VF-4 Lightning III
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The VF-4 Lightning III was developed by Stonewell Bellcom in late 2009, and was promoted as the "next generation" variable fighter for the UN Spacy by the company. The VF-4 was faster, more maneuverable, could generate more thrust than the standard VF-1 Valkyrie, and was armed with dual beam cannons in addition to the traditional GU-11 gun pods. Early models of the VF-4, designated VF-X-4 Prototypes, were produced on Earth for testing purposes in 2010, just as Space War One started to increase in magnitude. The VF-X-4 prototypes were heavily based on the VF-1 Valkyrie design; 35% of the VF-X-4's components were directly taken from the VF-1 Valkyrie, including the entire nose and forward fuselage section.
More VF-X-4s were constructed and tested by a number of UN Spacy pilots, including Skull Squadron leader Hikaru Ichijyo. In 2012 the final design for the VF-4 Lightning III was completed and mass production of the new fighter began.
The first VF-4 squadrons were issued to the Skull and Iron Chiefs Squadrons, which accompanied the SDF-2 Megaroad-01 on her colonization mission in late 2012. After the Megaroad left production of the VF-4s continued, and in 2020 the Lightning III officially replaced the VF-1 Valkyrie as the main tactical fighter of the UN Spacy. The VF-4 design was itself replaced in 2030 by the VF-11 Thunderbolt. A grand total of 8,245 VF-4s were produced for the UN Spacy between 2012 and 2030.
Variants
- VF-X-4: Trial-produced variable fighter built using 35% VF-1 Valkyrie parts, including the nose and forward fuselage section.
- VF-4G: Production version in service in 2047 with engines replaced and upgraded for increased thrust.
Statistics
- Vehicle type: VF-4 Lightning III
- Class: Tactical Variable Fighter
- Manufacturer: Stonewell Bellcom and Shinnakasu Industries
- Power Plant: Two 14000 kg [x g] class Shinnakasu/P&W/Roice FF-2011 thermonuclear turbine engines. The VF-4G has 16500 kg [x g] class Shinnakasu/P&W/Roice FF-2011(+) thermonuclear turbine engines. Two-dimensional exhaust nozzles. P&W HMM-1A high-manoeuvrability vernier thrusters.
Dimensions
Fighter Mode- Wing span: 14.28 m
- Length overall: 14.92 m
- Height overall: 3.7
- Empty Mass: 13,950 kg
Trivia
- First appeared in Macross Flash Back 2012
- The VF-4 Lightning III was named after a proposed name for what would be eventually be deemed the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, the next United States Air Force main fighter. The suggested Lightning 2 name in turn was coined from the Lockheed P-38/F-5 Lightning, a World War II American fighter. Lightning II was later adopted as the name of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, after the P-38/F-5 Lightning and the BAC (English Electric) Lightning, a Cold War-era British supersonic interceptor. The F-35 Lightning II does not (to the best of anybody's knowledge) transform into a giant robot.
- In Robotech (an American adaptation based on the original Macross television series and two other works), the VF-X-4 (subsequently named YF-4) was declined for production due to "staggering cost and complexity," and was superseded by the VFA-6 Alpha.
External links
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