BACKGROUND

VF-4 "Lightning"

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: VF-4 Lightning

Class: Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: Earth Defense Forces, Armies of the Southern Cross, Robotech Expeditionary Forces.
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System.

NOTES:

1. * Destroying the head of the VF-4  will knock out the mecha's major sensor systems, including all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, thermal). Radar and communications will be unaffected.


2. ** Destruction of any shoulder mounted or leg mounted thrusters will reduce the maximum thrust by 25% in space and reduce the top speed by 40% in the atmosphere.  The VF-4 requires a minimum of two thrusters to remain aloft in a standard planetary atmosphere. 


3. ***Depleting the MDC of the main body will destroy the mecha.

SPEEDS:

RUNNING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

(VF-X-4 T),  128 kph

LEAPING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

50 ft (15 m) high or 70 ft (21 m) long without thrusters.

FLYING, SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

(VF-X-4 T),  428 kph

FLYING, GERWALK/SOLDIER CONFIGURATION:

Mach One (670 mph/1072 kph) maximum speed limit in an Earth-like atmosphere. Can also hover in place indefinitely.

FLYING, FIGHTER CONFIGURATION:

Max level speed :  (VF-X-4 T),  2700 kph at 18000m
1100 kph at sea level (Mach 1.0)
Stall speed : 182 kph (VTOL rectification possible)
Initial climb rate : over 20000m per minute
Service ceiling : 26 km (unboosted).

MAX ENGINE THRUST:

• 2 x Two Nakajima/P&W/Rolls-Royce FF-2001D Fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix turbines. (VF-X-4)  Max thrust 120 kN (unboosted) 250kN (boosted)


• 2 x Pratt & Whitney FF-2011-4 Fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix turbines. (A,B,S,T) Max thrust 140 kN (unboosted) 275kN (boosted)


• 2 x Pratt & Whitney FF-2025 Fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix turbines. (G) Max thrust 180 kN (unboosted) 365kN (boosted)


• 2 x Turbo-Union ATF 350 miniaturized fusion plasma-air/reaction mass intermix ramjets. Mounted on the upper rear (fighter mode), on the arm blocks [Reserve]. Each engine is rated to 38.4 kN standard thrust, max overboost to 77.3 kN each.


• 2 x P&W HMM-1A high-maneuverability vernier thrusters: mounted on the arm blocks
   

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:

12.5m  in soldier configuration.

11.2m in gerwalk configuration.

3.7m in fighter configuration.

WIDTH:

7.4m at shoulders in soldier and gerwalk configuration.

7,40m  with wings at maximum extension.

LENGTH:

4.1m in soldier configuration.

14.1m in gerwalk configuration.

14.9m in fighter configuration.

WEIGHT:

14,000 kg empty.

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:

Equal to a P.S. of 60

CARGO:

Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings in addition to the cyclone storage compartment

POWER PLANT:

2 x RRL-2P Miniaturized Protoculture-cell energizer

16 standard canisters of Protoculture
1 dedicated canister for each EP-13/EU-13 gun pod
200 lit. D2O reactant for fusion engines.

Delta V:

70 kps for (VF-4 T) however two 25 kps tanks may be mounted on each hardpoint

 

COMPATIBLE FAST PACKS:

NP-BP-01 FAST Packs
NP-BP-02 Beam Cannon FAST Packs
NR-BP-T1 FAST "Trainer" Packs
NR-BP-E2 FAST "Recon" Packs'
NP-BP-10 FAST Packs
 

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. (VF-X-4T) 2x EP-4 50MM SINGLE BARREL PARTICLE CANNON:   Two EP-4 particle beam cannons were mounted in either shoulder.  Each EP-4 is capable of firing 10 MJ bursts up to 20 times per minute, with power coming directly from the main protoculture generators.  The gun is powered directly from the main protoculture generators and as such the rate of fire is only limited by the recharge rate.  
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   
   
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
   
   
   • RANGE: 2000 m
   
   
   • DAMAGE: 1D4*10 per single shot
   
   
   • RATE OF FIRE: Single shots equal to the combined attacks of the pilot up to 5 times per melee.
   
   
   • PAYLOAD: Effectively unlimited
   
   
    

   ---



2. (VF-4G) 2 x EP-13B1 THREE-BARRELED 80MM PARTICLE GUN POD: In later model VF-4 veritechs the standard EP-4 particle beam cannons were replaced with two extended range EP-13 80mm particle beam cannons.  Each EP-13B1 are similar to those found on the VAF-6, with the only major difference coming from the fact that additional focusing coils can be mounted internally thereby increasing the range over the standard model.  Each EP-13 can fire 170 rounds per minute in full automatic mode, also capable of firing all three barrels simultaneously in semiautomatic mode at approximately one shot per second.  This weapon fires 3.2 MJ pulses per barrel with its own dedicated protoculture cell.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
   
   
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
   
   
   • RANGE: 2200 m
   
   
   • DAMAGE: 2d4 for each Single blast, 1d6*10 for each triple blast, 2d4*10 for each medium burst (up to six times per melee), or 4d4*10 for each full melee burst.
   
   
   • RATE OF FIRE: Single shots or bursts equal to the combined attacks of the pilot.
   
   
   • PAYLOAD: Conditionally unlimited.  The protoculture cell is estimated to have enough power for 3000 single shots, 1000 triple shots, 300 long bursts, or 100 full melee bursts.
   
   

    



3. (VF-4G) 2 x EU-12 DESTABLIZER: In late 2038, the REF upgraded their remaining VF-4G models with two EU-12 destabilizers.  These models were used in the initial strikes against Invid fortified positions punching holes through protoplex barriers thereby allowing conventional weaponry to inflict damage.  Each EU-12 sub-nuclear particle beam gun can fire 15 MJ blasts up to 30 times/minute. The EU-12 draws power from its own dedicated protoculture canister, but can be fired using the veritech's own power.  Particles have specific, disrupting effect on force fields, and will short out a low power field completely, while high power fields may temporarily and locally cease to function.
   • PRIMARY PURPOSE: Anti-force Field
   
   
   • SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Mecha
   
   
   • RANGE: 4000 feet (1200 m)
   
   
   • DAMAGE: 1D6x10 for each single shot
   
   
   • RATE OF FIRE: Single shots equal to the combined attacks of the pilot up to eight times per melee.
   
   
   • PAYLOAD: Conditionally unlimited.  Each protoculture cell can power up to 100 shots.
   
   

    



4. 6 x BODY/WING HARD POINTS: Two fixed hard points are mounted on each inner wing and one on each outer wing for a total of 6 outer hard points.   These hardpoints can be used to carry 15 hammerhead short range missiles, 5 medium range Diamondback missiles or 2 long range missiles.

    



5. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the Lightning can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The VF-4  is extremely agile and can execute most typical hand to hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc.

   DAMAGE:  

   • Punch in Battloid:  1D6*3
   
   
   • Punch in Guardian:  1D4*3
   
   
   • Kick: 1D6*3
   
   
   • Leap Kick: 2D6*3
   
   
   • Body Flip/Throw: 1D6*3
   
   
   • Body Block/Tackle: 1D6*3
   
   
   • Stomp: 1D4*3 . (only effective against small objects)
      
   
   

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE VF-4:

• AUTO-PILOT: The VF-4 is equipped with a computerized auto-pilot, allowing the pilot to relax or even sleep during long voyages. The auto- pilot can be programmed with a single destination or a complex flight plan involving multiple speeds, directions, and destinations. The onboard computer will s blacking out in combat.


• CHAFF AND FLARE DISPENSERS: 24 chaff and 24 flares are stored in the lower legs
   

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE VF-4G:

• Texas Instruments: APG-137 Synthetic Aperture Radar (200 mile range)


• Zeiss Multi-Band optical digital cameras


• Thmoson radiation and motion sensors


• Hewlett Packard on board automatic data interpretation system

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

• Robotech Technical Files: VF-4 Lightning


• Macross Mecha Designs:  VF-4 Lightning


• Palladium Books:  "The Sentinels"