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VA-3 Invader Veritech Bomber (-3A, -3B, -3D, -3S) 
EVA-3 Hunter Electronic Warfare Veritech (EVA-3B)

I. Dimensions:

(VA-3)

(EVA-3B Hunter)

II. Type:

• Design: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Builders: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• (VA-3A, -3B) : One man all weather aerospace combat mecha, 2 form veritech bomber. Mass produced version.
• (VA-3S) : One man all weather aerospace combat mecha, 2 form veritech bomber. Squadron leader version.
• (VA-3D) : Two seat trainer with operational capabilities, 2 form veritech trainer.
• (EVA-3B) : Two seat electronic intelligence/reconnaissance mecha; two form veritech.

III. Service History:

• VA-3A: Served with RDF Marines, Air Force, and Navy from 2047 until being replaced by -3B.
• VA-3B: Served with RDF Marines, Air Force, and Navy from 2052 until being replaced by the VA-14.
• VA-3D: Served with RDF Marines, Air Force, and Navy from 2047 until being replaced by the VA-14
• VA-3S: Served with RDF Marines, Air Force, and Navy from 2047 until being replaced by the VA-14.
• EVA-3B: Served with RDF Air Force and Navy from 2048 until replaced by the EVAB-5B.

IV. Propulsion:

• Engines:

(VA-3A, -3D, EVA-3B)   

• 2 x Pratt&Whitney FF-2020A fusion turbines each rated at 22,000 kg (216 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 311 MW of power.  The engines generate 17,360 PS during ground combat.
• 6 x Rolls Royce HMM-6 high thrust vernier thrusters, one mounted in either hand in battloid mode, and two on the each chest/intake cover in battloid mode. Each thruster is rated at 682.6 kg/sec (6.7 kN/sec).
• 12 x Pratt&Whitney LHP07 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; four on either chest/intake cover in battloid mode, and two on each leg. Each thruster is rated at 133 kg/sec (1.3 kN/sec).
• Vernier vents on the wings, as part of the aircraft's space roll control.

(VA-3B, -3S)

• 2 x Pratt&Whitney FF-2030C fusion turbines each rated at 24,000 kg (235 kN) of thrust, capable of generating 337 MW of power.  The engines generate 17,580 PS during ground combat.
• 6 x Rolls Royce HMM-7 high thrust vernier thrusters, one mounted in either hand in battloid mode, and two on the each chest/intake cover in battloid mode. Each thruster is rated at 701.3 kg/sec (6.9 kN/sec).
• 12 x Pratt&Whitney LHP07 low-thrust vernier thrusters beneath multipurpose hook/handles, distributed around the aircraft; four on either chest/intake cover in battloid mode, and two on each leg. Each thruster is rated at 133 kg/sec (1.3 kN/sec).
• Vernier vents on the wings, as part of the aircraft's space roll control.

• Auxilliary Powerplant:

• 2 x General Electric APU-141 thermonuclear fusion reaction auxiliary power generators (one redundant), each capable of producing 300 MW, using the aircraft's stored fuel, with an emergency reserve of 10 lt D₂O/Li solution.

• Fuel Capacity:

• 4,500 lt 70/30 D₂O/Li solution as reactant for fusion engines in fuel tanks inside the wings.

V. Performance:

VI. Electronics

Radar tracking:

• Hughes AN/APQ-96 multi-mode navigation and attack radar system providing long range tracking and targeting of ground targets.
• Westinghouse AN/APX-16 IFF friend or foe interrogator.

Optical tracking:

(VA models):

• (Head/Turret) Kodak AN/DOS-3300 multi-band digital camera system, for medium range, traversable, UV, infrared imaging and optical band detection and tracking.
• Thomson AN/LT-7 multi-frequency laser designator and ranger.

(EVA models):

• Zeiss/Thomson multi-spectrum high-sensitivity scanner system including 15cm IR telescopic imager and 13.5cm ultra-violet telescope. These optics have internal shields to protect them when not in use.
• Phillips AN/DOS-3400 multi-band digital camera system, for medium range spherical infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking.
• Thomson AN/LT-7 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

(VA models):

• Loral AN/ALR-26 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-15 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse AN/ALQ-266(V) internal countermeasures system
• Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff/Flare Dispensers    
• Westinghouse AN/AMJ-6 Active Missile Jammers
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas
• Bose Loudspeakers producing sound up to 90 decibels.

(EVA models):

• Loral AN/ALR-26 Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• Loral AN/AIR-15 Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse AN/QRC-124 Infra-red Counter Measures (IRCM)
• Thomson AN/ASD-68 signal detector/receiver
• Kowalczyk AN/ALQ-270(V) internal countermeasures system
• Tracor AN/ALE-16 Chaff/Flare Dispensers    
• Westinghouse AN/AMJ-6 Active Missile Jammers
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas
• Kowalczyk AN/ALQ-273 multi-spectrum jammer in external centerline position.
• Bose Loudspeakers producing sound up to 90 decibels.
• Head sensors are supplemented with
• Marconi Spyeye MkII broad-spectrum radiation scanners.
• General Electric AN/ALQ-272 active laser jamming systems.
• Special hardware and software for more effective battle management against active defenses. This especially increases the effectiveness of any mounted anti-radiation missiles, compared to ARM missiles mounted on a standard version, because the Battle Management System will automatically prioritize threats and lock on to them with the appropriate missile selection. This information is routinely shared with all friendly crafts' computers, warning the other pilots of possible threats to their aircraft, and the data-link allows other aircraft to serve as the launch platforms for additional AR missiles.

NOTE: Various sensor systems like Inverted Synthetic Aperture Radar, high-definition cameras, radiation sensors, motion scanners et cetera may be pod-mounted on the wing and center body hardpoints.

(VA-3D):

• Additional: Lasers on head is replaced by a Marconi Spyeye MkII broad spectrum radiation sensors.
• IBM-2000 onboard data interpretation system

NOTE: Various sensor systems like Inverted Synthetic Aperture Radar, high-definition cameras, radiation sensors, motion scanners et cetera may be pod-mounted on the wing and center body hardpoints.

VII. Armament:

(VA-3D)

• No armament standard. Dummy munitions are often carried on the VA-3D, but these craft are almost never used for combat.

One Centerline hardpoint can carry:

(VA-3A, -3B, -3S)

• 1 x Three Star GU-22 105mm quad-barrel gunpod: The main weapon of the VA-3 is the GU-22 Gun Pod produced by Three Star Heavy Industries. The gunpod is mounted on a special hardpoint below the veritech in fighter mode, and is hand-held in guardian and battloid modes. The GU-22 uses magazines of ammo each containing 200 rounds, firing at 400 rounds per minute. Ammunition is a mix of Tungsten-coated depleted Uranium armor piercing spin-stabilized discarding sabot (APSSDS), high explosive armor piercing (HEAP) and tracer rounds. One spare magazines for the GU-22 is mounted in the leg of the VA-3s.
• or a number of dedicated military cargoes including, but not limited to any type of gun pod (except the XS-06), various sensor and jamming pods, and cargo containers.

Six wing hardpoints (three per wing) can each carry:

• 2 x AGM-27 Thunderbolt long range air-to-ground missiles.
• or 2 x RMS-5 Armageddon long range nuclear cruise missiles. 
• or 4 x AGM-20 Lightning medium range air-to-ground missiles.
• or 6 x AGM-23 Hailstorm short range air-to-ground missiles.
• or 6 x AGM-33 Banshee high speed anti-radiation missile (HARM).
• or 4 x AGM-47 Siren high speed anti-radiation missile (HARM).
• or 2 x  MPM-17 Scimitar long range multi-purpose missiles.
• or 4 x MPM-15 Rapier medium range multi-purpose missiles.
• or 1 x UMM-14; Armored container with 30 MPM-20 Pike short range multi-purpose.
• or 6 x Mk 12 LDGP (Low Drag General Purpose) 250 kg (conical) or 260 kg (retard) free-fall bombs.
• or 4  x Mk.13 LDGP 500 kg (conical) or 510 kg (retard) free-fall bombs.
• or 2 x Mk.14 LDGP 900 kg free-fall bomb.
• or 6 x GBU-46 Paveway V LGB (Laser Guided Bomb) Guided Bomb Units (GBU); a Mk. 12 LDGP bomb configured to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam.
• or 4 x GBU-48 Paveway V LGB; a Mk. 13 LDGP bomb configured to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam. 
• or 2 x GBU-44 Paveway V LGB; a Mk. 14 LDGP bomb configured to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam.
• or 2 x GBU-50B/B PAVEWAY V 1000 kg LGB; Hard target penetrator (HTP).
• or 4 x CBU-12/E Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW) cluster munition; 450 kg cluster munition.
• or 4 x CBU-13/C SFW cluster munitions.
• or 4 x CBU-10/C SFW cluster munitions.
• or 4 x CBU-7/B or B/B GATOR cluster bombs.
• or 6 x Durandal airstrip destruction bombs.
• or 2 x M261 Light Weight Launcher (LWL), containing 19 ZIPPO-70 unguided rockets;
• or 3 x Mk 100 Eel lightweight anti-ship/anti-submarine torpedoes.
• or 3 x Mk 101 Marlin lightweight anti-ship/anti-submarine torpedoes.
• or 2 x ASB-100B; 1,000 kg depth bomblet cluster.
• or 2 x Mk. 105 Quickstrike; 1000 kg aircraft laid bottom shallow water anti-ship mine.
• or 2 x 1,000 lt reactant/fuel tank. Can store 70/30 D₂O/Li solution. Another version of this fuel tank features the necessary components to enable mid-flight refueling in a buddy-buddy fashion, allowing up to two mecha to be refueled from it.  This version comes with a special pylon, which includes a TV and IR camera for efficient supervision of the refueling procedure and is mounted on 2 additional hardpoints.

Four fuselage hardpoints can each carry:

• 1 x AGM-27 Thunderbolt long range air-to-ground missiles.
• or 1 x RMS-5 Armageddon long range nuclear cruise missiles. 
• or 2 x AGM-20 Lightning medium range air-to-ground missiles.
• or 2 x AGM-47 Siren high speed anti-radiation missile (HARM).
• or 1 x  MPM-17 Scimitar long range multi-purpose missiles.
• or 2 x MPM-15 Rapier medium range multi-purpose missiles.
• or 2  x Mk 13 LDGP 500 kg (conical) or 510 kg (retard) free-fall bombs.
• or 1 x Mk 14 LDGP 900 kg free-fall bomb.
• or 2 x GBU-48 Paveway V LGB; a Mk. 13 LDGP bomb configured to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam. 
• or 1 x GBU-44 Paveway V LGB; a Mk. 14 LDGP bomb configured to detect a target illuminated by a laser beam.
• or 1 x GBU-50B/B PAVEWAY V 1000 kg LGB; Hard target penetrator (HTP).
• or 2 x CBU-12/E Sensor Fused Weapon (SFW) cluster munition; 450 kg cluster munition.
• or 2 x CBU-13/C SFW cluster munitions.
• or 2 x CBU-10/C SFW cluster munitions.
• or 2 x CBU-7/B or B/B GATOR cluster bombs.
• or 1 x M261 Light Weight Launcher (LWL), containing 19 ZIPPO-70 unguided rockets;
• or 1 x ASB-100B; 1,000 kg depth bomblet cluster.
• or 1 x Mk 105 Quickstrike; 1000 kg aircraft laid bottom shallow water anti-ship mine.
• or 1 x 1,000 lt reactant/fuel tank. Can store 70/30 D₂O/Li solution. Another version of this fuel tank features the necessary components to enable mid-flight refueling in a buddy-buddy fashion, allowing up to two mecha to be refueled from it.  This version comes with a special pylon, which includes a TV and IR camera for efficient supervision of the refueling procedure and is mounted on 2 additional hardpoints.

NOTE: The hardpoints can also carry recon and cargo pods than the above.

The most common payloads for various mission profile are as follows:

(VA-3)

(EVA-3B)

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the VA-3 is a low-mass lunarium tungsten composite plating that is the standard for most Terran veritech fighters. Aside from the good protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and fair against, particle guns too, owing to the fact that the armor can flake off and evaporate in layers under fire from such high-energy weapons, taking much of the weapon's energy and converting it into the latent heat of sublimation in the armor. The armor stops all small arms fire, and has good resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha.

The Invader provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for one day maximum.

IX. Development:

The RDF had always lacked a truly dedicated ground attack craft. While the Beta Fighter could carry bombs, it was not in sufficient numbers and it also lacked the avionics to do so effectively. This never really hampered the REF in its crusade against the Invid, this turned into a liability when fighting other human military factions.  Therefore, in 2045 Northrop-Grumman submitted the initial designs for the VA-3 in response to an REF request for an all weather strike aircraft.  The VA-3 ended up having more in common with late 20^th century aircraft then a veritech fighter (The variable nature of the design was added almost as an afterthought). The VA-3 was surprisingly adept for its job, providing close air support for allied ground forces with its large caliber 105mm gunpod and six hardpoints.  This heavy armament and armor came at the price of reduced speed and agility.  While top speed was high when compared to older veritechs, it was pitifully slow against more modern models.  Of course, most human military factions were armed with older models so this lack of speed rarely came into play.  The lack of agility proved much more lethal as it could not dogfight and proved easy prey if unescorted.

The VA-3 was still adopted by the RDF Air Force, Navy, and Marines in 2047 and saw most of its usage in an atmosphere with occasional extra-atmospheric sorties with the Air Force. Its primary missions in its early life were dealing with rebellions and keeping violent insurrections at bay that were common early in the United Terran Government. Flying from the decks of the Navy's old Prometheus-class and later Rainbow-class carriers is where the VA-3 saw most of its action. In combat the VA-3 struggled at first, more due to bad tactics and deployment than any fault of design. As the RDF became more adapted to using more specialized veritechs, the VA-3 grew in efficiency to a point beyond what was expected showing the value of a dedicated role veritech.

The initial version of the VA-3, the VA-3A used mostly off the shelf parts and similar electronics to the older veritechs and some new systems making cheap and easy to produce on war torn Earth. The VA-3B however, which replaced the -3A used new avionics more like those of the VA-3S greatly increasing combat efficiency overall.   In 2048 an electronic warfare version was developed for the Air Force and Navy dubbed the EVA-3B Hunter. It carried even more avionics and jamming systems being able to black out a large portion of land from all microwave based systems (Laser tracking and laser communications remained unaffected) greatly increasing the ability of all VA-3 designs.  While and adequate first step toward creating specialized veritech mecha, the VA-3 saw a limited service life. As such the RDF quickly began plans for the acquisition of a new mecha, the VA-14 Falcon. By 2058 nearly all the VA-3 in service had been replaced by the Falcon while the EVA-3B was replaced in 2056 by the EVAB-5B.

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

Content by Jeffrey R. Spillner, Ron Ferrara, Charles Jesse Casimir
Copyright © 1998-2001 Jeffrey R. Spillner,  Ron Ferrara, Charles Jesse Casimir 

Page Last Updated on January 21, 2001 @ 01:00 GMT