wingspan: 144 ft (43.9 m)
- Wing area: 2,013 ft² (187 m²)
- Height: 34 ft (10.4 m)
- Empty weight: 242,000 lb (109,770 kg)
- Loaded weight: 531,250 lb (240,975 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 578,500 lb (262,410 kg)
- Powerplant: 4 × AviaTech Dynamics G105-AD-121 Olympus augmented turbofans
- Dry Thrust: 28,500 lbf (126.8 kN) each
- Thrust with afterburner: 51,200 lbf (227.7 kN) each
- Fuel Capacity: 242,000 lb (109,770 kg); optional: 3 x 29,700 lbs/4,500 US gal (13,472 L) in 3 internal weapons bays each for a total of 81,900 lbs/13,500 US gal (40,416 L)
- Payload: 94,500 lb (42,870 kg); internal ordnance.
Performance
- Maximum Speed:
- At altitude: Mach 2.32 with full afterburner (1,534.62 knots, 1,766 mph, 2,842.1 km/h at 50,000 ft/15,000 m altitude)
- Cruise speed: Mach 0.92 (700 mph, 1,130 km/h at 200–500 ft/60-150 m altitude)
- Range: 5,648 nmi (6,500 mi, 10,461 km) (full combat load)
- Combat radius: 2,607 nmi (3,000 mi, 4,828 km)
- Ferry range: 4,100 miles (6,600 km)
- Service Ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,000 m)
- Wing loading: 167 lb/ft² (816 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.38
- Maximum design g-load: -7/+13 g
- Initial Climb Rate: 45,000 ft/min (13,700 m/min)
Armament
- 6 × Six internal bomb bays for 94,500 lb (42,870 kg) of ordnance.
Bombs
| AB-121E/F Nightshade internal weapons load options | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bomb rack & Stores | Bay 1 | Bay 2 | Bay 3 | Bay 4 | Bay 5 | Bay 6 | Total | |
| conventional | ||||||||
| CBM 2816 to 3513 lb |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
|
14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 84 | |
| conventional | ||||||||
| SECBM (CBM w/ TMD upgrade) 5632 lb empty |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
|
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 30 | |
| GBU-38 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 15 | |
| multi-purpose | ||||||||
| MPRL 1300 to 2055 lb |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
|
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 24 | |
| Mk-65 naval mines | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
|
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 96 or 144 | |
| multi-purpose (mixed) | ||||||||
| MPRL (MER upgrade) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
|
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 36 | |
| GBU-38 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 48 | |
| ferry/range extension | ||||||||
| fuel tank 2975 gal |
1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 9157 gal | |
| nuclear (uniform)(out of use) | ||||||||
|
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| B28 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | |
|
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 24 | |
| nuclear (mixed)(out of use) | ||||||||
|
1 | |||||||
| AGM-86E/F | small fuel tank 8 |
small fuel tank 8 |
small fuel tank 8 |
24 | ||||
- 84× Mk-82 Air inflatable retarder (AIR) general purpose (GP) bombs
- 81× Mk-82 low drag general purpose (LDGP) bombs
- 84× Mk-62 Quickstrike sea mines
- 24× Mk-65 naval mines
- 30× CBU-87/89/CBU-97 Cluster Bomb Units (CBU)
- 30× CBU-103/104/105 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) CBUs
- 24× GBU-31 JDAM GPS guided bombs (Mk-84 GP or BLU-109 warhead)
- 15× GBU-38 JDAM GPS guided bombs (Mk-82 GP warhead)
- 24× Mk-84 general purpose bombs
- 12× AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)
- 96× or 144× GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb GPS guided bombs (not fielded on F/B-121 yet)
- 24× AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)
- 24× B61 nuclear variable-yield gravity bombs (strategic armament)
- 24× B83 nuclear gravity bombs (strategic armament)
- 24× AGM-86E/F Conventional Air-Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM)
Avionics
- AD/APX-216 forward-looking offensive passive phased-array radar
- AD/ALX-205 radar warning and defensive jamming equipment
- AD/ASX-232 defensive management system
- AviaTech Dynamics Assassin FLIR/EO/LASER suite
- Advanced Radar Detection System (ARADS) Integrated RADAR system incorporating a LPI AESA RADAR and passive detection systems.
- AD/AMX-73 Missile Launch Detection (MLD)
- Radar warning receiver (RWR) 450 nmi (833.40 km) or more detection range
- Infrared Tracking System
- Multipurpose Tactical Datalink
- Tandem LADAR/LIDAR sensors
- LADAR scrambling systems
- IR Dazzlers
- Multi-function physical countermeasures (chaff, flares) release system
- Multi-function ECM/ECCM systems
- Laser Inertial Navigation Systems
- GPS receiver
- Slat L-band arrays for IFF
- SDX-105 Multifunctional Integrated Digital Electronic System (MIDES)
The aircraft is coated in a fifth generation Radar Absorbent Material that not only reduces its radar signature, but the underside is coated in black carbon nano-tubing that absorbs light-waves to make it next to impossible to see at nighttime when flying over cities.
