The Type 397 Sabre (no relation to the North American F-86 Sabre) is representative of a 5th generation Air Superiority Fighter, and would be the natural successor to the Type 325 Espadon. I based it's layout upon an earlier concept sketch that I did a few years ago, which really stood out from the others.

The Sabre boasts Stealth, Supercruise, supersonic capability without afterburners, a Phased Array (AESA) Radar, an IRST, twin engines with Independent 3D Thrust Vectoring, and a whole host of other goodies. It's extremely fast and manueverable, long-ranged, climbs fast, and carries a crapload of weaponry.

However, the Sabre isn't flawless. For one thing, it's a very unstable design with VERY powerful manuevering capabilities, so controlling it in a turning dogfight will be very difficult. For another, it's 90-degree twin stabilizers don't lend well to aerodynamic stability at speeds of over Mach 2.2, especially because they're so close together. Lastly, if it performs this well AND costs only $60 Million, there's going to be a major trade-off somewhere else --- and that would probably be the frequency, difficulty, and invasiveness of routine maintenance (and probably the airframe's overall lifespan as well). I imagine it would probably go through engines pretty fast, too.

Nonetheless, the Sabre is a *very* lethal warplane, and it's doubtful that other 5th-gen fighter could surmount a formation of the Sabres without incurring severe losses.


Here are it's performance stats;

=====Type 397 "Sabre" Data =====
©2011 Blacktail
Role: Air Superiority Fighter
Unit Price: US$60 Million
Crew: 1
Size(LxWxH): 67x55x15ft
Wing Area: 730ft2
Empty Weight: 36000lbs
Internal Fuel: 24000lbs
Payload: 12000lbs
Max. T/O Weight: 70000lbs
Wing Loading: 86.3lb/ft2
T/W Ratio: 2.2
Fuel Fraction: 40%
Range: 2300 miles
Ceiling: 60000ft
Cruise Speed: Mach 1.4
Top Speed: Mach 2.5
Climb Rate: 65000ft/min
Initial Turn Rate: 37 degrees/sec
Continuous Turn Rate: 25 degrees/sec
Max. G-Load: +9/-4
Sensors: Type 718 AESA Radar, Type 633 IRST, RWR
Scan Range: 130 miles @ 45 degrees (20 miles @ 300 degrees, for IRST)
Look Down: Yes
Shoot Down: Yes
Propulsion: 2x Type 778 Low-Bypass Turbofans w/ 40000lbs/Military Thrust, 80000lbs/AB
Thrust Vectoring: Yes (3D, 30 degrees all-round)
Weapon Stations: Type 322 23mm cannon w/1000rds, 1x Internal Bay w/8000lb Capacity, 2x Auxillary Baw w/1000lb Capacity, 2x Underwing Hardpoint w/3000lb Capacity, 4x Underwing Hardpoint w/1000lb Capacity
ECMs: Chaff/Flare Dispensers (50/50rds), Tactical Jammer, Plasma Ejecters
FBW: Yes (Digital)
RCS: 5cu/ft
Stealth: Yes
Tailhook: Yes
Catapult Hitch: Optional
Drag Chute: Yes
AAR: Yes
Other: Bubble Canopy, Zero-Zero Ejection Seat, Holographic HUD, HOTAS, LCD 3-screen MFD, Laser Altimeter, LRF, Digital Databus, HMS