VF-19 Excalibur
The VF-19 Excalibur Advanced Variable Fighter is the UN Spacy's latest frontline variable fighter to replace the already ageing VF-11 Thunderbolt. In the year 2040, a contest was held for the design of the Advanced Variable Fighter. Two companies, Shinsei Industries and General Galaxy, joined the competitions. Shinsei's entry was the YF-19 and General Galaxy's entry was the YF-21.
The YF-19 was the brain child of Yang Neuman a very young designer and engineer from Shinsei Industries. The competition was held in New Edwars Test Flight Center on Planet Eden, one of man's earliest colonies. Here, testings between the two AVFs were conducted.
However due to the development of the Ghost X-9, the project was halted and later during the Sharon Apple incident, YF-19 test pilot Isamu Dyson destroyed the main computer interface connecting an authorized AI to the SDF-1 Macross. After the incident, it was judged that Shinsei's entry the winner and production soon started.
However, as of this moment, small quantities of VF-19s (usually around 3–6) are equipped to UN Spacy colony fleets. Specialized versions of the VF-19 were also developed, like the VF-19 Fire Valkyrie.
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Background:
The VF-19 Excalibur is the production-line version of Shinsei Industries' YF-19 AVF Prototype which won the Project Super Nova design contest of 2040. Although destined to eventally replace the aging VF-11 Thunderbolt as the main variable fighter for the UN Spacy, distribution to date has been slow. Currently the Excalibur is being used as a fighter for UN Spacy colonization fleets. The rare VFs are usually only piloted by the best and brightest pilots, similar to the status enjoyed by the VF-17 Nightmare. The VF-19 will gradually phase out and replace the VF-11 as the main fighter of the UN Spacy.
Several design changes have taken place since the YF-19 was selected as the winner of Project Super Nova. The FF-2500E engines in the prototype were replaced with newer FF-2550J thermonuclear turbine engines that could provide 17% more thrust than the earlier versions, and the P&W HMM-6J thrusters were upgraded to P&W HMM-7 units for increased maneuverability. Later, the VF-19F variation was released by Shinsei which replaced the forward canard wings with an extra bank of maneuvering thrusters for better performance in space, and also redesigned the entire wing structure of the craft. The wing lasers and GU-15 gun pod were kept as main weapons for the VF-19 (all versions). It can mount medium range missiles or two banks of 24 high-maneuverability mini-missiles that are more suited for close-range high-speed mecha combat. Finally, the entire head unit was redesigned on the VF-19F and S versions, and a group of four lasers were added to complement the single head pulse laser on the VF-19S model. The VF-19 is fully compatible with a fold booster and can execute individual folds like its prototype predecessor could. The Excalibur is produced in several variants, including the VF-19A, and the VF-19F and S optomized for space combat.
During the Protodeviln War, only one unit of 3 Excaliburs (two VF-19Fs and one VF-19S) were stationed onboard the Macross 7. This unit, called Emerald Force, served as the vanguard of the Macross 7 defense forces during the latter half of the war and was part of the historic Operation Stargazer assault on the Protodeviln homeworld. Unfortunately two of the three fighters were destroyed during this operation, and the third one was damaged a short time later during the final battle of the war. During the Operation Orpheus mission to rescue the Milky Dolls from Zentradi forces one VF-19A was stationed aboard the Valhalla III carrier. The VF-19 Excalibur is proving to be a very able design and will continue to become the main variable fighter of the UN Spacy for the forseeable future.
Dimensions
Height:
15.48 m in battroid configuration
3.94 m in fighter configuration
Width:
13.52 m in gerwalk or fighter configuration with wings at maximum extension
Length:
18.47 m in fighter configuration
Weight:
8550 kg empty.
Weapon loadout
Anti-Aircraft Pulse Laser – This laser is mounted at the head section of the VF-19 and varies in number depending on the model.
Wing-mounted Laser Guns – This pair of lasers are mounted on the main wing root of the VF-19. In Battroid configuration, it is found at the Batttroid's hip section.
GU-15 Gunpod – This is the latest version of the long line of gunpods used by variable fighters. Unlike some previous gunpods, the GU-15 can be reloaded using clips located in the VF-19's ballistic shield.