Interim Interceptor Challenge

[Kiwi Imperialist]

Welcome to the Interim Interceptor Challenge! Your task is to draw an all-weather interceptor adopted as an interim or alternative design. Please read the Design Requirements as well as the Challenge Rules before posting a submission. This challenge was based on a suggestion in the Future Challenge Ideas/Suggestions thread. If you have ideas of your own for a future challenge, consider sharing them there. Do not be afraid to make a suggestion that has already been made. It reveals that multiple people are interested in a particular topic.

Design Requirements

1. Your submission must depict a fictional all-weather interceptor aircraft.
2. The interceptor’s first flight should occur between 1952 and 1962.
3. It must enter service as an interim or alternative design second to an advanced interceptor project (e.g. Canada adopting CF-101 Voodoo instead of CF-105 Arrow).
4. Compared to the advanced interceptor project, your design must be inexpensive and fast to produce. Conversions of existing airframes may be considered.

Challenge Rules

1. Each participant may submit one image.
2. The image must be an FD template modified to include the participant’s system and, optionally, crew figures at their stations within the system and/or one of the following: unit insignia, manufacturer logo, national flag. Other elements, including data sheets and scenic elements, are not permitted. If you have specifications and blocks of text, please include them as text in your post and not in the image itself.
3. No more than three views are allowed in each image.
4. If two or three views are included, they must depict the same individual aircraft in the same paint schemes, markings, and configuration (e.g. landing gear deployed).
5. All art must be in FD scale and conform to the same drawing and shading rules as official Shipbucket styles.
6. A textual description accompanying each submission is permitted, but not necessary.
7. Non-serious entries, or entries substantially deviate from the challenge requirements, are not allowed.
8. Off-topic posts will be reported to the relevant authorities.

This challenge will run until Sunday the 23rd of June, ending at 23:59 UTC-12 (International Date Line West).
A countdown timer can be found at this link.

A poll will be held after this date to select a winner. When it opens, please provide honest and meaningful scores for each entry. Responses which grant maximum scores to a select group of entries, and minimum scores to all other entries, will be deleted. Members of the community who manipulate the results in such a fashion may also be subject to a permanent ban. Scores will be allocated in two categories, each with a scale of 1 to 10:

• Drawing Quality - The overall quality of the drawing. One might consider detailing, shading, and accuracy.
• Design Quality -The quality of the design presented, irrespective of drawing quality. One could consider feasibility, practicality, and realism.

[grandprix]

The IL-28I interceptor is an all-weather jet interceptor based on the IL-28 bomber, designed for night operations in response to increasing adversary night reconnaissance activities. The main improvement of this interceptor is the installation of a search radar in the nose, replacing the original navigator's cockpit and enhancing its operational capability at night and in poor weather conditions.The IL-28I's weapons system includes two G-200 missiles, which are scaled-down versions of the air-to-air missiles based on the S-25 surface to air missiles, as well as two powerful NR-30 autocannons mounted on the belly of the aircraft, which provide fire support for close-range air combat. The IL-28I made its first successful test flight in 1955, officially entered service with the Soviet Defence Air Force in 1957, and was retired from service in 1967, ending its historic mission with front-line units. In the early days of the Cold War, the IL-28I served as an important part of the Soviet Air Force's defence force, effectively carrying out many interception missions and defending the country's air security.

[Kiwi Imperialist]

The IL-28I interceptor is an all-weather jet interceptor based on the IL-28 bomber, designed for night operations in response to increasing adversary night reconnaissance activities. The main improvement of this interceptor is the installation of a search radar in the nose, replacing the original navigator's cockpit and enhancing its operational capability at night and in poor weather conditions.The IL-28I's weapons system includes two G-200 missiles, which are scaled-down versions of the air-to-air missiles based on the S-25 surface to air missiles, as well as two powerful NR-30 autocannons mounted on the belly of the aircraft, which provide fire support for close-range air combat. The IL-28I made its first successful test flight in 1955, officially entered service with the Soviet Defence Air Force in 1957, and was retired from service in 1967, ending its historic mission with front-line units. In the early days of the Cold War, the IL-28I served as an important part of the Soviet Air Force's defence force, effectively carrying out many interception missions and defending the country's air security.

Neat fictional adaptation of a real aircraft. In universe, which advanced interceptor design would this serve in lieu of?

[grandprix]

The IL-28I interceptor is an all-weather jet interceptor based on the IL-28 bomber, designed for night operations in response to increasing adversary night reconnaissance activities. The main improvement of this interceptor is the installation of a search radar in the nose, replacing the original navigator's cockpit and enhancing its operational capability at night and in poor weather conditions.The IL-28I's weapons system includes two G-200 missiles, which are scaled-down versions of the air-to-air missiles based on the S-25 surface to air missiles, as well as two powerful NR-30 autocannons mounted on the belly of the aircraft, which provide fire support for close-range air combat. The IL-28I made its first successful test flight in 1955, officially entered service with the Soviet Defence Air Force in 1957, and was retired from service in 1967, ending its historic mission with front-line units. In the early days of the Cold War, the IL-28I served as an important part of the Soviet Air Force's defence force, effectively carrying out many interception missions and defending the country's air security.

Neat fictional adaptation of a real aircraft. In universe, which advanced interceptor design would this serve in lieu of?

Thank you! My plan was to start using something like Su-11 as an advanced interceptor in the early 60s.

[waff]

The origins of the AS/60 come from the Oftavian Air Force's stalling mach 3 capable interceptor project. Development of the AS/60 began in the 1950's along with its bomber counterpart. The interceptor project was revived in 1958 with an Oftavian Air Force requirement of a heavy, mach 1.5+ capable all weather interceptor to supplement projects that had not entered service. After first flying in 1959, the aircraft entered service in 1961. Only around 90 aircraft were built, with 4 All Weather Interceptor squadrons being equipped with the type until it's retirement from service in the early 1970's.

Specifications
Length : 26.56m
Wingspan : 13.98m
Height : 8.14m
Crew : 2 (Pilot, Radar Operator)

[RegiaMarina1939]

Hello everyone! Here is my entry: I am drawing from a scenario which I plan to be a continuation of my ongoing Kingdom of the Two Sicilies AU. I hope you enjoy!

-With the conclusion of the Second World War, a new confrontation had emerged. As the victorious Reichspakt/Entente coalition cemented their hold over Europe, Africa, and much of Asia, the Union of Socialist American States, Canadian Commune, and Mexican People’s Republic dominated the Western hemisphere. Meanwhile, the Reichspakt and Entente faced different enemies in the Far East, the Bharatiya Commune (a one-party socialist dictatorship over India), and the Japanese Empire. Since the advent of nuclear weaponry, open conflict between major powers had died down, but there were still numerous proxy wars waged globally for influence which many believed could potentially spill over into open conflict. The principal concern amongst European planners was how to defend their airspace from nuclear-armed American bombers, especially after the introduction of the super-heavy B-36 Peacemaker.
-This left the Italian Imperial Air Force (Aeronautica Italiana Imperiale) with a dilemma. They had maintained an independent aviation industry since unification had been achieved in 1940, and had a serious problem with acquiring German-built interceptors to fulfill their air defense roles as a matter of national prestige. The Air Force introduced its first-ever jet fighter, the Reggiane Re. 2007, in 1946, which by 1950 had become standard in all the Empire’s frontline fighter formations. However, as socialist bombers became bigger, faster, and flew higher, the Re. 2007 became increasingly insufficient as an interceptor. Its subsonic speed and insufficient rate of climb left important Reichspakt targets poorly defended, and the Offices for Aeronautical Construction and Design (Uffici per la Costruzione e la Progettazione Aeronautica) issued a requirement for a new interceptor capable of supersonic speeds in 1951.
-Reggiane, Fiat, and Macchi all responded to the request with their respective designs, and in April 1952 Fiat’s G.75 was declared the winner. However, bribery and favoritism had played a part in Fiat’s victory, and it was revealed that the sophisticated and expensive G.75 wouldn’t be ready for series production until at least 1956/57. So, an interim solution was required. Reggiane’s design, dubbed the Re. 2015 Aquila was selected as the stopgap after some long nights around the conference table at the UCP, and entered production in 1954 (it first flew in 1951.) With its wide air intake and delta wingform, it looked sleek and fast, and its single-engine configuration made it affordable, easy to maintain, and compact enough to be navalized. Driven by the Isotta-Fraschini NF007 (a license built development of a Junkers engine) axial-flow turbojet, it was capable of speeds in excess of Mach 1.2 with a maximum ceiling of 50,000 feet. Armament consisted of a quartet of Scotti cannone mitragliera da 20/49 20 mm autocannons with 150 rounds per gun, as well as hardpoints for up to four Ansaldo Dardo air-to-air missiles or 24 57 mm anti-aircraft rockets. A continuation of Rurstahl’s X-series missiles, Dardo incorporated semi-active radar homing technology as well as a proximity fuse feature, making it excellent for use against large, slow bombers. The shock cone in the intake housed the aircraft’s EC-13 Infiltratore air-search radar.
-An initial production order for 160 aircraft was placed in 1954, followed by a nearly 5-year long production run totalling around 1,100 aircraft. The first frontline interceptor formation to be equipped with the new type in 1955 was the 51o Stormo di Aviazione Tattica, on permanent station at the Joint Reichspakt Forces base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Here they served to protect the small island nation (and Reichspakt member state) from American aggression along with an international contingent from the German Empire, the Danubian Federation, Poland, the UK, France, and others. Though they never got to see direct combat against the Americans, they did fly against American-supplied aircraft during Reichspakt interventions in Venezuela, Nicaragua, Mozambique, and Indochina. In total, they racked up 72 aerial kills for 29 losses due to enemy action. Pilots found the aircraft maneuverable, and pleasant to fly, but its light construction and diminutive size made taking damage difficult and its range was limited without the use of external fuel tanks which hampered its already limited payload capacity. Officially dubbed Aquila (Eagle), it was more commonly referred to in service as Pesce Gatto (catfish) thanks to its large frontal air intake. The type remained in service with the Imperial Air Force until 1975, after which it was withdrawn and relegated largely to training and second-line duties. The Navy retired its machines in 1979. In addition to the Imperial Italian Air Force, it also served with the Ottoman Imperial Air Force, the Hellenic Air Force, the Imperial Ethiopian Air Force, the Colombian Air Force, and the Cuban Republican Air Force. The last nation to retire the type fully was Ethiopia, which phased out the last machines in 1993. They were often adapted to the role of fighter-bomber with smaller air forces such as Cuba, Colombia, and Ethiopia, a role for which they were ill-suited. The type was completely retired, including training use, from Italian service in 1987, having far exceeded what anyone would have expected from an interim solution.

[rbz88]

In the late 1940s, the Air Force had already started a research project into the future interceptor aircraft that eventually settled on an advanced specification known as the 1954 interceptor. Contracts for this specification eventually resulted in the selection of the F-102 Delta Dagger, but by 1952 it was becoming clear that none of the parts of the specification other than the airframe would be ready by 1954; the engines, weapons, and fire control systems were all going to take too long to get into service. An effort was then started to quickly produce an interim supersonic design to replace the various subsonic interceptors then in service, so that the F-96B – even though it offered less performance – was ordered into production to fill the UWAF's urgent interceptor gap.
The F-96B was largely based on the RF-84F's airframe with its wing-root air intakes, what offered ample space in the aircraft's nose for a radar system and other equipment. The radar was coupled with a state-of-the-art Hughes MC-10 fire control system. To relieve the pilot from operating the radar system one of the fuel cells behind the cockpit was deleted and a second crew member was placed behind him. To compensate for the loss of fuel and maintain the F-84F's range, a new tank was mounted under the cockpit floor in the aircraft's center of gravity.
To improve performance and cope with the raised take-off weight, the F-96B was powered by an uprated Wright J65-W-18 turbojet, which generated 0.4 kN more dry thrust than the F-84F's original J65-W-3 (7,700 lbf/34 kN). This was not too much, though, so that the J65 was additionally outfitted with an afterburner. With this upgrade the powerplant provided a maximum thrust of 10,500 lbf (47 kN), what resulted in a markedly improved rate of climb and the ability to break the sound barrier in level flight. The additional reheat section necessitated a wider and longer rear fuselage, which had to be redesigned.
Armament consisted only of missiles, which were all carried externally on wing stations, all guns of the former F-84 versions were deleted to save weight. The F-96B's weapons range included GAR-1/2/3/4 (Later re-designated as AIM-4) radar- and IR-guided Falcon air-to-air missiles or a pair of MB-1 Genie missiles. Up to four pods with nineteen unguided 2.75 in (70 mm) "Mighty Mouse" Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets each were an alternative, too, and a pair of drop tanks were typically carried under the inner wings to provide the aircraft with sufficient range, since the new afterburner significantly increased fuel consumption.
F-96B production started after a brief test phase in late 1956, and the first aircraft were delivered to the 60th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in 1957. In the middle of the 1960s, as technology advanced rapidly and newer interceptors began to be produced, the F-96Bs were slowly transferred to the National Guard, with only a few remaining under Air Defense Command. In 1971, the last member of the F-96 family, an RF-96B reconnaissance aircraft, was decommissioned from the National Guard, marking the end of 15 years of Air Force service for the F-96 family.

[_Zustt_]

MS.364 A2M

[jjx indoweeb]

Voltaire Aerozine Varagnard AdI M.A/54

Designed as a subsonic long range area defense fighter, the Varagnard was the forefront of the Merdic Air Force during the 50s to the early 60s.

Initially, the Merdic Air Force was slated to adopt an advanced interceptor aircraft which would become the Avispon no later than 1955. However, initial prototype models faced significant challenges regarding its mach 1.0 cruising ability and advanced weapon systems requirements. Furthermore, the fast rate of progress in propulsion and aerodynamic technologies embroiled the project in development hell where it's performance were demanded to be increased exponentially with each passing month.
Due to this, it was unclear that the Avispon would even reach operational status in ten years' time, let alone fulfill the deadline.

In 1951 the Merdic Air Force published requirements for several interceptor roles, in which the Varagnard was designed to fulfill the area defense interceptor role that was formerly provided by the Beurbicane M/49.

Performing its first flight in 1952 and entered service in 1955, the Varagnard M/54 was based on an earlier Voltaire research project in the studies of the viability of the tailless layout. It featured a modestly swept wing complemented with leading edge slats and elevons, a twin tail, and airbrakes on the inboard part of the wing.

While it can be considered unique among other aircraft of this era due to the aforementioned features, the most peculiar quality of this aircraft is the asymmetrical cockpit layout with the pilot situated in a conventional cockpit on the right side of the aircraft and the radar operator in a sunk compartment inside the left fuselage.
This layout was possible due to the large size of the Filibustier-S search and track radar. This layout would also provide ample space of large fuel tanks to be fitted closer to the center of mass. The right-side cockpit enabled the pilot to have a better field of view over the large radome, lessening the gripes of its tailless layout which demanded a high angle of attack to perform low speed maneuvers.
However, the design was not without it faults. The sluggish low speed handling characteristics proved to be fatal in some cases.

It was equipped with provisions for six medium range missiles to be carried under the wing and intake fairings, however in practice only four were carried to improve handling and fuel efficiency.
In theory, it was possible for ground munitions to be loaded in the form of 1000kg bombs or rocket pods, but this loadout was rarely used outside of tests.

The Varagnard M/54 served from 1955 to 1972, defending the vast airspace of the Patriepoli, all the way to Outer-Merdic territories such as The Barrouccas and Santeria where it lived it's final years of service.

i really don't have any energy left to do the write up so please enjoy the drawing :D

[odysseus1980]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_F7U_Cutlass

This last entry looks like F7U and Sea Vixen had a child, but it inherited more from its father.