Jinmu AH-79 Berserker

The Jinmu AH-79 Berserker (Zhenian designation: AH-79 광전사, pronounced Gwangjeonsa) is a Zhenian all-weather, day-night, military tandem, two-seat anti-armor helicopter with secondary transport capabilities. Although many of its features are primarily optimized as an attack helicopter, it also features limited transport capabilities along with its hull. Its main armaments consist of external loads carried on stub-wing pylons, and a 30 mm autocannon mounted in front of the frontal main landing gear. Upon its introduction, it has implemented several characteristics to significantly increase its survivability and performance on ground strike missions.

The AH-79 Berserker was developed since the late 1560s, when the Republic of Zhenia Army's demands for an improved attack helicopter that would replace both the MH-75 Snow Leopard and the AH-70 Cavalier. Among the several proposals opting for a larger and more capable attack helicopter, the current design of the Berserker was selected in 1571 AC. The prototype of the variant made its first flight in May 30, 1575 AC and was introduced to service within the Republic of Zhenia Army in 1580. Improved variants were developed and delivered subsequently, with the most notable variant being the AH-79G, which was first delivered to the Army and Marine Corps in 1588 and has been forming the backbone of the branches' attack helicopter fleet since.

Origins and initial development


Prior to the existence of the Berserker, the Republic of Zhenia Army operated two types of helicopters that were classified as attack helicopters according to its designation scheme at the time - the AH-75 Snow Leopard, an armed variant of the UH-75 utility helicopter; and the AH-70 Cavalier, a light attack helicopter that was starting to show its design limits amid further upgrades in the 1560s. While the AH-75 Snow Leopard was larger and was able to deliver heavier payloads against ground targets while also partly performing transport roles, it showed issues with overall performance as an attack helicopter as well as maneuverability; while the AH-70 was more more maneuverable and was thus more survivable, its small airframe size became a limiting factor in expanding its combat capabilities. With such issues at hand, the Republic of Zhenia Army, alongside the Marine Corps, which demanded a dedicated amphibious assault helicopter that would provide fire support and air cover in amphibious operations, called for the development of a larger, specialized attack helicopter that would ultimately supersede both. The need for such attack helicopters was significantly emphasized after the Hanlangjin Incident between Zhenia and Yinguo in 1566, when three AH-75s had been lost in the twelve-day border skirmish.

The set of requirements to replace both were clear - the demand was on for a more maneuverable and survivable attack helicopter with further emphasis on fire support and anti-armor attack rather than merely providing fire support and troop transport along the way, while there were requirements further entailed specific demands for "significant leaps in range, firepower, speed and survivability". While other requirements were interpreted relatively commonly among the bidders of the project, the bidders showed differences in the way in which survivability was to be improved. Among the three proposals that were selected for the second phase of the bid, Jinmu Heavy Industries brought two contenders, one of which was in a transversely-placed tandem rotor configuration while the other was a coaxial tandem rotor design; the Hanshin Group, having been the leader of the industry previously, insisted on a more conventional single-rotor configuration, although later iterations of the proposals included an additional propeller on the tail for increased speed. Among the contenders, a preliminary design based on Jinmu Heavy Industries' proposal was selected in 1571 AC. The large size of the transversely-placed tandem rotor design allowed for significantly larger payloads, range and firepower, it was deemed less suitable to the demands of the Army; thus, a design based on a coaxial rotor system was selected, which eliminated the need for a tail rotor and still kept the airframe within the size range of the Army's demands.

The first prototype of the Berserker's final design was revealed to the public in its first flight in May 30, 1575, at the time including the capacity to transport eight personnel while also providing firepower. Over rigorous combat testing, its troop carrying capacity was reduced to six in favor of lightening the load on the airframe, while the prototype's engines were replaced with more powerful engines that provided around 12% more power than the existing engines. Improvements to its avionics, including its terrain-scanning navigation system,, TV cameras that were directly linked to the gunner's vision and eventually the autocannon turret, were made in its way towards operational service. Its first live-fire testing, which involved the testing of various weapons systems including its 30 mm autocannon, unguided rocket pods and its laser-guided anti-vehicle missile, was successfully completed in 1578 AC. The first AH-79As were introduced to service within the Republic of Zhenia Army on 1580 AC, while the Marine Corps received their first units a year later.

Overview


The AH-79 Berserker is a high-performance combat helicopter with all-weather, day and night capability, as well as high survivability and firepower, with the objective of performing robust air-to-surface and air-to-air capabilities. It is built around a coaxial rotor design, which provides a higher rate of climb and hovering ceiling than conventional single-rotor layout. The two reverse-rotating rotors are mounted atop the body's midsection, while its stub wings are located below the engines and to the side of the body midsection. The two engines are podded separately with the exhaust pointing downwards. The cockpits are positioned in tandem and are stepped up to maximize visibility, with the gunner located on the front and the pilot on the back. To increase survivability, it has a fully armored cabin that protects both pilots from enemy attacks; the windshield in particular, is estimated to withstand direct hits from 12.7 mm armor-piercing rounds and 25 mm shell fragments.

Avionics
Designed to perform in all weather conditions, as well as both day and night, the AH-79 is equipped with various sensors that altogether increase the pilot and the gunner's situational awareness. THe most notable sensor is the spherical Cheollian radar mounted at the top of the rotors.

Armament


The AH-79 Berserker is equipped with a 30 mm automatic that is capable of firing either  (HE-I) or  (APDS) rounds depending on the need of the mission. The dual-feed nature of the autocannon allows for a cyclic rate of fire between 200 and 800 rounds per minute, as well as selective fire options depending on the situation. Since 1608, caseless telescoped ammunition (CTA) rounds for the 30 mm autocannon are being tested with the autocannon, although they are expected to involve extensive redesigns on the gun itself. Modifications on the gun for CTA rounds are expected to be present in the AH-79G2 upgrades.

In addition to the 30 mm autocannon, it can carry an array of external weapons and ordnance on its stub-wing pylons. A total of over 2,000 kg of armament, depending on the combination, are available. Most common configurations include a mix of rocket pods and fire-and-forget anti-tank missiles, although the latter is often replaced with non-line-of-sight missiles in certain circumstances requiring standoff capabilities. While it is most common for the Berserker to carry eight, twelve or sixteen (depending on the missile and its launcher) anti-tank missiles and two rocket pods, the Berserker an in theory carry up to 32 anti-tank missiles, although this is uncommon. In addition, the wingtip of each stub wing is capable of holding a total of two dedicated guided air-to-air missiles or four converted. Less common but possible configurations include the implementation of guided aerial bombs, larger air-to-surface missiles normally used on fixed-wing aircraft and external fuel tanks.

AH-79A
The AH-79A is the original production variant of the AH-79 line. As of 1610 AC, all AH-79As produced for the Republic of Zhenia Army and Marine Corps have been upgraded to either AH-79G1s or AH-79Hs.

AH-79G
Introduced to service in 1588 AC, the AH-79G was a significant improvement from the AH-79A, in that it included the usage of composites within its airframe, a, several advanced sensors, more powerful engines and improved fly-by-wire controls among other improvements. A set of redesigned rotor blades have resulted in the increase of its maximum speed from the previous 334 km/h to 387 km/h.

AH-79G1
Revealed to the public in the military parade on 1599 AC's Republic Day celebrations, the AH-79G1 was a further improvement of capabilities from the AH-79G. Improvements compared to the AH-79G include improved digital connectivity and avionics, more powerful engines that have been expanded to accommodate more power, further usage of composite materials that reduced the total weight of the airframe by around 2.7%, capability to control unmanned air vehicles (UAV), a redesigned rotor blades and improved landing gear and avionics that allow for autonomous takeoff and landing on a given location. The spherical-like Cheollian Radar mounted above the rotorshaft has been upgraded into an since 1607. A vast majority of the AH-79G1 units in the Republic of Zhenia Army and the Marine Corps are set to be upgraded from existing AH-79G airframes, although around 120 new-build AH-79G1s have been procured by the Army by 1610.

AH-79G2
A proposed set of upgrades to the AH-79G1, the AH-79G2 includes additional characteristics to improve the overall performance of existing AH-79G and AH-79G1 airframes. Upgrades include retractable landing gear, expanded stub wings for two additional hardpoints, improved avionics and a pusher rotor near where the tail used to be.

AH-79H
Originally intended for both the Republic of Zhenia Navy and Marine Corps and proposed in the early 1570s AC, the AH-79H was intended to serve as a maritime attack helicopter, featuring altered landing gear arrangements, reinforced airframe for maritime operations, alternative weapons loading options and improved avionics. After the Navy ultimately declined its acquisition in 1583 AC, it was developed into a dedicated attack helicopter geared more towards providing fire support for amphibious landings.