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SDF Macross : Valkyrie VF-1 Fighter Development History
Citation preview
Valkyrie Development History (Variable Fighter: VF)
Written by Tatsuto Nagayama (Studio Nue) with illustrations by Kunio Aoi (Studio Nue); ©1982-2003 Big West
Translated by Miyuki Saito with Ezekiel Letourneau (Studio Kappa); ©2003 Nanashi's Information Group
For personal viewing. Please do not copy or redistribute. This version is printer-friendly.
The MSS Plan
Development of the Battroid was started because of the crash of the gigantic space ship in 1999. This
space ship was named SDF-1 Macross. And the maintenance of the space ship strategy plan based on this
ship, was called the Macross Strategy System (MSS) had begun. Meanwhile, United Nations Forces applied
the super technology (OTM: Over-Technology of Macross), decided the equipment and strategic weapons
for MSS.
Within, the United Nations Forces had a serious problem.... Since the Army seriously considered fire
power and destructive power, they reported to the headquarters of the United Nations Forces that they
wanted to equip only Destroids (which have a walking system) as the new type of mecha.
This was the actual denial to the power of the Air Force and it gave a shock to the Air Force whose main
force were their aircraft, and also to the Navy and the Marines.
However, this priority theory of the human type walking weapons had a persuasive power. Because the
main purpose of MSS maintenance was for potential combat with Giant Aliens. Also, the Army had a great
expectation for the practical use of walking Destroid system. This plan which aims to the realization of
ground combat mecha as the main power, be the substitution for conventional tanks and others.
Of course, the three other forces: the Air Force, the Navy and the Marines did not keep themselves
silent on this matter. They strongly emphasized the effectiveness of Air Force power and mobility.
However the development deliberation was making progress on the Army's side. The main reason was the
future prospects and effectiveness of the Destroid types and the cost reduction by its interchangeable
systems. Especially because the United Nations Force were struggling financially at that time and even the
MSS maintenance was facing reprieve. So for them, the reduced cost was a huge merit. Also the Air Force
was approved the development of the all environ unmanned fighter, the QF-X (a.k.a. Ghost). For this
reason it seemed difficult to approve only the Air Force with a concentrated budget.
Just before "Destroid type - single equipment" of the Army was approved after several investigation
meetings, the Air Force proposed the unprecedented idea.
The idea was a complex that had the ability of a Destroid with a fighter craft. The Air Force insisted that
this system could create the maximum "Compatibility of application" of a Destroid and the "Mobility" of an
aircraft. This proposal of the Air Force sounded odd but it had a probability in itself.
The basic concept of this proposal was "Fuselage Transformation". It housed much know-how through
numerous research based on a VTOL craft named the "Nut Cracker" that was planned by US Marines in the
1970’s. (By the way, this Nut Cracker featured a system in which the fuselage folded 90° in order to
perform take-offs and landings on ships. As a result this development was cancelled, but later it
considerably contributed to the VF-1 concept). Besides, the Air Force had luck. It was Stonewell Co.,
known as the major fighter maker who was doing their own informal study under the forecast of the large
quantity of Destroid deployment. The three Forces (Air Force, Navy and Marine) immediately formed a
United Nation Forces project team and they announced the "Variable Fighter (VF)" concept. Dr.
Tachikahoff Ph.D., from Stonewell Co., was selected as a chief designer. It was at the beginning of the
Battroid model opposing the Destroid. The Project Team sent United Nations Forces an unofficial notice of
the basic specification. It had such a high efficiency that it surpassed Destroid models. It completely
cleared the main weakness of the Destroid, "Movement" and "Deployment" (this is normal because the
craft possess the aircraft ability), and the selling point was also the maintenance and diversion of machine
parts of conventional crafts.
The design's abilities and ideas of Dr. Tachikahoff, Ph.D., were highly valued by the leaders in the
military forces including the Army. The United Nations Forces finally decided the parallel usage of Battroid
and Destroid in December 2000. Even though Battroid was expected the high cost of production (about 20
times more than the Destroid), it was judged that the cost effectiveness was suitable for the prices.
It was the ironical fact in history that the Battroid was created by the tactics dispute and budget
acquisition battle by the three forces.
Battroid Development has Begun
The BVF-X (Battroid of VF-X) Plan was officially announced in the development of the new mecha and
began its basic design in February 2001. Stonewell was selected as the main contractor and Bellcom was
selected as their partner. The fuselage, engine, and equipment were designed individually. However, the
manufacturing process did not go smoothly.
A number of difficult problems were discovered. Even the superiority fighter makers Stonewell/Bellcom
were having difficulty in solving those problems.
In addition, the insufficient propulsion of the first thermonuclear reaction turbine engine the P&W/Roice
TG-301 was also a serious problem. It could not reach the planned thrust of 9,800 kg and this also
resulted in an failure of ignition. Because of those problems, only 55% of the total design was finished on
the scheduled date of March 2003.
The situation worsened, they had to choose either to change the total basic design or just give up
the entire plan.
But this serious situation was saved by the two major makers; Shinnakasu Industry of energy field and
Centinental Co., who was the leader of ground mecha.
The technical contributions by those two companies was remarkable. The engine problem was solved by
a redesign by Shinnakasu Industry. This design was completed and designated the FF-2001-10. The thrust
marked 13,000 kg, which exceeded the required number.
Centinental Co., offered their knowledge in several areas such as a super tension armor, Wamolium
(a.k.a. Dark Face) and others.
The basic design was somehow completed at the end of December 2005. However the craft exterior
was extremely unique --- The main wing possesses a VG mechanism, a packaged V-tail and variable
nozzle that attracted most people’s attention. However, the transformation mechanism of Battroid was
absolutely restricted.
This shows one of the accidents that happened during
the development tests. A VF-1 lost an arm at high
speed during formation flying and stray arm destroyed
the stabilizer of a fellow aircraft. The craft managed
to return by maintaining balance by adjusting angle
of the jet exhaust.
People (non-government people) are puzzled looking
at the arm section at a crash site. The United Nations
Forces announced that it was "Special machinery
and tools that were being transported".
The development of both the Battroid and the Destroid
used to be the top secret during the Unification War.
It was thought of as being a monster when they were
seen by non-government people.
The final exam of Battroid cockpit control. The point
of passage was that the egg has to be picked up
without any damage from the case on the table.
Progress of Tests and Making it Practical
The production of first test model was started in January of 2006. This time, it was a struggle against
time since the completion date given by the United Nations Forces was a mere 36 months and that had to
include flight testing. Finally, the first original model (Serial # 505001) was rolled out (completed) by
around the clock non-stop operation and this model was given the model designation: VF-1A.
The first flight of this original model was November 29th. Meanwhile, 4 more models were completed
before the middle of December. However they found another problem during their 28 weeks of
concentrated assessment testing.
The first problem were the engines. The maneuvering control of FF-2001 often had functionality trouble.
In February 2009, the third model exploded after it flew into the highest level of atmosphere. Captain
N. Blackstone of the Navy was the pilot on that flight and he was killed in the line of duty. Seven accidents
of the same type occurred during February and March. And this caused a temporary grounding until a they
could come up with a safety solution.
Besides that, it's fragile armor and time consuming maintenance and also excessive thrust were pointed
out after the tests. However the overall system was highly regarded. Mass production was started after
approval of use in March 11, 2009. They barely completed it on the given time.
By the way, they accidentally discovered another transformation application during those tests--It
was "GERWALK".
At the end of February 2009, Mr. K. Watanabe, a chief test pilot from Stonewell was on the second
VF-1A model during a VTOL test. Unexpectedly both arms of this model opened, they had turned around,
and entered a unstable condition out in front, then got stuck.
Mr. Watanabe made an emergency landing. He discovered that it made possible a high speed hovering
glide that was up to 500 km/h on the ground's surface in a half Battroid Mode, by adjusting the nozzle,
thrust, and balance-assistance he then managed to return safely base.
They installed a High-speed Gear Weight-countering Resistance System (HGWRS) on the side fairings of
the craft in order to interact with the GERWALK mode.
GERWALK mode was approved for it's usage after they installed a control sensor for hovering/VTOL as
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The repair of the PCS (Propulsion Control System) solved this engine problem. However the accidents
during Battroid transformation occurred one after another. This puzzled the designers until their approval
by the total re-installation of the control system.
There was one more incident during the operation tests. The application testing of the VF-1 in Battroid
mode were confidential considering the equipment's nature so they performed around midnight in a
secluded area. Non-government people who witnessed this application test were frightened and made
phone calls to the military, police station and local authorities! The Military ignored those reports but they
must’ve been in dire distress behind the scenes.
additional equipment. GERWALK mode is the most effective for the total annihilation combat. There is one
actual combat film of the United Nations Forces that shows a scene of a VF-1 in Fighter mode quickly
transformed (its even firing during a roll at extremely low altitude!) into GERWALK, then it nose-dived and
wiped-out all enemies. The VF-1 made a definite qualitative difference with this GERWALK mode compared
to the Destroid.
This Air combat-Battroid-GERWALK complex, the so called the VF-1 series did not allow the appearance
of any opposing strategic mecha for a long time.
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