NA-70 Valkyrie
The "White Bird of the West", Valkyrie represents an enormous technical achievement and the story of barely surviving the bureaucracy, only comparable to the likes of Vultee craft.
Originally designed as a deep-penetration nuclear bomber to be used against Muscovia, the Valkyrie, essentially, was born obsolete, as ICBMs had rendered the point of deep-penetration nuclear bombers moot…
… or so it seemed, at least.
Thanks to North Almerican managing to produce several Valkyries by the time cancellation talks had started, their lobbyists were able to press the acceptance of the planes, with "We can't just scrap the already-made ones!" as a justification.
At first, the UPAF was sceptical about those craft, but their cavernous weapon bays and large noses allowed installation of powerful radars and large missile carousels, turning the supersonic bomber into supersonic long-range interceptor, especially once the Eagle missiles came online.
Before long, however, with the news of Muscovia modifying their obsolete deep-penetration bombers to carry cruise missiles, UPAF decided they've needed a proportionate answer - and, as one might imagine, North Almerican was here, only happy to propose a modest contract to produce more Valkyries, proven over real worktime.
In addition to that, the NACA, in the need of supersonic test craft, was also able to lobby Congress to procure several Valkyries (alongside some other craft, including Vultee FISH and Hustler mothership plane for it) for development of better launch solutions - and sooner than later, some of those Valkyries were stripped away of anything excessive, relegated into becoming air-breathing first stages of larger launch systems, that NACA was both using themselves and providing to others for a price.
As of today, the massively-upgraded Valkyrie is a symbol, of both incredible military might and ability to turn it to peace, while also just looking plane cool
Historical variants of NA-70 Valkyrie (publicly known):
NA-70RSB - evolution of bomber Valkyrie into recon/strike bomber with low altitude penetration capability and ability to use cruise and aeroballistic missiles
NA-70BL - modified to carry ICBM for airborne launches.
NA-70F - interceptor. Currently in NA-70F4 revision/upgrade.
NA-70T - tanker. Used to make sure other Valkyries won't run outta fuel too early.
NA-70C - cargo Valkyrie. Used for moving extremely important materials.
NA-70SST - civilian passenger Valkyrie.
NA-70RBS - NACA Valkyrie, used for launching spaceplanes and expendable rockets into space as a Recoverable Booster System.
NA-70AR - NACA Valkyrie, used for general airborne research. Some of them are used to develop upgrades that later reach other Valkyries.
NA-70EL - NACA Valkyrie, used for in-flight testing of engines
NA-70VTOL - Skyranger Valkyrie, latest addition to the family. Unique in that it can take off and land vertically, even if it means it'll need refueling soon. Can take off vertically with attached Alert Pod, if there's a need.
Originally designed as a deep-penetration nuclear bomber to be used against Muscovia, the Valkyrie, essentially, was born obsolete, as ICBMs had rendered the point of deep-penetration nuclear bombers moot…
… or so it seemed, at least.
Thanks to North Almerican managing to produce several Valkyries by the time cancellation talks had started, their lobbyists were able to press the acceptance of the planes, with "We can't just scrap the already-made ones!" as a justification.
At first, the UPAF was sceptical about those craft, but their cavernous weapon bays and large noses allowed installation of powerful radars and large missile carousels, turning the supersonic bomber into supersonic long-range interceptor, especially once the Eagle missiles came online.
Before long, however, with the news of Muscovia modifying their obsolete deep-penetration bombers to carry cruise missiles, UPAF decided they've needed a proportionate answer - and, as one might imagine, North Almerican was here, only happy to propose a modest contract to produce more Valkyries, proven over real worktime.
In addition to that, the NACA, in the need of supersonic test craft, was also able to lobby Congress to procure several Valkyries (alongside some other craft, including Vultee FISH and Hustler mothership plane for it) for development of better launch solutions - and sooner than later, some of those Valkyries were stripped away of anything excessive, relegated into becoming air-breathing first stages of larger launch systems, that NACA was both using themselves and providing to others for a price.
As of today, the massively-upgraded Valkyrie is a symbol, of both incredible military might and ability to turn it to peace, while also just looking plane cool
Historical variants of NA-70 Valkyrie (publicly known):
NA-70RSB - evolution of bomber Valkyrie into recon/strike bomber with low altitude penetration capability and ability to use cruise and aeroballistic missiles
NA-70BL - modified to carry ICBM for airborne launches.
NA-70F - interceptor. Currently in NA-70F4 revision/upgrade.
NA-70T - tanker. Used to make sure other Valkyries won't run outta fuel too early.
NA-70C - cargo Valkyrie. Used for moving extremely important materials.
NA-70SST - civilian passenger Valkyrie.
NA-70RBS - NACA Valkyrie, used for launching spaceplanes and expendable rockets into space as a Recoverable Booster System.
NA-70AR - NACA Valkyrie, used for general airborne research. Some of them are used to develop upgrades that later reach other Valkyries.
NA-70EL - NACA Valkyrie, used for in-flight testing of engines
NA-70VTOL - Skyranger Valkyrie, latest addition to the family. Unique in that it can take off and land vertically, even if it means it'll need refueling soon. Can take off vertically with attached Alert Pod, if there's a need.