New Sovietskiy Antonov An-270 "Corvus" VTOL Transport:

While the An-74 design was in many ways an excellent design, it was seeing its age by the middle half of the Twenty-First Century. One of the aircraft's biggest weaknesses was the fact that it was limited to short take-offs and landings. Many aircraft were being introduced which could make vertical take-off and landings. The United States was introducing the Dakota II to replace both the C-130 and C-27 transports. As such, the communist leaders decided that they would need to develop a new aircraft. The result was the An-270 which the United State military used the designator "Corvus". The prototype was first introduced in 2065 with full production beginning in 2068.

With production starting slowly. the aircraft was built only for the Soviet military with the An-74 filling most civilian duties and old aircraft being exported when replaced in military service by the new VTOL design. Production continued and the aircraft was both exported and used for civilian roles. They were produced up until the coming of the Rifts. Often, the civilian roles and military roles were not distinctive unlike Western designs and those assigned to civilian roles could be brought into military service much easier than they could in the United States or Europe. Many of these aircraft survived within Russian borders and remain in service with their militaries. As well, they can be found scattered around the planet and many have been brought into service with mercenary companies.

As these aircraft were made from high strength composites and alloys, they are virtually immune to corrosion. Of course this is the main reason why so many survived in the years after the coming of the Rifts. Powerful fusion turbines provide the thrust of the engine and are designed to provide enough vertical thrust for vertical take-off and landing with a full payload. Top speed is less than the American design with a top speed of 520 knots with a normal cruise speed of 480 knots. Still it is much faster than the aircraft it replaced. The fusion turbines give the aircraft virtually unlimited range and the main limitation is crew fatigue.

Payload is massively increased over the aircraft it replaced with a maximum payload of forty metric tons. This is actually greater than the American Dakota II which can only carry around thirty-six metric tons of cargo. It can also carry a maximum of ninety troops or sixty medical liters with a small medical staff as well. Seventy light power armors or light cyborgs can also be carried. The cargo compartment is pressurized along with the cockpit. The crew of the aircraft is three although it has an excellent autopilot which allowed it to virtually fly itself before the coming of the Rifts and loss of virtually all navigational aids.

The American Dakota II has a special Gun Ship version which carries heavy weaponry. The An-270 is designed differently, like many Soviet designs. Instead, all aircraft are designed to carry light weaponry. On each wing, the aircraft has a pair of hard points. The inner hard points are designed to mount a rail gun each and the outer hard points are designed to mount a high capacity mini-missile pod type launcher on each. Each pod has capacity for twenty mini-missiles. As well, the aircraft can carry bombs in its cargo bay. Up to eight medium bombs or sixteen light bombs can be carried in this manner at the expense of being able to use the cargo bay. Both guided and unguided ordnance can be carried. In Russian service, internal ordnance was almost never carried with the role normally given to attack aircraft. Likewise, after the coming of the Rifts, few operators carry bombs although a number have mounted energy weapons instead of rail guns. All versions of the aircraft are fitted with a chaff and flare dispenser for self defense.

In addition to the standard transport model, an Airborne Electronics Warfare /. Radar version was developed. This version cannot carry any bombs and has no provisions for external ordnance. This version is known as the "Magpie" by the United States military. On the top of the aircraft is a triangular phased array radar system. Crew to operate radar system is twelve in addition to a crew of two to fly the aircraft. Extensive electronics allows for such a small crew to operate the system effective. In addition, there is also space for four senior officers so that the aircraft can act as a mobile command post.

Model Type:	An-270	"Corvus" Standard Transport Version
	An-275	"Magpie" Airborne Radar Version

Vehicle Type: Light / Medium VTOL Transport (Thruster)

Crew:	An-270	3 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, and Load Master)
	An-275	15 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Commander, 12 Sensor Operators & Communication)
Troops:	An-270	90 Troops (70 in Light Power Armor / 60 Medical Litters)
	An-275	4 (Senior / Command Officers)

M.D.C. by Location:

	10 mm Rail Gun Pod (2, Optional - Standard Model Only):	50 each
	Rocket Pods (2, Optional - Standard Model Only):	50 each
	Rear Cargo Door (Standard Model Only)	225
	Side Doors (2):	50 each
	[1] Wings (2):	300 each
	[2] Elevators (2):	150 each
	[2] Rudders (1):	200
	Top Radar Sensor (Airborne Radar Model Only):	160
	Cockpit:	180
	[3] Engines (2):	250 each
	Landing Gear (5):	25 each
	[4] Main Body:	625

Notes:
[1] Destroying a wing will cause the plane to crash
[2] Destruction of the tail will still allow the transport to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but fighter has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls.
[3] The destruction of one engine will reduce the aircraft top speed by half and give the pilot a -2 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10% penalty to piloting. With one engine destroyed, the aircraft cannot make vertical take offs and landings. Destruction of both engines will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot may attempt a emergency landing or pilot can choose to eject.
[4] 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.
Flying: It has a maximum speed of 598.4 mph (520 knots /963.0 kph) and a cruise speed of 552.4 mph (480 knots / 889.0 kph.) Maximum altitude is 59,055 feet (18,000 meters) The aircraft is Vertical Take Off and Landing which allows it to take off virtually anywhere and can hover indefinitely.
Range: Due to Fusion engine effectively unlimited range, need to cool down after 12 hours of flight at maximum speed. At cruising speed, range is increased to 24 hours of flight.

Statistical Data:
Height: 39.70 feet (12.10 meters)
Wingspan: 124.67 feet (38.0 meters)
Length: 99.08 feet (30.20 meters)
Weight: 78,264.10 pounds (35,500 kg) empty and 165,346.70 pounds (75,000 kg) maximum takeoff weight
Power System: Nuclear, Should have an average life span of 8 years.
Cargo: An-270 "Corvus" Standard Transport Version: : 44.1 tons (40 metric tons), An-275 "Magpie" Airborne Radar Version: Minimal (Storage for small equipment.)
Black Market Cost: An-270 "Corvus" Standard Transport Version: : 38 million credits, An-275 "Magpie" Airborne Radar Version: 85 million credits.

Weapon Systems (None Standard):

GSR-10 Heavy Rail Gun Pod (10 mm - 2): The An-270 Corvus transport can be fitted with a pair of rail gun on the inner hard points of the wings which fire forward. Weapon pod is controlled by either the pilot or copilot. Fires a 10 mm projectile. The Soviet military was unable to make an effective liquid propellant weapon and instead developed, some say stole, a rail gun design for their existing vehicles. It is carried in many tanks and other combat vehicles.
Maximum Effective Range: 4,920 feet (1,500 meters)
Mega Damage: Single shot inflicts 2D4 and 20 round burst does 1D6x10+10 (Two rail guns can be combined to inflict 2D6x10+20 for a four round burst)
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the Pilot / Copilot.
Payload: 600 rounds (30 bursts) each.
Mini-Missile Pods (2): Optionally carried on the wings of the transport. 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. Weapon system is controlled by the pilot or co-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 2, 4, 8, or 10 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 20 mini-missile.
Bombs: The An-270 is designed to be able to carry bombs internally in the cargo bay. Both unguided and guided bombs can be carried. Weapon system is controlled by the pilot or co-pilot. Eight medium sized bombs or a total of sixteen light bombs can be carried or a mixture of both types can be carried..
Maximum Effective Range: Varies by bomb type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Mega Damage: Varies by bomb type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Bombs can be dropped one at a time or in volleys of two or four but volley must be the same size (light or medium)
Payload: 8 medium bombs or 16 light bombs (two light bombs can be substituted for one medium bomb)
Anti-Missile Chaff/Flare Dispenser (1): 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 decoys 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:
Standard:
The aircraft has all the standard features of a standard fighter (same as standard robot including loudspeaker and microphone on this aircraft) plus these special features listed. These are carried on all models except where it is replaced by a better systems..

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.
Radar System: Range of 30 miles (48 km); Capable of tracking up to 48 targets simultaneously, this radar serves to provide early warning of incoming aircraft and missile attacks and to provide targeting for both carried missiles and the gun. The radar also has terrain following features. The radar can be programmed to shut off immediately if it detects an aircraft firing a missile on a heading towards the An-270, in case the missile is a radar-homing HARM type.
Full Infared viewing mode and FLIR system: Range of 4 miles (6.4 km), with IR searchlight (+3 to detecting targets with IR when in use, however, +3 to detecting the An-270 with IR equipment when in use, as well.)

An-275 Electronics Warfare / Radar Model:

Long Range 3D Radar System: Radar system has a 360 degree coverage and can track both airborne and surface targets. Radar system has a range of 480 miles (773 km) and can track up to 400 targets simultaneously and can perform intercepts to up to 80 targets simultaneously. The system replaces all weapon systems and cargo capacity with electronic systems and requires 8 crew members to operate
Advanced Communication Package: Give the aircraft the ability of multi-direction communication of 800 miles (1290 km) as well as direction communication out to 500 miles (800 km) to up to 20 individual targets. The system also has 20 laser/microwave communication systems that are only limited by line of sight (Range of about 100,000 miles / 161,000 km).

[ Altarain TM, Bandito Arms TM, Brodkil TM, Chipwell Armaments TM, Coalition States TM, Cyber-Knight TM, Federation of Magic TM, Free Quebec TM, Golden Age Weaponsmiths TM, Horune TM, Iron Heart Armaments TM, Kankoran TM, Kittani TM, Kydian TM, Larsen’s Brigade TM, M.D.C. TM, Mechanoids TM, Mega-Damage TM, Megaversal Legion TM, Millennium Tree TM, Mutants in Orbit TM, Naruni Enterprises TM, Naut’Yll, New Navy TM, New Sovietskiy TM, NGR TM, Nog Heng TM, Northern Gun TM, Phase World TM, Psyscape TM, Rifter TM, SAMAS TM, S.D.C. TM, Shemarrian TM, Splugorth TM, Stormspire TM, Sunaj TM, Tolkeen TM, Triax TM, Wellington Industries TM, Wilk’s Laser Technologies TM, Xiticix TM, and Zaayr TM are trademarks owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc. ]

[ 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).

Return