Na-17 Marahu (Pacifica)

The Nanohi Na-17 Marahu is a variable-sweep wing, supersonic heavy bomber operated by the Royal Pelinese Air Force. 108 airframes of 3 variants are in active or reserve service under the RPAF Strike Forces Command.

Intended combat roles for the Na-17 Marahu include strategic bombing of hardened military facilities and maritime strike bombing. The Marahu’s long range, high speed, and relatively low observability are intended to increase its survivability and chances of success in deep strike missions against high-value, heavily defended military targets such as capital ships, ICBM launch silos, command bunkers, and airfields. Delivery of nuclear weapons is also possible, and the Na-17 is used as part of the PAF’s nuclear deterrent capability.

Development

The Na-17 Marahu’s development program began in 1993 as a proposed candidate for the “Long-Range Strategic Strike Bomber” requirement of the RPAF. Initial program requirements set forth by the Procurement & Materiel Command included a minimum combat-load range of 8,000 kilometers, a cruise speed above mach 1.3, low-level penetration bombing capability, and a maximum ordnance load of 48,000 kilograms in internal weapons bays. High payload, range, and cruise speed requirements together required the adoption of a large heavy bomber design mounting multiple low-bypass afterburning turbofan engines; designers also incorporated a variable-sweep wing to match conflicting performance requirements at different altitudes and speeds. Later merging of the LRSSB project with a similar development program for a maritime strike bomber also led to the addition of 6 external hardpoints to the prototype design in order to carry large anti-ship cruise missiles. The first prototype model, the Na-17X1, was capable of carrying 66,000 kilograms of ordnance between its internal weapons bays and its external hardpoints as well as maintaining a cruise speed of 1,800km/h at altitude. Testing of 4 prototypes revealed a fault in the linkage mechanism between the wings and fuselage, which resulted in the loss of 1 prototype in a testing accident and a reduction in the production model’s payload capacity of 2,000 kilograms due to added structural reinforcements.

Design

Airframe

Notable design features of the production model Na-17 Marahu include a blended wing-body airframe combined with a variable sweep wing, a conventional tailplane and rudder, and small canards on the forward nose. Four Yuzimashi AF-19 turbofans developed specifically for the Na-17 provide the aircraft’s thrust and are mounted on the underside of the fuselage in pairs. The sweep angle on the wings can be varied from 15° to 65°. The Na-17 has an unusually small radar cross-section for its size due to numerous stealth features, including serrated panels, engine compressor blade shielding, and radar-absorbing outer panels, and is roughly comparable in radar visibility to an air superiority fighter.

Armament

The external hardpoints have a maximum payload capacity of 4,000 kilograms each, rendering each one capable of carrying 1 heavy anti-ship cruise missile, 2 land attack cruise missiles, 6 air-to-surface missiles, 2 2,000kg bombs, or other ordnance packages. The internal weapons bays have a combined payload capacity of 40,000 kilograms and are used to carry guided and unguided bombs. The use of all types of missiles and precision-guided munitions is supported in the Na-17M variant.

Avionics

Notable electronics and avionics systems mounted on the Na-17 include an AESA radar, an ECM suite, and secondary mounting points for additional bomb targeting designators.

Upgrades

Initial upgrades and retrofits to the Na-17P Marahu occurred in 2006 and included the replacement of the previous R-09T PESA targeting radar with the newly designed R-10T AESA ground attack radar, the addition of integrated target designation equipment and interface support for the use of precision-guided munitions, and an overhaul of the ECM package. The Na-17V and Na-17M variants add various modernized electronics and fault corrections to the original aircraft.

Specifications (Na-17M)

General Characteristics

• Crew: 4 (Aircraft commander, pilot, 2 aircraft systems officers)
• Powerplant: 4 x Yuzimashi AF-19 afterburning turbofan engines, 140 kN thrust each dry, 205 kN thrust each w/ afterburner

Performance

• Cruise speed: Mach 1.5 (1,800 km/h)
• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (2,500km/h)
• Combat range: 7,000 kilometers
• Maximum range: 10,000 kilometers

Armament

• Internal gun: None
• Weapons bays: 3 internal bays, 6 external hardpoints
• Max weapons load:
  • Internal bays: 40,000 kilograms
  • External hardpoints: 24,000 kilograms
• Representative weapons:
  • N7S/L Crystal ALCM
  • N41S3 Chalcedony ASCM
  • Z27M Almandine ABM/ASAT interceptor
  • N09S/L Topaz ASM
  • Various unguided, guided bombs
  • Naval, land mines
  • Nuclear-armed bombs, ASMs, ALCMs

Distinctive features

Variable-geometry wing blended to fuselage; four Yuzimashi AF-19 turbofans in under-fuselage pods; small canards

Variants & Operators

Prototype Na-17X1 first flown in 1998; RPAF took delivery of first serial production model Na-17P in 2003. 112 aircraft of all variants were produced, of which 108 are still in service or reserve under the RPAF.

• Na-17P: Pelinai (all RPAF aircraft retrofitted to Na-17V or Na-17M standard)
• Na-17V: Pelinai (all RPAF aircraft currently being retrofit to Na-17M standard)
• Na-17M: Pelinai