VF-5000B Star Mirage

Model number: VF-5000B
Code name: Star Mirage
Unit type: mass production air superiority variable fighter
Manufacturer: Shinsei Industry
Operator: U.N. Spacy
Rollout: AD 2018
First deployment: AD 2020
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard canopy-style cockpit
Dimensions: overall length 14.03 meters (Fighter mode)
Weight: empty 8.3 metric tons; max gross unknown
Armor materials: SWAG energy conversion armor
Powerplant: 2 x Shinnakasu Heavy Industry/P&W/Roice FF-2015RB thermonuclear reaction turbine engine, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: 2 x 12,500 kg (2 x 122.63 kN); many x P&W HMM-3A high-thrust vernier thruster; 2 x vertical two-dimensional vectored exhaust nozzle
Performance: Fighter mode: maximum level atmospheric speed at 10,000 meters: Mach 2.85, maximum level atmospheric speed at 30,000+ meters: Mach 4.73+
Thrust-to-weight ratio: empty 3.01
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; optional space/atmospheric booster pack/weaponry system; optional Super FAST Pack system
Fixed armaments: fixed rear anti-aircraft pulse laser cannon, mounted in head; standard external multipurpose gun pod, stored under main body in Fighter mode, hand-carried in Battroid and GERWALK modes; 4 x internal micro-missile launcher, mounted on legs
Optional fixed armaments: standard external shock gun pod, stored under main body in Fighter mode, hand-carried in Battroid and GERWALK modes
Optional hand armaments: none

The VF-5000B Star Mirage was an air superiority fighter produced by Shinsei Industry for U.N. Spacy. Development began in 2011 as a joint project by Stonewell Bellcom and Shinnakasu Heavy Industry, which merged a year later to form Shinsei. In contrast to the VF-4 Lightning III, the design of the VF-5000B was based on the VF-1A Valkyrie and was intended to be cheap to produce and easier to maintain. Its armaments included an anti-aircraft pulse laser cannon and a multipurpose gun pod (or shock gun pod). It could also equip a booster pack or Super FAST Pack that each added multiple missile launchers. Test flights began in 2018, followed by mass production in 2020. Soon after the start of production, ace pilots Maximilian Jenius and Milia Fallyna Jenius escorted the new VF-5000B for testing over the planet Neo York and prevented terrorists from capturing the new variable fighter. Due to atmospheric mobility problems with the VF-4, the VF-5000B became the primary U.N. Spacy variable fighter for atmospheric operations. Production of the VF-5000B ended in 2029, and in the following year both it and the VF-4 were replaced by the third generation VF-11 Thunderbolt. Two variants, the VF-5000G and VF-5000T-G, were in service in 2047 with the Galactic Whale patrol unit on planet Zola.

Pilot(s): Aegis Focker, Maximilian Jenius, Milia Fallyna Jenius
First appearance: Macross VF-X2
Original mechanical designer: Shoji Kawamori

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