It's construction is almost completely made up of carbon fibers, reducing weight and improving durability due to the new technique that has been introduced in creating the fibers. The craft can theoretically reach speeds of mach 4 and beyond, but in practice it could destabilise the aircraft frame possibly destroying it in mid air, though due to the new fiber technique it has not been confirmed yet. The current max speed without destabilising the frame is about 3700 - 3800 kph.
The craft durability against air drag has been further improved by using a revolutionary technique of plasma coverage (also making the aircraft almost impossible to detect on radar, the plasma captures radio waves), something that the Pythogrian nuclear research made possible to finish.
The interceptor uses completely new technology to attack and dismiss enemy fighters. Instead of the usual long range missile battering, this one is designed to evade all long range missiles while traveling at max speed to close in with the enemy fighter. Once close range has been achieved, the craft will slow down, idling it's side engines and unleash a volley of six heatseeker missiles (dubbed Saratov Swarmers) at the hapless victim. Modern planes usually aren't too prepared for close range encounters, so this will introduce a great shock factor as well. The aircraft is outfitted with four optional weapon pods. Though installing weapons on them will probably slow down the aircraft, it is useful if it is going to be used for a precision strike, or a quick bomber interception.
This is the first aircraft capable of catching up with any experimental spy planes of the Aesanian Union, and actually be capable of blasting the said aircraft once they have closed in. It is using a specialised fuel mixture, which is actually closer to rocket fuel than normal fuel. It is extremely potent, but also hard to produce and is thus expensive. It is unlikely the new fuel mixture will ever be used in standard aircraft.
((OOC: Before anyone starts yapping: I have just one of these completed. It is a prototype. It was extremely costly, the next 10 years will be used up trying to invent ways to make it cheaper, and before that it is utterly impossible that we will even start production. It will probably not be used in this war at all because losing this motherfucker just now will be a truly amazing blow. And it is a prototype so it's not like it's really reliable enough to have it engaged in battle.
Initially I wanted to post it up on CCW2, but I figured one of these will be useful for storyline purposes somewhere at the end of the war with the Aesanian Union. ))
