Contracted by the Earth defense forces' need for a versitile, multipurpose atmospheric and space attack fighter, the Aerotech SA-43a Hammerhead is truly a magnificent weapon system.

Powered by an advanced SCRAM He3-fueled engine, the SA-43 has a maximum exoatmospheric speed of [CLASSIFIED] miles per hour, and an endoatmospheric maximum speed of Mach 3.4.

The SA-43 has an endoatmosphereic stall speed of 157 miles per hour. And a takeoff speed around 132 miles per hour.

Ordinance:

»Vulcan EM-130 Electro-magnetically driven forward facing railgun, which fires 70mm depleted Urainium-238 rounds. Covering 50º forward arc of fire.

»Two smaller railguns are mounted on the upper rear of tthe aircraft between the intank and wing structures, which is capable of covering the rear and front of the plane should it be needed in a dogfight.

»Six external wing umbilicals capable of  carrying a wide variety of ordinance, incluing SRAAM AIM-130 radar guided missile, and the AIM-139 Snake heat seaking missile.

Control:

»The SA-43 utilizes a series of chemical thrusters that serve to stabilize and control the pitch, yaw, roll, bank, and heading of the aircraft. These thrusters are at key locations on the nose, wingtips, center, and rear of the aircraft, and are controlled by the SA-43's "fly-by-wire" system. When the pilot inputs a control  movement on the flightstick (or rudder as is in some earlier versions of the SA-43), the computer calculates what the pilot's intent is, and delivers the commands for the thrusters to fire. When the SA-43 encounters an atmospheric envelope, the pilot switches the computer to endo atmospheric mode, and several control surfaces become available, after the initial breaking and cooling of the craft upon its reentry. The computer acts in the same way as before, except now it commands hydraulic motors to move the control surfaces. In theory, the SA-43 could operate in an atmospheric envelope without the functionality of the control surfaces, but Aerotech has not tested, nor do they reccomend this practice, save emergency situations.

Visuals:

Sa-43 hammerhead design sketch

Sa-43 hammerhead profile (Real Video)

Sa-43 hammerhead profile (AVI)