VF-0
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In the Macross Zero anime science-fiction series, the VF-0 was an advanced prototype for the VF-1 Valkyrie which served as a flight test unit and later in 2008 as a front-line fighter, before the Valkyrie's mass production in November 2008. In most respects, the VF-0 resembled the VF-1, although its legs were longer because the EGF-127 conventional turbofan engines used by the fighter were larger and bulkier than the VF-1's FF-2001 thermonuclear engines.
The VF-0's maximum speed is Mach 2.74 at 11,000 meters MSL altitude, using variable intake slats to slow the inrushing air to subsonic velocity, rather than a single variable intake ramp. Because it uses conventional turbofan engines and not thermonuclear turbines like the later VF-1, the VF-0 is not a true spacecraft (although it can operate for short periods of time underwater).
The VF-0's armament was virtually identical to the VF-1's (although the VF-1S's laser armament was bumped up from two to four barrels), but slightly older in design: A 35 mm gun pod (GPU-9) in place of the VF-1's 55 mm GU-11, and AIM-120 AMRAAM air to air missiles in place of the VF-1's AMM-1s. The AIM-120s are for some reason referred to as "AIM-130" even though the number 130 in the US military missile designation system is assigned to an air to ground missile which is composed of a BLU-109 or Mk 84 "iron bomb" equipped with a JDAM guidance suite and a rocket motor, and visuals clearly show the missiles to be AIM-120s.
Several VF-0s, under the command of Roy Focker, deployed from the aircraft carrier Asuka II (CVN-99). Many were destroyed in combat in the South Pacific against Anti-U.N. forces piloting Sukhoi SV-51 variable fighters in early 2008.
The VF-0 was succeeded in service by the VF-1 Valkyrie in late 2008/early 2009. After Space War I, the idea of an inexpensive atmospheric-use Valkyrie was resurrected with the VF-3000 Star Crusader and VF-5000 "Star Mirage."
Variants
- VF-0A - standard version, single seat, single head laser
- VF-0B - two-seat version of the VF-0A
- VF-0D - improved two-seat version with canards, new wing design
- VF-0S - single seat version for squadron commanders, two head lasers
The VF-0 is actually a VF-1 without the Thermo-nuclear engine. At that time the UN had to counter the new Variable fighter from the Anti-UN faction the SV-51. Since the VF-1's powerplant was not ready to be mass produced at the time, UN Spacy officials gave the go ahead to produce a conventionally power VF in limited numbers to bridge the need.
The Zero had the same performance as the VF-1, with the exception of range and maintained space flight.
However only a few were ever produced, estimated to be less than 50 examples. All are assumed to be lost by the end of SPACE WAR I.
The VF-0 would have been forgotten if not for the discovery of documents sometime in the 2050's by Recovery teams. It detailed the action in the MAYAN islands in 2008.
Background
Mechanical designer Shoji Kawamori says he initially planned the main vehicle of Macross Zero to be closer in lineage to conventional fighters such as the F-14 Tomcat. He later opted for the finalized VF-0 design which was closer to later variable fighters in the Macross setting (aside from the relatively conventional engines).
External links
- [VF-0] at the [Macross Compendium]
- [Macross Nexus]
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