T-4/A-4 Flecha

T-4/A-4 Flecha

Depiction of the T-4/A-4 Flecha
Type	Training and Light Attack Aircraft
Place of origin	Nouvelle Alexandrie
Introduced	1676 AN
Number built	3,147 (1675 AN–1692 AN)
Designed	1671 AN – 1674 AN
Manufacturer	ESB Susa
Maximum speed	458 km/h
Combat range	740 km (internal fuel)
Ferry range	1,953 km (with drop tank)
Service ceiling	8,750 m
Armaments	4x wing-mounted Polybolos 12.7mm HMG 4x under-wing hardpoints, each with a capacity of 310 kg (total combat payload of 1,240 kg)

The T-4/A-4 Flecha is a low-wing tandem-seat, turboprop training aircraft, with a secondary light attack capability, that was developed by ESB Susa Aerospace for the Military of Alduria. The T-4/A-4 Flecha was subsequently adopted by a number of Raspur Pact militaries as a basic trainer and counterinsurgency aircraft.

Background

After Alduria was founded by Altusian exiles in 1670 AN, the Honourable Company swiftly recognised the benefits of supporting the new colonial regime in establishing its dominion over northern Eura and made the facilities and services of its outpost in the port of Susa, inherited from a departed Shirerithian expedition. Amongst the procurement opportunities identified, foremost was the chance to secure contracts for the provision of aircraft for the nasceant Aldurian Air Force. As the Aldurians faced the challenge of building up an independent air arm that would both provide a large cadre of qualified pilots and also conduct air support operations against the restive native population of Alkhiva, the Aldurians required a low-cost and robust airframe sufficient for initial needs.

In spite of the Honouirable Company being overtly ESB aligned, the initial Aldurian policy of neutrality proved to be no obstacle to the ESB Group obtaining from the Aldurian Air Ministry favourable design specifications around which to tailor its own design.

Operational history

The T-4/A-4 Flecha entered Surenid service when sixteen airframes were received under the terms of the Fontainebleau Accords in 1692 AN. This was followed by a further 470 transferred by Nouvelle Alexandrie in 1694 AN AN as a part of an effort to bolster the Raspur Pact ally during the Third Euran War. This munificence had however resulted in a donation beyond the capabilities of the Military of the Suren Confederacy to operate, and in consequence 261 of the airframes were placed into storage where they were held for replacements and spares.

Owing to the lack of suitable airfields and air-to-air refuelling capabilities, which precluded the deployment of more advanced and capable combat aircraft, the T-4/A-4 Flecha was employed by both Nouvelle Alexandrie and the Suren Confederacy for ground attack missions during the Third Euran War against Azad Eura and Zeed. No losses directly attributable to enemy action were recorded during the conflict.

Between 1676 AN and 1714 AN 104 airframes have been written off due to various causes such as mechanical failure and pilot error. Officially no aircraft were lost to enemy action during the many counter-insurgency operations conducted by Alduria, Alduria-Wechua, and Nouvelle Alexandrie between 1676 AN and the type's withdrawal from the light attack role by the Federal Air Force in 1708 AN.

Operators

As of 1714 AN:

•  Raspur Pact
  •  Benacian Union Defence Force – 120
  •  Imperial Constancian Armed Forces – 470
  •  Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie – 1,967
  •  Military of the Suren Confederacy – 486

Comparable aircraft

•  IE-7 Songbird (a contemporary basic trainer, operated by the Imperial Forces of Shireroth and the Hurmu Peace Corps)
  •  IE-9 Extended Songbird
•  T-2/A-2 Saeqeh (equivalent aircraft of the preceding era)