X-8 Wasp

The X-8 Wasp is a VTOL/STOL aircraft designed by ANN as an improvement to the outdated V-22 Osprey. Designed to be more fuel efficient, the Wasp has replaced the V-22's within months after it entered active service.

Following a design that was not used in any aircraft before, the X-8 Wasp features large fans embedded in their wings to provide vertical thrust and two turbofan engines at the back to provide horizontal thrust.

A gunship version of the X-8 was also created during the testing phase. There is currently one gunship version in active service.

Design
After carefully investigating the V-22 during its 20 years of service, ANN found many areas of improvement on the old aircraft. The first change was the method of thrust: the tiltrotor was replaced by two large fans capable of rotating 30 degrees in any direction and two turbofan engines at the back of the aircraft. Fuel efficiency in long range, high speed flights was prioritized since Acadia was no longer at the center of any conflicts. As all flight controls are automated to maximize fuel efficiency, intervention by pilots and flight engineers is only necessary when radio communication with Acadia cannot be maintained.

The body was also made much wider than that of V-22 so that the X-8 would be able to carry an Armadillo II or an equivalent vehicle with a width of less than 3.5 metres. The height of the aircraft was also raised to expand the aircraft's fuel tanks.

A 2124 update to the transport models of the X-8 (X-8A) also added thrust vectoring turbofan engines to the sides of the aircraft to raise the maximum payload by 11 tonnes. With this extra engine, the X-8A gained the ability to carry light armoured vehicles over short distances.

The Gunship version (X-8C) was designed at the same as the transport version. With one 76.2mm cannon and one 20mm rotary cannon on both sides, the gunship is able to provide fire support even while hovering. Accuracy of these weapons is improved when they are under control of ANN.

General Characteristics

 * Crew:
 * X-8/X-8A: Four (pilot, copilot and two flight engineers)
 * X8C: Fourteen (pilot, copilot, two flight engineers, two electronic warfare crewmen, two intelligence and targeting crewmen, six aerial gunners)
 * Capacity:
 * X-8:
 * 36 passengers, or
 * 12,000 kg internal cargo, or
 * One Armadillo II vehicle (8 tonnes)
 * X-8A:
 * 36 passengers, or
 * 23,000 kg internal cargo or 17,500 kg external cargo, or
 * One Armadillo II vehicle (8 tonnes)
 * X-8C:
 * 6 Paratroopers
 * Fuel Capacity: 25,000 kg
 * Empty Weight: 22,500 kg
 * Loaded Weight: 51,500 kg
 * Max. Takeoff Weight:
 * X-8/X-8C: 63,500 kg
 * X-8A: 75,000 kg

Performance

 * Maximum Speed: 600 km/h at sea level, 650 km/h at 5,000m
 * Cruise Speed: 525 km/h at sea level
 * Stall Speed: 340 km/h in airplane mode
 * Range: 10000km
 * Combat Radius: 6,750 km
 * Service Ceiling: 7,500 m

Armament

 * 2 x 76.2mm naval gun, one in either side
 * 2 x 20mm rotary cannons, one in either side