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History
Spoiler
Scaled Composites Model 151-3 ARES (Agile Responsive Effective Support), nicknamed the “Mud Fighter”, is Scaled Composites’ response to the US Army’s request for a LCBAA (Low Cost Battlefield Attack Aircraft). LCBAA was a study conducted by US Army aviators Jim Kreutz and Milo Burroughs as they believed that something new was needed to combat newer Soviet Air-to-air helicopter capabilities and that there was an absence of adequate CAS aircraft in the US inventory. They proposed, that instead of a better attack helicopter (Which would become the Apache) the army really needed a fixed-wing aircraft optimized to fly and fight in low-altitude environments. One of the important goals for the design was the resistance to departure from controlled flight, which led them to Burt Rutan then principal of Rutan Aircraft Factory. The original LCBAA design had a turboprop pusher propeller alongside a canard and 30mm chain gun. However, this design was rejected. Still intrigued by the idea, Burt Rutan kept the idea alive within Scaled Composites and when he was able to get assurance of evaluation from officials, got approval for funding to build a demonstrator. As the design matured, the 30mm chain gun was replaced by the 25mm GAU-12/U cannon and the pusher propeller was replaced by a turbofan engine as the propeller was highly susceptible to debris on low quality airfields. The new airplane was designated the Model 151 and got a new acronym, being LATS (Light Attack Turbofan Single)
The ARES first flew in February 19, 1990. Since then it has largely met its performance and handling qualities goals and is still available for use as a research testbed today even after 430 hours of flight.
Specifications
Spoiler
Characteristics:
Crew - 1
Height - 3.30m (10ft 10in)
Length - 871.73cm (28.6ft)
Wingspan - 10.67cm (35ft)
Wing Area - 17.74m^2 (191sq ft)
Fuel Capacity - 1088.62kg (2400lbs)
Range - 1292.80km (1400NM)
Engine - Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 producing 1315.42kg (13.2kN) (2900lb) of thrust
Maximum Takeoff Weight - 2948.35kg (6500lb)
Empty Weight - 1308kg (2884lb)
Flight performance:
Maximum Altitude - 10668m (35000ft)
Thrust to weight - 0.43 (at maximum weight)
Max Speed near ground - 650km/h
Max Speed @ 7600m (25000ft) - 750km/h (466mph)
Cruising Speed - 555km/h
Load limits - +8/-2G
Corner speed - 390km/h
Stall speed - 145km/h
Instantaneous turn rate @ sea level - 35deg/s average
32deg/s @ 6G
36deg/s @ 7G
Armaments:
1 x 25mm GAU-12U Cannon @ 1200rpm (220 Rounds)
2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder A2A missiles or
4 x AIM-92 Stinger A2A missiles or
2 x 19-tube Hydra-70 rocket pods via LAU-61
Includes a HUD for the cockpit and CCIP for the gun alongside an ejection seat for the pilot
Photo of the GAU-12/U on the ARES firing: (Credit: @EL337GH0ST)
(Planned variants also included a 2-seater version and a version with the GAU-13, A 4 barrel version of the GAU-8 30mm cannon, alongside hellfires and stingers, but these never seemed to have gone beyond paper)
Videos & Images
Spoiler
Official Video:
https://youtu.be/MkVGILL0uIk
Cockpit:
3 View Image:
Flight Graphs:
Possible Camouflages:
Photos of the ARES as it appeared in the movie Iron Eagle 3:
Photos of the ARES with a military demonstration camouflage: (Credit: @ArcticIceberg )
Photo of the ARES in a desert camouflage: (Credit: @ArcticIceberg )
Various Media:
Capture of the ARES in flight dated 29 July 1990:
https://youtu.be/8khB0ahTnH8
Photo of the ARES carrying the specially designed 19-pod 70mm hydra launcher:
Photo of the ARES right after takeoff:
Photo of the ARES from below:
A rear photo of the ARES flying:
A concept drawing of what a 2-seater version would look like:
Sources
Spoiler
ARES Details:
Aviation Archives: Scaled Composites ARES “Mud Fighter”
ARES | Scaled Composites
Scaled Composites Model 151 ARES - attacker
STARGAZER - A unique database on Burt Rutan and his projects!
https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1104507.pdf
https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/ares.htm
쿵디담의 다람쥐우리 : 네이버 블로그
Engine Specs:
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/downloads/7671/en
Feedback and corrections are very much appreciated! :)
