ROBOTECH Technical Files
by Pieter Thomassen, with Peter Walker

Designation:

AF-7 Omicron Attack Fighter/Bomber (-1D, -1S, -1T)

Aircraft Separator
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I. Dimensions:

Total Length: 16.9m
Total Height: 7.5m
Total width: 7.5m
Total Wingspan: 15.3m
Total Dry Weight: 29 metric tons

II. Type:

III. Service History:

IV. Propulsion:

V. Performance:

VI. Electronics:

Radar tracking:
Optical tracking:
Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):
Electronic Masking Systems:
Optional recon pod:

VII. Armament:

Cannons:
Missiles:
Weapon bays:
Upper bays (2):
Lower bay:

VIII. Armor:

The armor on the Omicron series mecha is a lighter, improved version of the light-weight Chobham armor introduced on the Alpha/Beta series. Aside from the considerable protection provided against projectiles, missiles, and other kinetic weapons, this armor is also resistant to plasma globes (annihilation discs), lasers, and to a lesser extent, particle guns. The armor stops all small arms fire, and has excellent resistance to all weapons commonly mounted on combat mecha.

The Omicron provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using a sealed cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for four days maximum.

The Armor on the Omicron Fighter is a heavier version of that on the Omega Fighter.

IX. Development:

After the retirement of the Veritech Beta fighter/bomber, the Terran forces were in need of a specialized, deep penetration capable craft that could deliver the varied air-to-ground and extensive air-to-air firepower of the Beta. For a short period a larger version of the Beta, with link-up capability with the Omega Veritech Fighter was considered, but new tactics and aerodynamical considerations caused the end of this project.

It was then decided that the new bomber did not really need transformational capabilities, as its task would be high-speed penetration, which would have to be done in a fighter mode, and stand-off missile launches for air defense, which could also be achieved in Fighter mode. Although the designers did include a VTOL capability, other flight modes such as Guardian and/or Battloid were deleted from the specifications.

Since the termination of the transformational bomber project left the design teams with rather less time than was originaly expected, the teams instigated a search of the records with the goal of finding an older design that might be adapted to the new specifications. This adaptation would certainly lessen the design load and get the project back on track while staying in budget. This turned out to be a very fortunate course of action, as the design that emerged was an almost exact copy of the Chimera Strike Bomber used by the Southern Cross nearly a decade before.

This plane was used by both the Tactical Armored Space Corps and the Tactical Air Force with mixed succes in the Second Robotech War. The mixed feelings of the pilots of these craft were caused by the too specialized armament fit of the Chimera, which was designed to take down Starships and Dropships, but gave rather little consideration as to how the planes and more importantly the pilots were to survive their attack runs. As the specifications of the Omicron called for improvements in the air-to-air fit of these craft, that design flaw was corrected, after which the result fulfilled and exceeded every expectation.

The design teams included an extra hull section into the hull, lengthening the vehicle somewhat. Behind the upper missile bays the extra space was used for two Hammerhead short range missile launchers as also seen in the front of the Beta's missile pods. These 20 total missiles made for a sizable increase in the short-range defensive capabilities. In addition, the designers standardized the upper bays to hold 2 medium range Diamondback missiles in place of one long range cruise missile. If both bays were so loaded, the Omicron carried more medium range missiles in these two bays than in the specialized launchers of the Beta. The additional hull length was used also to enlarge the lower bay, and make it into a bomb bay with much the same load-carrying capability as the Beta's bay, but roomier and capable of holding more missiles that the old Beta bay. These changes were complemented with the installation of two particle beam cannons in the nose of the Omicron, resulting in almost twice the forward firepower as the Zentraedi Gnerl Pod had.

As a last improvement the engines of the Chimera were uprated, what had a beneficial effect on the dash speed. The new Omicron passed all tests with flying colours, and is now coming into use in the Terran Forces in both the Air Force and the Naval Air squadrons, and is likely to remain in service for decades.


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Content by Pieter Thomassen and Peter Walker
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Copyright © 2003-1995 Robert Morgenstern, Pieter Thomassen, Peter Walker