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Zero, M, FB, Plus, 7, 7Gin, D7, F

Illustrated by Takuya Io

Caption: After the First Interstellar War, the decedents of the VF-1, which had had its performance inconsistencies identified, were received and the development of new models of VFs was advanced. However, a lot of airframes had both merits and demerits, and the new aircraft that was able to be called the definitive version [of the VF-1's successor] was not easily produced.

Variable Fighter Development History 2
The true successor of the VF-1, which appeared more than 20 years later.
The VF-1 Valkyrie, whose first mass produced aircraft rolled out in November, 2008, is the central figure that led to the victory in the First Interstellar War. However, its performance in Fighter form didn't greatly exceed that of a conventional fighter craft. Still, without the assistance of Super Parts, it has the problem of a small combat radius in space. Due to that, the development of a variety of new VFs was encouraged after the great war, including the airframe of the VF-1, whose design was advanced during the great war.
By the accumulation of such things as know-how from the First Interstellar War, and Over-technology obtained through harmony with the Zentraadi, the hurdles in the development of new VFs tend to appear to be lowered. However, there were great stumbling blocks in their development. It made it difficult to master the improvements into high performance on top of maintaining a VF's aerospace nature.
The majority of the VFs adopted right after the conclusion of the First Interstellar War were such VFs as the space oriented VF-4 Lightning III, and the aerodynamic stressing VF-5000 Star Mirage; all of which having biased performance tendencies. Even space-dedicated craft like the VF-5 existed among them, and this can be called the "dedicated aircraft ideology", in which a VF had prominence in each regime. However, the Unified Forces actively did not want a VF for each regime. As the Mankind Sowing Plan progressed, the Unified Forces desired an all-purpose aircraft, which could shoulder missions coming and going in and out of an atmosphere, and could be exclusively used for guarding an emigrant fleet, operating on a colonized planet, and so on. For that, the development of a VF that was able to demonstrate advanced performance in both space and atmosphere was needed. A lot of technological difficulties were cleared, and at last, a general-purpose VF that was able to called the true successor of the VF-1 was born. It was the VF-11 Thunderbolt.
Although the VF-11 is an all-purpose, air superiority type of fighter, it shows abilities that exceeded those of such aircraft as the VF-4, VF-5000 in each regime, and it was adopted as the Unified Forces main VF. The year that it was formally adopted was 2030. From the birth of the VF-1, truly more than 20 years had passed.

Related Matter: The Rise of The New VF Manufacturers
As VF development continued, the unification and reorganization of military enterprises progressed. As a result, "Shinsei Industry", which amalgamated the aircraft development sections of Shinsei, Shinakasu Heavy Industry, Stonewell Bellcom and so on, and "General Galaxy", which was established by the core of the OTEC company; were created. Thereafter, these two companies became the core of the development of VFs.

Caption: The Shinsei Industry Keiretsu, starting with the VF-5000, developed the VF-11, VF-19, VF-25 and so on.

Caption: The General Galaxy Keiretsu turned out the VF-9, VF-14, VF-17, VF-22, VF-171, VF-27 and so on.

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. The Change In The Form Of The Armaments And Stealthiness
The VF-1 kept fixed armaments and internal firearms to a minimum, and it was equipped with kinds of firearms on the bottom of the body and on wing hard-points. However, such things as internal charged particle beam guns and semi-embedded missiles were adopted into the VF-4. Also, the internalization of armaments advanced with such things as the micro-missiles that were built into the forearms and legs of the VF-5000. It is thought that this is because the trend to value stealthiness was getting stronger, and the passive stealth abilities of airframes had risen. In addition, the equipment form where the Head Laser Machine-gun is used for rear defensive power in dogfights in Fighter and GERWALK forms, was adopted into the VF-5000, and that form is adopted into many VFs thereafter.

Caption: At the time the VF-4 started production in February, 2012, the internalization of some kinds of firearms had advanced, and a pioneering improvement in VF stealthiness was added to the VF-4.

Caption: Leg multi-weapon bays and landing gear hatches that were made with zig-zag lines were adopted into the VF-11, in order to improve its stealthiness.

Related Matter: The Pilots Who Took Part In The Development Of The New VFs
Highly skilled pilots, who lived through the First Interstellar War, also contributed to the development of the new VFs. The famous pilots that were test pilots include the VF-4's Hikaru Ichijo and the VF-9's Miria Fariina Jiinasu. During the time that Miria was an instructor at the Eagle's Nest Air Combat Tactics Centre, she is also known for having called for the installation of the canards on the VF-11; and along with Maximilian Jiinasu, verified the canards effectiveness in the military rescue operation of the Unified Government chairman's aide.

Caption: After the First Interstellar War, Hikaru Ichijo also acted as the VF-4's test pilot, serving at Apollo Base.

Right: Miria Fariina Jiinasu

Caption: Miria, who is Zentraadi, didn't only test VFs, but is also said to have taken part in the development of the Quadoran-Rhea.

New VFs That Specialized In Areas Of Operation
If one excludes the VF-3000 Crusader, which was presented by the Stonewell Bellcom Company, than [all of] the VFs from the VF-1 Ability Improved Model Aircraft Development Project up until the VF-11 had performance that was biased toward either space or within atmosphere. It was difficult for both high-performance and general-purpose capabilities to coexist in the technological strength at that time, and it is thought that the cause [of the bias] was from such things as the trial and error of each manufacturer. However, Zentraadi technology was also introduced, and it is correct that the performance of the VFs greatly improved.

The Development Genealogy Chart from the VF-1 to the VF-11
Pink: general-purpose model
Blue: exo-atmospheric (space) specialized model
Orange: endo-atmospheric specialized model

Light grey: Stonewell Balcom ~ Shinsei Industries Series
Dark grey: General Galaxy Series

VF-1 (pink) > VF-3000 (pink) > (dotted) > VF-5000 (orange)
VF-1 > VF-4 > VF-5000 > VF-11 (pink)
VF-4 > (dotted) > VF-14 (pink)
VF-1 > VF-9 (orange) > VF-14

Endo-Atmospheric Use
Shinsei Industry's VF-5000 is known in the types that placed importance on operations within the atmosphere. The VF-5000 adopted the blended wing body, and its serious consideration of aerodynamics can be perceived. While the design itself put the VF-1 to practical use, Zentraadi technology was also invested into it.

Caption: VF-5000G
The VF-5000 also excels in visibility with its frame-less canopy. The VF-5000 project began in 2011, and it became the main aircraft in the later half of the 2020's.

Exo-Atmospheric Use
The Stonewell Bellcom developed VF-4 and space dedicated VF-5 are famous as VFs that are suitable for space use. The design of the VF-4 advanced from before the end of the war, and the incremental prototype was judged to have a 40% increase in combat capabilities over the VF-1. After it was officially adopted, its deployment advanced as the successor of the VF-1.

Caption: VF-4
The three-bodied type of VF. Production begun in February 2012, and it was deployed to such places as the Megaroad 01. Iit was the main aircraft from 2020.

Light Fighters
General Galaxy's VF-9 Cutlass is known as a light support VF. It used canards and forward swept wings, and one can perceive from its appearance that it was considered to be for atmospheric operations. Even though its performance doesn't stand out, many were used on frontier planets because the VF-9 has a low price and they excel in their multi-purposefulness.

Caption: VF-9 Their feature is the forward swept wings, and the are chiefly used for support missions. The VF-9 started development in 2018, and mass production started in 2022.

VF-11/VF-14
A competition took place between Shinsei Industry's VF-11 Thunderbolt and General Galaxy's VF-14 Vampire concerning the successor to the VF-4 (an all-purpose VF that substantially succeeded the VF-1). As a result, the reliable design of the VF-11, which also excels in general-purposefulness, was adopted, and its deployment as the main VF advanced.

Caption: The VF-11 is a general-purpose VF that exhibits high performance both inside and outside of atmosphere, and its design was regulated in the 2030's. It took an active part as the main aircraft at the end of the 2040's.

Caption: Although the VF-14 was unsuccessful in the selection, it was adopted by such places as frontier emigrant planets and special forces due to its large size and tenaciousness, as well as its lengthy cruising range.

Caption: VF-11B
It has canards and a variable main wing, and it also has high manoeuvrability in the atmosphere. It excelled in lightness and high power, as well as potential.

Caption: VF-14
With a VF that aims at a new classification of large long-range fighter bomber, it also has excellent offensive capabilities. The fighter form is close to that of the VF-4.

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© Aaron Sketchley