U.S. V-22N Super Osprey Utility Tilt Rotor:

Excerpt from Fox’s Combat Aircraft of the World, 2090 to 2091:

The Osprey is a tilt rotor design. The aircraft flies much like a conventional aircraft in most cases but the blades can be flipped upwards so that the aircraft can hover. The aircraft is much faster than helicopters in level flight but can hover just like a helicopter. The design fills many roles including transport, electronics warfare, and anti-submarine warfare. There were also proposed gunship versions but there were never built.

Several times, it appeared as if the Osprey would be canceled and there were many maintenance problems with the original versions of the aircraft. These were eventually solved and the Osprey replaced the helicopter in many roles. It was exported around the world and was operated by many nations around the world. In some places, the old aircraft are still flying and similar aircraft are operated in civilian roles as well.

In the Twenty-Thirties, the revolution in new materials made most aircraft obsolete and there was a need for new aircraft constructed from the new materials. An upgraded version of the Osprey was developed using the materials which began replacing the older Ospreys. Some of the older tilt rotors simply had the new materials replace the old hull materials but that was considered a temporary solution at best.

In the later part of the Twenty-Forties, new fusion turbine engines became available. The various branches of the United States military wanted to develop thrust based VTOL designs to fill the roles performed by the Osprey and various helicopters. At the same time, military budgets were greatly restricted and the development of new fighters and attack aircraft using new technology used most of the available budget. As a result, it was decided that an interim design using the Osprey as the basis would be developed. It would greatly reduce development costs and would allow for the quicker introduction into military service.

The first prototype for the Super Osprey was completed in early 2051. The first prototype crashed but later prototypes had few problems and the aircraft was accepted for service once a few minor bugs were worked out. Production began in 2053 and remained in production until 2068. Originally three different versions of the Super Osprey were developed. One was a transport version, one was an airborne radar version, and a final was developed for anti-submarine warfare. The Kingfisher was developed as a thrust based VTOL replacement for the Super Osprey. Still, large numbers of the Super Osprey had been produced and many still remain in United States military service, mostly for the Marines and Navy. Many of the transport versions of the Super Osprey remain in service but all airborne radar and submarine warfare versions have been mothballed although are still available. It is expected for the Super Osprey to operate in the transport role for several more decades before being retired. Several other countries operate the aircraft as well and a similar civilian version is still manufactured. Several countries have purchased civilian tilt rotor aircraft and have upgraded them instead of purchasing thrust based VTOL transports due to the high cost.

While they look virtually identical, the Super Osprey has many minor changes compared to the original Osprey and a careful examination will show a host of alterations in the design. More important is the fact the Super Osprey is constructed using high strength composites and alloys that were not even imagined when the original Osprey was developed. External dimensions are virtually identical to those of the original Osprey. Power is provided by twin fusion turbines on tilting mounts on each wing. The Super Osprey is far less radical than the Soviet Yak-228 “Minstrel” with only a single set of rotor blades mounted on the engines. Still, each engine is more powerful than the original turbo-shafts and is both faster and able to carry heavier loads. The aircraft retains a large cargo bay of the original Osprey. The basic crew is only two for the Super Osprey but often two additional gunners are also carried. One controls the remote gun station and the other usually mans a gun position at the cargo doors. The Super Osprey can carry up to twenty-four troops or a variety of other cargo. Thirty two can be carried if seated on the deack. Liquid propellant weapons were very common initially as both the retractable gun mount and the rear door gus but were replaced by rail guns in most Super Ospreys. Some crews experimented with using automatic grenade launchers instead at the main cargo hathc. These grenade launchers have the ability to inflict incredible damage and were very popular. As well, the aircraft carried decoy launchers for self defense. Also, a maximum of eight heavy missiles or a larger number of smaller ordnance can be carried on the wings except the airborne radar version of the Super Osprey. One role envisioned for the aircraft was to make missile strikes against enemy vessels when the threat assessment was low and fighters were not required. For ground attack roles, mini-missile packs are sometimes carried to clear an area before troops are landed. Usually, torpedoes would be carried on anti-submarine versions of the aircraft when operating in the anti-submarine role. Both the transport and anti-submarine warfare versions of the Super Osprey have a cargo hook.

The anti-submarine warfare version carries a dipping sonar and magnetic anomaly detector (known as MAD gear) for submarine hunting. In addition, the aircraft can carry a large number of sonar buoys. A total of thirty-two sonar buoys can be carried in the cargo hold. The anti-submarine warfare version of the Super Osprey has a crew of four with two of the crew acting as sensor operators. As previously mentioned, all anti-submarine warfare Super Ospreys in United States service have been mothballed but some remain in service in other nations.

The airborne radar version of the Super Osprey mounts a small but powerful radar system above the main fuselage but is low enough that it does not interfere with the rotor blades. The airborne radar version does not retain the ability to fire missiles and does not have positions for side gunners although the doors remain. The crew of this version is even greater than on the Anti-Submarine warfare version with a crew of six with four of the crew operating the electronics which takes up virtually all of the cargo bay's available space. Still, the Super Osprey has powerful computers and a special data link to connect to other units. Like the anti-submarine version of the Super Osprey, all airborne radar versions of the Super Osprey in United States service have been put in storage.

Model Number: V-22N
Class: Double Engine VTOL (Tilt Rotor) Transport Aircraft

Crew:	Transport	2 (Pilot and Co-Pilot) but has stations for 2 door-gunners
	Anti-Submarine	4 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, 2 Sensor Operators)
	Airborne radar	6 (Pilot, Co-Pilot, and 4 Sensor Operators)
Troops:	Transport	24 normal and 14 in Light or Medium Power Armor (In place of cargo)
	Anti-Submarine	None (Sonar Buoys can be replaced by 8 passengers / 10 cramped)
	Airborne radar	None

M.D.C. by Location:

	Remote Guardian System (Retractable / Under Fuselage):	60 (Optional)
	[1] Wings (2):	165 each
	[2] Elevators (2):	60 each
	[2] Rudders (2):	60 each
	Cockpit:	110
	Rear Cargo Bay Door:	75
	Side Doors (2):	40 each
	Top Radar Sensor (Airborne radar version only):	80
	[2] Engines (2):	150 each
	[3] Main Body:	250
	Landing Gear (3):	10 each

Notes:
[1] Destroying a wing will cause the plane to crash.
[2] Destruction of rudders or one elevator will still allow the aircraft to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines but aircraft 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. The destruction of one of the engines will cause the aircraft to crash.
[3] 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. The tilt rotor aircraft can land and take off from primitive air fields.
Flying: The Super Osprey can hover and go up to a maximum speed of 300 knots (345.2 mph, 555.6 km/hour). The Super Osprey can hover stationary up to 6,800 feet (2,072.6 meters) and can fly up to 28,500 feet (8,686.8 meters) if not hovering. Aircraft cannot use VTOL mode if over half loaded with cargo but can still take off and land in a short distance. The Super Osprey cannot travel over 200 mph (321.9 kph) with an underslung cargo load.
Range: Effectively Unlimited but does overheat when operated for long periods of time. The Super Osprey engines will overheat after 16 hours of continuous operation when running at top speed and 32 hours when run at under 150 knots (172.7 mph / 278 kph)

Statistical Data:
Height over Tail Fins: 17.5 feet (5.3 meters)
Width, Rotors Turning: 84.8 feet (25.8 meters)
Rotor Diameter: 38 feet (11.6 meters)
Fuselage Length: 57.3 feet (17.5 meters)
Weight: Combat - 43,200 lbs (19,600 kg); Landing - 34,100 lbs (15,470 kg)
Power System: Nuclear Fusion, two pivoting FTS-880 Fusion Turbo Shafts, (Should have an average life span of 10 years)
Cargo: 11.6 tons (10.5 metric tons) in cargo hold or 8.3 tons (7.5 metric tons) slung underneath (Does not include hard points)
Black Market Cost: No versions except the unarmed civilian version have ever been available on the black market and the have sold for 5 to 7 million credits. If sold on the black market, the military transport would probably sell for 12 to 15 million credits, the anti-submarine warfare version would probably sell for 20 to 25 million credits, and the airborne radar version would probably sell for 40 to 50 million credits.

Weapon Systems (Combat Versions):

One (1) Remote Guardian System: Optional weapon system. Weapon system mounted under the fuselage on some military versions. Originally mounted a 7.62 mm machine gun in the Osprey but modified to mount other weapon systems. Controlled by a gunner from inside of the aircraft. Mounted on approximately half of military Ospreys. Weapon system is able to be retracted when not in use. Has three hundred and sixty degree rotation and ninety degree arc of fire.
1. Liquid Propellant Gatling Gun: This weapon is carried on the original Super Osprey but replaced on most aircraft. This weapon is similar to the sub-machine-gun carried on the USA-GPA-01-D. This weapon's primary purpose is use against infantry and other lightly armored targets. The weapon can fire all types of burst available to machine guns except extended bursts. The weapon uses a special liquid propellant which delivers about four times the force of nitro-cellulose propellant and the weapon fires an 8 mm round.
  Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
  Mega-Damage:
  Single Shot (Costs 1 attack): 1D6
  Ten Round Burst on One Target (Costs 1 attack): 5D6
  Ten Round Burst on 1D4 Target (Costs 1 attack): 1D6
  Thirty Round Burst on One Target (Costs 1 attack): 1D6x10
  Thirty Round Burst on 1D8 Target (Costs 1 attack): 2D6
  Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of pilot or commander.
  Payload: 3000 rounds each.
2. USA-M31 Rail Gun: This rail gun is carried on C-40R and is from the original Pre-Rifts SAMAS design. It has fewer bursts and is heavier but the rail gun inflicts more damage than the C-40R.
  Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)
  Mega-Damage: A burst of 40 rounds does 1D6x10, a single round does 1D4+1
  Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4-6).
  Payload: 2,000 round drum for 50 bursts.
One (1) Rear Door Gunner Mount: Can be carried on all models with a cargo door and fired from a pintle mount. Originally, liquid propellant weapons were carried but was replaced by a rail guns in most aircraft. As well, many crews like to use an automatic grenade launcher due to its incredible damage. This weapon systems are normally used when trying to protect the tilt rotor while it is dropping troops. Rear door gunner is exposed to fire when in positions. The door guns cannot be used if the vehicle is traveling over 100 mph (161 kph) and is not mounted on the airborne radar version of the Super Osprey.
1. Liquid Propellant Gatling Gun: This weapon is carried on the original Super Osprey but replaced on most aircraft. This weapon is similar to the sub-machine-gun carried on the USA-GPA-01-D. This weapon's primary purpose is use against infantry and other lightly armored targets. The weapon can fire all types of burst available to machine guns except extended bursts. The weapon uses a special liquid propellant which delivers about four times the force of nitro-cellulose propellant and the weapon fires an 8 mm round.
  Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
  Mega-Damage:
  Single Shot (Costs 1 attack): 1D6
  Rate of Fire: Equal to combined hand to hand attacks of pilot or commander.
  Payload: 3000 rounds each.
2. USA-M31 Rail Gun: This rail gun is carried on C-40R and is from the original Pre-Rifts SAMAS design. It has fewer bursts and is heavier but the rail gun inflicts more damage than the C-40R.
  Maximum Effective Range: 4,000 feet (1,200 meters)
  Mega-Damage: A burst of 40 rounds does 1D6x10, a single round does 1D4+1
  Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4-6).
  Payload: 2,000 round drum for 50 bursts.
3. AGL-40 Automatic Grenade Launcher: Weapon is similar to have a post Rifts WI-GL21 Automatic Grenade Launcher mounted in a turret but fires a slightly smaller round.
  Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (914 meters)
  Mega-Damage: 3D6 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 12 ft and 5D6 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 3 ft, burst of 10 rounds does 2D4x10 for Fragmentation with a blast area of 40 ft and 2D6x10 for Armor Piercing with a blast area of 8 ft.
  Rate of Fire: Equal to number of combined hand to hand attacks of the gunner (usually 4-6).
  Payload: 800 Rounds
Eight (8) Ordnance Hard Points: The aircraft has eight hard points with four hard points on each wing. Missiles, rocket packs, and bombs can be mixed or matched but all ordnance on a hard point must be the same type. The airborne radar version of the Super Osprey does not retain these hard points.
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. These are often replaced by torpedoes on the Anti-Submarine Warfare model.
  Maximum Effective Range: Varies by missile type for missile type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.) and varies by altitude bombs are dropped at (See bomb and missile tables for details.) Torpedoes: 20 miles (32 km) for medium range and 40 miles (64 km) for long range torpedoes (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details.)
  Mega Damage: Varies by missile, torpedo (See revised Rifts torpedoes for details) or bomb type (See revised bomb and missile tables for details.)
  Rate of Fire: Missiles and torpedoes can be fired 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, torpedoes, or bombs in a volley.)
  Payload: One (1) long range missile, long range torpedo or heavy bomb per hard point. Two (2) medium range missiles / medium range torpedoes / medium bombs or four (4) short range missiles / light bombs can be substituted for one long range missile/heavy bomb.)
2. Mini-Missile Pod: Large capacity mini-missile pod. Each pod requires one Hard Point. The aircraft normally carries missile pods for ground strafing, anti-troop, and anti-emplacement attacks. Normal missile used are armor piercing, plasma, or fragmentation mini-missiles.
  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 - all.) 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.
One (1) Anti-Missile Chaff Dispenser: Located at the very tail of the aircraft are two chaff dispensers. When tailed by a missile, a cloud of chaff and other obtrusive particles can be released to confuse or detonate the enemy's attack. 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: Eight (8)

Special Equipment:
Consider the military versions of the helicopter to carry all standard equipment that robot vehicles carry (not including loudspeaker and microphone) plus the following extra systems:
Standard Military:

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.
FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared. Allows pilot and weapons officer to get visuals on targets at night.
Laser Navigational System: Allow flight at low altitude without use of Radar. Gives a map of the Terrain.

Anti-Submarine Warfare:

M.A.D. Gear: This gear is normally only carried on ASW versions of this aircraft. This is special equipment that has the ability to detect metal objects. M.A.D. stands for Magnetic Anomaly Detector. This is very effective at detecting submarines. Range: 2 miles (3.2 km) to either side of aircraft.
Dipping Sonar: Dipping sonar is normally only carried on ASW versions of this aircraft. The sensor includes a passive sonar, active sonar, and an underwater communication unit. The active sonar and communication system can be detected by any vehicle using passive sonar if within their detection range. Sonar can track up to 24 simultaneously and identify up to 12 of them. The sonar equipment has a unit that can be lower into water while hovering or flying up to 30 mph (26 knots/ 48 km) per hour. Range: Passive Sonar: 4 miles (6.4 km) Active Sonar: 6 miles (9.7 km). Underwater Communication: 2 miles (3.2 km)

Airborne Radar:

APY-16 Radar System: top mounted radar system with 360 degree coverage and can track both airborne and surface targets. Radar system has a range of 360 miles (580 km) and can track up to 256 targets simultaneously and can perform intercepts to up to 48 targets simultaneously. The system replaces all weapon systems and cargo capacity with electronic systems and requires 4 crew members to operate
Advanced Communication Package: Give the aircraft the ability of multi-direction communication of 500 miles (800 km) as well as direction communication out to 300 miles (480 km) to up to 16 individual targets. The system also has 16 laser/microwave communication systems that are only limited by line of sight (Range of about 100,000 miles / 161,000 km).

Combat Bonuses:

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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