Shenyang J-25N Multi-Role Fighter:

In the early Twenty-First Century, the Chinese military acquired a Soviet Su-33 fighter. Developed from the Su-27, the Su-33 was originally developed to operate off the Kuznetsov class carrier. This fighter was extensively studied to develop the J-15. The Chinese also developed the J-11 which was based on the Su-27 and the two Chinese aircraft share many of the same avionics and other systems. The J-15 was the mainstay of the Chinese naval fighter units while the J-11 became the mainstay of the Chinese air forces. The first J-15 prototype flew in 2009 and entered service in 2016.

In the Twenty-Thirties, there was a revolution in super strong materials followed soon by a revolution in fusion power. The Chinese military had been working a stealth design but was not fully ready. Instead, the Chinese military simply modified the J-15 design with the high strength composites and alloys. This became the J-25N fighter. The same fighter was operated by both the Chinese air force and naval forces. While it was developed as an interim design, it remained in front line service for two decades and many were retained in second line up until the coming of the Rifts. Numbers of these fighters were also exported where they competed with the American Boeing F-15SSE Super Silent Eagle. Several thousand of the J-25N fighters were built in total with several hundred being operated by Chinese naval forces. The replacement fighter, the J-32N uses many of the same components as the J-25 and remained in production until the coming of the Rifts.

As the J-25N is made from high strength composites and alloys, they are virtually immune to corrosion. As such, any fighters not badly damaged by the coming of the Rifts have a high likelihood to survive. In addition, the new high strengths materials allows them to withstand damage that would destroy previous generations of fighters. Still, these material are nowhere near as tough as new fighter designs. Also, contrary to some Chinese propaganda, the J-25N was not particulary stealthy. All versions, both those operated by air forces and navy are fitted with a tail hook for carrier operations.

It is believed by many U.S. experts that the design of the twin WFT-20 fusion turbines are copies of American fusion turbine designs based on similarities. The first prototype carried WS-10 afterburning engines but were replaced by fusion turbines in later prototypes. The fusion turbines produced far more thrust and the J-25N is credited with a top speed of Mach 2.7 although restricted to around Mach 2.45 with external ordnance. . The engines have effectively unlimited range. Still, as with many fusion turbine designs, the fighter engines had trouble with overheating especially at maximum thrust. The engines were designed with vectored thrust for greater maneuverability. It also allows for short take off and landing. As with virtually all modern fighter, the J-25N is a fully fly by wire system.

The fighter is operated by a single pilot. Sensors were less advanced than American and European fighters entering into service in the same era. It is fitted with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) similar to what was fitted to the United States F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. System has a range of around two hundred and fifty kilometers and is able to track twenty-four targets simultaneous. It is also much harder to detect than conventional radar systems and can be used to jam other aircraft's radars. In addition, the J-25N is also fitted with radar detection gear, an active jamming array, and infra-red gear. Everything is displayed in high resolution color LCD displays.

The fighter is armed with a single 30 mm gun mounted in the starboard wing root. The weapon is a direct copy of the Russian Gryazev-Shipunov Gsh-301 with 150 rounds of ammunition. Special ammunition was developed to be effective against modern armor materials. Unlike the United States F-22 and F-35 fighters, the J-25N did not have any internal the fighter bays. Instead, the fighter has twelve external hard points, two less that the slightly earlier New Soviet Su-37R. Four are mounted on each wing with one on the wing tips and four under the fuselage. Under fuselage hard points cannot carry rocket pods and wing tip hard points cannot carry bombs.

Designation: Shenyang J-25N
Vehicle Type: Twin Engine Multi-Role Fighter
Crew: One

M.D.C. by Location:

	Gryazev-Shipunov Gsh-301 30 mm cannon (wing root):	25
	Ordnance Hard Points (12):	10 each
	[1] Forward Canard Wings (2):	25 each
	[2] Wings (2):	110 each
	[3] Elevators (2):	50 each
	[3] Rudders (2):	55 each
	Cockpit:	90
	[4] Engines (2):	120 each
	Landing Gear (3):	5 each
	[5] Main Body:	165

Notes:
[1] Destroying one or both Canards will result in reducing bonuses to dodge by 2
[2] Destroying a wing will cause the plane to crash
[3] Destruction of rudders or one elevator will still allow the fighter to be controlled by the varying of power levels and changing the direction of the engines but fighter has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable and pilot must eject to survive.
[4] The destruction of one engine will reduce the fighter’s top speed by half and give the pilot a -2 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10% penalty to piloting. Destruction of both engines will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot may attempt a emergency landing or pilot can choose to eject.
[5] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the aircraft down completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight.

Speed:
Driving on Ground (Taxiing): Only possible for take offs and landings as well as for parking and storage. Speed is 40 mph (64 kph) when traveling and not on take off or landing. Because of the vectoring of the thrusters, the fighter can take off in a short distance.
Flying: The J-25N fighter has a top speed of Mach 2.70 (1,739.6 knots / 2,001.9 mph/ 3,221.8 kph.) Its cruise speed is up to Mach 1.0 (644.3 knots / 741.5 mph/ 1,193.3 kph) and has a maximum altitude is about 65,000 feet/ 19,812 meters. When the fighter is carrying ordnance on its external hard points, the fighter has a top speed of Mach 2.45 (1578.6 knots/ 1,816.6 mph / 2,923.5 kph)
Range: Effectively Unlimited. Thrusters overheat after 8 hours of use from 200 mph (321.9 kph) to 600 mph (965.6 kph), and 4 hours of use over 600 mph (965.6 kph).

Statistical Data:
Height: 19.5 feet (5.9 meters)
Wingspan: 48.2 feet (14.7 meters)
Length: 71.9 feet (21.9 meters)
Weight: 53,351.9 pounds (24,200 kg) empty and 78,264.1 pounds (35,500 kg) fully loaded
Power System: Twin WFT-20 fusion turbines, Should have an average lifespan of 8 years.
Cargo: Minimal (Storage for small equipment), does not include hard points
Black Market Cost: Extremely rare, costs range from around 30 to 40 million when available (Can sometimes sell for double that price).

Weapon Systems:

One (1) Gryazev-Shipunov Gsh-301 30 mm cannon: Direct copy of the Soviet weapon system. Fixed and is mounted on the base of the fighter’s starboard wing root. It serves as the one of last line of defense against enemy planes and missile volleys, although some pilots use it for strafing runs against ground targets when they are out of missiles. Many pilots do not like being exposed to ground weapons fire so it is an uncommon practice. The standard ammunition has been replaced by high density ramjet ammunition which inflicts heavy damage and enables the fighter to hold its own against other fighter weapons.
Maximum Effective Range: 6,560 feet (2,000 meters / 2 kilometers).
Mega Damage: 1D6x10 for a short burst of 10 round burst and 2D6x10 for a long burst of 20 round burst, 3D6 for each round.
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 150 rounds (15 short bursts or 7 long bursts)
Twelve (12) External Hard Points: The J-25 has a total of twelve hard points with one hard point on each wingtip, three hard-points on each wing, and four hard-points on the fuselage of the aircraft. Each hard points must carry the same type of ordnance but different hard points may carry different ordnance types but ordnance is normally carried in symmetrical pairs. Both unguided and guided bombs can be carried by the aircraft. Fuel tanks can be carried on fuselage and hard points. Fuselage hard points cannot carry mini-missile pods and towed decoys and wingtip hard points cannot carry bombs.
1. Bombs and Missiles: The only restriction is that a hard point must carry all the same type of missiles or bombs. Both unguided and guided bombs can be carried. In two pilot versions, short range missile racks are controlled by either the pilot or the weapons officer.
  Maximum Effective Range: Varies by missile type for missile and varies by altitude bombs are dropped at (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Mega Damage: Varies by missile or bomb type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Rate of Fire: Missile can be fire and bombs can be dropped one at a time per hard point. Multiple hard points can be linked as one attack but must be the same size (light, medium, or heavy) and style of ordnance (all missiles or bombs in a volley.)
  Payload: Four (4) short range missiles or light bombs, two (2) medium range missiles or medium bombs, or one (1) long range missile or heavy bomb (all ordnance on a hard point must be the same size and type of ordnance) each hard point.
2. Mini-Missile Pod: Large capacity mini-missile pod. The mini missile pods are normally carried for ground strafing, anti-troop, and anti-emplacement attacks. Normal missile used are armor piercing, plasma, or fragmentation mini-missiles. In two pilot versions, mini missile pods are controlled by the pilot.
  Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, mini-missiles only (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Mega-Damage: Varies with mini-missile types (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Rate of Fire: Each pod can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), or sixteen (16) and can be linked with other mini missile pods for greater number of missiles (Counts as one attack no matter how many missiles in volley.)
  Payload: Each pod carries sixteen (16) mini-missiles.
3. Towed Decoys (4): The pod takes place of all ordnance on the Hard Point. The aircraft can carry a special pod that carries four advanced towed decoy drones. These drones are dragged about 328 feet (100 meters) behind the aircraft on a thin cable. Each is a specially designed radar lure that creates a radar image to mimic the aircraft. If decoys are not destroyed, they can be recovered and repaired. Rifts Earth decoy systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World weapons due to technological difference.
  M.D.C.: 5
  Effects: The decoy has an 65% chance of fooling ordinary non military radars and non smart guided missiles, the decoy has a 35% chance of fooling military level radars (like those of the Coalition), and the decoy has a 10% chance of fooling advanced military radars (Like those of the New Navy and Triax) and smart missiles.
  Range: Not Applicable although the decoy is deployed 328 feet (100 meters) from the aircraft
  Rate of Fire: One can be deployed at a time and requires 15 seconds to deploy (Reel Out) another decoy
  Payload: Four (4) Decoys each pod.
One (1) Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispenser: Use the same effects as the TRIAX model. However, each time the system is engaged, the system fires off one chaff and 1D4 flares. Rifts Earth decoy systems are assumed to not operate against Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
Effect:
Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind flying monsters that fly through cloud. They will suffer the following penalties: reduce melee attacks/actions, combat bonuses, and speed by half.
Duration: 1D4 melee rounds.
Payload: 20 chaff, 40 flares. Each time the system is engaged, the system fires off one chaff and 1D4 flares.

Special Equipment:
The fighter has all the standard features of a standard fighter (same as standard robot minus loudspeaker and microphone) plus these special features listed below.:

Active Phased Array Radar: 152.2 miles (132.2 nautical miles / 245 km), can identify and track up to 24 targets simultaneously, It is also capable of Terrain Following for low altitude flight. With Combat & Targeting Computer, the Freestyle can fire missiles at up to eight targets at the same time.
FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared. Allows pilot to get visuals on targets at night.
Internal Active Jamming Gear: Causes -25% to detection but when it is active, other vehicles/ bases can detect that it is jamming, and some missiles will home in on jamming signals. Jamming also causes a -4 penalty to all radar guided weapons.
E.S.M.: Radar Detector, Passively detects other radars being operated.

Combat Bonuses:

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[ Beyond the Supernatural®, Heroes Unlimited®, Nightbane®, Ninjas & Superspies®, Palladium Fantasy®, and Rifts® are registered trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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