Shipbucket

West Floridian Space Program

West Florida inherited various ex-NASA sites used for various testing and construction efforts during the Space Race such as the John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and the Michoud Assembly Facility. However, due to a lack of need, both of the facilities would fall into disrepair with many of the aeronautical engineers working in engine, missile, and aircraft sustainment for the West Florida armed forces. It was not until the mid-2000s that the need for a space program became an interest for those in the government as the rise in the internet and communication became a necessity for international trade, something that had been delayed by several years due to the collapse of large US government-sponsored programs in the 90s.

West Florida opted to partner with Texas and Israel in attempts to create a launch system that could serve as a commercial and military asset, however, cost issues would prolong efforts until the 2010s with the Eagle family of rockets being the first of these projects. Eagle I was an Israeli-West Florida program designed to operate from Orbital Sciences Corporation's L-1011 "Stargazer" aircraft, conducting a total of 4 launches before being abandoned due to the Israeli government pulling from the program to pursue the mid-sized launch vehicle Shavit 3. Utilizing the technology learned and the desire to continue launching satellites, but unable to burden the costs by themselves, West Florida opted to partner with Texas company Beal Aerospace. The pair developed the Eagle II design project, capable of launching 8x satellites at a single time.

Eagle I
Placeholder

Eagle II

_________________
Worklist:
- Solkriet - My Personal AU: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 14&t=10834
- America the Divided - Joint-Project between Minepagen and I http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =14&t=9855
- Occasionally the Random pop-ups of my Abyssinia or Hong Kong AUs

"The word Br*t?sh is a horrible term I never want to hear from you again, We do not tolerate that dehumanization".

Updated West Florida with:

F-16EW Buzzard

In the aftermath of the F-16 Block 60+ deal with the West Floridian Air Force, Texan companies Lockheed Martin & Texas Instruments composed a conceptional electronic warfare variant of the F-16 Block 60+ that the WFAF could procure for service against Cuban coastal radar stations. The offer was a private venture and primarily a conceptual project to propose the idea similarly to the Texan Air Force for their own electronic warfare needs. The design was depicted at the Emerald Coast Defense Expo 2024 (EXDE 2024) with various nation's schemes depicted upon the aircraft, including that of West Florida, as seen above.

The Lockheed Martin officials unveiled their concept, equipped with wingtip AN/ALQ-218s, NGJ-MB Mid-Band Jamming Pods, Increased SATCOM connectivity, and Electronic Warfare terminals in the airframe itself. Additional modifications include the modernization of AGM guidance systems and localization trackers. The F-16EW's strike package comes in the form of 2x Enclosed Weapons Pods (EWP) on the wings, each able to hold 2x AIM-120 AMRAAMs & 2x AGM-88G AARGM-ER. Using the EWPs allows for the F-16EW to reduce its RCS; and add a total of 6 additional hardpoints, allowing the aircraft to conduct self-defense and anti-radiation targeting roles.

Much like the Block 60+, the F-16EW utilizes conformal fuel pods with a probe-capable attachment to allow for probe & drogue refueling operations. The use of conformal tanks also frees up additional hard points. However, the wingtip AN/ALQ-218s take over the ability to place AMRAAM or Sidewinder missiles on the wingtips. Although it is unlikely the WFAF will procure the type, as the electronic warfare role currently is filled by the EC-130J and RC-26B, the concept may prove useful for other operators.

_________________
Worklist:
- Solkriet - My Personal AU: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 14&t=10834
- America the Divided - Joint-Project between Minepagen and I http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =14&t=9855
- Occasionally the Random pop-ups of my Abyssinia or Hong Kong AUs

"The word Br*t?sh is a horrible term I never want to hear from you again, We do not tolerate that dehumanization".

In the year 2000, the newly minted nation of Sonora had realized that its incredibly aging aircraft fleet needed some revitalisation. The most pressing matter was that of a light scout helicopter, which would allow the government to monitor cartel activities, as well as to patrol its own borders, without requiring too much of a budget. As such, a tender was issued and the winner was selected.


The Sonorans decided to buy 75 OH-6J/D from Japan, who had recently retired the type.

This is to be their first, and only, purchase for quite a few years due to budgetary issues. The type continues to serve admirably, although their numbers dwindle.

Updated West Florida with:

C7A1 MBT (updated from old image)

Seeking to augment the M1A2WF and replace the M1A1, the Army launched a tender for the customized modern tank incorporating 4th generation MBT capabilities. Italy's modernized Ariete MBT was the selected competition winner and in late 2015 began construction at the SM Army Production Plant in Gulfport. The C7A1 would be rolled out in April 2016, marking the first of an initial order of 150 units. The order of C7A1s would be reduced to 132 in 2019 due to the development of the upgraded C7A2 variant, upgrading certain systems such as the engine, barrel stability, and crew accommodation. The Army has placed an order of 430 for this C7A2 upgraded version.

The Jaguar would see mild export success to Oman and Thailand, nominally out-competed by secondhand Abrams and T-80s from American and Soviet leftover nations. The Jaguar is a regularly promoted joint Italian-West Floridan product and requires both nations' signatures for export permission, with Italy in charge of promoting it to European, MENA, and SSA regions; West Florida would be in charge of promoting it to Asia, as well as North & South America. Italy itself would procure the C7A2 to augment its upgraded Ariete MBT, beating out the Leopard 2A8 and K2 Black Leopard.

_________________
Worklist:
- Solkriet - My Personal AU: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 14&t=10834
- America the Divided - Joint-Project between Minepagen and I http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =14&t=9855
- Occasionally the Random pop-ups of my Abyssinia or Hong Kong AUs

"The word Br*t?sh is a horrible term I never want to hear from you again, We do not tolerate that dehumanization".

C7 updated again, wasn't expecting me to be as productive with the export versions

_________________
Worklist:
- Solkriet - My Personal AU: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 14&t=10834
- America the Divided - Joint-Project between Minepagen and I http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =14&t=9855
- Occasionally the Random pop-ups of my Abyssinia or Hong Kong AUs

"The word Br*t?sh is a horrible term I never want to hear from you again, We do not tolerate that dehumanization".

It doesn't really matter since its an alternate universe drawing, but you have an errant grey pixel just below the scale bar between 20 and 30 metres. A wonderfully executed drawing otherwise. I really like the netting on the Omani vehicle and the striking winter scheme of the prototype C7A3.

Thank you for notifying me of the pixel, and thank you for the compliments!

_________________
Worklist:
- Solkriet - My Personal AU: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 14&t=10834
- America the Divided - Joint-Project between Minepagen and I http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =14&t=9855
- Occasionally the Random pop-ups of my Abyssinia or Hong Kong AUs

"The word Br*t?sh is a horrible term I never want to hear from you again, We do not tolerate that dehumanization".

Updated West Florida with:

F-16N Striker

Much like the F-16EW Buzzard, Texan companies Lockheed Martin & Texas Instruments designed a potential anti-surface warfare-specific variant of the F-16 Block 60+ that the WFAF could procure for service against Cuban and Venezuelan naval units. Although standard F-16s could operate Harpoon missiles, Lockheed Martin was targeting the possibility of offering a squadron of units to the West Floridian Navy akin to how European nations utilized fast-deploying aircraft in the Baltic Sea against Soviet threats.

Unlikely to be procured out of lack of need, the F-16N would be conceptualized at the DCI 2023 defense conference in Dallas in a slide presentation with the aircraft in various schemes for various nations including Brazil, Singapore, Taiwan, Texas, Turkey, & West Florida. Notably, the West Floridian variant mimics the VFA-204 unit, a former F/A-18 operator under West Floridian Navy jurisdiction until the squadron's retirement in 1997 and subsequent sale to Brazil. However, the slide show image mistakenly showed the F-16N with a WFAF roundel instead of a WFN roundel.

_________________
Worklist:
- Solkriet - My Personal AU: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 14&t=10834
- America the Divided - Joint-Project between Minepagen and I http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =14&t=9855
- Occasionally the Random pop-ups of my Abyssinia or Hong Kong AUs

"The word Br*t?sh is a horrible term I never want to hear from you again, We do not tolerate that dehumanization".

West Florida Updated with:

- M1A2WF Abrams (updated from old image)

The M1A2WF is an upgraded variant of the M1A1. The upgrade was conducted with German and Israeli consultation, who suggested refurbishing the main gun, interior modification for crew comfortability, upgrading the engine, better communication units, and integrating the Israeli NINOX 66 drone for reconnaissance during combat and to help adjust firing. As of 2022, 247x tanks have been upgraded from M1A1 to M1A2WF standard, with the rest of the M1A1 (~150 units) in reserve for spare parts.

The M1A2WF is bolstered by introducing the C7 Jaguar MBT, with both units utilizing upgraded engines, Rh-120 main armament, and proper standardization for more humid conditions that un-upgraded M1A1 Abrams have issues with.

- C-27J Spartan

The C-27J Spartan was procured out of the need to replace the aging Aeritalia C-27As that West Florida inherited from the Panama Squadron of the USAF. A tender was placed for the procurement of 6x C-27Js to replace the C-27A, however, due to budget cuts to fund the F-16 Block 60+ modernization, the order was reduced to a total of 5x units. The first C-27J is expected to arrive in early 2024, with the first unit currently under construction.

- Riverine Squadron

Display of a Riverine squadron of West Florida, with a mixed composition of both Army and Navy compositions, with Army Aviation in the form of a UH-1 command unit, a pair of UH-60s, and army soldiers on board the CB90s. The Navy utilizes the CB90 fast assault craft, capable of operating 20x soldiers in each boat for deployment operations. In the riverine assault structure, the Navy also uses the CB90-120 howitzer, the Swedish-Finnish SSG120 dual 120 mm mortar system used for mobile artillery use along rivers. Included in the composition are 7x RHIBs used for patrol operations when a CB90 is not required, often in cases for locating missing persons or in narrow rivers.

West Florida set up these joint task forces to help patrol the dozens of inland waterways that make up West Florida, with patrol in the Apalachicola, Mississippi, Mobile, and Pearl Rivers, as well as the various bays, inlets, and coastal regions. The Riverine Services are one of the most regularly deployed units, protecting West Florida from drug smuggling, pirating, arms trafficking, and basic civil duties such as SAR, patrol, and hurricane/natural disaster response.

_________________
Worklist:
- Solkriet - My Personal AU: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 14&t=10834
- America the Divided - Joint-Project between Minepagen and I http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =14&t=9855
- Occasionally the Random pop-ups of my Abyssinia or Hong Kong AUs

"The word Br*t?sh is a horrible term I never want to hear from you again, We do not tolerate that dehumanization".

Updated West Florida with:

PAI T-1A Skylark (Updated)


The Skylark was developed as a basic trainer with the assistance of Chile's ENAER seeking to replace the aging T-41 Mescalero and T-34Cs. Although the Super Tucano replaced the higher-end role of the T-34C/T-38, a lower-end basic trainer was needed as a generic training platform. The Skylark is currently in production at PAI's manufacturing site in West Florida, although as part of the partnership with Chile, some components are produced by ENAER. West Florida is expected to place a series of orders, becoming the generic training aircraft for the Army, Air Force, and Navy.

Yucatán F-16 pilots are expected to move their training pipeline from the T-34C to the T-1A once the aircraft is delivered in significant numbers.

_________________
Worklist:
- Solkriet - My Personal AU: http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... 14&t=10834
- America the Divided - Joint-Project between Minepagen and I http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =14&t=9855
- Occasionally the Random pop-ups of my Abyssinia or Hong Kong AUs

"The word Br*t?sh is a horrible term I never want to hear from you again, We do not tolerate that dehumanization".