VF-7B Veritech Beta Spin-off (Fan-Fiction)

[ShadowLogan]

VF-7B Phoenix
NOTE: The following is Fan-Fiction.

When the VF-X-7 program was canceled in 2022, it left open a variety of holes in UEEF/REF capabilities that it was intended to address all in one package. The UEEF/REF had desired to use the VF-X-7 program to produce a Veritech Fighter to replace the aging conventional SFA-5 Conbat Strike Fighter, and use the mecha itself as an add-on for the new Alpha fighter to address certain shortcomings. Not wanting to waste the investment of resources into the VF-X-7 program, the UEEF launched a series of salvage programs as was done with the VF-X-5 competitor for the SFA-5 replacement that ultimately yielded up a non-transformable battloid.

The salvage design teams looked at the VF-X-7 program from several angles, both looking at applying technology in the mecha elsewhere and what could be done with the mecha itself. The mecha design was sound to a point, but riddled with compromises due to the need to connect to an Alpha (compounding the issue was the lateness of the Beta design related to the Alpha design). Most of the technology was viable for use in other platforms, it was mainly the docking system that presented issues (and as Sentinels OVA shows it wasn't ready for field use in 2022). The salvage teams put forward several proposals, one of which was designated the VF-X-7B program (another was a research only program that matured the VF-X-7A design that would eventually morph into the VF-X-9 and ultimately the VFB-9).

The VF-X-7B program proposal would make (at best) minor structural modifications to the original VF-X-7A design to improve aerodynamics. They reduced the footprint of the MM-20/16 shoulder launcher module and streamlined it to reduce drag. In order to avoid having to develop a replacement missile launcher, the program "borrowed" MM-60 launchers from the Alpha program and put them in a new module (1 banks of Alpha's Shoulder and 4 banks of Forearm launchers per side). The UEEF also streamlined the Beta's lower leg, and experimented with an aero-spike nozzle on the three main engines (nozzles are designed for specific altitude/atmospheric pressures and outside of that region the nozzle can result in a loss or gain of thrust, aero-spike nozzle is self correcting). As a backup the UEEF also had a redesigned conventional nozzle to compare it to (along with the baseline). Another experiment undertaken due to the hardware being present was the inclusion of variable geometry wings (slight modification to the hardware and a software update) as found on the VF-1. The streamlining and additional weight saving measures (connected with the Alpha requirements mostly) lead to a reduction of 10% in mass over the VF-X-7A (for simplicity I am assuming the VF-X-7 has the same mass as the VF-X-9, the main difference between the two is the -9 has more mature technology than the -7). It also improved the T/W ratio by ~9% (which was already high given the connected unit had to provide "high thrust" capabilities with an Alpha connected). This combined with the aerodynamic improvements lead to an increase in overall flight speeds.

Weapons saw a major refit. The Shoulder launchers (MM-20/16) has been replaced with more compact MM-60 stations as previously mentioned (56 Short Range Missiles in total), the shoulder stations mounted in a forward facing direction, with the forearm stations launched vertically (Battloid mode only availability though). The forearm guns have been retained, and have been allowed to fire in a rear arc in Fighter or guardian-VTOL mode, though most pilots aren't very accurate with this style of shooting (without a dedicated second crewman acting as gunner, pilots typically have to split their attention between the competing angles, so a skill slot for this type of shooting/piloting is not unreasonable for better accuracy). The status of this availability was more experimental to see how useful it would actually be since the weapons are already installed and available (based on the Beta seen in NG it would appear to be a bust). The wing hard points have been retained, though still impact transformation ability when loaded. Gone are the intake guns in the legs and have been moved to "chest" positions underneath the redesigned MM-20/16 location and are available in all modes, this has improved airflow into the engines for atmospheric use.

The bomb bay has been retained, and can deploy either bombs, mines (floating space mines, ocean mines, or even land mines), sensor buoys/satellites, "care packages" (small cargo pods), or "delayed action" air dropped missiles. The delayed air dropped missiles are purpose built guided medium range missiles (+3 to strike) that are ejected first (1 attack) and then ignite their motors (2nd attack) after acquiring telemetry from the VF-X-7B typically for a targeted strike OR can go off in a random assault (see 1E RT RPG Zentreadi Source book for rules, in this mode they only use 1 attack with a 2% chance of a friendly fire incident). Due to the "delayed action" of their launch mechanism (in game terms it takes 2 actions to fire) it requires the mecha to maintain sufficient altitude so the missiles don't impact the ground/obstacles (making them expensive bombs) and launch is limited to fighter mode. This and several other factors have limited availability and use (though remain available for the VFB-9). The delay action results in the missiles being more ideal for "long range" strikes or strikes against slow moving targets. (NOTE the 225kg "light" bombs carried are much heavier than a Short or Medium Range Missile based on the Silverback entry, so by mass there is no reason you could not put ~4000kg of Medium Range Missiles into the bay in place of a light bomb, however these missiles should be regarded as purpose built for the Beta Bomb Bay and not standard MRMs). (NOTE 2: air launch systems do exist where the missile or rocket is released from an aircraft prior to its engines being ignited, so there is some precedent for the delay action system).

The centerline internal gun has been removed completely and replaced with a robust and simple connection mechanism for a "detachable nose" module that was designed to improve aerodynamics (and has done so greatly). The nose rides on the Alpha docking arm in F/G modes, but detaches to form a "shield" or arm "pod" in Battloid mode (the arms scoop the module up and move it into position, similar to how the VF-1 handles the GU-11/escape capsule). To facilitate the existing crew transfer mechanism into/out-of the VF-X-7 cockpit, the module is mounted on a track from the extend-able docking arm that pulls the nose out and forward allowing the seat to lower (as on the VFB-9), this slows readiness (1 additional action) but could not be helped without a major design change to the VF-X-7's cockpit.

Initially the nose pod (roughly the length of an Alpha in fighter mode, but only 1/5th as wide in guardian) was intended to be kept as simple as possible to simplify development of the VF-X-7B and to keep weight/mass down. This meant it was more of a hollow shield. The UEEF however requested additional roles for the module to perform slowing development as modified modules where designed for: internal carriage of missiles (essentially side bays in the nose that operate similar to the F-22/35, limiting the ROF to 1 or 2, payload 4 MRM or 8 SRM per side), use as "heavy gun" module (reduced performance due to added drag and weight), transport module (4 man team with Cyclones, or 8 men w/o, or cargo of similar weight that could fit in the space), and even a selection of "parasite" vehicles (these are moved into position with the Beta's arms just like the VF-1 does with the escape capsule/GU-11 and are not dependent on the Alpha style approach in the VF-X-7A and VFB-9 programs, this is only possible due to the smaller size and mass of the nose pods compared to the Alpha).

The program was marginally successful resulting in the limited production of VF-7B Phoenix Veritech Fighters that entered service in mid-2025 with the UEEF and served for a good decade before being retired for the newer VF-9 that was being phased in. Production was limited, which effected the Phoenix's availability within the overall UEEF. When the VF-X-9 program was proposed the Beta's designers also looked at producing a Phoenix equivalent (no Alpha connection hardware, and other improvements), but the UEEF wasn't interested in producing separate A and B variant at the time. The UEEF did however request B's variant Nose Module(s) be redesigned for for use by the A (essentially similar to the VF-7B in roles and such, performance boost wasn't as great since the -9A did not have the same aerodynamic improvements and weight/mass reductions as the -7B, they also had to be slightly modified to use all the Alpha connectors). Availability of the various modules for the VFB-9 are not at the 1:1 level, but then Beta availability was not at 1:1 for the Alpha either.

[jaymz]

Interesting S/L. I won't use it but nice write up.

[ZINO]

http://hikarino-tsubasa.flier.jp/Sites/VF7Bealand.jpg
VF-7B Veritech Beta Spin-off (Fan-Fiction?
http://hikarino-tsubasa.flier.jp/Sites/VF7pics.html
just for laughs

[glitterboy2098]

http://hikarino-tsubasa.flier.jp/Sites/VF7Bealand.jpg
VF-7B Veritech Beta Spin-off (Fan-Fiction?
http://hikarino-tsubasa.flier.jp/Sites/VF7pics.html
just for laughs

not seeing how that one connects to the beta.. there is nothing in common.

it's more like a cross between the Yak-141 and the Hawker P1214-3..

[ZINO]

http://hikarino-tsubasa.flier.jp/Sites/VF7Bealand.jpg
VF-7B Veritech Beta Spin-off (Fan-Fiction?
http://hikarino-tsubasa.flier.jp/Sites/VF7pics.html
just for laughs

not seeing how that one connects to the beta.. there is nothing in common.

it's more like a cross between the Yak-141 and the Hawker P1214-3..

THERE NO CONNECTION JUST FOR FUN