LF-709 Shadow: Lore and y e s

Built because Lykania was getting quite a bit ahead… Tarania needed a quick answer, and a literally quick one. (It goes Mach 1.5). They decided to steal secret blueprints from Arionia’s 5th generation failure, and this time, made it work. Just before this jet’s weapon bays were gonna be made, the RGPD (Rail Gun Power Demonstrator) came out, and its rail gun became Mass Produced. Which is why instead of 2 extra AXRAAMS, they decided to put a rail gun, which is N U C L E A R C A P A B L E.

okay guys I told you I’d make the plane. And release it on Saturday.
I know the images are dark, but that’s for showcase that its paint makes it disappear at night, or to show the afterburners. Last one is in day.

Wiki (made via Chat GPT)

The LF-709 Shadow is a sixth-generation stealth multirole fighter aircraft developed by Clover Aerospace Division for the nation of Tarania. Publicly unveiled on February 9, the Shadow made its debut by landing aboard the TASS Elric Thorne — Tarania’s smallest operational aircraft carrier — showcasing its compact design and naval versatility.

Despite being smaller than the F-5E Tiger, the LF-709 surpasses most modern fighters in stealth, agility, and onboard systems, redefining the tactical possibilities of next-generation air combat for smaller naval forces. Its radar cross-section is smaller than that of an ant, making it virtually undetectable to conventional radar systems.

Design and Features

Engineered for extreme stealth, agility, and adaptability, the Shadow merges sixth-generation technologies into a frame smaller than the F-5E Tiger, without compromising lethality. Its key design features include:
• 2D Thrust Vector Control (TVC) nozzles for pitch and roll authority
• Carrier-optimized frame with reinforced landing gear and arrestor hook
• AI-assisted avionics for semi-autonomous mission support and pilot workload reduction
• Internal weapons bay to maintain stealth profile during combat
• Advanced ECM/ECCM suite for electronic warfare dominance
• Modular mission systems, allowing rapid reconfiguration between air superiority, strike, and reconnaissance roles

Propulsion System

The LF-709 Shadow is powered by twin adaptive-cycle turbofan engines, designed to balance high-thrust performance with long-range fuel efficiency and a minimal heat signature. These engines are paired with 2D thrust vectoring nozzles, enabling precise control over pitch and roll, significantly enhancing maneuverability during high-angle-of-attack flight and short-deck carrier operations.

Each engine incorporates:
• Active Fuel Cooling System (AFCS): Waste heat from the engines and avionics is absorbed by circulating fuel through a closed-loop thermal management system. This reduces the aircraft’s infrared signature, particularly during high-thrust or afterburning operations, while also improving engine longevity and sensor cooling efficiency.
• Supercruise capability: Capable of sustained supersonic flight without afterburner, optimizing fuel efficiency and reducing thermal visibility.
• Low-observable exhaust design: Flattened, shielded nozzles combined with engine bay heat insulation further suppress thermal emissions.
• Acoustic damping structures: Internal baffles and flow control surfaces reduce sonic signature during subsonic ingress or patrol missions.
• Thrust Vectoring Control (2D TVC): Dual-axis nozzles allow vectoring in pitch and roll, enhancing dogfight agility and carrier landing precision without compromising stealth geometry.

Weapons Loadout

The LF-709 Shadow stores all its weapons internally to maintain a minimal radar cross-section and preserve stealth integrity during combat. Its internal weapons bay accommodates a potent mix of air-to-air missiles and modular air-to-ground weaponry designed for multi-role operations.

The standard loadout includes:
• 4 AXRAAMs: Modified Taranian variants of the AMRAAM; slightly reduced dimensions, enhanced propulsion and guidance, housed internally.
• 2 (Modified) AIM-9X “Guardians”: Modified for high off-boresight angles; redesigned nose cone and fins for reduced radar cross-section.
• 2 MHS-11 “Stinger Eye”: Nose-mounted passive IR seekers; ultra-low RCS housing for close-range defensive intercepts.
• 1 MHS-9B “Backbite”: Rear-facing IR-guided missile mounted externally but completely hidden from radar by the covers and mounts of the aircraft’s elevators, enabling surprise rear defense engagements.
• 1 Nuclear-capable railgun: A modular air-to-ground weapon mounted internally; capable of firing hyper-velocity kinetic rounds including nuclear-tipped projectiles. This railgun can be removed to accommodate 2 additional AXRAAMs, increasing the fighter’s air-to-air missile capacity for specialized missions.

In addition to missile armament, the Shadow is equipped with a single GAT-928 20mm rotary cannon mounted in the nose. This six-barrel gatling gun fires at an impressive rate of 420 rounds per second, providing a reliable and devastating close-in weapon system for dogfighting and strafing runs. The cannon’s ammunition feed supports rapid sustained fire, with a total capacity of 420 rounds per engagement sortie.

Electronic Warfare and EMP Capability

The LF-709 Shadow is equipped with advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems that extend beyond traditional ECM/ECCM suites. Among its offensive capabilities is a high-powered electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strike system, designed to disrupt and disable enemy aircraft electronics and control systems without kinetic engagement.

The EMP system is capable of:
• Temporarily or permanently jamming radar, communication, and sensor arrays on adversary platforms
• Inducing malfunctions or shutdowns of flight control computers, severely degrading or completely disabling enemy maneuverability
• At its maximum destructive output, disabling fly-by-wire systems, grounding or destabilizing enemy aircraft entirely
• Forcing false readings and system overloads in the enemy’s ejection seat mechanisms, potentially triggering uncommanded pilot ejections

This non-lethal, stealthy approach to disabling opponents complements the Shadow’s primary kinetic armament, allowing it to neutralize threats while minimizing collateral damage and preserving the element of surprise.

Variants and Future Development

As of 2025, the LF-709 Shadow remains in carrier-focused deployment under the Taranian Sea Service (TASS). However, a land-based variant is currently under evaluation, with sources indicating a possible release as early as 2026. This version, officially designated LF-709B Shadow Fox, is expected to retain the core stealth, electronic warfare, and weapons systems of the original but will be adapted for land-based operations.

Notable differences are projected to include:
• Reinforced landing gear for rough-field and unprepared runway use
• Extended range fuel tanks integrated into the wing structure
• Expanded AI mission profile support for inland interdiction and rapid-response defense
• Optimized heat dispersion for high-altitude, dry-climate engagements
• Swappable modular spine for sensor pod or ECM upgrades

The Shadow Fox is expected to serve alongside the naval Shadow variant, broadening Tarania’s tactical air reach beyond carrier groups and into deep-strike continental