ATAF-E42

Note - LAF stands for Lathistian Air Force
The ATAF-E42 is a twin-engine, single-seat multi-role fighter, developed by Kenzar Aircraft Manufacturing for the Lathistian Air Force, and Lathistian Navy. It is capable of a wide variety of tasks, such as bomber intercepting, CAS, air superiority fighting, and much more. It is also capable of super-cruise.

Design
The design was commissioned in 2016 by the Lathistian Navy, after their LANA fighters where starting to get obsolete, compared to the new, high-tech fighters of the LAF. It was required to be a 4th gen fighter, capable of mach 1.5, and carrier-capable. The early test flight provided promising results, and from further development, the result was the best fighter Kenzar has ever made. A 4.5th gen fighter, based of the ATAF-E4, capable of mach 2.8. It has 2 20 mm cannons mounted on the fuselage, and 6 internal air-to-air missiles, which can extend out during combat, or be swapped for 2 air-to-air, and 4 air-to-ground for strike missions. On its wings, it has 6 external pylons, usually fitted with 2 25 mm rotary gun-pods, or 2 drop-tanks. The cherry on top, it's low-observability. The navy has also made plans for a single-engine VTOL fighter, but it is most likely the ATAF-E42 will remain as a primary fighter for decades to come.

Introduction
On the 4th May 2022, at the Lathistian Air Show, the aircraft was unveiled to the public for the first time. One of these fighters was escorted to the show by 2 ATAF-E4's, and made its entrance at the beginning. To the audiences, and much to everyone's surprise, to demonstrate its power, it had a SAM missile shot at it, only for the SAM missile to be destroyed by the twin 20 mm cannons built-in to the -E42. This stunt was planned carefully, and multiple safety precautions were followed to make sure that nothing could have gone wrong. The SAM had no explosives, and the pilot would automatically eject if the missile got within 1.5km. The LAF paid close attention to this project, from the day it was designed. After seeing how it performed, the LAF placed an order for 3,500 of these units. The first aircraft arrived for both navy and air force on the 1st February 2023, and immediately saw extended use on training exercises.

Service
Currently, it is in service by the LAF and Lathistian Navy, but is also going to be developed for the Lathistian Angels, the Lathistian aerobatic team.

Lathistia

 * LAF
 * Lathistian Navy

7th April 2020 - Crash during testing
On the 7th April 2020, test pilot Edward Richardson, the son of Richard Anderson, crashed in his ATAF-E42P. This was caused by him blacking out in a high-g maneuver, causing his prototype ATAF-42P to be destroyed, and the pilot being killed upon impact. This set back the project, but it still went ahead, due to the need for this aircraft. The radio talk was recorded.

7th April 2023 - Failed Carrier Landing
On the 7th April 2023, after a training exercise, a ATAF-E42 piloted by Sergei Ivanov, attempted to land on the LNS Midway, the lathistian carrier flagship, and flew into the ocean after failing to snag an arresting wire. The aircraft was recovered, but it was revealed that Sergei drowned after opening the cockpit while underwater. The aircraft is now at the Mangolin Aeronautical Museum, with a memorial to the pilot.