finally revamped this bad boy (or girl), A-and, it's less maneuverable I think GODDAMNIT

The M-38 Longtail is the Kingdom of Los' 4th(the S and E variants are 4.5) generation air superiority fighter. It was built around subsonic to transonic dogfighting, and it excels in the field, with the double delta wing/canard design, and high power 30mm Tossa K-300 Model D cannon. It also posseses internal weapons bays to not interfere with drag, but it can carry external weaponary when it need be

The need for this aircraft dates back to 1969, when the RLAF needed an air superiority fighter to engage in dogfights, since the stock of M-26s were too spread out in other roles, and building new ones just for dogfighting was seen as foolish, mainly because the M-26 was made for Beyond Visual Range Combat. Merikan first came up with a reverse double delta design, where the wing had a more concave like design, but it was opted out for the convex build to increase wing area, the canards were also given the same design, for the same reason. It was also given a large vertical stabilizer for better yaw stability (duh)(This also led to it being named Longtail), along with double vortex fins for airflow. The first YM-38 flew in 1977, and after some flight testing, engineers realised that the external weapons increased drag by a high margin, which affected both maneuverabity, and stability. So they decided to add two internal weapons bays, capable of holding four L-IR 5Bs, (and more IR missiles that came later on). But external weapons would still be attached, but close to the main body. After further flight, weapon and maneuver testing, the first batch of production M-38As entered service in 1982, in the 001st Rhistaka defence squadron.

It went on regular patrol/intercept missions over Los up until the start of DWW3, where it fought against Takish fighters, mainly the TV-48, but it has faced matches with the TV-51, and after several encounters, the results were in favour of the longtail, but not by much, as it would usually approach the Jester (nickname for TV-51) from down below, and start a dogfight, but in times where that wouldn't be optimal or available, the TV-51 would lock on, and fire the B-555 Semi Active Radar Homing Missile. But towards the end, the Longtail was put far ahead, mainly because of significant upgrades, but also better pilot training, and help from the M-40 Mamba.

It served in the same missions a lot of other Lasa/allied fighters did, but one of its most significant uses was in Operation Pool Cleaner, where it practically cleaned the skies of any fighter, so that other aircraft and ships wouldn't have to bother with Anti Air. It also claimed over two hundred Aerial victories, and combines with almost 150 from the Greenada Liberation, approximately 100 from the 4 year Stalemate, and around 50 from the Siege on Moneytown.

It is planning to be phased out when the M-52 enters service

Operators

Kingdom Of Los
They operate around 650 M-38s, with 21 aircraft lost or downed by enemy fire. Though most of their Longtails are C-II, E, and S variants

The People's Republic of Anti Los
Around 100 are operated, as they're well more than capable of flying through the polar regions

Europe's Vietnam
They operate only 50, and they're mostly A and C-I variants.

Weapons:

Main Weapon: Tossa K-300 Model D

Hardpoints: 4 missile slots in the Internal Weapons bays, one in the underbelly, and six on the wings(three on each wing)

Missiles:
L-IR 5B: Short range Infrared Homing Air to air missile
L-IR 5D: Short range Infrared Homing Air to air missile
L-IR 6C: Short range Infrared Homing Air to air missile

LR-7A: Medium Range Active Radar Homing Air to air missile

GMk-250 TV Guided bomb

Mk-500 dumb bomb
Mk-250 dumb bomb
Mk-750 dumb bomb
Mk-1500 dumb bomb