XF-103 | Aeronautica | Page 1

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:09 AM

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A prototyped interceptor that only got mockups & blueprints, it was projected to fly at mach 5 and could have similar/be slightly faster than the sr-71 if put in game.

Speed: 3,225 mph
Crew: one pilot
Length: 77 ft 0 in (23.5 m)
Wingspan: 34 ft 5 in (10.5 m)
Height: 16 ft 7 in (5.1 m)
Wing area: 401 sq ft (37.2 m2)
Empty weight: 24,949 lb (11,317 kg)
Gross weight: 38,505 lb (17,466 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 42,864 lb (19,443 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright XJ67-W-3 turbojet, 15,000 lbf (67 kN) thrust
Powerplant: 1 × Wright XRJ55-W-1 ramjet, 18,800 lbf (84 kN) thrust
Performance

Maximum speed: Mach 3 (as a turbojet) / Mach 5 (ramjet-only)
Service ceiling: 80,000 ft (24,390 m)
Rate of climb: 19,000 ft/min (97 m/s)
Wing loading: 96 lb/sq ft (470 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.57 (afterburner only); 0.95 (afterburner and ramjet)
Combat radius: 245 mi (394 km)
Ferry range: 1,545 mi (2,486 km)

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_XF-103#Specifications_(XF-103,_as_designed)

Had mockups that were tested on and had a lengthy development time, was cancelled prematurely due to lack of technology and time spent.

Republic XF-103

The Republic XF-103 was an American project to develop a powerful missile-armed interceptor aircraft capable of destroying Soviet bombers while flying at speeds as high as Mach 3. Despite a prolonged development, it never progressed past the mockup stage.

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:10 AM

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Skrolled

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:10 AM

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what?

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it's as valid as the xf-107

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It got everything that project vehicles need

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:11 AM

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left lintel it's as valid as the xf-107

no lol

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This is valid

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Somehow

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But the xf-107 actually flew

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:12 AM

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yeah well all you need are mockups, stats, and blueprints

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this has all of it great

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:12 AM

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Yeah it’s valid

devout jetty Mar 30, 2026, 5:12 AM

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Is there a real model of this tho?

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:12 AM

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But not as valid as the xf-107 Skrolled

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:12 AM

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devout jetty Is there a real model of this tho?

there are mockups

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:12 AM

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devout jetty Is there a real model of this tho?

I believe these 2 are

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not so sure about that first one

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:13 AM

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idk I was looking up the xf-107 and saw this, so of course I had to suggest it

devout jetty Mar 30, 2026, 5:13 AM

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Ok it just seemed a bit like a paper plane

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:13 AM

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devout jetty Ok it just seemed a bit like a paper plane

definitely has the characteristics of one

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but hey

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:13 AM

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devout jetty Ok it just seemed a bit like a paper plane

be nice to my failed prototype

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:14 AM

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full scale mockup Shrug

devout jetty Mar 30, 2026, 5:14 AM

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I like the idea of it

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:15 AM

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pls speed I need this my yf-12 needs a friend who can hang out at mach 4+

shut harness Mar 30, 2026, 5:21 AM

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Bruh it looks like someone straight up strapped a cockpit to a TALOS or some shi

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:22 AM

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shut harness Bruh it looks like someone straight up strapped a cockpit to a TALOS or some shi

yeah well we need a public plane that can go mach 5 other than the x-15, so why not this?

shut harness Mar 30, 2026, 5:23 AM

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https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/778831330858893325/1461897866934223030/image.png?ex=69cb25fc&is=69c9d47c&hm=cf51aad9b03a7bdb4cc92b6f04c7900d68add92da9dd3256dcdc47cd110e262c&

hollow grove Mar 30, 2026, 5:23 AM

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left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:24 AM

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hollow grove

mach 3 using turbofans, mach 5 with ramjets (could be after's)

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:24 AM

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hollow grove

How tf is this a heavy plane

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Literally a dieting f-86

hollow grove Mar 30, 2026, 5:25 AM

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Large doesn't always mean mass, then again I don't know what the author's interpretation of large is

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:25 AM

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yeah

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I’m assuming they mean relative to other similar aircraft

hollow grove Mar 30, 2026, 5:25 AM

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A 47 is larger than a 35 just like how a 105 is larger than a 84

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:25 AM

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large as in anything bigger than an ultralight

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:26 AM

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pallid cave I’m assuming they mean relative to other similar aircraft

which fits the p-47 and 105 pretty well

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:26 AM

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swag_2

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:26 AM

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pallid cave which fits the p-47 and 105 pretty well

f-47 flonald scrump

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:26 AM

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Given their respective eras

hollow grove Mar 30, 2026, 5:26 AM

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Yup

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:26 AM

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f-47 when

hollow grove Mar 30, 2026, 5:27 AM

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I found a study pertaining to a scale model of the XF-103

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I doubt that counts

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 5:27 AM

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even more reason to add it

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I feel the need for the spaheed

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:28 AM

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hollow grove I doubt that counts

Gotta check the validity of these 2

hollow grove Mar 30, 2026, 5:30 AM

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another source suggests that the aircraft could theoretically reach mach 3.7

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hollow grove Mar 30, 2026, 5:41 AM

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pallid cave I believe these 2 are

The second photo, according to the U.S. Airforce Materiels Command, is a mock up indicating where the AA missiles would be positioned

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https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Photos/igphoto/2002235690/

pallid cave Mar 30, 2026, 5:41 AM

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Hmm

ivory solar Mar 30, 2026, 5:52 AM

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I've seen a good video on it some time ago

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https://youtu.be/i5njnK9Nhfk?is=Xp_IcYeQE09RDlsN

YouTube

IHYLS

Republic's Advanced (And Insane) Mach 5 Fighter: Republic XF-103

In this video, we take a look at the Republic XF-103, an American jet-powered fighter from the post-World War II, Korean War, Cold War era(s). We first talk about the rapid evolution of aviation technology, and the growing influence of science fiction in broader society. We then talk about American military concerns about Soviet attacks, and the...

▶ Play video

flat gate Mar 30, 2026, 2:14 PM

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https://discord.com/channels/820044095535185951/1418492074948296826

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i already made a thread on this ages ago

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bunch of stats etc

slow badger Mar 30, 2026, 5:19 PM

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Thonk

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looks simple and cool

left lintel Mar 30, 2026, 11:42 PM

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flat gate i already made a thread on this ages ago

even more reason to add it 🙂

left lintel Mar 31, 2026, 12:30 AM

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Imagine this bumping into you at mach 5

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giant missile with a cockpit

left lintel Mar 31, 2026, 2:44 AM

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pls aero devs I need this my x-15's kinda homeless

hollow grove Mar 31, 2026, 4:41 AM

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most sources I've read suggest that the max speed is Mach 3.7

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😛

devout jetty Mar 31, 2026, 4:43 AM

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3.7 without ramjet

flat gate Mar 31, 2026, 5:42 AM

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hollow grove most sources I've read suggest that the max speed is Mach 3.7

if you can post them here, that'd be great, cause here's the combat characteristics document from the usaf

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i havent found any primary sources that suggest it can go over mach 3

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(From my original thread)

slow badger Mar 31, 2026, 8:19 PM

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flat gate (From my original thread)

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flat gate Mar 31, 2026, 8:20 PM

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yeah

flat gate Mar 31, 2026, 8:20 PM

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flat gate i havent found any primary sources that suggest it can go over mach 3

that just reaffirms what i said

slow badger Mar 31, 2026, 8:20 PM

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yea

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Id trust official documentation much more than wiki lol

flat gate Mar 31, 2026, 8:21 PM

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idk where this mach 5 number comes from

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cause this pre-dates the sr71 by at least a decade

left lintel Apr 1, 2026, 3:10 AM

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flat gate idk where this mach 5 number comes from

it's called 50's spirit and propoganda

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we need to scare the soviets somehow

#XF-103