The Western Isles

Overview

The P.101 Shrike is a twin-engine, all-weather, air superiority fighter jet developed by Alteran Aerospace for the United Commonwealths Air Force. It was designed to counter the perceived threat of the Costavozkan Aerospace Model 21 Fighter-Interceptor, a high-speed, high-altitude interceptor that was feared to be a new generation of fighter aircraft. At the time, it was feared that the FI-21 would set the precedent of a new generation of highly capable combat fighters. As, at the time, the FI-21's development was shrouded in secrecy to the Alterans - there was little concrete detail; AAe was tasked to develop something that could outperform it and any other potential rivals. The P.101 Shrike was conceived in the late 1960s, when intelligence reports suggested that Costavozka was developing a new fighter that could outperform the existing Alteran fighters, largely focused on a force of P.48 Pigeon interceptors. The Alteran Air Force issued a requirement for a new fighter that could achieve and maintain air superiority over any potential adversary.

Developed by a team of engineers and designers led by Dr. Robert Lancer - chief engineer of Alteran Aerospace - the AAe team adopted a philosophy of “not a pound for air-to-ground”, meaning that the initial designs for the P.101 Shrike would focus on air-to-air performance and sacrifice some air-to-ground capability. The P.101 Shrike was designed to have a high thrust-to-weight ratio, a low wing loading, a large wing area, and a high aspect ratio. These features gave the aircraft excellent manoeuvrability and acceleration, allowing it to engage in dogfights and energy fights with ease. It would also feature powerful radar which could track multiple targets at long ranges and provide fire-control information for the weapons system, as well as carry a variety of weapons, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, bombs, rockets, and a 20 mm cannon.

The P.101 Shrike made its first flight in July 1974, piloted by Major John Boyd, a renowned fighter pilot and tactician. The flight test program revealed some problems with the engine, the stability system, and the avionics, which were gradually resolved in subsequent flights. The P.101 Shrike achieved initial operational capability in 1976 and was officially introduced into service in 1977. The P.101 Shrike proved to be a formidable fighter jet, surpassing the expectations of its designers and operators. It demonstrated superior performance against the Costavozkan Model 21 Fighter-Interceptor, as well as other potential adversaries, such as the Balnikian 'Harut' and the Baumish Amsel AF-26 Gyrfalcon.

Although original conceived as a pure air-to-air combat aircraft, the P.101 Shrike has also been modified and upgraded over the years to keep up with the advances in technology and threats. Some of the variants of the aircraft would start with the development of the Tranche Two variant; a twin-seated version designed for multi-role mission and better in-flight mission handling with a dedicated Weapons System Operator; the Tranche Three variant, which has improved engines and avionics; the P.101 Silent Shrike, which has enhanced stealth features and electronic warfare capabilities; the P.101 Tranche Five, which has an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and advanced weapons; and the P.101 Tranche Seven, which has a thrust vectoring system and a helmet-mounted display (HMD). The P.101 Shrike is expected to remain in service until at least 2030, though developments in aviation technology may increase its shelf-life until the 2040s.

The P.101 Shrike is widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential fighter jets in history. It has set several records and achievements in its career, such as being the first Alteran fighter jet to achieve Mach 2 at sea level; being the first fighter jet to shoot down five enemy aircraft in one mission; being the first fighter jet to fly over 1000 combat missions without a loss; and being the first fighter jet to win every simulated combat scenario against any other fighter jet in existence. The P.101 Shrike has also inspired several other fighter jets designs around the world, such as the Alteran Aerospace P.123 Falcon and the P.130 Merlin. The P.101 Shrike is considered to be a masterpiece of engineering and design, as well as a symbol of Alteran pride and power.

Technical Specifications

Max. Speed
‣ 2.5 Mach

Powerplant
‣ 2x Rowlands Auckland Mk 22
‣ 64.9 kN (14,590 lbf) (each - dry thrust)
‣ 105.7 kN (23,770 lbf) (each - afterburner)

Max. Altitude
‣ 20,000 m

Range
‣ 2,900 km (empty)
‣ 5,650 km (ferry)
‣ 1,950 km (combat)

Length
‣ 19.5 m

Span
‣ 13.05 m (without missile/weapon pods)

Weight
‣ 12,700 kg (empty)
‣ 20,180 kg (gross)
‣ 30,800 kg (max)

Crew
‣ 1 pilot (Tranche One, Three, Five, Seven, Silent)
‣ 1 pilot, 1 Co-Pilot/WSO (Tranche Two, Four, Six)

Hardpoints
‣ 1x 20 MM Cannon
‣ 4x light/medium mounts (under-wing)
‣ 5x medium mounts (under-fuselage - Tranche One, Two, Three, Four)
‣ 7x light/medium mounts (under-fuselage - Tranche Five, Six, Seven)
‣ 6x light mounts (side-fuselage - Tranche Six)
‣ 4x medium mounts (2x internal mission bays - Silent Shrike)

Cost
‣ ₠65.0 M UCE ($78.0 M IAD)

Variants

Tranche One (1976 - 1983)
‣ Initial Operational Capability
‣ All Weather Air Superiority

Tranche Two (1976 - 1983)
‣ Two Seat Trainer (Initial)
‣ Air-to-Ground Strike Fighter

Tranche Three (1986 - 1997)
‣ Improved Air Superiority Fighter
‣ Upgraded All Weather Radar

Tranche Four (1986 - 1997)
‣ Improved Air-to-Ground Strike Fighter

Tranche Five (1999 - )
‣ Improved Multi-Role Fighter
‣ Upgraded All Weather Radar
‣ Conformal Fuel Tranks

Tranche Six (1999 - )
‣ Improved Air-to-Ground Strike Fighter
‣ Conformal Fuel Tranks

Tranche Seven (2009 - 2014)
‣ Technology Testbed - Limited Production
‣ Improved Air Superiority Fighter
‣ 2D Vector Thrusting Engines
‣ High-Agility Forward Carnards

Silent Strike (2019 - )
‣ Improved Multi-Role Fighter
‣ Conformal Missile Mission Bays
‣ Reduced Radar Cross Section
‣ Radar Absorbing Materials and Paint

Production History

First Flight
‣ 11,974 H.E.
‣ 1974 C.E.

Produced From
‣ 11,976 H.E.
‣ 1976 C.E.

Produced Status
‣ In Production

Introduced
‣ 11,977 H.E.
‣ 1977 C.E.

Service Status
‣ In Service

Operators

United Commonwealths of Altera (Great Altera)
‣ United Commonwealths Air Force

Images

P.101 Shrike Tranche One

P.101 Shrike Tranche Two

P.101 Shrike Tranche Three

P.101 Shrike Tranche Four

P.101 Shrike Tranche Five

P.101 Shrike Tranche Six

P.101 Shrike Tranche Seven

P.101 Silent Shrike

UCAF (Great Altera) P.101 Tranche Six

UCAF (Great Altera) P.101 Silent Shrike