Mirfae-class Heavy Aircraft Carrier

### Complement

1,975 ship's crew, 2,163 air crew, 350 men of additional staffs, 300 Fleet Ground Forces; Total: 4,788

### Sensors and Processing Systems

Shabaka Combat Network, 2x 3D Air Search Phased Array Radars, 2x Air/Surface Search Multifunction Radars, 1x Navigation Radar, Precision Approach and Landing System, Carrier Air Control Radar and Approach System, Radar Warning Receiver

### Electronic Warfare

Full ECM, EP, ESM and SIGINT Suites, Datalink System

### Decoys

Multi-Ammunition Softkill System, 4x chaff-launcher batteries, 4x flare-launcher batteries, torpedo decoy launchers

### Armament

6x Alqatat Gunsmiths Mudafie CIWS (Mark VI), 6x 40mm AA-turrets (Multi-Purpose), 6x 10-cell VLS

### Aircraft carried

Up to 110 aircraft, depending on configuration and mission, including drones and helicopters/VTOLs

### Aviation Facilities

Flight Deck, Hangar Decks, Ski-Jump, 5 aircraft lifts, 7 ammunition lifts, 2x EMALS-Catapults, Drone Control Systems

The **Mirfae-class Heavy Aircraft Carrier** is the newest class of Aircraft Carriers in service with The Sultan's Navy, the first two units, *RKN Mirfae* and *RKN Eanqa*, comissioned in 2018 as part of Carrier Group 5.

The term *mirfae* describes a crane, as in a bird of the Gruidae-Family.

## Design

### Deck Layout

* Angled Flight Deck for conventional take-offs (for example the KAF-139 Baghl), with catapults.

* Ski-Jump for aircraft requiring so (especially the KAF-16 Saqr).

* 5 aircraft launch spots

* 5 arresting cables and 2 nets

* Aircraft lifts: 5, 4 for aircraft, 1 for helicopters

### Air Group

A Mirfae-class Heavy Aircraft Carrier can carry up to 110 aircraft of varying types and depending on the mission profile. Typically, a Mirfae-class Carrier sets sail with 80 to 90 aircraft aboard.

Usually, the Carrier Air Wing is divided into a number of squadrons and commanded by a Commander, the squadrons either by other Commanders or by Lieutenant Commanders. The usual complement of a Mirfae-class Carrier consists of:

* 24 KAF-23 Armalas as interceptors and CAP.
* 24-36 KAF-16 Saqrs as strike aircraft.
* 4 KAF-139 Baghls for COD-missions.
* 4 KAF-210 Midrabs as transport helicopters.
* 6 KAF-139 Baghls for AWACS-missions.
* 9 KAF-9 Mark V for EW-missions (currently in the process of being replaced).
* 4 KAF-222 Bijeas as transport helicopters.
* 8 KAF-222 Bijeas for ASW-Missions.

## History

In early 2019, the decision was made to only build six instead of the originally planned twelve of these carriers. Budget constraints and a small shift in doctrines towards further enhancing the capabilities of the Hukm-class Aircraft Carriers and the acquisition of Drone Carriers are most commonly cited as reasons.

## Vessels

### Names of the Vessels

#### In Service

* *RKN Mirfae*, Crane, Carrier Group 5.
* *RKN Eanqa*, Phoenix, Carrier Group 5.
* *RKN Ruk*, Roc (a mythical giant bird).
* *RKN Tanin*, Dragon.
* *RKN Karkadann*, 'Lord of the Desert', another term for the Sand Wyvern, Carrier Group 9 (RKN Karkadann).
* *RKN Hatif*, a bodyless voice, that can be heard, but the body making it not be found, Carrier Group 9.

#### Cancelled

*Became Hisan-class Aircraft Carriers in the late 2020s.*
* *RKN Hisan*, Horse.
* *RKN Bahamut*, a mythical sea creature.
* *RKN Shadhavar*, a mythical creature, resembles a unicorn in appearance.
* *RKN Falak*, a powerful sea serpent and mythical creature.
* *RKN Asham*, crow.
* *RKN Riah Alshamal*, Northern Wind.