AV-85 Watcher
Role | Reconnaissance in Force |
---|---|
Designation | AV-85 |
National Origin | Commonwealth of New Columbia |
Manufacturer | Spartan Technologies |
First Flight | 6 Nov 2039 |
Entered Service | 14 Jan 2042 |
Status | Active; in-service |
Primary Users | Public Security |
Unit Cost | C 49.5bn |
The AV-85 Watcher is a VTOL aircraft used by Public Security to enforce the law and to protect the borders of the Commonwealth. The base platform was the first practical fusion-based VTOL aircraft, succeeding the AH-79 stealth helicopter. Its basic design follows the same principles as its predecessor--sleek lines and a matte black finish to foil radar, powerful Electronic Counter Measures to foil other means of detection--but the onboard fusion reactor allows for the practical application of the energy-intense Vectored Induced Air Current Thruster, a rotating, cylindrical pod that allows turbofan-equivalent thrust with a drastically reduced noise profile.
The principal innovation of the AV-85 was the onboard Laser Confinement Fusion reactor, providing 91 MW of energy output at peak performance. This is enough to power the main thrusters without drawing upon a depleteable capacitor, thus allowing the aircraft to remain aloft as long as the reactor continues to produce power; even without external fuel pods, the reactor's life at reasonable cruising speed is measured in days, if not weeks. Thus, the H/K can carry out long-term missions previously impossible to petroleum, electric, or fuel-cell powered helicopters, making it an ideal scout for the vast expanses of the Barrens.
Its thrusters are more powerful than helicopter rotors; at high speed, when stealth is not an issue, they can produce power equivalent to a petroleum turbofan, allowing the craft to reach supersonic speed. Its helicopter-inspired airframe limits its applications in this regard, but even high subsonic speed puts it in a class well beyond any rotor-based helicopters of the previous generation.
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Crew
- 2 (pilot, and co-pilot/gunner)
- Length
- 19.13 m
- Height
- 11.2 m
- Empty weight
- 12,839 kg
- Loaded weight
- 19,403 kg
- Max takeoff weight
- 23,000 kg
- Powerplant
- 1x Spartan Technologies HP-18m Micro-fusion reactor
- Drive Systems
- 2 swivel-wing-mounted VIAC thrusters
Performance
- Never exceed speed
- 722 m/s
- Maximum rated speed
- 550 m/s
- Long-range cruise speed
- 340 m/s
- Maximum top-stealth speed
- 96 m/s
- Range
- functionally unlimited
- Combat radius
- functionally unlimited
- Service ceiling
- classified
- Rate of climb
- 25,000 ft/min (127 m/s)
Armament
- Guns
- 1× 30 × 113 mm (1.18 × 4.45 in) M440 Chain Gun with 7,600 rounds
- Hardpoints
- Four pylon stations on the stub wings. Other variants have additional hardpoints.