Shinnakasu/Northrop Grumman/Stonewell/Shinsei
VF-0A Phoenix "Angel" (Raid) Special Attack/Assault Specification

Technical Data

Equipment Type: developmental variable fighter
Government: U.N. Forces
Manufacturer: Northrop Grumman/Stonewell/Shinsei.
Introduction: September 2008
Operational Deployment: September 2008
Accommodation: pilot only.
Dimensions:
# Fighter Mode: length 18.69 meters
Mass: empty 21.858 metric tons total with GF-2200A Ghost Fighter
Structure: space metal material frame; titanium/carbon composite outer shell; AWAG/RA 105 SWAG energy converting armor.
Power Plant: two EGF-127 custom overtuned conventional turbofan jet engines, power rating unknown.
Propulsion: 91.08 kN x 2; 148.9 kN x 2 afterburner (Total Thrust with GF-2200A Ghost 305.65 kN and 602.55 kN afterburner); 3 x Shinnakasu ARR-2 maneuvering rocket motors (for use in GERWALK/Battroid modes).
Performance:
# Fighter Mode: at 11,000 m Mach 2.74
g limit: unknown.
Design Features: 3-mode variable transformation; standard auxillary conformal fuel drop tanks (mounted on dorsal main body in Fighter mode, upper torso in Battroid mode); rectangular underfuselage air intake with semi-retractable slit-style shutters for Battroid mode/space use; 1 x AN/ALE 55 flare and chaff dispenser system; AN/ALQ 220A IDECM. ASS/PS 110 active stealth system; retractable shield canopy (Battroid mode); underwater capable in silent mode for up to several minutes (max operational depth limit is 20 meters); option of reactive armor system or 2 x regular external atmospheric combat super parts (mounted one on each leg/engine nacelle).
- Armament -
Guns:
# 1 x Mauler laser cannon (mounted on head turret)
# 1 x Howard GPU-9 35 mm gatling gun pod with 550 rounds (AHEAD rounds available).
Bombs & Missiles:
# 4 x underwing variable pylon hard points for 12 x standard Raytheon Bifors AIM-200A AMRAAM 2 I/ALH-guided medium-range air-to-air missiles (three-missile racks, 1/point).
# or 4 x GH-28A 8-tube general-purpose micro missile launchers (capable of firing 3 volleys).
# or 2 x HAIM-95A medium-range maneuverability missile launcher pods originally used in attack craft equipment (special attack/assault specification).
# or a combination of above load-outs
Additional Armament ("Angel" (Raid) Configuration):
# 2 x external atmospheric combat super parts/conformal fuel tank FAST Pack with 24 x Raytheon Erlikon GH-30B I/IR-guided micro-missiles each (mounted one per leg/engine nacelle); 1 x standard gun pod spare magazine stored in super part.
# 2 x augmentative pylons welded to the conformal fuel tanks of craft's dorsal surface for optional special attack/assault specification.
# 1 x QF-2200A Ghost unmanned fighter equipped with five micro-missile launchers.

Description and History

Much like the VF-1 that would follow it, the VF-0 series was built to benefit from several equipment packages that could enhance the variable fighter for specific missions. Unfortunately, the parts of the "Super Pack" ready for deployment included only the conformal fuel tanks/missile packs. When the need to outfit the VF-0A with heavy weaponry and increased fuel supply arose (known informally as the Anti-"Bird Man" battle), the carrier crew of the Asuka quickly assembled an equipment package from available parts. This special modification was known initially as the VF-0 "Raid" but was changed to the "Angel" designation sometime afterwards, likely in response to the appearance of the craft once outfitted. When just the QF-2200A Ghost fighter was installed on the VF-0, the weight increased by approximately 35% while the total thrust of the combined VF/Ghost increased less than 20%. However, the afterburner thrust increased by 90%, ultimately resulting in a marked increase in maximum acceleration.

The Asuka crew had to rely upon virtual simulations to produce flight data that could be input into the VF-0 air combat computer, since the VFs were modified so quickly. Several factors altered the flight characteristics of the VF-0 "Angel" including the weight balance of the fighter's added munitions and more significantly the air flows of the VF-0 main wing as affected by the QF-2200A Ghost main wing. The complex ways in which these two wing surfaces interacted with each other at high speeds and high angles of attack left many gaps in the computer control scheme thus meaning the self-learning combat maneuver computer had to conduct data acquisition and analysis during flight to provide correcting actions. Coupled with the already dynamic nature of the Battroid mode's movements, this meant performance of the VF-0A "Angel" configuration relied heavily upon the skills of the pilot once in actual combat conditions.

The Special Attack/Assault Specification was installed on one VF-0A and one VF-0S and used only once in the battle at the island of Mayan in late 2008. U.N.G. pilot Shin Kudo and Roy Focker made use of a VF-0A "Angel"" and VF-0S "Angel" during that final mission.

NOTE: The VF-0 designation "Phoenix" has not yet been determined as official. In 2008 the official Macross Frontier website adopted the designation "Phoenix" for the VF-0 in a listing of all previous Valkyries. During development of the Macross game for the Playstation 2, when the VF-0 was being considered for inclusion, it was named "Phoenix" (ultimately, the VF-0 was not included in the game). On the other hand, the "Phoenix" designation does not appear in any published Macross book nor does the Macross Zero anime make any mention of it.