Irish Defense Forces

[lkfht]

NAVY

 

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED:

 

With the recent acquisition of the F/A18F Block II Super Hornet from the Empire of Tianxia, all Rafale M aircraft currently deployed on Independence-Class aircraft carriers will be replaced. Since these new Super Hornets are Block IIs it means that it does not rely on low-observable technology, such as stealth systems, to the exclusion of other survivability factors. Instead, its design incorporates a combination of stealth, advanced electronic-warfare capabilities, reduced ballistic vulnerability, the use of standoff weapons, and innovative tactics that cumulatively and collectively enhance the safety of the fighter and crew. The F/A-18F's radar cross-section was reduced greatly from some aspects, mainly the front and rear. The design of the engine inlets reduces the aircraft's frontal radar cross-section. The alignment of the leading edges of the engine inlets is designed to scatter radiation to the sides. Fixed fanlike reflecting structures in the inlet tunnel divert radar energy away from the rotating fan blades.

 

The Super Hornet also makes considerable use of panel joint serration and edge alignment. Considerable attention has been paid to the removal or filling of unnecessary surface join gaps and resonant cavities. The F/A-18F uses perforated panels that appear opaque to radar waves at the frequencies used. Careful attention has been paid to the alignment of many panel boundaries and edges, to direct reflected waves away from the aircraft in uniformly narrow angles. While the F/A-18F is not a true stealth fighter like the F-22, it will have a frontal radar cross-section an order of magnitude smaller than prior generation fighters.

 

The Super Hornet Block II configuration includes the new APG-79 AESA radar; it enables its crew to execute simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks. The APG-79 also provides higher quality high-resolution ground mapping at long standoff ranges. The AESA radar can also detect smaller targets, such as inbound missiles and can track air targets beyond the range of the Super Hornet's own air to air missiles.

 

The Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) provides multi-purpose situational awareness, which includes high-off-bore-sight missile cuing. The Shared Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) is a high-resolution, digital tactical air reconnaissance system that features advanced day/night and all-weather capability. The Multifunctional Information Distribution System low volume communication terminal is being upgraded with the MIDS-JTRS system, which will allow a tenfold increase in bandwidth as well as compatibility with the Joint Tactical Radio System standards.
 

Specifications (F/A-18F)

 

General characteristics

    Crew: 2
    Length: 60 ft 1¼ in (18.31 m)
    Wingspan: 44 ft 8½ in (13.62 m)
    Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)
    Wing area: 500 ft² (46.5 m²)
    Empty weight: 32,081 lb (14,552 kg)
    Loaded weight: 47,000 lb (21,320 kg)
    Max. takeoff weight: 66,000 lb (29,937 kg)
    Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans
        Dry thrust: 13,000 lbf (62.3 kN) each
        Thrust with afterburner: 22,000 lbf (97.9 kN) each
    Internal fuel capacity: 13,550 lb (6,354 kg)
    External fuel capacity: 5 × 480 gal tanks, totaling 16,380 lb (7,381 kg)

Performance

    Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph, 1,915 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
    Range: 1,275 nmi (2,346 km)clean plus two AIM-9s
    Combat radius: 390 nmi (449 mi, 722 km) for interdiction mission
    Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (2,070 mi, 3,330 km)
    Service ceiling: 50,000+ ft (15,000+ m)
    Rate of climb: 44,882 ft/min (228 m/s)
    Wing loading: 94.0 lb/ft² (459 kg/m²)
    Thrust/weight: 0.93
    Design load factor: 7.6 g

Armament

    Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan nose mounted Gatling gun, 578 rounds
    Hardpoints: 11 total: 2× wingtips, 6× under-wing, and 3× under-fuselage with a capacity of 17,750 lb (8,050 kg) external fuel and ordnance

    Missiles:

        Air-to-air missiles:
            4× AIM-9 Sidewinder or 4× AIM-120 AMRAAM, and
            2× AIM-7 Sparrow or 2× AIM-120 AMRAAM
        Air-to-surface missiles:
            AGM-65 Maverick
            AGM-84H/K Standoff Land Attack Missile Expanded Range (SLAM-ER)
            AGM-88 HARM Anti-radiation missile
            AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)
            AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)
        Anti-ship missile:
            AGM-84 Harpoon
            Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM), in the future

    Bombs:

        JDAM precision-guided munition (PGMs)

        Paveway series of laser-guided bombs
        Mk 80 series of unguided iron bombs
        CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
        CBU-78 Gator
        CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
        Mk 20 Rockeye II

    Others:
        SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod or
        Electronic countermeasures (ECM) pod or
        AN/ASQ-228 ATFLIR Targeting pods or
        up to 3× 330 U.S. gallon (1,200 L) Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight or extended range/loitering time or
        1× 330 U.S. gal (1,200 L) tank and 4× 480 U.S. gal (1,800 L) tanks for aerial refueling system (ARS).

 

Avionics

    Hughes APG-73 or Raytheon APG-79 Radar
    Northrop Grumman/ITT AN/ALE-165 self-protection jammer pod or BAE Systems AN/ALE-214 integrated defensive electronic countermeasures system
    Raytheon AN/ALE-50 or BAE Systems AN/ALE-55 towed decoy
    Northrop Grumman AN/ALR-67(V)3 radar warning receiver
    MIDS LVT or MIDS JTRS datalink transceiver

 

[lkfht]

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Edited March 22, 2014 by lkfht

[lkfht]

NAVY

 

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED:

 

The 2nd Carrier Strike Group has been deployed to the North Atlantic Ocean to conduct regular patrols. They will remain in international waters and will not be conducting any large-scale live fire exercises. All regional governments and entities have been alerted to such movements and have been reassured that these measures are routine and are not acts of aggression in any form.

 

2nd Carrier Strike Group: PATROLS
  *CVN-92 INS Peacemaker
  *CG-002
  *FFH-403
  *FFH-404
  *DDG-503
  *DDG-504
  *SSN-603
  *SSN-604

Edited March 27, 2014 by lkfht

[lkfht]

NAVY

 

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED:

 

The Navy has recently acquired the P-8 Poseidon Multimission Maritime Aircraft. The P-8 is intended to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and shipping interdiction, along with an electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) role. This will involve carrying torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER missiles, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It will also be able to drop and monitor sonobuoys. These aircraft will strategically stationed across the United Republic.

 

Specifications

General characteristics

    Crew: Flight: two; Mission: seven
    Length: 129 ft 5 in (39.47 m)
    Wingspan: 123 ft 6 in (37.64 m)
    Height: 42 ft 1 in (12.83 m)
    Empty weight: 138,300 lb (62,730 kg)
    Max. takeoff weight: 189,200 lb (85,820 kg)
    Powerplant: 2 × CFM56-7B turbofan, 27,000 lbf (120 kN) each

Performance

    Maximum speed: 490 knots (907 km/h)
    Cruise speed: 440 kn (815 km/h)
    Range: 1,200 nmi (2,222 km); 4 hours on station (for anti-submarine warfare mission)
    Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,496 m)

Armament

    (5 internal and 6 external) AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER missiles, mines, torpedoes, and bombs.

Avionics

    Raytheon APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar

 

[lkfht]

AIR FORCE

 

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED:

 

The Air Force is to deploy RQ-4 drones to patrol over the North Sea Fleet.

 

NAVY

 

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED:

 

P-8 Poseidons are to conduct regular patrols over all sea and waterways in and around the British Isles.

 

The North Sea Fleet has been put on high alert in response to recent events in Copenhagen. These precautions are in a defensive-nature and the fleet is not authorized to take any offensive action. They are however authorized to use force in cases of self-defense.

Edited April 5, 2014 by lkfht

[Zoot Zoot]

Classified

 

The Norse representative in Dublin requests a meeting with a representative of Ireland to discuss alarming developments in the North Sea.

[lkfht]

NAVY

 

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED:

 

The North Sea Fleet has been ordered to normal readiness status. They are to remain in their normal patrol pattern.