A-7 Astil

A-7 Astil
Type:	Ground-attack aircraft
Place of origin:	Benacian Union
Number built:	79 / 1,265 (1732 AN) 0 / 317 (1732 AN)
Used by:	Aviation Forces of the Benacian Union
Introduced:	1732 AN
Manufacturer:	ESB Susa  Mishalan Arsenal
Dimensions:
Crew:	1
Armament:	1 x 20 mm Autocannon 4 × Polybolos 12·7 mm HMG 2 × AAM-2 Sonderbotschaft 4 × S-6/A(S) missiles or up to 4 x 900 kg free-fall guided munitions
Countermeasures:	GTC ES-13 radar warning receiver GTC ES-14 RF countermeasures GTC ES-24: chaff jamming countermeasure system
Electronics:	GTC ES-12 hyperbolic radio navigation system GTC ES-20 sensor/laser designator GTC ES-27 "Froyalan" radar MPS navigation system
Engine:	2x Javelin Industries J96 Turbofan
Control:
Effective range:	Combat radius 561 km Ferry radius 1,421 km
Speed:	1,215 km/h maximum at sea level, 1,266 km/h at 11,000 m 199 km/h stall
Surface ceiling:	15,000 m
Cost	Classified

The A-7 Astil, was a single-engined, subsonic ground-attack and aerial reconnaissance aircraft under development by ESB Susa and the Mishalan Arsenal for a requirement of Benacia Command as of 1728 AN.

Development

Anticipating an era in which renewed great power conflict on the Benacian continent could result in devastating attritional losses amongst advanced combat airframes then in service, Benacia Command, at the instigation of its newly installed commander, Lors Bakker-Kalirion, inaugurated a development study in 1728 AN concerning the feasibility of an emergency fighter programme. This study was undertaken with a view to having a viable design and the requisite industrial capacity in place to commence production from 1730 AN onwards.

The study ultimately called for a lightweight aircraft that would feature a relatively simple and rugged structure, that would use reuse legacy equipment and avionics, be capable of operating from austere airstrips, as well as being reliable and easy to maintain.

The task of taking this requirement and transforming it into the specification for a viable prototype was awarded to ESB Susa of Nouvelle Alexandrie, with the understanding that manufacturing and assembly would be overseen by the Mishalan Arsenal in the Benacian Union.

A prototype assembled during late 1729 AN and flown on 14.II.1730 AN yielded poor performance data, ultimately indicating that the Javelin Industries J89 Turbojet was underpowered for the airframe. Further modifications were undertaken at the Sansabury Aerodrome in order to re-engine the prototype with a pair of J96 turbofans, again from Javelin Industries. The next flight occurred on 7.VII.1730 AN.

The change in powerplant had an immediate impact on the unit price of the aircraft. In consequence, the direction of Benacia Command, issued on 15.XIII.1730 AN was that the order would be reduced from 1,582 to 1,265. The Imperial Constancian Air Force formally expressed interest in purchasing the balance. Owing to the constraints imposed upon Benacian manufacturing capacity by a defacto war economy, the Constancian order would be fulfilled by ESB Susa.

A fibreglass model of the A-7 Astil would be displayed by Mishalan Arsenal at the 1730 International Arms Fair in Anahuaco.