Aircraft of the

Fuerza Aérea Venezolano

 

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, we are now beginning out descent into our destination. Please make sure that your seat back is in the upright position, your tray table is stowed away, and that you are wearing your combat body armour and helmet.”

 

The loadie finished his announcement, then kicked the side door of the Bakkie open and swung his VR-95 out into the slipstream, studying the view below with the concentration of someone who knows that at any moment the beauty might reach out and kill him.

 

I stared past him at the Amazonian treetops flashing past below us, coming rapidly closer as we dropped out of the sky in what was still called a Khe Sahn Approach by those who knew where and when Khe Sahn had been.

 

Suddenly the jungle floor lunged up to meet us, the tepui rearing up out of the jungle like Challenger’s lost world. 500 metres of altitude was wiped away in a second and our landing gear hit the runway hard, jolting everyone aboard in a landing more like an arrested one aboard a carrier than anything I’d experienced even when I’d been doing assault landings as part of my day job. We ran off the runway almost without slowing, navigating tree shrouded taxiways until finally we rolled to a stop in the middle of a cluster of hardened aircraft shelters.

 

As I looked past the loadie, at an array of Bakkies in several different varieties, together with UCAVs, UAVs and a couple of big Vampyr tilt-rotors, he secured his doorgun and turned his attention back to us.

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to BA Celestine Rivera. The outside temperature is hot and the locals are unfriendly. Please remember to take all of your weapons and luggage with you when you leave the aircraft and the Fuerza Aerea Venezolano thanks you for flying Air GAOE….”

 

Amazon Odyssey

Lauren Tailyour

New Canberra Republican

April 2299

 

 

Acknowledgements

 

My thanks to Dan Hebditch and James Boschma for comments and criticism during this article’s extended gestation. This article draws very heavily on James’ article on the Ejército Venezolano and the Insurrecto problem, the Wo-170 and Wo-171 are also James’ creations, Various weapons systems mentioned here are the creations of James, Dan Hebditch and others.

 

Index

Aircraft of the FAV

Ordnance

Ground Force Equipment

The Future

 

Aircraft of the FAV

 

The political situation in South and Central America has forced the Fuerza Aerea Venezolano to tread a careful path in pursuit of perceived neutrality, in aircraft purchasing no less than in other endeavours. Before the War of German Reunification both Russia and Bavaria were favoured suppliers, but post-war Germany has drawn away from Venezuela at the same time that it is pushed towards the Franco-Brazilian camp. Russia has remained a faithful supplier and has benefited from the policy as French aid funnels into Venezuelan coffers. Recent buys by Grupo Aérea de Operaciones Especiales have experimented with British suppliers, who are perceived as having operational insight into the operations in Amazonas because of the current conflict in New Africa’s K-Zone.

 

Andersson An-83 Roggenhund

 

The Roggenhund (Rye-Dog) is a Bavarian built penetrating recon UAV that was procured before the War of German Reunification. While heavy casualties to penetrating drones could be expected in a hot war, the conflict in Amazonas is a relatively permissive air defence zone and no aircraft have been lost to enemy action within Venezuelan territory, however two Roggenhunds have been lost in operations on the Incan side of the frontier and a further two aircraft have been lost to mechanical failure or bird strike. Any further losses will force the FAV into an attrition buy, but German support has become noticeably sluggish as French involvement in Venezuela increases and the attrition buy might well turn into acquisition of a non-German system.

 

While not capable of operating as general strike UCAVs, the Roggenhund can exchange its sensor package with the Kugelblitz electronic attack pod. The FAV has several Kugelblitz packages, but opportunities to use them against the Insurrectos are extremely rare, while in a general war situation the Roggenhunds would be fully tasked for strategic recon.

 

An-83 Roggenhund
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Andersson
Type:	Penetrating Reconnaissance UAV
Year in Service:	2287
In Service with:	Germany, Freihafen, Venezuela, Others
Crew:	N/A
Weight:	4 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	7
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	1*LRA-07
Hardpoints:	3*500 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*500 Ltr Drop Tank or 1*Kugelblitz Electronic Attack Pod
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	18
Signature:	-2
Sensor Range:	200(+2), 50(+6) (Ground Penetrating) (50(+1) only, if fitted with Kugelblitz Pod)
Ceiling:	15000 m
Max Speed:	1500 kph
Cruising Speed:	650 kph
Combat Movement:	3000 m
Endurance:	3 (4 with 2*500L drop tanks) hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	CTOL
Price:	4 Mlv

 

Andersson An-84 Rottkappchen

 

The Rottkappchen (Little Red Riding Hood) is a Bavarian built strike-fighter of CAW vintage. While very capable in its day, it must now be regarded as no more than average in capability. The FAV Rottkappchen squadrons have suffered heavy attrition over Amazonas and are operating at no more than 50% strength. Grupo Aérea de Attaque is strongly resisting suggestions that the two Rottkappchen squadrons should merge and is pressing for rapid selection of a replacement aircraft. All FAV Rottkappchens follow the Bavarian (and now German) practise of displaying a slavering wolf’s head wearing a red hood as nose art.

 

An-84 Rottkappchen
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Andersson
Type:	Multi-Role fighter
Year in Service:	2285
In Service with:	Germany, Brazil, Venezuela, others
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	9 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	7
Fixed Weapons:	25mm AC
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	1*LRA-07
Hardpoints:	4*2500 Kg, 8*200 Kg, 2*125 Kg
Typical Warload:	4*Falke MRAAM, 2 * Spatz SRAAM, 4* Bär Heavy ASM, 4*200Kg Glide bomb
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	14
Signature:	-2
Sensor Range:	200 (+2)
Ceiling:	25000 m
Max Speed:	1750 kph
Cruising Speed:	1000 kph
Combat Movement:	3500 m
Endurance:	4 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL
Price:	2.5 Mlv

           

Andersson An-95 Rheintochter

 

The Andersson built Rheintochter (Rhine Maiden) Maritime Patrol Aircraft surprised the entire industry when it first appeared pre-WoGR, Bavaria not having a noticeable maritime capability (pleasure boats on the Königssee and the other Bavarian lakes not withstanding). However the Rheintochter was a pure private venture development and was competitively enough priced to draw in a steady stream of sales. Post-WoGR it won the competition to become the standard MPA for the German navy and banished any doubts about its ultimate profitability. The Rheintochter is a joined-wing tilt-rotor amphibian able to land on the water and listen passively for underwater targets, but for nations like Venezuela the water-landing capability also makes the Rheintochter very useful for SAR missions.

                       

An-95 Rheintochter
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Andersson
Type:	MPAA
Year in Service:	2290
In Service with:	Germany, Brazil, Venezuela, others
Crew:	Pilot*2, WSO*2
Weight:	18 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	7
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	2*A7T under nose, 270 degree arc of fire
Point Defence:	1*LRA-07
Hardpoints:	10*500, 4*125 Kg
Typical Warload:	2* Spatz-II, 2*Luchs Pod (4*Luchs/Pod), 4*Medium Torp, 6*Medium Sonobuoy
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	12
Signature:	2
Sensor Range:	300 (+2), 5 (+3) BGL
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	1000 kph
Cruising Speed:	400 kph
Combat Movement:	2000 m
Endurance:	6 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL Amphib
Price:	5.25 Mlv

           

Avions des Alpes Petit Duc

 

The Petit Duc (Scops Owl) air-launched canard-rotor/wing UCAV was built as part of an integrated weapons system with the Grand Duc (Eagle Owl) heavy gunship, with the weapon system operators aboard the Grand Duc able to cover an extended frontage with the UCAVs or layer them for defence in depth. Armed with a light plasma gun and hardpoints for several light AVMs the Petit Duc is obviously not limited to anti-armour work and several nations have procured them for COIN work, or even the more robust kind of policing. Grupo Aérea de Operaciones Especiales has pioneered the medium altitude delivery of Petit Ducs using parachute-extraction out of the rear ramp of Bakkie-Utilities. Post-strike the Petit Ducs will usually stage to a pre-secured recovery zone from which they can either be lifted by a Bakkie-Skycrane or refueled to return to base under their own power. Portable operator consoles were procured along with the Petit Ducs and can be installed in any of the FAV’s troop-carrying aircraft.

                                   

Petit Duc
Nationality:	French
Manufacturer:	Avions des Alpes
Type:	UCAV Gunship
Year in Service:	2292
In Service with:	France, Venezuela, Others
Crew:	None
Weight:	1.75 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	6
EM Hardening:	7
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	Mk4A1 PGCW (360 degree arc)
Point Defence:	N/A
Hardpoints:	6*125 Kg
Typical Warload:	6*Manta 1
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	8
Signature:	0
Sensor Range:	50 (+2)
Ceiling:	2500 m
Max Speed:	500 kph
Cruising Speed:	400 kph
Combat Movement:	1000 m
Endurance:	1 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	ALVL or VTOL
Price:	0.2 Mlv

 

 

BoRT-13 Smerch-M

 

The Smerch (Tornado) was Russia’s primary air combat aircraft going into the Central Asian War, where it proved better able to deal with the Manchurian Type 37 Felix than any other aircraft on the allied side, certainly better than the French Aquilon or Poignard, but, given equivalent pilots and starting conditions, the Felix still tended to win more often than the Smerch. Aerodynamically the Smerch is a relatively conventional tailless diamond planform, being most noted for the large LERX chine that actually extends a few centimetres past the front of the nose proper. The Smerch-M was a post-war reworking of the design to deal with some of the more easily solved weaknesses, but a major improvement would require an entirely new airframe, which eventually appeared in the form of the BoRT-23. The FAV operates a single squadron of Smerch-M, but has an attrition/war reserve of unmodified Smerchs that could be upgraded at need.

 

BoRT-13 Smerch-M
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	BoRT
Type:	Air Superiority Fighter
Year in Service:	2289
In Service with:	Russia (retired), CAR, Venezuala and others
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	13 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	7
Fixed Weapons:	CP-30 Plasma Gun (Use A4)
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	2*250, 6*150 Kg
Typical Warload:	2 * Kristal LRAAM, 4 * Rubis MRAAM, 2* Oniks SRAAM
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	10
Signature:	-4
Sensor Range:	400 (+2)
Ceiling:	15000 m
Max Speed:	3000 kph
Cruising Speed:	2500 kph
Combat Movement:	6000 m
Endurance:	3 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL
Price:	2.75 Mlv

 

 

BoRT-16 Grad-M

 

The BoRT-16 Grad (Hail) was the high-altitude interceptor partner of the Smerch during the CAW, and instantly recognisable by its twin fuselages and central tandem wing with integrated scramjet and large sensor/weapon pod. Grads suffered proportionately lower losses than the Smerch, Aquilon and Poignard during the CAW, but that was because no sane pilot would contemplate getting into a manoeuvring fight in a Grad, whereas the other fighter types could often be tempted into it by an artful Manchurian fighter controller. The FAV’s Grad-Ms were built post-CAW with the upgraded avionics and self-defence suite that the Russians rolled out across their entire fleet as a quick-fix until the next generation could come on-line. Despite this the FAV Grad-Ms are already showing serious fatigue problems as they have frequently been tasked with tactical reconnaissance missions at altitudes they are ill-suited to.

 

BoRT-16 Grad-M
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	BoRT
Type:	High Altitude Interceptor
Year in Service:	2289
In Service with:	Russia and others
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	11 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	3
EM Hardening:	7
Fixed Weapons:	CL-75 Laser
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	8*150 Kg
Typical Warload:	8*Kristal LRAAM
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	14
Signature:	4 (-2 below 1000 kph)
Sensor Range:	750 (+3)
Ceiling:	25,000 (zoom climb), 20,000 (sustained) m
Max Speed:	6500 kph
Cruising Speed:	2000 kph
Combat Movement:	13000 m
Endurance:	1.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	Fixed CTOL
Price:	4 Mlv

 

 

BoRT-17 Uragan-M

 

A very close relative of the Grad, the Uragan (Hurricane) converts the design into a penetrating recon-bomber by eliminating the sensor/weapon pod, bulging the fuselage sides into weapons bays and replacing the ultra-high-speed engines of the Grad with ones optimised for a slightly slower flight regime. FAV Uragans are primarily used for reconnaissance on both sides of the border. Unlike the Grads of Grupo de Caza the Uragans are not yet showing fatigue problems, their structure is better stressed for flight at lower altitudes and their better air to ground sensor suite means that they can actually operate at higher altitudes than their cousins and still produce better results. However their maintenance load has started to climb noticeably in the last couple of years and the trend is unlikely to improve.

 

BoRT-17 Uragan-M
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	BoRT
Type:	Recon-Bomber
Year in Service:	2293
In Service with:	Russia and others
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	11 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	3
EM Hardening:	7
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	4*2000, 4*150 Kg
Typical Warload:	4*Diamant ALCM, 2*Rubis MRAAM, 2*Oniks SRAAM
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	12
Signature:	2 (-2 below 1000 kph)
Sensor Range:	500 (+3)
Ceiling:	20000 m
Max Speed:	4000 kph
Cruising Speed:	2500 kph
Combat Movement:	8000 m
Endurance:	3 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	Fixed CTOL
Price:	4 Mlv

 

BoRT-22 Zvezda

 

The BoRT-22 is the final member of the Grad/Uragan/Zvezda troika. Again the configuration features twin fuselages with a central tandem wing, but the Zvezda (Star) also has a relatively conventional high aspect ratio mid-wing of considerable span that optimises the design for a high altitude loiter, the engines being a further variation on those used in the Uragan. Sensors incorporated into the fuselage sides and wing structure turn the Zvezda into a perfectly functional AWACS, but one dependent on off-board interpretation of the sensor date as there was no way to shoehorn a crew of fighter controllers into the design, in fact even the pilot proved surplus to requirements when weighed against additional capability and the Zvezda is a UAV. FAV Zvezdas are expected to remain in service for some considerable time.

 

BoRT-22 Zvezda
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	BoRT
Type:	AEW Drone
Year in Service:	2284
In Service with:	Russia and others
Crew:	None
Weight:	11 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	3
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	2*100 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Medium Decoy
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	10
Signature:	7 (2 with sensors inactive)
Sensor Range:	1500 (+3)
Ceiling:	20000 m
Max Speed:	1000 kph
Cruising Speed:	600 kph
Combat Movement:	2000 m
Endurance:	1.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	Fixed CTOL
Price:	6 Mlv

 

 

BoRT-23 Shkval

 

The Shkval (Squall) was the aircraft the Russians needed most post-CAW, a modern, agile air-superiority fighter capable of taking on the Type 37 Felix in a turning fight and emerging victorious. Polkovnik Yelena Boronin had been one of the few allied pilots able to take her father’s Smerch design up against the Felix and win consistently, but had plenty of time to think about the requirements for a Smerch replacement while spending four years in a Manchurian PoW Camp waiting to be repatriated after losing her final fight.

 

Within weeks of Yelena Boronin’s repatriation Boronin, Radvushenko and Tikhonov had scrapped the BoRT-21 Molniya design in favour of Yelena’s BoRT-23 concept, which returned to the thrust-vectoring inline-triplane[1] configuration that had been a favourite of earlier Russian designers but had been unfashionable for nearly a century. Fortunately the Molniya and Shkval had similar internal volumes even if they looked radically different and the Molniya’s avionics suite was ported wholesale into the new airframe, allowing BoRT to complete the new design in time for the Russian AF trials at Akhtubinsk, at which it emerged triumphant over the Tikhonov Ti-7 Volk. Since that time the Shkval has picked up a worldwide reputation as probably the best dogfighter in service anywhere and has proved its superiority to the Felix on more than one occasion. However, no Shkval has yet come up against a Type 41 Flashdance. The FAV is well-pleased with its Shkvals, the only problem with the design in the eyes of the FAV pilot community is that they don’t have more of them.

 

BoRT-23 Shkval
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	BoRT
Type:	Air Superiority Fighter
Year in Service:	2295
In Service with:	Russia, India, Venezuela and Others
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	9.5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	CL-150 Laser
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	10*150 Kg
Typical Warload:	6*Rubis MRAAM, 4*Oniks SRAAM
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	22
Signature:	-6 (-8 below 600 kph)
Sensor Range:	450 (+4)
Ceiling:	20000 m
Max Speed:	2000 kph
Cruising Speed:	1250 kph
Combat Movement:	4000 m
Endurance:	4 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL
Price:	3.75 Mlv

 

 

Garcia Lunez Colibri-T

 

The Colibri (Hummingbird) is unique within the FAV in being an aircraft from the Argentine-Mexican bloc. However it is a perfectly capable trainer design and one without a significant wartime role that would be compromised by the linkage. It was also competitively priced and as a canard-rotor/wing is capable of being used for both fixed and rotary wing streams. All FAV Colibri-Ts operate with the Academy Training Squadron, although in practice most FAV units make some use of them for check-flights and the like. Unlike the FAA, FAV does not operate its Colibri-Ts with the rotor/wing locked.

 

Colibri-T
Nationality:	Argentinian
Manufacturer:	Garcia-Lunez
Type:	CR/W Training Aircraft
Year in Service:	2286
In Service with:	Argentina, Others
Crew:	Pilot, Instructor
Weight:	4.5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	2
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	N/A
Hardpoints:	N/A Kg
Typical Warload:	None
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	12
Signature:	1
Sensor Range:	100 (+0)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	320 kph
Cruising Speed:	280 kph
Combat Movement:	640 m
Endurance:	3 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL or CTOL
Price:	2.1 Mlv

 

 

Garcia Lunez Colibri-L

 

In addition to the Colibri-T, FAV operates a limited number of the four-seat Colibri-L in the liaison role. The Colibri-T has a token weapon carrying ability, but in FAV use the hardpoints are normally used for baggage pods and the Colibris rarely venture outside the coastal strip where most FAV bases are found.

 

Colibri-L
Nationality:	Argentinian
Manufacturer:	Garcia-Lunez
Type:	CR/W Liasion Aircraft
Year in Service:	2288
In Service with:	Argentina, Others
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	6 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	2
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Guarda
Hardpoints:	2*250 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Cargo Pod
Cargo:	3*Passenger
Evasion:	16
Signature:	-2
Sensor Range:	100 (+2)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	320 kph
Cruising Speed:	280 kph
Combat Movement:	640 m
Endurance:	4 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL or CTOL
Price:	2.25 Mlv

 

 

Heorot Aerospace Seamew TR3

 

Grupo Aérea de Operaciones Especiales’ most recent purchase results from a fortuitous similarity between operations in Amazonas and in New Africa’s K-Zone. The Seamew TR2 has been produced for Alician troops serving in New Africa as a manned substitute for a long-endurance tactical reconnaissance drone. Most reconnaissance UAVs are either fast, high and short endurance; medium-high, slow and long endurance; or low, slow and short endurance, whereas hunting foot patrols in the jungle, whether they be Kafer or Incan, requires an aircraft that can fly low and slow while having significant endurance, a capability none of the standard concepts quite match. Alicia’s locally developed Seamew MR1 low-end MPA, a very conventional turboprop whose only outstanding feature was its 12 hour unrefuelled endurance, seemed to offer just the right platform for development of a tactical reconnaissance variant and initial trials were successful enough to draw GAOE’s attention. FAV Seamew deliveries are underway and while the aircraft is not yet operational the results from initial operational trials are very promising.

 

Seamew TR3
Nationality:	British/ Alician
Manufacturer:	Heorot Aerospace
Type:	Tactical Surveillance Aircraft
Year in Service:	2303
In Service with:	Alicia, New Africa, Venezuela
Crew:	Pilot, WSO
Weight:	5.5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	2
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	L87A2 Plasma Gun
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Targe
Hardpoints:	2*500 Kg
Typical Warload:	None
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	10
Signature:	2
Sensor Range:	200 (+1), 50 (+4)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	800 kph
Cruising Speed:	450 kph
Combat Movement:	1600 m
Endurance:	6 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL

 

Komarov Ko-15 Stepnoj Orel 

 

The Stepnoj Orel (Steppe Eagle) was the primary Russian multi-role fighter of the CAW period, mainly tasked with CAS and BAI missions but able to turn its hand to interdiction and interception if the occasion demanded. It suffered even heavier losses than the Smerch when engaged with Type 37 Felixes, but the loss rate was not all one way. The FAV Orels were procured at the end of the CAW direct from the production line and have earned a reputation for rugged honesty in their operation. Their pilots trust them, but they are being used hard and are not growing any younger. The Orel is noted for its far-forward mounted canards and very straight rear wing with downswept tips. In FAV service the Orel has suffered considerably lower losses than the FAV Rottkappchens, despite participating in similar missions, however repeated studies by the Academy’s Operational Analysis Branch suggest that the difference is solely due to chance.

 

Ko-15 Stepnoj Orel
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	Komarov
Type:	Multi-role fighter
Year in Service:	2276
In Service with:	Russia, Venezuela, others
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	9.5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	7
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	2*CP-30 Plasma Gun (Use A4)
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga
Hardpoints:	4*150, 6*500 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Beryl MRAAM, 2*Garnet SRAAM, 2*Bazalt Pods, 4*Granit AVM
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	12
Signature:	-2
Sensor Range:	200 (+0)
Ceiling:	15000 m
Max Speed:	2500 kph
Cruising Speed:	1000 kph
Combat Movement:	5000 m
Endurance:	2.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL

 

MK Aerospace Bakkie

 

The Bakkie (Pick-up) is a rugged Azanian utility design with a near-unique approach to the problem of providing multi-role capabilities in a single airframe. The Bakkie has two separate upper fuselage spine designs, one mounts tandem wings and a shrouded turbofan, the second is a canard-rotor/wing capable of VTOL operations. In addition to this the Bakkie is available with tandem (aka gunship) and side-by-side nose sections and the rear fuselage can be either an enclosed cargo carrying design or a lifting strongback with winches and other cargo attachment points. All the elements are mutually compatible and the Bakkie can be put together in whatever form the customer prefers. The FAV flies three Bakkie variants, the Bakkie-Utility tandem wing with side-by-side nose and enclosed cargo fuselage, the Bakkie-Assault canard-rotor/wing with gunship cockpit and enclosed cargo fuselage and the Bakkie-Skycrane C-R/W with side-by-side cockpit and lifting strongback. FAV Bakkies are operated solely by the GAOE in several different roles. The twenty Bakkie-Utilities keep many small Ejercito bases operational by flying in all they need to sustain them, and are also used for medium altitude parachute insertion of patrols. Three Bakkie Utilities have been lost over the past four years on operations into and out of small forward bases, but GAOE’s budget has allowed the losses to be made good with new-build aircraft straight off the Durban production line. The Bakkie-Assault provides the GAOE’s main assault lift element, the eight aircraft being capable of deploying a reinforced company in a single lift, while Bakkie-Skycranes provide further logistics support, lifting awkward loads into awkward positions in the remoter parts of Amazonas, Skycranes are almost solely responsible for the network of remote EM sensors now established on the sides of cliffs and tops of mountains throughout Amazonas.

 

 

Bakkies are in extensive Azanian service with all three terrestrial forces, in addition they are widely operated through non-French Africa and have made a small number of sales into other markets. The civilian version of the Bakkie Utility has the dual advantages of simplicity and ruggedness and may be found almost anywhere in human space.

 

Bakkie Utility Transport
Nationality:	Azanian
Manufacturer:	MK Aerospace
Type:	Tandem Wing Utility Aircraft
Year in Service:	2286
In Service with:	Azania, Others
Crew:	Pilot*2
Weight:	12 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	3
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Targe
Hardpoints:	2*250, 2*125 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Garnet SRAAM, 2*Granit AVM Pod
Cargo:	6t or 20 troops
Evasion:	14
Signature:	4
Sensor Range:	100 (+1)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	600 kph
Cruising Speed:	450 kph
Combat Movement:	1200 m
Endurance:	3 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL

 

Bakkie Assault
Nationality:	Azanian
Manufacturer:	MK Aerospace
Type:	CR/W Assault aircraft
Year in Service:	2286
In Service with:	Azania, Others
Crew:	Pilot, WSO, 2*Loadmaster
Weight:	14 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	3
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	L87A2 Plasma Gun (120 degree arc), 2*VR-95 Door Gun
Point Defence:	Targe
Hardpoints:	6*250 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Garnet SRAAM, 4*Granit AVM Pod
Cargo:	5t or 16 troops
Evasion:	16
Signature:	3
Sensor Range:	150 (+2)
Ceiling:	5000 m
Max Speed:	550 kph
Cruising Speed:	400 kph
Combat Movement:	1100 m
Endurance:	3 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL or VTOL
Price:	2.25 Mlv

 

Bakkie Skycrane
Nationality:	Azanian
Manufacturer:	MK Aerospace
Type:	CR/W heavy lift aircraft
Year in Service:	2287
In Service with:	Azania, Others
Crew:	Pilot*2, Cargomaster
Weight:	11.5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	3
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Targe
Hardpoints:	N/A Kg
Typical Warload:	N/A
Cargo:	10t
Evasion:	14
Signature:	6
Sensor Range:	100 (+0)
Ceiling:	5000 m
Max Speed:	500 kph
Cruising Speed:	350 kph
Combat Movement:	1000 m
Endurance:	3 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL or VTOL
Price:	1.85 Mlv

 

 

Ncome River Armaments Blouvalk 

 

The Blouvalk (Black-shouldered Kite) is the standard tactical UAV used by Azanian second line forces. A freewing design driven by a shrouded propfan, it is capable of autonomous vertical take-off and landing from the back of any combat vehicle with sufficient deck space, or from the ground if required. Optronic sensors are austere, but adequate for second-line roles, the vehicle’s datalink can feed into any available node of the standard Azanian combat information systems network. The vehicle has a simple command interface, being able to fly either grid patterns, patrol lines or maintain continuous surveillance of a designated target (even a moving one) without operator intervention. Standard Blouvalks carry 10 small freefall anti-personnel bomblets, but the performance of these in triple canopy jungle is questionable and the FAV have traded in the weight allowance of the weapon suite to upgrade the basic infra-red sensors to a foliage-penetrating active millimetre wave radar with a moving target indicator capability.

 

Blouvalk Drone
Nationality:	Azania
Manufacturer:	Ncome River Armaments
Type:	Tactical surveillance drone
Year in Service:	2296
In Service with:	Azania, Others
Crew:	None
Weight:	0.125 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	2
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	N/A
Hardpoints:	None
Typical Warload:	None
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	8
Signature:	3
Sensor Range:	10 km (+1), 5km (+2) Foliage Penetrating
Ceiling:	1000 m
Max Speed:	200 kph
Cruising Speed:	150 kph
Combat Movement:	400 m
Endurance:	20 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL
Price:	Mlv

 

 

Neumann Ne-76 Wiesel

 

The Wiesel (Weasel) is a small, capable tilt-rotor gunship that was previously the standard equipment of the pre-unification Westfälische Armee and acquitted itself with honour, if not élan, during the War of German Reunification. When weighed post-war against the very capable Nord-Deutsche Bremen Br-73 Sturm the Wiesel was found wanting and large numbers were sold-off by the newly unified Heer, which inadvertently created further demand for new-build export versions once the surplus stocks were exhausted. The FAV Wiesels are ex-Westfälische Armee, but had comparatively low hours when delivered (although at least one was found to contain fragments from a French missile warhead tucked away in one of the more obscure corners of the fuselage). A larger gunship would be able to carry a more capable sensor suite for operations in Amazonas, but the Wiesels were available when needed and should prove perfectly capable should the need ever arise for them to engage Mexican armoured spearheads in north-western Venezuela.

 

 

 

Ne-76 Wiesel
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Neumann
Type:	Tiltrotor Gunship
Year in Service:	2273
In Service with:	Venezuela, Others (and formerly Westfälen)
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	A7 Plasma Gun, 12mm Gatling (180 degree arc)
Point Defence:	1*LRA-07
Hardpoints:	4*125 Kg
Typical Warload:	4*Luchs Pod (4*Luchs/Pod)
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	12
Signature:	2
Sensor Range:	100 (+2)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	850 kph
Cruising Speed:	600 kph
Combat Movement:	1700 m
Endurance:	2.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOVL
Price:	1.75 Mlv

 

Neumann Ne-77 Marder

 

The Marder (Marten) is a close relative of the Wiesel, stretching the fuselage to incorporate a small troop bay aft of the cockpit. The troop bay can accommodate four troops with equipment, or six without. The FAV’s four Marders are new-build, unlike the Wiesels, and were purchased specifically to support the precision delivery of small SOF teams in urban environments, a vital role during the Guerra de las Ciudades.

 

Ne-77 Marder
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Neumann
Type:	Tiltrotor Light Utility Transport
Year in Service:	2272
In Service with:	Venezuela, Others (and formerly Westfälen)
Crew:	Pilot
Weight:	6.5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	A7 Plasma Gun, 12mm Gatling (180 degree arc)
Point Defence:	1*LRA-07
Hardpoints:	2*125 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Luchs Pod (4*Luchs/Pod)
Cargo:	4*Troops or 1t
Evasion:	12
Signature:	2
Sensor Range:	100 (+2)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	650 kph
Cruising Speed:	450 kph
Combat Movement:	1300 m
Endurance:	2.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOVL
Price:	2 Mlv

 

 

Novi Taganrog Aerospace TAG-17 Trauler           

 

The standard Russian shipboard MPA, the Trauler (Trawler) is a jet-lift VTOL design which through careful design of the efflux paths is able to land on water and take-off vertically (although it more often uses a STOL mode). In FAV usage the Trauler is mostly land-based, although pilots are required to retain currency in shipboard operations. As with the Rheintochter, the Trauler is expected to take on its share of maritime SAR missions.

 

TAG-17 Trauler
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	Novi Taganrog Aerospace
Type:	Shipborne MPA
Year in Service:	2285
In Service with:	Russia, Venezuela, others
Crew:	Pilot, WSO*3
Weight:	14 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	CP-30 Plasma Gun (Use A4)
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	2*2000, 4*500, 2*150 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Standoff Torpedo, 4*Medium Torpedo, 2*Rubis MRAAM
Cargo:	1*Air-droppable Liferaft
Evasion:	8
Signature:	8
Sensor Range:	100(EM), 5(BGL)
Ceiling:	7500 m
Max Speed:	800 kph
Cruising Speed:	450 kph
Combat Movement:	1600 m
Endurance:	6 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VSTOL
Price:	2.5 Mlv

 

 

Novi Taganrog Aerospace TAG-20  Verbljud

 

The TAG-20 Verbljud (Camel) is the FAV’s sole medium lift asset, a role for which it competes with the operationally similar Avions Al Jaber Bled worldwide. Powered by four overwing turbofans, the TAG-20 features extensive blowing of the wings, flaps and other control surfaces, which gives it a particularly impressive STOL ability for a comparatively short-winged non-tilt-rotor/tilt-wing design. In FAV service the Verbljuds have proven admirably rugged, although it is policy to deploy them into Amazonas only if there is absolutely no alternative.

 

TAG-20 Verbljud
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	Novi Taganrog Aerospace
Type:	Medium Transport
Year in Service:	2288
In Service with:	Russia, Venezuela, others
Crew:	2*Pilot, Loadmaster
Weight:	25 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	N/A
Typical Warload:	N/A
Cargo:	10t or 25 paratroops or 36 passengers
Evasion:	8
Signature:	2
Sensor Range:	75 (+1)
Ceiling:	15000 m
Max Speed:	800 kph
Cruising Speed:	400 kph
Combat Movement:	1600 m
Endurance:	4 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	STOL
Price:	2 Mlv

 

 

Novi Taganrog Aerospace TAG-27 Zhiraf

 

The TAG-27 Zhiraf (Giraffe) is the tanker variant of the TAG-20 Verbljud, capable of refuelling up to a dozen fighter aircraft from its onboard tanks. Even with the increasing prevalence of tanker drones it is in service with the air forces of Russia, the Ukraine and others. The FAV operates half a dozen as its sole dedicated refuelling capability.

 

TAG-27 Zhiraf
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	Novi Taganrog Aerospace
Type:	Tanker
Year in Service:	2289
In Service with:	Russia, others
Crew:	Pilot*2, Refuelling Coordinator
Weight:	30 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	4
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	4*250 Kg
Typical Warload:	4*Medium Decoy
Cargo:	Sufficient fuel for 8 fighters
Evasion:	7
Signature:	2
Sensor Range:	100
Ceiling:	15000 m
Max Speed:	800 kph
Cruising Speed:	400 kph
Combat Movement:	1600 m
Endurance:	8 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	CTOL
Price:	Mlv

 

 

Royal Masiran Defence Systems Hurricane          

 

The Hurricane is a Wellon built strike UCAV in extensive use with Commonwealth and other forces. Grupo Aérea de Operaciones Especiales has procured ground-launched Hurricanes which feature a disposable booster stage to get them into the air, a move which has been ill-received in Grupo Aérea de Attaque, which sees the purchase as an attempt by GAOE to hijack the strike mission. However for the moment the purchase is a fait accompli and the Hurricane is operational in Amazonas. In GAOE usage, modified range trucks function as launchers for single Hurricanes and are frequently airlifted between forward bases, or even just jungle clearings, in order to keep the enemy guessing as to which direction the next strike will be launched from. The Hurricane is parachute recovered at a preset location at the end of each mission and may be refurbished for re-use in approximately 12 man-hours. A longer, 300 man-hour B-Check is required after 20 flights and after 100 flights the system requires a depot refit. In practice few Hurricanes are expected to survive long enough to see more than one or two B-Checks.

 

Hurricane
Nationality:	Wellon
Manufacturer:	Royal Masiran Defence Systems
Type:	Attack Drone
Year in Service:	2295
In Service with:	UK, Wellon, Venezuela
Crew:	N/A
Weight:	1.5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	2
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	N/A
Hardpoints:	8*125 Kg
Typical Warload:	8*120Kg Glide Bomb
Cargo:	N/A
Evasion:	12
Signature:	-1
Sensor Range:	25 (+2)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	750 kph
Cruising Speed:	750 kph
Combat Movement:	1500 m
Endurance:	0.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	ALPR[2] or ZELLPR[3]
Price:	0.55 Mlv

 

Semyonov Se-20 Herakles

 

Semyonov (always just Semyonov) are very much a VTOL specialist company and the Se-20 Herakles (Hercules) is their long-established entry into the heavy-lift market. The aircraft is a quad-tiltfan with four fans located at the ends of two pairs of shoulder-mounted short wings. The forward wings are swept slightly forward, the rear wings slightly back, the wing sweep intended more to increase the distance between the forward and aft engines than for aerodynamic reasons. Without an external load the Se-20 can tilt the engines to their maximum forward position for conventional flight and rely on the wing aerofoils providing a substantial portion of lift. With an external load the Se-20 must keep the engines pointed almost vertically down and rely on dynamic lift from the lift system. The crew consists of three: two pilots and a flight engineer/spotter. Both pilots have forward facing seats, but the command pilot also has a second, rearward facing position with extensive glazing in the underside of the fuselage, looking towards the external load attachment points. During vertical lift operations the command pilot operates the Se-20 from the rearward facing position with the second pilot monitoring the forward hemisphere for collision hazards and the flight engineer/spotter the rearward hemisphere. For its notoriously accident-prone class of aircraft the Se-20 has a good safety records and extensive sales into Siberia and other logging areas have made it a profitable design. Small numbers of Se-20s also serve with a number of armed forces, including FAV.

 

Sem-20 Herakles
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	Semyonov
Type:	Heavy Lift Rotorcraft
Year in Service:	2283
In Service with:	Russia
Crew:	Pilot*2
Weight:	15 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	2
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	N/A
Typical Warload:	N/A
Cargo:	12.5t
Evasion:	8
Signature:	4
Sensor Range:	50(+1)
Ceiling:	5000 m
Max Speed:	300 kph
Cruising Speed:	150 kph
Combat Movement:	600 m
Endurance:	4 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL
Price:	2.3 Mlv

 

 

Tikhonov Ti-4 Medved

 

The Medved (Bear) was Russia’s standard gunship during the grim years of the Central Asian War. The armoured tilt-fan proved a tough aircraft in combat, but was relatively slow in comparison to many of its contemporaries. The FAV bought a dozen based on their reputation and were well pleased with them, however the conflict in Amazonas has cost four of the initial twelve aircraft and another has been lost in a training accident, forcing the squadron to operate at barely half its authorised strength.

 

Ti-4 Medved
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	Tikhonov
Type:	Tilt-fan Gunship
Year in Service:	2283
In Service with:	Russia, Venezuela, others
Crew:	Pilot, WSO
Weight:	8 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	6
EM Hardening:	6
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	CP-175 Plasma Gun (Use A4), KB LasMG, (Co-axial mounting, 180 degree arc of fire)
Point Defence:	Taiga
Hardpoints:	4*500 Kg
Typical Warload:	4*Bazalt pod
Cargo:	two men without equipment
Evasion:	15
Signature:	3
Sensor Range:	125 (+1)
Ceiling:	3500 m
Max Speed:	450 kph
Cruising Speed:	325 kph
Combat Movement:	900 m
Endurance:	2.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL
Price:	1.75 Mlv

 

 

Tikhonov Ti-5 Rys

 

The Rys (Lynx) is a Komarov-designed vintokryl (literally screw-wing, effectively a non-tilting tilt-rotor) gunship, but because of the hostile takeover of Komarov by Vladimir Tikhonov has only ever appeared under the Tikhonov name. Using two variable bypass ratio turboshafts for power and with rotor blades formed from smart materials the Rys is able to infinitely vary the power between jet exhaust and rotor downforce, making it a particularly efficient rotary-winged vehicle, and a notably quiet one, something that is very useful in a gunship. As is common in Russian gunship designs a small bay behind the cockpit is capable of carrying the crew of a downed gunship. In FAV service this small bay has proved very useful for agent delivery and recovery.

 

Ti-5 Rys
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	Tikhonov
Type:	Vintokryl Gunship
Year in Service:	2292
In Service with:	Russia, Venezuela, others
Crew:	Pilot, WSO
Weight:	6 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	8
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	CP-30 Plasma Gun (Use A4), KB LasMG, (Co-axial mounting, 130 degree arc of fire)
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	6*125, 2*500 Kg
Typical Warload:	4*Granit, 2*Bazalt-M Pod, 2*Garnet SRAAM
Cargo:	two men without equipment
Evasion:	12
Signature:	1
Sensor Range:	75 (+4)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	650 kph
Cruising Speed:	400 kph
Combat Movement:	1300 m
Endurance:	3.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL
Price:	0.75 Mlv

 

 

Tikhonov Ti-6 Bars

 

The Bars (Snow Leopard) is a close cousin of the Rys, but stretches the fuselage to incorporate an eight-man troop bay giving it a useful troop-lift capability. Engine capacity has been slightly increased to cater for the additional weight and drag, allowing the Bars to match the Rys in performance. The FAV biased its buy in favour of the Bars over the Rys and has been well pleased with the result, the Bars is perfectly sized for the insertion of small SF teams on long-range patrol missions and as able to support them as the Rys would be.

 

Ti-6 Bars
Nationality:	Russian
Manufacturer:	Tikhonov
Type:	Vintokryl Assault Transport
Year in Service:	2292
In Service with:	Russia, Venezuela, others
Crew:	Pilot, WSO, 2*Loadmaster
Weight:	9.5 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	8
EM Hardening:	8
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	CP-30 Plasma Gun (Use A4), KB LasMG, (Co-axial mounting, 130 degree arc of fire), 2*KB doorguns
Point Defence:	Taiga-M
Hardpoints:	6*125, 2*500 Kg
Typical Warload:	4*Granit, 2*Bazalt-M Pod, 2*Garnet SRAAM
Cargo:	8  troops
Evasion:	11
Signature:	1
Sensor Range:	75 (+4)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	600 kph
Cruising Speed:	350 kph
Combat Movement:	1200 m
Endurance:	3.5 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL
Price:	1.05 Mlv

 

Vickers-Foss Atlas R.6

 

The Atlas is a somewhat-aging British airlifter and FAV’s recent purchase of two airframes for GAOE drew much speculation in both the local and trade press that was finally spiked when it was revealed that the two aircraft had been refitted to provide airborne command posts for major operations. What has so far not emerged publicly is that in addition to the command facilities the two Atlases have also been fitted with the very capable ELINT/SIGINT/MASINT suite of the Artemis R.2. While their size keeps them tied to the large fixed runways at Base Aérea ‘El Libertador’, away from the other aircraft of GAOE, both the GAOE commander and his Ejercito counterparts are convinced of their utility in the ongoing fight.

 

Atlas R.6
Nationality:	British
Manufacturer:	Vickers-Foss
Type:	ELINT and SIGINT
Year in Service:	2301
In Service with:	Venezuela
Crew:	Pilot*2, 8*Systems Operators, 4* Battle Management Personnel
Weight:	50 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	1
EM Hardening:	10
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	N/A
Point Defence:	Targe
Hardpoints:	N/A
Typical Warload:	N/A
Cargo:	None
Evasion:	14
Signature:	6
Sensor Range:	400 (+3), Detection range for active sensors doubled, 25 (+4) Foliage Penetrating
Ceiling:	15000 m
Max Speed:	900 kph
Cruising Speed:	800 kph
Combat Movement:	1800 m
Endurance:	10 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	CTOL
Price:	5 Mlv

 

Wolniak Wo-170 Fledermaus

 

The Munich-built Fledermaus X-Wing is the standard German medium transport VTOL, just as it was for the pre-Unification Bavarian Fliegertruppe. The Fledermaus can carry up to sixty combat infantrymen and took a major part of the early conflict in Amazonas but has proved to be rather too large for the tactical requirements, which more often need twenty men put on target than sixty. The Fledermausen have therefore been withdrawn from day to day Amazonas operations and redeployed to Barquismeto in the north.

 

Wo-170 Fledermaus
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Wolniak
Type:	X-Wing Tactical Transport Aircraft
Year in Service:	2285
In Service with:	Germany, Freihafen, Heidelsheimat, Venezuela, Others
Crew:	Pilot, Co-Pilot, Load Master, 2*Door Gunner
Weight:	13 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	2
EM Hardening:	7
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	3*MG-82 5.5mm gatling MGs (2500 rpg)
Point Defence:	1*LRA-07
Hardpoints:	4*125 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Spatz SRAAM, 2*Luchs Pod (4*Luchs/Pod)
Cargo:	60 combat-loaded infantrymen, or 14,000 kg cargo internally, or 18,000 kg external sling-loaded cargo)
Evasion:	14
Signature:	2
Sensor Range:	75 (+2)
Ceiling:	10000 m
Max Speed:	500 kph (275 in rotor-borne mode)
Cruising Speed:	450 kph (225 in rotor-borne mode)
Combat Movement:	1000 m (550 in rotor-borne mode)
Endurance:	6 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL
Price:	3.25 Mlv

 

Wolniak Wo-171 Vampir

 

The Vampir is the special operations version of the Fledermaus and for logistical reasons has also been redeployed to Barquismeto even though there is a continuing role for it in the south. In practise the Vampirs still see regular use in Amazonas, but must redeploy before every mission.

 

 

Wo-171 Vampir
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Wolniak
Type:	X-Wing Special Operations Penetrator
Year in Service:	2287
In Service with:	Germany, Freihafen, Venezuela, Others
Crew:	Pilot, Co-Pilot, Defensive/Sensor Systems Officer, Load Master, 3*Door Gunner
Weight:	14 Tonnes
Armour (All faces):	2
EM Hardening:	9
Fixed Weapons:	N/A
Flex Weapons:	3*MG-82 5.5mm gatling MGs (2500 rpg)
Point Defence:	2*LRA-07
Hardpoints:	2*125, 2*500 Kg
Typical Warload:	2*Spatz SRAAM, 2*500 Ltr Tanks (+2 hours endurance)
Cargo:	30 combat-loaded infantrymen plus 6 Kz-VII combat walkers (alternately may be configured to carry up to 45 passengers, or 14,000 kg cargo internally, or 18,000 kg external sling-loaded cargo).
Evasion:	20
Signature:	0
Sensor Range:	100 (+3)
Ceiling:	11000 m
Max Speed:	550 kph (275 in rotor-borne mode)
Cruising Speed:	475 kph (225 in rotor-borne mode)
Combat Movement:	1100m (550m in rotor borne mode)
Endurance:	6 hours
Take-off and Landing mode:	VTOL
Price:	5 Mlv

 

INDEX

 

Ordnance

 

In the years before the War of German Reunification, FAV ordnance buys were bound up with their aircraft purchases. Russian aircraft flew with Russian ordnance, Bavarian with Bavarian. However, since the WoGR has put Germany at odds with France, and as Venezuela is perceived by the Germans to be part of the French camp, the ability to resupply with German ordnance in an emergency is now widely regarded as badly compromised. FAV’s response has been threefold. Firstly, Russian ordnance has been qualified for release from the German parts of the fleet (as a consequence of Franco-Russo-Bavarian technical cooperation during the CAW this effort primarily consisted of bringing operations manuals up to date). Secondly, FAV has negotiated licence production rights for certain German ordnance, primarily the highly regarded Bär series cruise missiles, and has second-sourced component supply for these independent of German suppliers. As a third step the FAV has increasingly been supplied with French ordnance flown into FAV bases from Guyana on unmarked transports.

 

Air-to-Air Ordnance

 

Kristal LRAAM,

Russia’s Kristal LRAAM is an unexceptional missile comparable to many of the other LRAAMs on the market. Beyond long-range engagements it shares the common LRAAM secondary tasking of intercepting trans-orbital strike vehicles. As suitable targets for LRAAMs are few and far between, FAV Grads rarely carry the eight Kristals they were designed for, substituting them for other ordnance, decoys or reconnaissance sensors. The BoRT-23 Shkval is also capable of carrying the Kristal, but rarely does so.

 

Kristal (Кристалл)
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Moskva Central Dynamics Institute
Type:	LRAAM
Year in Service:	2277
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	220 Kg
Range:	500 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto Following Lock
Homing:	23
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	15
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	8
Signature:	+3
Speed:	7,500
Time to Max Range	240s
Combat Move:	15000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	25,000 Lv

 

 

Rubis MRAAM

 

The Rubis (Ruby) MRAAM is Russia’s current first-line MRAAM. After the Russian AF’s experience in the CAW the Rubis was expected to counter any performance shortfall that Russian fighters might experience against the Felix and is therefore a high-end system (a capability which means that it comes with a price penalty­). The unexpected capability of the BoRT-23 means that the Russian AF, and BoRT’s export customers, have one of the most capable aircraft-AAM combinations in service.

 

Rubis (Рубин)
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Moskva Central Dynamics Institute
Type:	MRAAM
Year in Service:	2294
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	150 Kg
Range:	200 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto Following Lock
Homing:	21
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	12
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	8
Signature:	+3
Speed:	5,750
Time to Max Range	125.217391304348s
Combat Move:	11500 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	25,000 Lv

 

 

Oniks SRAAM

 

The Oniks (Onyx) SRAAM is the short-range counterpart of the Rubis, and again the Russian AF paid for a missile to make-up for the perceived shortcomings of the CAW-era Russian fighters. The Oniks shares major design elements with the Rubis, but is optimised for absolute agility at the expense of range. Like other Russian SRAAMs the Oniks is longer ranged than many of its competitors and approaches the weight of an MRAAM, but the Oniks shifts the balance further towards agility over range than has traditionally been the case.

 

Oniks (Оникс)
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Moskva Central Dynamics Institute
Type:	SRAAM
Year in Service:	2292
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	145 Kg
Range:	45 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto Following Lock
Homing:	28
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	8
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	12
Signature:	+3
Speed:	3,000
Time to Max Range	54s
Combat Move:	6000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	15,000 Lv

 

Garnet SRAAM

 

Russia’s CAW-era SRAAM, the Garnet was capable in its day, but is now considerably behind the performance curve of a first-line weapon. Given an unlimited budget the FAV would prefer to retire its Garnet inventory and replace them with the Oniks, but no air force has an unlimited budget and the Garnet will probably remain in service for the foreseeable future.

 

Garnet (гранат)
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Moskva Central Dynamics Institute
Type:	SRAAM
Year in Service:	2280
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	130 Kg
Range:	60 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto Following Lock
Homing:	20
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	15
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	6
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	8
Signature:	+4
Speed:	3,500
Time to Max Range	62s
Combat Move:	7000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	12,000 Lv

 

Falke MRAAM

 

Confusingly Germany operates both Medium Range AAMs and MANPAD SAMs known as the Falke (Falcon). This came about through re-unification, the Falke MRAAM being a Bavarian design, the Falke MANPADs originally a Nord-Deutsch design. The Falke MRAAM is a run of the mill MRAAM; still capable, but now heading into the twilight of its career and replaced in frontline German service by the Adler.

 

Falke
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Andersson Industrie
Type:	MRAAM
Year in Service:	2284
In Service with:	Germany, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	175 Kg
Range:	250 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto following lock
Homing:	21
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	15
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	12
Signature:	+1
Speed:	6,000
Time to Max Range	150s
Combat Move:	12000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	18,750 Lv

 

 

Spatz SRAAM

 

The Spatz (Sparrow) was Bavaria’s standard SRAAM during the CAW, but the arrival of the Spatz II has pushed it down from first choice for first-line fighters to self-defence for elderly strike aircraft. Venezuelan Rottkappchens still fly with the Spatz, but there are barely enough missiles in inventory to equip every aircraft with its full loadout. Garnets from the armaments package supplied with the Orel have been qualified on the Rottkappchen and would supplement the Spatz in wartime usage, however the Garnet is less capable than the Spatz.

 

Spatz
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Nord-Deutsche Raketewerk
Type:	SRAAM
Year in Service:	2273
In Service with:	Germany, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	100 Kg
Range:	40 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto following Lock
Homing:	23
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	8
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	6
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	10
Signature:	+1
Speed:	4,500
Time to Max Range	32s
Combat Move:	9000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	8,500 Lv

 

Air-to-Surface Ordnance

 

Bär Cruise Missile

 

The Bär (Bear) is a conventional cruise-missile, originally of Nord-Deutsch origin, but widely used by all of the German states before the WoGR. Popular on the export markets, the Bär has been the subject of a series of upgrade programmes producing such variants as the Eisbär electronic attack missile and the Brummbär hard-target penetrator. Multiple warhead options are also available. Venezuela has initiated license production through

Sistemas Venezolanos Del Armamento, the government owned munitions company, but Bärs are primarily regarded as overkill against Insurrecto targets and are held in reserve against a conventional warfare scenario.

 

Bär
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Nord-Deutsche Raketewerk
Type:	Heavy ASM
Year in Service:	2289
In Service with:	Germany, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	2500 Kg
Range:	500 Km
Guidance Modes:	Inertial+Terminal Matching
Homing:	22
Warhead Type:	Cargo
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	1000
Fragmentation DPV:	6
Warhead EP:	N/A
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	3
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	12
Signature:	+2
Speed:	1500
Time to Max Range	1200s
Combat Move:	3000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	50,000 Lv

 

 

Brummbär
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Nord-Deutsche Raketewerk
Type:	Heavy ASM
Year in Service:	2289
In Service with:	Germany, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	2500 Kg
Range:	500 Km
Guidance Modes:	Inertial+Terminal Matching
Homing:	22
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	200
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	3
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	12
Signature:	+2
Speed:	1500
Time to Max Range	1200s
Combat Move:	3000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	50,000 Lv

 

Eisbär
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Nord-Deutsche Raketewerk
Type:	Heavy ASM
Year in Service:	2292
In Service with:	Germany, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	2200 Kg
Range:	500 Km
Guidance Modes:	Inertial+Terminal Matching
Homing:	22
Warhead Type:	Electronic
Attack Angle:	N/A
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	N/A
Cargo:	50 ElecP (Once Only)
Armour:	3
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	12
Signature:	+2
Speed:	1500
Time to Max Range	1200s
Combat Move:	3000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	75,000 Lv

 

Bazalt-M AVM pod

 

The pod-launched Bazalt-M is the FAV’s preferred AVM. Its full capabilities are rarely deployed against the Insurrectos, but the ability to engage multiple vehicular targets in a single pass is cherished for its potential use against Mexican armoured spearheads, just as the Russians developed it for use against Manchurian spearheads.

 

Bazalt-B (базальт-б)
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Beresovski Military Industries
Type:	AVM
Year in Service:	2295
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	75 (10 Rnd Pod), 8 (gripstock)
Msl Weight:	8 Kg
Range:	4.5 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto Following Lock
Homing:	12
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	25
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	10
Signature:	+1
Speed:	1,200
Time to Max Range	13.5s
Combat Move:	2400 m
Launcher Price:	8,000 (Pod), 850 (Gripstock) Lv
Missile Price:	4,000 Lv

 

Granit AVM

 

The Granit AVM was designed by the Russians and the unitary warhead version is used by the FAV against targets too large or heavily armoured for the Bazalt-M, or where increased stand-off distances are needed. The cargo variant is used with both submunition and scatterable mine payloads.

 

Granit (гранит)
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Moskva Central Dynamics Institute
Type:	AVM
Year in Service:	2287
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	35 (3 rnd Pylon)
Msl Weight:	45 Kg
Range:	10 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto Following Lock
Homing:	14
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Selectable
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	50
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	6
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	8
Signature:	+4
Speed:	750
Time to Max Range	48s
Combat Move:	1500 m
Launcher Price:	1,500 Lv
Missile Price:	7,500 Lv

 

Granit-K1
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Moskva Central Dynamics Institute
Type:	WASP Missile
Year in Service:	2288
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	35 (3 rnd Pylon)
Msl Weight:	50 Kg
Range:	10 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto Following Lock
Homing:	14
Warhead Type:	Cargo
Attack Angle:	Top
Warhead Burst Radius:	200
Fragmentation DPV:	8
Warhead EP:	N/A
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	1
Evasion:	6
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	8
Signature:	+4
Speed:	750
Time to Max Range	48s
Combat Move:	1500 m
Launcher Price:	1,500 Lv
Missile Price:	7,500 Lv

 

Granit-K2
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Moskva Central Dynamics Institute
Type:	Area Denial Missile
Year in Service:	2288
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	35 (3 rnd Pylon)
Msl Weight:	50 Kg
Range:	10 Km
Guidance Modes:	Auto Following Lock
Homing:	14
Warhead Type:	Cargo
Attack Angle:	Direct
Warhead Burst Radius:	200
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	N/A
Cargo:	6*4EP Minelets
Armour:	1
Evasion:	6
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	8
Signature:	+4
Speed:	750
Time to Max Range	48s
Combat Move:	1500 m
Launcher Price:	1,500 Lv
Missile Price:	7,500 Lv

 

Diamant ALCM

 

The Diamant ALCM was developed by the Russians as a long-range penetrating cruise-missile. The weapon is a two-stage system, with a turbofan engine powering the subsonic, body-lift supported vehicle through its cruise phase and a rocket-propelled, supersonic second-stage using a deployable slew-wing. Both stages are terrain-following. The Russian AF deploys a nuclear-armed variant of the Diamant, but the FAV is equipped only with the conventionally armed variant in both hard-target unitary warhead form and cargo forms.

 

Diamant (Алмаз) 1st Stage
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Beresovski Military Industries
Type:	Conventional ALCM
Year in Service:	2285
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	1750 Kg
Range:	3250 Km
Guidance Modes:	Inertial
Homing:	N/A
Warhead Type:	Cargo
Attack Angle:	N/A
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	N/A
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	2
Evasion:	6
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	15
Signature:	-1
Speed:	900
Time to Max Range	13000s
Combat Move:	1800 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	175,000 Lv

 

Diamant (Алмаз) 2nd Stage
Nationality:	Russia
Manufacturer:	Beresovski Military Industries
Type:	Conventional ALCM
Year in Service:	2285
In Service with:	Russia, CAR, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	750 Kg
Range:	250 Km
Guidance Modes:	Inertial+Terminal Matching
Homing:	15
Warhead Type:	Tamped
Attack Angle:	Selectable
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	150
Cargo:	N/A
Armour:	6
Evasion:	8
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	20
Signature:	0
Speed:	2000
Time to Max Range	450s
Combat Move:	4000 m
Launcher Price:	N/A
Missile Price:	N/A

 

 

Kugelblitz Electronic Attack Pod

 

The Kugelblitz (Ball-Lightning) electronic attack pod is a derivative of the warhead from the Eisbär electronic attack missile modified so that it can be powered from an aircraft’s systems and with the systems beefed-up for repeat use. The larger volume allows the pod-mounted system both a wider field of fire (up to 135 degrees off-boresight) and a narrower beam in comparison to the missile warhead (which corresponds to a higher power pulse). The Kugelblitz is compatible with both the Roggenhund and the Rottkappchen.

 

Kugelblitz
Nationality:	German
Manufacturer:	Geist in der Maschine Werk
Type:	Electronic Attack Pod
Year in Service:	2290
In Service with:	Germany, Venezuela, Others
Launcher Weight:	N/A
Msl Weight:	200 Kg
Range:	5 Km
Guidance Modes:	Direct Fire
Homing:	N/A
Warhead Type:	Electronic
Attack Angle:	N/A
Warhead Burst Radius:	N/A
Fragmentation DPV:	N/A
Warhead EP:	N/A
Cargo:	50 ElecP (RoF 1)
Armour:	2
Evasion:	10
Point Defence:	N/A
EM Hardening:	N/A
Signature:	N/A
Speed:	N/A
Time to Max Range	N/As
Combat Move:	N/A m
Launcher Price:	15,000 Lv
Missile Price:	125,000 Lv

 

INDEX

 

Ground Forces Equipment

 

Grupo de Defensa troops and 4e Escuadron of GAOE are equipped as for Ejército Cazadores Paracaidista units. Grupo de Defensa battalions and those of 4e Escuadron comprise three line companies each with a twenty man command element and four forty man infantry platoons equipped with vz 94 assault rifles, vz 97 laser rifles, and VR-95 light machineguns and two Modelo 95 rocket launchers per platoon. Each battalion also includes a single light armour company of 13 Tirat-S security vehicles and one or more heavy weapons companies operating both deployable anti-armour missiles (tripod and range-truck mounted Bazalt pods), emplaced launch silos for air defence missiles (the ground-launched variant of the Rubis MRAAM) and point defence lasers.

 

Cazadores Aérea platoons operate in 20 man multiples comprising a four man command team equipped with two FAM-90S assault rifles, an L-92A1 plasma Gun and a VR-95 SAW in SBGL format and four assault teams with two FAM-90S, an A-7 Sturmgewehr plasma gun and a VR-95 SBGL. FM P300S suppressed pistols are the standard sidearm and the Modelo 95 rocket launcher is liberally issued. Sniper rifles are available, but see little use due to typically short sight-lines which make the FAM-90S a perfectly functional marksmans weapon. All teams are trained and equipped for target designation.

 

INDEX

 

The Future

 

While combat attrition is an immediate threat to FAV aircraft numbers, it cannot allow itself to become focussed solely on the short term and long term replacement of existing types is therefore an essential aim. The most immediate concern for the FAV Chief of Staff must be the impending bloc obsolescence of the entire strength of Grupo de Attaque. The Rottkappchen fleet has suffered extensive attrition losses and the continued availability of spare parts from Germany must become a concern as French involvement in Venezuelan defence issues becomes clearer. At the same time the Orel fleet is not getting any younger and the Uragans are becoming a high-maintenance load on their support staff even if they remain combat effective. The most suitable replacement for the Uragan may be the Indonesia Garuda, given Venezuelan-Indonesian cooperation in other areas of defence, although in the event of an overt association with France the Simoom-F would become the obvious candidate. For the Orels and the Rottkappchens, the Indonesian Kris is a possibility, but the Tikhonov Ti-3 Grach is a more likely choice. In Grupo de Caza the Smerch and Grads will need replacing in the next decade and the likeliest solution would be a further purchase of Shkvals, a move which might force a reduction in Grupo strength to two squadrons. The transport and utility fleet is still relatively modern and it is likely that any re-equipment would be via a further purchase of Bakkies, which have gained a positive reputation for go-anywhere ruggedness. In Grupo de Caballeria Aérea the Ti-4 Medveds are popular, but numbers are low, in the event of a replacement buy there would probably be factions within FAV backing both the Ne-76 Wiesel and the Ti-6 Bars.

 

INDEX