Lindem Herz
Spaceman
VF Chronology
Ok, here is the VF chronology as taken from the Macross Compendium (http://www.anime.net/macross/)
First Generation Variable Fighters
Sv-51
Produced by Sukhoi/Israel Aircraft Industries/Dornier
No info on the development programme. However, due to dialog in Macross Zero, it appears to be developed before the VF-0. Although the character that said the line might be biased
VF-0 (unofficially Phoenix)
Produced by Northrop Grumman/Stonewell/Shinsei Industries (or at least what would become Shinsei Industries. Continuty hole, don't ask me).
Deployed at Mayan from 2007 to 2008 (as the Compendium says, "one to two years before Space War I", which was in 2009). Limited production run. Apparently, no survivors to the 2010 holocaust (although, since Macross Zero hasn't ended yet, we cannot be sure )
]VF-1 Valkyrie
Produced by Stonewell/Bellcom
Deployment and Mass Production started on November and December 2008. Production restarted on August 2011.
Production ended in 2015.
VF-4 Lightning III (After the real life P-38 Lightning and the YF-22 Lightning II)
Produced by Stonewell/Bellcom
Mass Production started on February 2012
Development started on September 2012
Production ended in 2022 after 8245 units.
VF-3000 Crusader
Produced by Stonewell Bellcom/Shinnakasu Heavy Industry.
Not much info available. The Compendium lists Shinnakasu and Stonewell merging in 2012 to form Shinsei Industry, and since the fighter was developed before the merging, it is most likely a contemporary of the VF-4.
Also, the fighter was the base for the VF-5000, produced early in the 2020´s, which supports even further the theory. Se the VF-5000 entry for other pointers.
Due to design errors, and consecuent accidents, production was terminated after little units were produced.
Second Generation Variable Fighters
VF-5000 (unofficially called the Star Mirage)
Produced by Shinsei Industry
Based on the VF-1 and the VF-3000 and designed for low cost. Programme started in 2011 by Stonewell Bellcom and Shinnakasu Heavy Industry. After the merger of the company in 2012 (into Shinsei Industry), it became the new company's first project.
First flight 2018
Mass production started 2020
Mass production ended 2029
VF-9 Cutlass
First Variable Fighter by General Galaxy
First flight 2021
Mass production started 2023
Mass production ended 2029
VF-11 Thunderbolt
Produced by Shinsei Industry, based on the VF-1
Again, not much information on the development provided. It became the UN Spacy main fighter in 2030, so it supposedly was in service for some time before that. However, according to the Macross M3 game, a prototype was tested in combat in April 2030, so WHEN was the Thunderbolt first developed is debatable.
VF-14 Vampire
Produced by General Galaxy/Messer
Based on the VF-4
First flight 2027.
Mass production started 2028, entered service 2030.
Production continues under license in colonies and elsewhere.
Third Generation Variable Fighters
VF-17 Nightmare
Produced by General Galaxy
One more time, not enough info. However, it being a step up in space manouvrability from the VF-14 and being quite advanced compared to other fighters besides the new AVFs, we can assume it hasen't been in service for long
VF-19 Excalibur
Produced by Shinsei Industries
Prototype first flight in 2039
VF-19A probably first flown in 2041
VF-19F/S first developed in 2046
VF-22 Sturmvogel II
Produced by General Galaxy based on the YF-21 design.
Prototype probably first flown in 2041, adopted by the UN Spacy as Special Ops fighter 2042.
First developed 2046.
Other variable craft
Not enough info either on the VA-3 to guess it development dates. The fact that it doesn't appear to be related to any other VF futher messes up any analysis. However, due to the companies that produced the VB-6 (Shinnakasu/Northrom Grumman), it can be said that that particular VB was developed before the 2012 merger. Although, due to the technology and expertise needed for the project, that sounds ludicrous.
Ok, here is the VF chronology as taken from the Macross Compendium (http://www.anime.net/macross/)
First Generation Variable Fighters
Sv-51
Produced by Sukhoi/Israel Aircraft Industries/Dornier
No info on the development programme. However, due to dialog in Macross Zero, it appears to be developed before the VF-0. Although the character that said the line might be biased
VF-0 (unofficially Phoenix)
Produced by Northrop Grumman/Stonewell/Shinsei Industries (or at least what would become Shinsei Industries. Continuty hole, don't ask me).
Deployed at Mayan from 2007 to 2008 (as the Compendium says, "one to two years before Space War I", which was in 2009). Limited production run. Apparently, no survivors to the 2010 holocaust (although, since Macross Zero hasn't ended yet, we cannot be sure )
]VF-1 Valkyrie
Produced by Stonewell/Bellcom
Deployment and Mass Production started on November and December 2008. Production restarted on August 2011.
Production ended in 2015.
VF-4 Lightning III (After the real life P-38 Lightning and the YF-22 Lightning II)
Produced by Stonewell/Bellcom
Mass Production started on February 2012
Development started on September 2012
Production ended in 2022 after 8245 units.
VF-3000 Crusader
Produced by Stonewell Bellcom/Shinnakasu Heavy Industry.
Not much info available. The Compendium lists Shinnakasu and Stonewell merging in 2012 to form Shinsei Industry, and since the fighter was developed before the merging, it is most likely a contemporary of the VF-4.
Also, the fighter was the base for the VF-5000, produced early in the 2020´s, which supports even further the theory. Se the VF-5000 entry for other pointers.
Due to design errors, and consecuent accidents, production was terminated after little units were produced.
Second Generation Variable Fighters
VF-5000 (unofficially called the Star Mirage)
Produced by Shinsei Industry
Based on the VF-1 and the VF-3000 and designed for low cost. Programme started in 2011 by Stonewell Bellcom and Shinnakasu Heavy Industry. After the merger of the company in 2012 (into Shinsei Industry), it became the new company's first project.
First flight 2018
Mass production started 2020
Mass production ended 2029
VF-9 Cutlass
First Variable Fighter by General Galaxy
First flight 2021
Mass production started 2023
Mass production ended 2029
VF-11 Thunderbolt
Produced by Shinsei Industry, based on the VF-1
Again, not much information on the development provided. It became the UN Spacy main fighter in 2030, so it supposedly was in service for some time before that. However, according to the Macross M3 game, a prototype was tested in combat in April 2030, so WHEN was the Thunderbolt first developed is debatable.
VF-14 Vampire
Produced by General Galaxy/Messer
Based on the VF-4
First flight 2027.
Mass production started 2028, entered service 2030.
Production continues under license in colonies and elsewhere.
Third Generation Variable Fighters
VF-17 Nightmare
Produced by General Galaxy
One more time, not enough info. However, it being a step up in space manouvrability from the VF-14 and being quite advanced compared to other fighters besides the new AVFs, we can assume it hasen't been in service for long
VF-19 Excalibur
Produced by Shinsei Industries
Prototype first flight in 2039
VF-19A probably first flown in 2041
VF-19F/S first developed in 2046
VF-22 Sturmvogel II
Produced by General Galaxy based on the YF-21 design.
Prototype probably first flown in 2041, adopted by the UN Spacy as Special Ops fighter 2042.
First developed 2046.
Other variable craft
Not enough info either on the VA-3 to guess it development dates. The fact that it doesn't appear to be related to any other VF futher messes up any analysis. However, due to the companies that produced the VB-6 (Shinnakasu/Northrom Grumman), it can be said that that particular VB was developed before the 2012 merger. Although, due to the technology and expertise needed for the project, that sounds ludicrous.