Temple Airstrike Challenge

[spacehead3]

Temple Airstrike Challenge

Objective

The Kerbal Air Force has ordered a strike on the desert temple to the West of KSC. The temple lies within the airspace of a rival space agency, so speed and stealth will be paramount to the success of the mission. Design an attack aircraft to complete the mission profile as outlined below. Points will be awarded based on successful completion of the mission.

Mission Profile

-          Take off from the KSC runway.

-          Cruise to the target, the desert temple West of KSC.

-          Attack the temple by deploying at least one weapon from the aircraft.

-          Return to base and land at the KSC runway.

Rules

-          Any mods / part clipping / ect may be used, so long as they are not overpowered or designed to cheat physics. Note if you are using FAR as I'll list that on the leaderboard.

-          The aircraft may not use space grade parts (rockets, RCS, reaction wheels).

-          The aircraft may be manned or un-manned.

-          A “weapon” is herein defined as any stock or mod part or assembly which is launched from the aircraft. BD armory bombs or missiles are allowed, but rounds fired from guns or cannons may not be used to complete the achievements. Weapons may be guided or un-guided and may use rocket engines.

-          A maximum altitude limit of 25km must be observed for the duration of the mission.

Points

-          Direct Hit: The following points are awarded for scoring a direct hit on the large center temple. EDIT: Multiple hits do not earn additional points, 100 is the maximum for this achievement.

                              +100 pts if a direct hit on the temple with the 1st weapon that is fired.

                              +75 pts if a direct hit on the temple with the 2nd weapon that is fired.

                              +50 pts if a direct hit on the temple with the 3rd weapon that is fired.

                              +25 pts if a direct hit on the temple with the 4th weapon that is fired.

                             +0 pts if no direct hits are scored or if it takes more than 4 shots to score a hit.

-          Collateral Damage: The scientists at KSC urge you to try and preserve the other scientific artifacts in the area. -10 pts if any weapon impacts one of the 5 smaller temples surrounding the large center temple.

-.          Unguided Weapons: +5 pts if weapon is not guided/controlled.

-          Attack Altitude: Enemy air defenses will have an easier time shooting you down at low altitudes. +1 pt for every 1km of altitude above which the weapon is deployed. (Ex. I fired my missile from ~5600m = 5 points). The weapon must hit the temple is order to earn these points.

-          Mission time: -1 pt per minute of elapsed mission time from takeoff to touchdown.

-          External Stores: -5 pts for each weapon stored externally. (Weapons do not need to be in an actual “cargo bay” part to count as internal, but they must be shielded from the airflow).

-          Radar Cross Section: Small aircraft are more difficult to detect. The aircraft’s radar cross section will be estimated using the size reported in the Engineer’s Report in the SPH. Remember to retract the landing gear as they add height!

                                                # pts = -0.5 * ( Height + Length + Width )

-          Heat Signature: Engines with high heat signatures will degrade the aircraft’s stealth performance. -10 pts if afterburners (Panther “wet” mode) or Whiplash engines are used during the strike at any point during the flight. (If using mod engines, use your best judgement on this penalty).

-          Cost Savings: Developing new technology is expensive. +10 pts if only stock parts are used.

 

Here's my entry: http://imgur.com/gallery/aCOlu41

(I'm using FAR fyi)

Direct Hit	100
Collateral Damage	0
Attack Altitude	5
Mission Time	-43
External Stores	0
Radar Cross Section	-13.5
Heat Signature	-10
Cost Savings	10
TOTAL	48.6

 

Please calculate your own scores and I'll add them to the leaderboard.

LEADERBOARD

84.8 pts @spacehead3 [FAR] Album 

83.8 pts @a10t2 Link

58.7 pts @KingDominoIII  Link

58.7 pts @a10t2 Album

54.9 pts @Hodo F-152B [FAR] Link

50.5 pts u/Aetol Link

48.6 pts @spacehead3 F/A-XX1 [FAR] (Example Entry)

36 pts @Hodo F-119D [FAR] Link

29.7 pts @JustMeLosing [FAR] Link

27.5 pts @Hodo F/B-161 [FAR] Link

19.7 pts @spacehead3 F-22 [FAR] Link

-113.5 pts u/Aetol Link

?? pts @Kuznetsov Space program Link

Edited December 16, 2018 by spacehead3

[Hodo]

Horrible thing is I think I have a strike aircraft that will be able to do this... I am also sure my oldest design can do this...  I still use a 4 year old fighter I designed back in the day with very few actual modifications to the original plans for most of my scientific work on Kerbin....  Last mission I strapped 3 drop tanks to it and a science pod to complete the mission.   So I will play with this mission when I get home.  

One question though, I run FAR + AJE mod... so none of my engines are stock, they all run like real jet engines, so they use more fuel and have separate wet and dry modes based on the throttle position.  How would I even score those?

[spacehead3]

14 minutes ago, Hodo said:

Horrible thing is I think I have a strike aircraft that will be able to do this... I am also sure my oldest design can do this...  I still use a 4 year old fighter I designed back in the day with very few actual modifications to the original plans for most of my scientific work on Kerbin....  Last mission I strapped 3 drop tanks to it and a science pod to complete the mission.   So I will play with this mission when I get home.  

One question though, I run FAR + AJE mod... so none of my engines are stock, they all run like real jet engines, so they use more fuel and have separate wet and dry modes based on the throttle position.  How would I even score those?

AJE does afterburners when greater than 60% throttle right? So I'd say if you use more than that amount of throttle during the flight, subtract the 10 points.

[Hodo]

It is closer to 3/4th of the way up the throttle position.  It will tell you when you are in afterburner.   Not to mention you will see the afterburner. 

[Kuznetsov Space program]

I bombed that temple with my carrier based strike fighter. Weapons: 2x cruise missiles, 2x air-to-air. Take off and recovery from aircraft carrier, standing ~ 20 kilometers to the East of KSC. 

  Score: hits (100), altitude 8000m (+8), mission time 121 minutes (-120), external weapons (-20), RCS (-13), afterburner (-10) stocks parts (+10). Total score: -45.

Edited December 23, 2018 by Kuznetsov Space program

[spacehead3]

@Kuznetsov Space program Awesome! I think that carrier would melt my computer lol. Add up your points and I'll add you to the leaderboard.

[Hodo]

So I am kind of up in the air over which aircraft to use for this challenge. 

I have my new strike aircraft... the FB-160... which has fuel to spare for this trip and is more than capable of destroying the target and everything around it need be. 

That is actually 2 rotary racks, the first one just happened to have 100unit drop tanks on them for range testing and 4 Hellfire missiles.  But that craft super cruises at mach 1.2 at 97% throttle no afterburner at 7km alt.  It is capable of hauling 16k pounds of bombs internally.

Or I go with my tried and true... new leading fighter.. the F-152B...

Not at all stealthy, but has great internal fuel range and is actually the easiest to fly and land.... thanks to a drogue landing chute.

 

Or do I use the oldest aircraft in my inventory... the F-119CA Akula....  It has the range of a gnat without drop tanks...

But it can super cruise at mach 3!!!!!  at 99% throttle no afterburner.  Or at mach 1.5 at 50% throttle.  But has a whopping 15min of flight time on internal fuel. 

If I can I may do 3 aircraft tomorrow when I get home and get a chance. 

[spacehead3]

@Hodo hey do all 3, see which is best!

FYI added a 5 point bonus for using unguided Weapons. 

[Hodo]

Quick question about the mission.   You state the release height of the weapon is what is counted... can you fly higher than that till you get to the target area? 

 

And how would BD Armory weapons be scored?  Because I can hit the target with a Maverick missile from 6KM out using the laser designator pod but the missile will travel through the structure because.. well KSP... 

 

 

[spacehead3]

1 hour ago, Hodo said:

You state the release height of the weapon is what is counted... can you fly higher than that till you get to the target area? 

Yes, just not over 25km altitude.

1 hour ago, Hodo said:

And how would BD Armory weapons be scored?  Because I can hit the target with a Maverick missile from 6KM out using the laser designator pod but the missile will travel through the structure because.. well KSP... 

That's fine, just count it as a guided weapon.

[Hodo]

37 minutes ago, spacehead3 said:

Yes, just not over 25km altitude.

That's fine, just count it as a guided weapon.

Ok just checking.  I figured these would be counted as guided weapons...

JDAM 1000lb bomb, TOW Missile, Hellfire, Maverick, RBS-15 Cruise Missile, AGM-165 Cruise Missile and a few other AGM I am probably forgetting.  

I dont plan on using guided weapons though.  Probably using 1k snake-eye bombs or standard dumb bombs.   Considering I can put a light load on the F-119CA Akula with 4 drop tanks and get it across that distance... and hope it has enough fuel for landing.

 

AJE makes a HUGE difference in your fuel use.  

[a10t2]

Scoring question: do multiple hits count or only the first?

[spacehead3]

1 hour ago, a10t2 said:

Scoring question: do multiple hits count or only the first?

First hit. 100pts is the maximum for the "direct hit" achievement

[GarrisonChisholm]

...What if you fired a ballistic rocket from KSC, with no guidance V2 style, and hit it?  Different contest I suppose.

[a10t2]

Here's my entry: https://imgur.com/a/qrqOg8e

I think scoring would be:

• +100 Direct Hit
• +13 Attack Altitude
• -31 Mission Time
• -10 External Stores: maybe -5 since the second missile doesn't count?
•  -13.3 Radar Cross Section: (0.5*(3.0+11.2+12.4))
• -10 Heat Signature
• +10 Cost Savings

Total: 58.7 (or 63.7?) points

[Kerbalstar]

2 hours ago, GarrisonChisholm said:

...What if you fired a ballistic rocket from KSC, with no guidance V2 style, and hit it?  Different contest I suppose.

If you want ICBM Chunkin', check out this challenge:  

Anyway, on-topic, I'm working on designing some aircraft (mainly VTOL's) and this looks like fun, so once I have a working long range jet, maybe I'll try it out.

Edited December 7, 2018 by Kerbalstar

[spacehead3]

1 hour ago, a10t2 said:

Here's my entry: https://imgur.com/a/qrqOg8e

Excellent! That thing is quick! Added to the leaderboard.

[Hodo]

Here is the first of several....

F/B-161

 

Radar cross section. 4.9x14.2x17.9

Internal ordnance load.

super cruise at mach 1.4 80% throttle.

Used guided weapons for this run. 

Total mission time 1hr 3min.

Direct hit single weapon deployed.

Deployed weapon from 8km.   (I was just doing a fun level hit with the target painted with the targeting pod)

((I will add up the points later when I am not tired.))

 

 

Second run was in the modernization of my F-119CA Akula.. the F-119D Akula mk2.

Take off, with 2 100 unit drop tanks, 2 AIM-9 Sidewinders for defense and 2 1000lb Rockeye dumb bombs. (completely unguided high drag bombs)

Radar cross section.  3.5x8.3x12.2

Two bombs deployed, both hit, set to drop in twos. 

dropped at 2.5km ASL

Super cruised at mach 1.3 at 80% throttle.

Total mission time 1hr 4min.  Landing was less than perfect on my part LOL.

 

F/B-161

Radar cross section = -18.5

Deployment alt = +8

1st shot direct hit = +100

Total mission time= -63

Heat Signature = 0

External weapons= 0

Total = 27.5pts

 

F-119D

Radar cross section = -12

Deployment alt = +2

Total mission time = -64

1st shot direct hit = 100

Unguided bombs= +5

External stores = -5

Heat signature = 0

Cost savings = +10

Total = 36

Edited December 7, 2018 by Hodo

[Hodo]

Later this evening I will run a couple more through this mission... And I may do it once with my UCAV aircraft.. its an unmanned combat strike craft.  

[Hodo]

And now for the F-152B

Take off and climb out.

Super cruise at 10km and feet wet.

Hitting feet dry, at mach 2 still super cruising.

Target lined up in targeting pod.. GPS coords sent to cruise missile guidance and launched at 10.9km

Missile is on its way to target.

SPLASH!!! 

Jettisoned second missile and was already turned home.

Touchdown and drag chute deployed for landing. (yes I use drogues for my landings because brakes are "iffy")

 

Total elapsed time 45min

 

So score would be...

Radar = -15.1 ( 8.7 +9.2+12.3)

first hit = 100

Guided weapon = 0

No internal weapons= -5

Heat sig= 0

Cost savings = 10

Deployment alt = 10 (10.9km)

Mission Time = -45

Total 54.9

[spacehead3]

@Hodo Nice! I have a couple other designs I'm working on as well, might post another entry myself tonight or tomorrow.

[spacehead3]

I did another entry with my new F-22 Raptor, but I got distracted and missed the first shot, so only 19.7 pts.

 

Edited December 10, 2018 by spacehead3

[epicman81]

can we plant a flag at the temple for navigation?

 

[spacehead3]

19 minutes ago, epicman81 said:

can we plant a flag at the temple for navigation?

Yeah sure, that's what I did too.

[epicman81]

6 minutes ago, spacehead3 said:

Yeah sure, that's what I did too.

Ok sending a kerbal now