"Strength above, peace below." -Unofficial motto of the Apollo.

Lore

Overview

The D-17F Apollo is a Lykanian 4th-generation multirole fighter aircraft serving as the backbone of the Lykanian Air Force (LKAF). Conceived in the late 1960s in response to Ruskovian, Koltobanian, and Laurentian high-speed interceptors, the Apollo was designed to restore Lykania’s air superiority through sheer performance, agility, and reliability. Its success was immediate—proving itself in hundreds of sorties across multiple conflicts, achieving an extraordinary 92:1 kill-to-loss ratio and earning its reputation as the LKAF’s most trusted combat aircraft. Decades of modernization have kept the Apollo at the forefront of Lykania’s aerial doctrine, with successive upgrades extending its operational life well into the 2040s. Rugged, versatile, and battle-proven, the D-17F remains both a symbol and a standard of Lykanian airpower—living by its enduring motto: “Strength above, peace below.”

Background and Development

The Apollo was first conceived during the mid-1960s in response to the newly established interceptors of Koltobania and other Red Walls states, as well as Ruskovia's MiG-25. Rumors of a Laurentian fighter also sparked panic as Lykania's then-frontline fighters, the D-11 Falke and D-13 Spectre, were aging rapidly and becoming obsolete. In 1968, the LKAF held a contest, with the contract for producing the next-generation platform being the reward. While Antares Aviation came close to securing the contract, Drakon Dynamics ultimately prevailed with their highly promising D-17A prototype, the product of Project Helios. The prototype achieved its maiden flight in mid-1971. Early tests revealed exceptional thrust-to-weight performance but also critical stability issues at high angles of attack, leading to a series of aerodynamic refinements, including enlarged vertical stabilizers, leading-edge slats, and modified wing root extensions. The finalized D-17C pre-production variant demonstrated unmatched acceleration and agility, securing the program’s future. Officially designated D-17F Apollo, the aircraft entered operational service in 1975. Initially envisioned purely as an air superiority platform, later variants expanded its mission envelope to include ground strike and precision engagement roles, solidifying its place as the backbone of the LKAF for decades to come.

Operational History

The D-17F Apollo entered service in 1975 and saw combat almost immediately during the Libertine Border Conflict (1977–1978), where early-production D-17Cs scored numerous kills against Koltobanian-made Zarnov-29s and Varkovak-31s, proving the design’s superior climb rate and radar range. Only one Apollo was lost during the entire campaign—to a surface-to-air missile—cementing its reputation as a reliable and lethal air superiority platform. In 1989, the Apollo returned to prominence during the Sierra Verde Intervention, where Lykanian air forces launched precision strikes in support of stabilization operations. The D-17E variant demonstrated impressive versatility, switching seamlessly between air patrol and ground-attack roles, a capability previously untested in Lykanian doctrine. The fighter’s most extensive deployment came two decades later, during Operation Dagger's Tip, when Lykania led a coalition response to Mawali incursions in Zamani. Apollo squadrons achieved air dominance within days, recording 47 confirmed kills without a single combat loss—a feat that solidified its mythic 92:1 kill ratio. Most famously, it was a D-17E that conducted the "broken arrow" airstrike on Task Force 19, the task force that then-Lykanian prince Dorian Atreides was part of. Even as stealth and fifth-generation designs began to dominate the global stage, the Apollo remained a cornerstone of the LKAF. Modernized D-17Fs continued frontline service during the Cascadian Uprising (2020), flying mixed strike and patrol sorties alongside Osiris and Nyx units. Despite its age, the Apollo consistently proved its worth, bridging generations of Lykanian aviation and earning its place as the nation’s enduring symbol of airpower. During the Nightfall Wars, Lykanian D-17s played crucial roles in ensuring that Libertine and Cascadian forces wouldn't advance farther East from the Turrialba Mountains.

Gameplay

Alright, here's something fresh and new. I got bored of making stealth fighters, so I decided to give my arsenal a little history by making a 4th gen. This one's meant to be my equivalent to the F-15. I mean, besides the fact that it looks absolutely majestic, imo, it's really nothing too crazy. I made 2 custom missiles for it, one for air-to-air and the other for air-to-ground. And due to it being a simpler design, I was able to use up the parts and performance cost that would've gone towards my stealth paneling and stuff and built a functional cockpit, allowing this thing to be flown in VR. But, if the parts and performance cost are still a little too high, you can download this version that doesn't have a cockpit. Ag. 1 will activate your lights, labeled as "power" in the cockpit. Ag. 2 will deploy your arresting hook. It's not meant to be a naval aircraft, but I bet you could easily land it on a carrier. Ag. 6 will jettison the fuel tanks and Ag. 7 will open the canopy. Besides that, there's not much else to it. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do! I plan on making 2 more 4th-gen designs and I may experiment with making some 3rd-gen fighters, since I did mention the D-11 and D-13, but we'll get there when we get there.