Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
The standard paint scheme (first illustration) for the GBP-1S armor system is demonstrated here with this VF-1A finished in standard tan and white with the armor components finished in dark gray with light gray trim. Typically, the GBP/PWS-01C chest missile doors and the “cuffs” of the GBP/PWS-01A arm components were finished the squadron’s colors. Other paint schemes (following illustrations) were non-standard.
Note: These illustrations are slightly inaccurate, as they depict late production VF-1 Valkyries where early production examples would have been more appropriate.
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Images From – Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie, Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie: Wings of Space and Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie: SDF-1 Macross VF-1 Squadrons
FAST Pack Version 2.0 VF-1A (Block 8) SVF-40 “Ghost Riders” aircraft 205, ARMD-12 UES Independence (2014)
By 2014, the standard paint scheme for space deployed UN Spacy squadrons had become overall gull gray for the base aircraft with flat black for the FAST Pack components. This was a change from the prior tan and white base aircraft scheme with gray FAST Pack components that the UN Spacy was running from the end of the First Robotech War.
FAST Pack Version 2.0 VF-1N (Block 10) SVF-1 “Skull Squadron” aircraft 106, SCG-02 UES London (2015)
Typically, the squadron crest or patch would be painted on the left and right sides of the FAST Pack . During the First Robotech War, this was no the case, as the UN Spacy roundel was always displayed in this location.
FAST Pack Version 2.0 VF-1A (Block 12) SVF-22 “Wolf Pack” aircraft 200, SDD-16 Gremlin-class Destroyer (2016)
In late 2016, the UN Spacy began painting the FAST Pack components the same overall gray as the rest of the VF-1 to which the system was attached. Not all squadrons chose to display their squadron markings on the sides of the booster units.
FAST Pack Version 2.0 VF-1A (Block 15) SVF-50 “Broad Swords” aircraft 100, SCV-04 UES Marcus Antonius (2017)
Though there were plenty of examples of bright high visibilty paint schemes on the Carrier Air-Group commanders’ aircraft in the UN Spacy, it was more common for the for CAG aircraft to have relatively low key squadron markings.
FAST Pack Version 4.0 VF-1X SVF-26 “Cavaliers” aircraft 209, SCB-17 UES Tyrant (2022)
In 2022, the both the United Earth Defense Force’s Tactical Armored Space Corps (UEDF TASC) and the Reconnaissance Expeditionary Force’s Tactical Naval Corps (REF TNC) switched back to the earlier gray and black paint scheme for their space fighters. Though the TNC switched to a blue and white paint scheme for their space fighters, the UEDF TASC continued with gray and black until the mid 2020s, when they switched to gray and dark blue.
FAST Pack Version 4.0 VF-1P SVF-64 aircraft 110, ARMD-213 UES Altamira (2023)
Though several of the Valkyries in SVF-64 sported a fetching blue and white vortex paint scheme, the majority were finished in the standard gray and black.
FAST Pack Version T VT-1 Ostrich Aircraft 210 SVT-21, CVT-8 UES Midway (2026)
Trainers in the Tactical Armored Space Corps were pained light gray with high visibility orange trim. This aircraft was assigned to the UES Midway, which was formerly designated ARMD-08 before it was re-designated a Training Aircraft Carrier (CVT).
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Images From – Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie, Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie: Wings of Space and Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie: SDF-1 Macross VF-1 Squadrons
Return to VF-1 Valkyrie Veritech Fighter main technical file
VF-1 Valkyrie weapons charts.
Legacy munitions employed by the VF-1 Valkyrie, circa 2008. Though the VF-1 was capable of carrying any selection of these legacy weapons systems, it rarely did in practice as they had been superseded by more advance missiles such as the AAM-1 Arrow.
Complete list of weapons systems available by the beginning of the First Robotech War.
Post war space optimized munitions.
Raytheon AMM-1 Arrow long range, all mode anti-mecha/surface missile.
Detail cutaway of the AMM-1A Arrow.
Baseline AMM-1A Arrow.
Post war AMM-1 Arrow sub-variants.
RRG RMS-1 Angel of Death long range air/space launched anti-spaceship missile.
Multiple missile mounting arrangement with a single RMS-1 on the inboard hardpoint, and a double mount on the outboard hardpoint.
Boeing HMM-02 Starburst space mecha-to-mecha missile.
UMM-7 armored container with 15 short range (2.5 kps in space) infra-red imager passive radar homing HMM-02 120mm Starburst missiles, mounted with two RMS-1 Angel of Death missiles.
Hughes GU-11 55mm three barreled smoothbore rotary gun pod.
Spent 55mm casings. Note the short overall length of the casing. Though the 55mm Hughes was a large diameter projectile, it was inherently a low velocity design in comparison to the 30mm cannon on the A-10 Thunderbolt II, for example.
GU-11 in the hand carried (top) and stowed (bottom) position.
Multiple cutaway views of the GU-11 gun pod.
Hughes GU-11D 55mm three barreled smoothbore rotary gun pod.
The GU-11D was essentially a standard GU-11, with an enlarged magazine capacity (550 rounds, versus only 200 for the standard GU-11). Due to its un-aerodynamic shape, this gun pod was primarily used in space.
Rheinmetall GU-12 100mm single smoothbore barrel gun pod.
GBP-1S munitions.
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Original artwork by: Shoji Kawamori, Miyatake Kazutaka, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hidetaka Tenjin
Return to VF-1 Valkyrie Veritech Fighter main technical file
VF-1J transformation sequence from fighter mode to Battloid mode.
VF-1S Super Valkyrie (FAST Pack Version 3) transformation sequence.
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Original artwork by: Shoji Kawamori, Miyatake Kazutaka, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hidetaka Tenjin
Return to VF-1 Valkyrie Veritech Fighter main technical file
Northrop VF-1 FDE undergoing final assembly at their Macross Island facility
Cutaway view of the VF-1J Valkyrie Veritech Fighter
Labelled VF-1J cutaway. (September 2014 issue of Combat Aircraft.)
VF-1J GERWALK citaway.
VF-1J Battloid cutaway.
VF-1 Valkyrie external detail views.
Northrop VF-1A, details of canopy and boarding ladder.
Early VF-1 landing gear. Shown with catapult and jet blast shields from the UES Prometheus.
Late production VF-1 Valkyrie landing gear illustration.
Early VF-1 wing with flaps and leading edge slats deployed.
Early VF-1 wing with flaps and leading edge slats deployed. From Block 8 onward, VF-1 wings also incorporated wing mounted air brakes.
Main air brake as deployed on a Block 4 VF-1A.
Pictures of a one-off pressurized infant crib, as used for transporting the daughter of Commanders Maximilian and Mirya Sterling prior to the capture of the Robotech Factory Satellite.
Manipulator arms from a VF-1S and open access panels on a VF-1D. Though these arms were only installed on a limited number of VF-1s, their utility in certain situations was undeniable. This illustration shows how they would be used to manually detach the nose section of a VF-1.
Battle damaged VF-1D with its crew accommodations in the raised position.
Picture of a battle damaged VF-1J during the First Robotech War.
VF-1 Valkyrie scale comparisons.
Size comparison between the VF-1 Valkyrie and a pre-war Grumman F-14 Tomcat.
Scale comparisons of (from left to right) GBP-1S Armored Valkyrie, VF-1J Valkyrie, ADR-04 Defender, MBR-04 Tomahawk, MBR-07 Spartan, Glaug Officer’s Pod, Regult Battle Pod, a human, a full sized Zentraedi and (background) a HWR-00 Monster.
VF-1 Valkyrie propulsion systems.
Nakajima/P&W/Rolls-Royce FF-2001 fusion turbine system cutaway.
External views of the FF-2001 and the VF-1’s two dimensional thrust vectoring nozzles.
At speeds above Mach 3, the pre-compressor stage was bypassed, allowing the FF-2001 to operate in RAM/SCLAM jet mode.
P&W LHP04 low-thrust vernier thruster detail.
Miscellaneous VF-1 pictures.
Project Trapeze: VF-1 attached to an external fuel tank from an NR-707 shuttle.
Recovered battle damaged VF-1 Valkyrie during the First Robotech War. Picture taken on the hanger deck of the UES Prometheus.
obotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Original artwork by: Shoji Kawamori, Miyatake Kazutaka, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hidetaka Tenjin
Images Courtesy of Chad Wilson (Marchly) and the Macross Mecha Manual. Chad Wilson is given all credit for all images from the Macross Mecha Manual that have been utilized in this publication.
Images From – Macross Perfect Memory and other macross books, Variable Fighter Master File VF-1 Valkyrie, Macross Mecha Manual
Return to VF-1 Valkyrie Veritech Fighter main technical file
VF-1A Baseline five view illustration
VF-1A Valkyrie Veritech Fighter production block details.
VF-1 FDE (Block 0) Full Function Development Experimental
VF-1A Block 2.
VF-1A Block 4-5, 7-8.
VF-1A Block 9-12.
VF-1A Block 13-14.
VF-1X (all VF-1Xs were produced in a single production run, and therefore receive no block number).
VF-1P (all VF-1Ps were produced in a single production run, and therefore receive no block number).
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Original artwork by: Shoji Kawamori, Miyatake Kazutaka, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hidetaka Tenjin
Return to VF-1 Valkyrie Veritech Fighter main technical file
VF-1 Valkyrie primary versions.
Northrop VF-1A Valkyrie Veritech Fighter.
Rockwell Bell VF-1D Valkyrie Veritech Fighter.
Shinnakasu Heavy Industries VF-1J Valkyrie Veritech Fighter.
Northrop VF-1S Valkyrie Veritech Fighter.
Other VF-1 Valkyrie variants, major and minor.
VR-1A-RF Valkyrie Electronic Warfare and Reconnaissance Veritech.
The VR-1A was an electronic warfare and reconnaissance version of the baseline VF-1 Valkyrie. In addition to the standard electronic warfare suit carried by all VF-1 Valkyries, it also carried two multi-frequency radar warning receivers on its vertical stabilizers, two radar jamming pods on its leg nacelles, an Infrared search and track (IRST) system mounted in front of the cockpit and an infrared jamming system on the bottom side of the nose. The VR-1A pictured here also carried a Tactical Aerial Camera System (TACS) pod.
VF-1A Valkyrie Veritech Fighter with Electronic Warfare tactical loadout.
As demonstrated in this picture, baseline VF-1 Valkyries could be configured for the electronic warfare role as well. This VF-1A Valkyrie has been fitted with the leg nacelle mounted radar jamming pods from the VR-1A-RF and an IRST system. On the centerline hard point, this VF-1A carried an ANGIRA multi-wave-length radar jamming pod.
VF-1D Valkyrie Veritech Fighter.
Though intended primarily as a trainer aircraft for pilots undergoing conversion training, the VF-1D was a fully combat capable Veritech and was used as such throughout the First Robotech War. This type was eventually replaced in the training role by Northrop’s VT-1 Ostrich, which was a dedicated Veritech Trainer.
VF-1A Valkyrie Veritech Fighter with reaction mass drop tanks.
Early deployments in space highlighted the VF-1’s short legs. With a delta-V of only 4.1 kps (kilometers per second) the Valkyrie did not have the ability to engage in extended space to space combat engagements. This was an issue eventually addressed with the FAST Packs. The short term solution was to mount conventional drop tanks for additional reaction mass. These drop tanks did not interfere with the Valkyrie’s maneuverability in space, but the wing mounted tanks need to be ejected in order for the fighter to change to Battloid mode.
VF-1D Valkyrie Veritech Fighter with anti-spaceship loadout.
During the First Robotech War, the first Veritech to find itself tasked with the anti-spaceship mission was the VF-1D. In this picture, a VF-1D from the CVS-101 UES Prometheus carries a pair of RMS-1 Angel of Death anti-spaceship thermonuclear missiles.
VF-1L Valkyrie Long Range Interdiction Veritech Fighter.
The VF-1L was a variant built for long range interdiction and strike. It carried a pair of conformal reactions mass tanks with internal weapons bays capable of holding a total of six AAM-1 Arrow missiles or six conventional bombs. This allowed the VF-1L to cruise at high altitude at near its maximum speed of Mach 3.87, allowing it to reach any target in the world within hours. (Normally, with external weapons carriage, the VF-1 could not attain these high speeds for extended periods of time.) This variant also feature an aerodynamically faired head unit and improved radar warning receivers.
VF-1J Super Valkyrie Veritech Fighter with FAST Pack Version 2.0.
Block 7 VF-1J Super Valkyrie with a typical anti-spaceship loadout of four RMS-1 Angel of Death thermo-nuclear anti-spaceship missiles and six AAM-1 Arrows for self-defense.
VF-1A Valkyrie Veritech Fighter with IRST upgrade.
About a third of VF-1 Valkyries were upgraded with Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems from 2016 onward. This system can be seen on the upper side of the nose, just in front of the cockpit. This system allowed for long range search and track modes, freeing the pilot from the need to give away his position with radar emissions. This particular Valkyrie also improved radar warning receivers, which can be seen mounted on the wing-tips.
VR-1D Valkyrie Reconnaissance Veritech.
The VR-1D was the more prolific of the two VR type Veritechs. This specific VR-1D is configured for reconnaissance, with a Tactical Aerial Camera System (TACS) pod mounted on the centerline and no radar jamming or electronic warfare equipment present.
VF-1A Super Valkyrie Veritech Fighter with FAST Pack Version 2.1W-St.
One of the more useful Super Valkyrie variants was the version 2.1W-St. Though the inner wing hardpoint mounting arrangement of the third and fourth NP-BP-01 booster pods limited the max permissible thrust of the extra reaction thrusters, the massive reaction mass tanks mounted in place of the standard missile launchers extended the fighters useable combat radius in space immensely! The fragile mounting points made this configuration next to useless for mecha-to-mecha engagements.
VF-1A Valkyrie Veritech Fighter with radar upgrade.
A limited number of VF-1 Valkyries were upgraded with the VF-4 Lightning III’s Hughes APG-113 phased array radar. Though a significant improvement over the type’s AWG-20, very few received this update.
VF-1A Super Valkyrie Veritech Fighter with FAST Pack Version 2.1W.
The FAST Pack Version 2.1W was the same as the 2.1W-St, with the exception of the lower NP-BP-01s retaining the standard HMMP-02 missile pods. Though extra missiles are always welcomed by any pilot, the fragility of the mounting points made this system next to useless in practice, and thus it never found the niche that the 2.1W-St did.
VF-1DA Valkyrie Veritech Fighter.
During the First Robotech War it became common practice on the SDF-1 to replace battle damaged heads of just about all VF-1s with those of the VF-1A. This was due to the fact that the head unit was the only one produced by Northrop’s Onboard Manufacturing Facility. One such example is this VF-1DA, shown configured for long range anti-spaceship interdiction.
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Original artwork by: Shoji Kawamori, Miyatake Kazutaka, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hidetaka Tenjin
Return to VF-1P Freya Valkyrie Veritech Fighter technical file
VF-1P Freya Valkyrie Veritech technical views.
VF-1P Freya Valkyrie Veritech standard markings.
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Original artwork by: Shoji Kawamori, Miyatake Kazutaka, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hidetaka Tenjin
Images From – Variable Fighter Master File: Wings of Space
Return to VF-1X Valkyrie Veritech Fighter technical file
VF-1X Valkyrie Veritech technical views.
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the properties of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Original artwork by: Shoji Kawamori, Miyatake Kazutaka, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hidetaka Tenjin
Images From – Variable Fighter Master File: Wings of Space
