CF-205 Chilling

A CF-205 of the 409th (Nighthawks) Tactical Fighter Squadron based at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. This bird is a Mk.4 belonging to flight lead Captain Jeffery Ferguson. You can also see a Candair Iron Gauntlet. I found this very slight angle harder then a full 3/4 drawing...

So, let's finally give the CF-205 that epicly long tank description treatment!

In 2019, the a Canadian Conservative government sent out a contract to build a new multirole, all weather fighter. The plane had to be capable of
1: Mach 2.5+
2: Countering modern Russian/Chinese fighters and bombers.
3: Using guided AG weapons
5: Engaging aircraft without jettisoning AG weapons.
6: Built around PGU-28B (upgraded M61)
7: 6 plus hardpoints
etc.

Unfortunately for the program, that government was voted out after it was discovered that they had been paid to not release information regarding an oil pipeline in Alberta. The next government shot down the program, and upgraded the almost 50 year old CF-115 Skyraiders. Avro Canada locked the CF-125 Lynx, the proposed replacement, away.

When the Nationalist parties took control of Parliament in 2025, the right wing Canada First Party won a majority and immediately restarted the competition. Avro, with a larger budget, did not go to the Lynx, but looked at a more bold design. After all, they were fighting for there life as Boeing and Northrop Grumman had chipped away at much of there market since they had become independent from Avro UK (now a part of BAE). There proposed design, RL-770 was promised to feature Super-cruise, hypersonic, supersonic and subsonic combat capabilities as well as high level and low level bombing abilities. Not to mention, a custom radar as well, more importantly, a slew of new Canadian only weapons, should the deal with Candair and Bombardier go through. The CFP couldn't resist, and chose design proposal RL-770 over much the cheaper F-15SE's, F-35F's and Eurofighter Hurricanes.

RL-770 was a failure, and Avro reeled in pain. The bird, as the test pilot remarked, "had a turning radius the size of Texas". Not only that, but the planes engines burned out in hyper sonic flight.

RL-771 had a larger rudder as well as larger flaps and ailerons. The polish test pilot said "She only gives the maneuverability of a fully loaded Mig-25."

RL-772, which came out almost a year after RL-771 was given thrust vectoring to try and help. The plane was still not up to par. The government began looking at the Eurofighter Hurricane, as well as the new American YF-24 which was still in development.

Finally, Avro cracked and began scouring the country for help. A pair, straight from Micgill in Montreal had the answers. A Canadian named David Morrison and a South Korean who went by the nickname ZP (even though her initials are HB) came highly recommended and modified the design over the course of the following year.

Morrison introduced "bird wing" which gave the RL-773 a significant boost in maneuverability and hyper-sonic control. The design allows an on board computer to make slight adjustments to wings shape depending on airflow and flight speed to maximize effectiveness. Similar to the F-14 and F-111's swing wing, but on a micro scale.

ZP, along with Orenda (a branch of Avro Canada) designed a new type of Scram Jet engine. The engines, which would later be called ZP Engines in her name, used gas chambers to compress gas allowing for RL-773 to accelerate faster and reach higher top speed. Similar to gears on a car.

Avro made revisions to the changes in RL-774, which surprised the Canadian military. Though still only at 4th gen maneuvers (don't expect a Thunder to a cobra) it's amazing ability to "skip" (when the plane hit 100 000 feet, it turn off it's engines and glides for and hour, until it reaches 75 000 feet and turns back on it's engines, repeating this over and over) pleased them. RL-774 of course, was using an APG-79 and was not standardized to use Candair's missiles.

RL-775, the model that would eventually enter production, used a Russian OS and Russian radar (Irbis-H), do to increasing tensions with the US.

The CF-205 Mk.1 was the same as an RL-775. It was given the name Thunder, after unmistakable boom it's engines make when switching between gas chambers. 90 were built between 2029 and 2032. Though, only a handful were combat ready at the beginning of the NA War. By early 2031, they were beginning to make a major difference. When paired with Canada's AWACS using Russian stealth defeating radars, the CF-205 was the perfect counter to the F-22. It also proved to be very good at scrambling, reducing the the CF-115's 7 minutes to only 4.5. Mk.1's were part of the famous Texas raid launched from the Canadian territory of Trinidad, which crippled the US oil supply.

Mk.1's managed a 3/1 kill ratio against US aircraft. No matter how good this looked, the Canadian Air Force knew it couldn't win with those numbers, and that the Americans would win a war of attrition.

The Mk.2 was dedicated ground attack variant proposed in later 2030. Only a handful were built.

The Mk.3 used ZP engines without Avro's restrictions on the pressure that could be reached in the chambers. It's main purpose was to engage cruise missiles and ICBM's. 6 were built, and one was lost to engine failure.

The Mk.4 was the breakthrough. Bigger, faster and capable of operating without AWACS, thanks to it's new Canadian radar (MX-125079 AESA). it proved to be the nail in the coffin for the US Government supporters, and the saving grace for the US revolutionaries. The American's lost the ability to fight over Canadian airspace, there aircraft no longer capable of fighting the CF-205's. Mk.4's became one of the longest produced fighter variants in history, running from late 2032 until 2054.

Mk.5's were upgraded Mk.3's using the Mk.4's more accurate restriction system and radar. The program was cancelled after General Stone and the remaining pro-government forces in California surrendered.

Mk.6's are Canada's F-19. Controversy exists around it's existence. It's believed to have stealth capabilities and a laser.

Mk.7's are newest variant of the CF-205, coming in 2046, just in time for WW3. They are more properly known as the Mk.4 quarter life upgrade, the only new features being a new American EMP which doesn't generate nearly as much heat as the Canadian one, and a joint American Canadian radar. The Mk.7's lead to Canada disbanding its lone AWACS squadron, the Mk.7 being just as effective as a big slow AWACS plane.

All CF-205's usually use shoot and scoot tactics. A squadron will come in radar range, shoot and then turn and run. CF-205's are useless in dogfights against 6th gen fighters.

In ground attacks, CF-205's will stay at max altitude and drop a munition. Men on the ground then guide it in via AWE (of course, rockets and dumb weapons can be used, need be, the Thunder has laser and radar guidance systems). This heavily reduced friendly fire incidents in the NA War and WW3. Similar tactics are used in "Exocet" missions.

The CF-205 is also capable of destroying satellites and ICBM's should it need to. In test missions, CF-205 have proven capable of destroying ICBM's with there mini-gun.

Weapons:
AIR
Candair Velvet Gloves (similar to AIM-7's, in service since Arrow, only used on Mk.1's)
Candair Iron Gloves (Similar to AIM-9's, always carried, but rarely used)
Candair Steel Gloves (Similar to AIM-120's, always carried, often used)
Candair Iron Gauntlets (Similar to AIM-54's, usually carried, often used)

GROUND
AGM-64
AGM-88
MK-80 series bombs
GBU-12
GBU-16
Hydra 80mm
Mk-20 Rockeye
CVR-7, CVR-7PG or M261 or LAU-131A GATR laser guided rocket launcher

GUN
PGU-28B 20mm (Mk.1-3)
GAU-12 25mm (Mk.4,7)
GSh-6-30 30mm (Mk.1,2)

COUNTERMEASURES
EVERON System EMP Countermeasures (usually)
or
Overlord Electronic Active Defense System (mainly used on export variants)

MISCELLANEOUS
Conformal Fuel Tanks (the Thunder can do a round trip to most anywhere in the world with these without refueling)
or
ARS (to refuel friendly birds)
or
Hues Systems Electronic Amps (so the CF-205 can act as an AWACS, Mk.7 only)

You can find the original "gen.2" CF-205 here [link]
You can find the "gen1.5" CF-205 here [link]
And the "gen1" CF-205 is here [link]


THAT WAS A LOT! Took me 2 hours to do the research and write this!