Well, I just saw the
Top Gun movies again. And I realized that Remant's air forces could use some strike fighters. Not just gunships that carry people. So to that end... Here's the equivalent of the F-14 Tomcat for the RWBY universe:
- - -
VSF-14 Cat Sìth Strike Fighter
The VSF-14 Cat Sìth was developed by Wayland Air Motors in the decades before the Vytal Tournament attack, serving as the VDF's primary multirole strike fighter during Vale's post-Great War militarization. The Cat Sìth (Nicknamed "Ghost Cat") was designed to balance air superiority, ground attack, and anti-Grimm capabilities, operating from Tempest- and Banshee-class airship carriers and ground bases. Its variable-sweep wings, robust airframe, and Dust-enhanced systems made it a versatile platform, capable of countering both conventional threats (e.g., rogue airships) and Grimm hordes.
Named after the Cat Sìth, a mythical creature resembling a large black cat with a white chest spot, the fighter embodies agility, elusiveness, and a dual nature—protective yet formidable. In Albion folklore, the Cat Sìth could bless or curse, stealing souls or guarding sacred sites, reflecting the VSF-14's role as Vale's guardian against Grimm and its potential for devastating strikes. The Cat Sìth preceded the VSF-18 Thunderbolt, which incorporated lessons from its operational history, such as the need for greater stealth and Dust efficiency. By the time of the Vytal Festival Attack, the VSF-14 is being phased out but remains in reserve squadrons, seeing limited action during the Vytal attack due to its age and the Thunderbolt's prominence.
The VSF-14 was a cornerstone of Vale's air doctrine, emphasizing carrier-based power projection and Huntsmen coordination. Its rugged design suited Vale's diverse terrains, while its Dust-augmented propulsion and weapons countered Remnant's unique threats. Though less advanced than the Thunderbolt, the Cat Sìth's reliability and versatility cemented Wayland Air Motors' reputation, paving the way for its successor.
Technical Specifications: VSF-14 Cat Sìth
General Characteristics
- Manufacturer: Wayland Air Motors
- Role: Multirole strike fighter (air superiority, ground attack, close air support, reconnaissance)
- Crew: 2 (pilot, weapons systems officer); single-seat variant (VSF-14A) for training
- Length: 19.1 m (62.8 ft)
- Wingspan:
- Extended: 19.5 m (64 ft)
- Swept: 11.6 m (38 ft)
- Height: 4.8 m (16 ft)
- Wing Area: 52.5 m² (565 ft²)
- Empty Weight: 19,840 kg (43,735 lb)
- Max Takeoff Weight: 33,725 kg (74,350 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wayland D-2218 Dust-Augmented Turbofans
- Dry Thrust: 12,500 lbf (56 kN) each
- Afterburner Thrust: 20,000 lbf (89 kN) each
- Dust Propulsion: Fire Dust injectors for short bursts of enhanced thrust (Mach 1.6 without afterburners)
Performance
- Maximum Speed: Mach 2.1 (2,580 km/h; 1,600 mph) at 40,000 ft
- Supercruise: Mach 1.1 with Fire Dust augmentation
- Range: 2,400 km (1,490 mi) on internal fuel
- Combat Radius: 850 km (530 mi) with standard loadout
- Ferry Range: 3,700 km (2,300 mi) with external tanks
- Service Ceiling: 16,000 m (52,500 ft)
- Rate of Climb: 12,000 m/min (39,370 ft/min)
- Thrust/Weight: 0.85 (fully loaded)
- G-Limits: +7.0/-2.5 g
Airframe and Design
- Materials: Titanium-steel alloys with early Dust-infused composites for durability and minor radar cross-section (RCS) reduction.
- Stealth Features: Limited stealth with angled exhausts and basic radar-absorbent coatings; less advanced than the Thunderbolt's semi-stealth design.
- Wings: Variable-sweep wings (20° to 68°) for optimized performance at low and high speeds, ideal for carrier landings and high-speed intercepts. Wings fold for airship storage.
- Carrier Compatibility: Reinforced landing gear, tailhook, and compact folded dimensions for Tempest and Banshee-class carriers. STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) capability via Gravity Dust channels.
- Dust Integration: Fire Dust enhances thrust; Gravity Dust reduces takeoff/landing weight; early Hard-Light Dust experiments improve structural integrity.
Avionics
- Radar: Taranis Electronics RA/EPG-9 Pulse-Doppler Radar
- Range: 150 km for fighter-sized targets
- Features: Look-down/shoot-down, basic track-while-scan, limited ground mapping
- Sensors:
- Infrared Search and Track (IRST) for passive Grimm detection
- Early Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) with Dust-enhanced thermal imaging
- Basic multispectral sensors for Grimm bio-signatures
- Countermeasures:
- Electronic Warfare Suite (EWS) with chaff/flare dispensers
- Missile warning system
- Cockpit: Dual analog-digital cockpit with heads-up display (HUD) and multifunction displays. Basic Aura-integrated interface for pilot situational awareness (less advanced than Thunderbolt's neural link).
- Networking: Early secure datalink for coordination with Bullhead AWACS and Huntsmen, less robust than Thunderbolt's.
Armament
- Gun: 1 × 20mm Dust-Enhanced Rotary Cannon (700 rounds)
- Ammunition: Fire Dust rounds for anti-Grimm incendiary effects; standard rounds for conventional targets
- Hardpoints: 10 (6 underwing, 2 fuselage, 2 wing glove)
- Total Payload: 6,600 kg (14,550 lb)
- Air-to-Air Missiles:
- Short-range: RAM-12J Copperhead (early Dust-augmented seekers)
- Medium/long-range: RAM-17B Bluejay (semi-active radar homing)
- Air-to-Ground:
- Unguided bombs (Dust-enhanced)
- Early precision-guided bombs (Paveway-equivalent, laser-guided)
- RGM-55 Maniac missiles (basic Dust warheads)
- Rocket pods with Fire Dust warheads
- Anti-Grimm Weapons:
- Fire Dust cluster bombs for horde dispersal
- Prototype Gravity Dust rockets for area denial
- External Pods:
- Targeting/reconnaissance pods
- Electronic warfare pods
- External fuel tanks
Dust Integration
- Propulsion: Fire Dust injectors boost thrust for short bursts, enabling high-speed intercepts and evasive maneuvers.
- Defenses: Gravity Dust barriers (early version) provide temporary weight reduction for carrier operations; no Hard-Light shields, relying on conventional armor.
- Weapons: Fire Dust munitions enhance anti-Grimm effects; Gravity Dust experiments improve bomb accuracy but are less refined than Thunderbolt's.
- Sustainability: Basic Dust recyclers reduce consumption, but less efficient than Thunderbolt's advanced systems.
Operational Features
- Multirole Capability: Configurable for air superiority (missile-heavy), ground attack (bombs/rockets), or hybrid missions, though less flexible than Thunderbolt.
- Carrier Operations: Designed for catapult-assisted takeoff and arrested recovery on airship carriers. Variable-sweep wings optimize deck handling.
- Ground Operations: STOL capability supports improvised airfields in Vale's forests and coasts.
- Maintenance: Robust but complex due to variable wings; requires more downtime than Thunderbolt's modular design.
- Pilot Support: Early Aura-linked systems enhance pilot reaction speed, but less intuitive than Thunderbolt's.
Role in the Valean Defense Force
The VSF-14 Cat Sìth was the VDF's mainstay fighter during Vale's post-Great War era, when the kingdom focused on securing its borders and countering Grimm incursions. Deployed on Tempest and later Banshee-class carriers, it projected power across Remnant, supporting Huntsmen against Grimm hordes and deterring rogue factions in the Four Kingdom Pax. Its key roles included:
- Air Superiority:
- Engaged aerial Grimm (e.g., Nevermores, Griffons) and enemy airships with Bluejay missiles and its 20mm cannon. Variable-sweep wings allowed high-speed intercepts and dogfights.
- Example: During a pre-Volume 3 Grimm surge, Cat Sìths from the carrier Vigilant repelled a Nevermore flock, protecting coastal villages.
- Close Air Support (CAS):
- Supported Huntsmen with Fire Dust cluster bombs and rocket pods, dispersing Beowolf and Ursa packs. Laser-guided bombs targeted Alpha Grimm.
- Example: In a Valean forest campaign, Cat Sìths provided CAS for Team STRQ, clearing Grimm for civilian evacuations.
- Anti-Grimm Operations:
- Prototype Gravity Dust rockets disrupted horde movements, while Fire Dust munitions incinerated swarms. The Cat Sìth's multispectral sensors detected Grimm bio-signatures in dense terrain.
- Example: Against a proto-Wyvern Grimm, Cat Sìths used coordinated strikes with Huntsmen, though their limited precision highlighted the need for the Thunderbolt.
- Reconnaissance and Patrol:
- Equipped with targeting pods, Cat Sìths scouted Grimm migration routes and enemy airship activity, relaying data to Bullhead AWACS.
- Example: Routine patrols over Vale's outskirts identified White Fang staging areas, though political interference (e.g., Prunella Glocken's policies) delayed follow-up.
By the time of the Vytal Tournament attack, the VSF-14 is largely replaced by the VSF-18 Thunderbolt, which offers superior stealth, avionics, and Dust efficiency. However, reserve Cat Sìth squadrons are scrambled during the attack, supporting Thunderbolts against the Wyvern and Grimm hordes. Their slower response and outdated systems limit their impact, reflecting Prunella Glocken's budget cuts, which delayed fleet modernization.
