Designation: F-206 Falcon II Jet Interceptor (A, T)

I. Dimensions:

II. Type:

• (A) One seat jet interceptor.
• (T) Two seat fighter-trainer.

III. Service History:

• Served with the Southern Cross' Civil Defense Flying Corps from 2018 until the Invid invasion.

IV. Propulsion:

• 4 x General Electric FF-130 fusion turbines, max output 79 kN each.
• 1 x General Electric PF-1156 plasma shock expansion engine, output 150 kN.
• Fuel Capacity:
  • 16 standard canisters of protoculture,
  • 9.8 liter D₂0 of reactant for fusion engines.

V. Performance:

• Maximum speed : 5290 kph @ 18km (Mach 5.8)
• Service ceiling : 50 km.
• Powercell endurance: 200 hours continuous use

VI. Electronics:

While the electronics suites of these vehicles differed with their respective dates of operational service, all electronics were regularly updated, and during the Second Robotech War the following standard was in use:

Radar tracking:

• Westinghouse APG-145 X-band pulse-Doppler omni-directional radar.

Optical tracking:

• Phillips AllView II multi-band omni-directional digital camera system, for medium range all attitude infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking
• Thomson LT-5 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Elettronica Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Selenia Sky Warrior active/passive sensor jammers
• Chaff dispenser
• Flares.

VII. Armament.

Cannon:

• 2 x Colt E-19B 4.5 MJ lasers in the nose. Both lasers can fire 60 times per minute.

Missiles:

• 4 hardpoints (2 under each engine nacelle) can each carry:
  • 1 combined IIR and active radar guided, 75 km range, Mach 3 Python missile,
    or
  • 1 Carapace missile container, containing three missile tubes, each of which can contain two Diamondback or Lightning missiles, or four Hammerhead missiles.
    Typical Payloads:
    • Interceptor A : 4 Python missiles.
    • Interceptor B : 2 Carapace containers loaded with 12 Diamondbacks, 2 Carapace containers loaded with 24 Hammerheads.

VIII. Armor.

The skin of the Falcon is composed of an advanced titanium-steel alloy. The skin stops all small arms fire, provides fair protection against heavier infantry weapons, such as a 12.7mm machinegun round, and poor resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3mm HE autocannon round.

The Falcon 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 eight hours maximum.

IX. Development.

In 2017, the fledgling Armies of the Southern Cross were busy establishing themselves. For the important task of defending the Earth's population centers proper, the Southern Cross commissioned a high speed interceptor, capable of fighting the Gnerl Fighter Pods on their own terms. This design was the F-206 Falcon II.

The Falcon II uses a flying body shape with minimal wings to support hypersonic speeds for its interceptor role. The small wings are used more for maneuvering and stabilization than for lift. As its Interceptor and Fighter Pod destroyer objectives required a high thrust/mass ratio, the aft end of the flying body was one large engine bay, housing two of the fusion turbines and a plasma shock expansion engines, which was used for sustained hypersonic flight and combat accelerations. The final two fusion turbines were housed in nacelles under the body. The Falcon had the standard SC electronics suite, which was state of the art, and its armament consisted out of two internal laser cannons with a high rate of fire, and four hardpoint for missiles or missile pods. The Falcon was built from the advanced titanium alloys that gave the airplane a good protection against at least spall and shell fragments.

This fighter was used by the CDFC from its inception to its end in the Invid invasion. Because of the nature of its units, and the target choice of the Masters for most of the Second Robotech War, these planes saw only limited action. During the Invid invasion, most Falcons were destroyed in battle against the Robotech mecha of the Invid. Most remaining ones were destroyed on orders of the Invid Occupation Authorities.

See additional design notes.

Return to Southern Cross Aircraft Index.

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