[OOC] Project XYa/Project XYa+ Development

[Ymutz Mizlan]

This is a roadmap for the retroactive development and production of the Ya-12 Alebrije (F-20 Tigershark), primarily by myself and @Garindina, with some technological assistance from @Poja. The roleplay of the development is slated to start in January 2025, with the roleplay of the development of the Ya-12A, the original production variant (based on the F-20C, skipping the IRL A and B variants due to the timeframe in which the development is set) hopefully being completed December of the same year.

The Ya-12 has its origins as an upgrade to the Ya-4 Jaguar(F-5 Tiger II). The development will take place in five phases across a total of 4 decades. The first two will focus on the attempts to continually modernize the Ya-4, the middle two will be the development and production of the Alebrije, and the last phase focuses on its upgraded variants produced after its adoption. While primarily developed using the resources and technology available to Ymutztlaclan-Mizlanuzco, several key components will be outsourced, purchased, or produced under license. These five stages will serve as a guideline for the RP’s, and while we will try to stick to the original timeline, these phases are subject to possible future alteration should the need arise.

Ya-4 Upgrade

• Phase 1 will be focused on the decision to modernize the Ya-4. At this point, there is an early draft for what will become the Ya-12, but due to needing parts that the nation can produce due to the damage from the civil war/ can't import due to the AUNPRYM’s policy isolationism, this plan is shelved. It also touches on the effort to rebuild the industries required for the production and development of aircraft. Phase 1 takes place from 1987-1996.
• Phase 2 will be the attempts by Fabrica Aeroespacial Militar to modernize the Ya-4 with what the nation has available during its isolationist period. The upgraded variant of the Ya-4. This takes place during the tail end of the period of isolation, 1996-2006, after the fracture of the left wing coalition and defeat of the radical faction of said coalition in the 1996 election.

XYa

• The third phase will be the end of the policy of isolation and the ensuing national reforms immediately concerning the aviation industry. It also focuses on the adoption of the Ya-12 design (at this point referred to as the XYa) and the upgrades needed to modernize the design from phase 1. During this time, several prototypes are produced. Garindina joined in the development of the fighter in the latter half of this period, removing some of the strain on YM’s industry. This took place 2006-2010
• Phase 4 takes place between 2010 and 2014 and builds on the development from phase 3, focusing on the changes to the design and procurement of foreign parts needed for the fighter(avionics, engine, and cannon), the official adoption of the “A” variant of the Alebrije, and the start of official production.

XYa+

• Phase 5 will be from 2014- present, and focus on upgrades to the now adopted Ya-12, including 2 seater/ground attack variants, and future upgrades to an AESA, with these upgrade plans being collectively called Project XYa+. These upgrades will be done in collaboration with CAST. There may be a possible export variant developed at this stage as well, but that is not guaranteed.