Detpartment of Defense Aircraft Design

Proposed by Daniel Prates

I imagined another independent list of UN contracts, around the idea of designing aircraft for a 'department of defense' or sorts. You see, the flights wouldn't be 'combat' flights, but rather, a flight to achieve certain requirements that prove that a certain military airplane prototype attends to certain specifications.

The only requirement other than stock features would be, of course, BdA, as all planes would have to carry the 'weapon manager' part, and besides, certain planes would necessitate certain BdA parts (a light bomber would require at least two bombs, a fighter at least two missiles etc.).

So a typical contract would sound like: "design a supersonic medium bomber", and the contract fulfillment requirements would be: a) possessing the BdA weapons manager and 4 bombs; b) attain an altitude of 7000 metres; c) achieve the speed of 350m/s and sustain it for 60 seconds; d) have a crew of at least two; e) the usual 'take off and land' requirements.

In sum, a 'build a successful prototype of [x] warplane', with fighters, interceptors, bombers, naval patrol, troop carriers, all of which in different categories (light/heavy, sub/supersonic etc.). In total it could be some 15 - 20 contracts.

I imagined this 'prototype' kind of set up instead of actual 'combat' flights because that would venture into the strange territory of the contract spawning other vessels... there was a 'kerbal air force' pack way back and I always thought it too buggy, though the idea was great in paper. I think we should stay clear of that. Although, if possible, creating a 'static target' with kerbal constructs an placing it to that bombers could practice their aim, that would be super, even if the bombing of the target was only mentioned in the mission description and treated as a 'roleplay' thing, and not actually tagged as a contract requirement (that would lead to bugs, me thinks).

caerfinon / KerbinSideRemasteredGAP

Detpartment of Defense Aircraft Design #28