Lockheed F6L Bobcat

The Lockheed Martin F6L Bobcat is a Human twin-engine, carrier-borne, variable sweep wing multirole astral fighter developed by Lockheed Martin. It was derived from the the YF6L prototype that won the 2090 Joint Strike Fighter program in the 2090's. The Bobcat is used primarily by the Sol Defense Corps Navy and Avalon Defense Front as a heavy multirole fighter and attack aircraft.

The F6L was deigned to be a highly versatile aircraft utilizing advanced avionics, cockpit displays, and high payload capacity. The aircraft was able to perform fighter escort, fleet air defense, SEAD, air interdiction, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance. Its versatile and reliability have proven it to be a valuable carrier asset until the introduction of the Lockheed F7L Hornet II. However, compared to its early contemporaries, such as the Boeing F4B Wasp and the Luftbus F5F, the aircraft is still a big step up.

The F6L remains in service as a heavy fighter and attack aircraft in the SDCN and ADF, as well as a drone operating aircraft for operation of Lockheed Martin KD16L Leopard UCAVs.

Variants
Around 900 F6L Bobcats of various versions were built between 2092 and 2114, with test flights going as far back as 2089.

F6L-1
The F6L-1 was the first production version of the F6L, utilizing the underpowered GE300(M) methane chemical engines utilized by the Boeing F4B as well as the radar from the Luftbus F5F. Only 38 F6L-1's were built, and of those 38, 20 were upgraded to the F6L-2 specifications. Only two surviving F6L-1's remain, with one in flyable condition (see Lockheed F6L Bobcat).

F6L-2
The F6L-2 was the most widely produced variant, featuring the GE380JSF Phoenix III multi-mode air-breathing hydrogen fusion drives, as well as the newer Looking Glass radar. The F6L-2 still remains in service with both the SDCN and ADF, primarily the latter, with many on display with various museums. The F6L-2 was also the first variant to support usage of the AIM-45B Long Range Waypoint Radar (Low War) missile. The F6L-2 was the primary SDCN fighter during the First Contact War.

F6L-3
The F6L-3 was a short-lived upgrade to the F6L-2 in the 2110s in an effort to keep it modernized as a support platform while the F7L was in development. Featuring a simplified, more compact version of the MUTAC system, as well as an upgraded version of the G380JSF engines (the GE385F engines), it was a slight step up from the F6L-2, but not enough to justify its adoption by the SDCNAA, especially after the dropping of the F6L fighters by the Marines. There are no surviving examples F6L-3 aircraft.

A3L
The A3L is a dedicated attack variant produced and solely operated by the Sol Defense Marine Corps. It replaces the in-line 20 mm rotary cannon with a belly-mounted 35 mm rotary cannon, as well as including an integrated FLIR pod underneath the nose instead of the usual integrated EOTS. Only 50 such examples of this aircraft were built, with only two SDMC squadrons still operating them. Three A3L's remain on display by various museums.

TF6L
The TF6L is the training variant of the F6L series, still in popular use by the SDC and ADF as a whole. Many F6L-2's were converted to the TF6L specifications after the adoption of the F7L, including the limiting of control surfaces and weapon systems.