Ares Gryphon

The development of the Gryphon began in the late 1980s following a call from the Tiperyn and Koryeo governments to the North-South Defence Consortium for a new advanced air superiority fighter and interceptor.

There are several variants of the Gryphon in service. One such development includes the carrier-capable Gryphon M "Marine", adapted to endure harsh carrier deck landings and takeoffs via catapults and ski-jumps. Another is the more recent Gryphon S "Slaan" (: "Strike") which adapts the Gryphon platform for and  roles, with side-by-side seating for increased crew cooperation,  for increase stability, and improved ground attack avionics adapted from the Ares Trident interdictor program (designated Jachtbommesmiter Trijetyn).

Development
During the mid-1980s, the Tiperyn and Koryeo governments had independently began bidding through the North-South Defence Consortium on a contract to construct a high-level mission capable fighter jet for each nation's respective air forces. Koryeo, which was fielding an aging fleet of interceptors dedicated to home defense, was looking to for a replacement that could both fill the role of a high-speed, land-based interceptor and an high-performance air superiority fighter. Meanwhile, Tiperyn intended to replace its interceptors and air superiority fighters with the notional design while also maintaining commonality between the land-based Realm Aero Service and the carrier-based Realm Armada. The latter of also required a multirole capability out of the platform, as its military involvement in Naseristan had also necessitated an aircraft adept in ground-attack roles. Although the idea of developing a to fill the high-level mission capable fighter niche by commanders in the Tiperyn and Koryeo militaries following the construction of several stealth technology demonstrators, the concept was ultimately abandoned. It was projected that the program cost and ultimate flyaway costs for such a fighter would be prohibitively expensive, and the platform would have unsatisfactorily low availability due to flight and maintenance costs.

In 1988, Tiperyn and Koryeo filed a joint request to the North-South Defence Consortium for a single platform to meet these needs. By 1989, a joint contract was granted to Ares Aerospace, KIA, Armstrong Gunsmiths, and Earn Yndustry to design and manufacture the aircraft and its components. The venture was announced publicly 2 August 1989 in Hawkreath, Tiperyn at the Ares Aerospace headquarters where Ares revealed a mockup of the fighter and gave it the name "Gryphon." Little was known about the Gryphon publicly at this time other than its general aesthetics and that it was going to be a twin-engine fighter designed specifically for air-to-air combat. Over the following three years, Ares and KIA designed the first flyable prototype of the Gryphon, making its first flight on 1 April 1991.

Throughout its development, Ares and KIA had to reconcile the differing requirements and intended missions of Tiperyn and Koryeo for the Gryphon platform. One of the major sticking points was the Koryeo requirement for a high-speed, low-drag interceptor clashing with the Tiperyn requirement of a high-yield external ordnance carrying capacity. The ultimate solution was the integration of a large central internal ordnance bay with provisions for up to 6 hardpoints and two smaller bays located on the side of the air intake ramps capable of holding one short-range air-to-air missile each. This would give the Gryphon the capability of carrying a satisfactory amount of air-to-air combat ordnance without the added drag of externally-mounted ordnance and hardpoints. However, the fighter still had provisions for up to 11 external hardpoints and 2 wing-tip rail launchers that could be used to mount a wide variety of ordnance. Now, in modern configurations, Tiperyn primarily uses the internal weapons bays for additional fuel storage on the majority of its fighters.

Additionally, Tiperyn had requested that the standard model of the Gryphon be capable of carrier-based operations. Since the 1950s, Tiperyn had enforced commonality of aircraft between its land-based and carrier-based air services to reduce costs and streamline its supply chain. Typically, its naval fighters had always been navalized conversions of land-based fighters with strengthened landing gear, arresting hooks, and, sometimes, folding wings. With the changing nature of warfare and a marked increase in joint operations abroad, Tiperyn was now requiring that the base model of the Gryphon would have the minimum functionality needed to operate from aircraft carriers. Additionally, Tiperyn had made it doctrine of requiring that its fighters be able to be launched and recovered from improvised airfields - including stretches of its motorways - with the aid of arresting cables. Thus, Gryphon As across the board were equipped with arresting hooks and strengthened landing gears, while the navalized Gryphon M would feature additional upgrades for carrier-based operations. The Gryphon K - the Koryeo specific variant designed specifically for air-to-air interception and lacking much of the ground-attack capability of the Gryphon A - lacked these features.

Between its first flight in 1991 and its introduction in 1998, the Gryphon experienced a number of iterations and updates. The design was originally slated to be a single-seat design, but the switch to a twin-seat design was made in 1992 to take the work load of operating the aircraft's weapons and avionics off of the pilot. In 1994, the first concept of the Gryphon S strike fighter variant was released, which featured side-by-side seating and upgraded ground-attack avionics. Koryeo favored the side-by-side seating configuration for all variants of the Gryphon following studies that suggested this layout lead to better crew cooperation. However, it was determined that changing the layout of the Gryphon at this stage of development would cause unacceptable project delays. Additionally, the Tiperyn government did not favor the layout for its air superiority fighter. This variant would ultimately be adopted by Koryeo in 2004, but not Tiperyn. Issues with the fly-by-wire system and large batteries afflicted the prototypes in late 1995, but were rectified after two months. In 1996, Agrana y Griegro joined the Gryphon program as a launch customer, and the first Tiperyn and Koryeo orders of the Gryphon were made public. The Gryphon entered service with the Tiperyn and Koryeo militaries simultaneously on 18 July 1998, celebrated with a ceremony featuring fly-bys and demonstrations including both Tiperyn and Koryeo aircraft.

Design
The Gryphon is a modern jet fighter of a principally, construction. The platform features a, design. The aircraft's fuselage, wings and empennage are constructed primarily out of composite materials - such as carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced polymers - and for their high strength-to-weight ratio with the added effect of reducing the aircraft's. Meanwhile, its wing's leading edges are titanium to compensate for the high temperatures experienced during high-speed flight due to air resistance. The Gryphon's vertical stabilizers are all-moving for great yaw authority and rudder responsiveness during supersonic flight by decreasing wave drag over conventional configurations. This also provides the added benefit of a reduce RCS over a conventional design due to the Gryphon's vertical stabilizers being a single coherent component. Like many other modern maneuverable jet fighters, the Gryphon is, requiring an advanced control system to artificially maintain stability during flight. Instability, a result of the Gryphon's low profile, is a trade-off for enhanced maneuverability, as greater control surface authority and responsiveness causes spontaneous changes to attitude and bank angle if not corrected for.

All variants of the Gryphon feature both a retractable refueling probe and receptacle to accept a refueling boom. This allows the Gryphon to be used in international and interbranch operations via a variety of refueling aircraft. With a minimum landing speed of 119 knots (220 km/h, 137 mph),, and reinforced landing gear, the standard Gryphon A is capable of both land-based and carrier-based operations. Its satisfactory low-speed performance gives it the capability of launching from both and  equipped aircraft carriers with no modifications. This design choice was insisted upon by the Tiperyn Realm Defence, which required 97 percent commonality between the Realm Armada and Realm Aero Service's fighters and for land-based fighters to be able to make arrested landings on short airfields and aircraft carriers. The navalized Gryphon M - also a Tiperyn request introduced in 2001 - includes these features, as well as folding wings to reduce space, a built in ladder and a built in to interface with the systems of modern aircraft carriers.

Although not a stealth aircraft, conscious design decisions were made to reduce the Gryphon's radar cross section while keeping costs reasonably low and functionality high. These include the aircraft's low profile and overall shape, radar reflective coatings to the cockpit, internal weapons bays, and a composite construction. Beginning in 2007, the Tiperyn military augmented their orders to include Gryphons with. The upgrades included a light fibre mat composed of synthetic composite materials lining most of the Gryphon's surfaces. In 2009, the Tiperyn Realm Armada and Realm Aero Service began retrofitting their existing Gryphon fleet with this stealth upgrade.

The Gryphon has provisions for 3 external fuel tanks (two wing-mounted 2040 kg tanks) and 1850 kg fuel tank that may be mounted inside the internal bomb bay. Additionally, newer models of the Gryphon produced passed 2017 include provisions for two conformal 2550 kg tanks supplementing the aircraft's stock internal fuel storage of 7,300 kg. The addition of conformal fuel tanks allows for extended range without the use of high-drag wing mounted drop tanks. Coated in radar absorbing material and blending with the profile of the Gryphon, the use of conformal tanks gives an advantage to the Gryphon during long range engagements.

Avionics
The Gryphon is equipped with a sophisticated avionics suite, combining the best in long range scanning, threat detection, countermeasures, communications and data transfer, and navigation. The Gryphon's avionics package makes it a true air superiority fighter, its powerful radar suite giving it the advantage against most targets. Interconnected by fiber optic cable for more efficient and more reliable data transfer, the Gryphon is spearheading the future of fighter design. All of the Gryphon's systems are integrated into one unitary system dubbed the Integrated Data Processing Unit (IDPU) which processes all incoming feedback from the fighter's various avionics system and a fast, reliable datalink, providing a complete view of the battlespace to the crew and command. In this way, the Gryphon can act in a limited capacity as an AWACS (airborne early warning and control), able to penetrate an enemy air space and provide close-in tactical information to other units in the area.

The IDPU is a modern computing system, combining the abilities of all of the Gryphon's avionics equipment into a single system. By processing the data received from each component together rather than in independent processors, the efficiency and speed of the processing is increased. The IDPU is equipped with 64 GB of random access memory, 4 TB of storage, and has the capability of cycling through 20,000,000,000 processes per minute. The IDPU is modular, able to accept drivers and modules for a variety of avionics and ballistic hardware, allowing it to adapt to its mission. Linking the communications and information exchange capabilities of its 1 gibabit speed datalink, its 560 kilometer range active radar array, a plethora of electronic and conventional countermeasures, and an effective infra-red search and track system, the IDPU turns the Gryphon into a deadly tool of war with unprecedented awareness of the battlefield and an unmatched air-to-air combat capacity.

The KIA AN/APG-01 solid-state active electronically scanned array is the primary front-facing radar array of the Gryphon. Equipped with 1,750 transmit/receive modules, the AN/APG-01 can perform beam steering within 30 nanoseconds (3x 10−8 seconds) within a 120°field of view in azimuth and elevation. This articulation and steering speed is facilitated by the fact that the AN/APG-01 is a completely electrical system with no moving parts, cutting hydraulics, friction, and other variables out of its function. This system can track multiple targets are once, the AN/APG-01's thousands of transmit/receive modules focusing independently of each other. When prompted to track a specific target, either by the IDPU's readings from the AN/APG-01 or AN/ALR-06, or by crew input, each beam can focus to within 2°by 2° in azimuth and elevation. The maximum range of the AN/APG-01 when ranging a 10 m² target is estimated to be 560 km (in comparison to the 355 km range of the AN/APG-77), while being able to detect targets with a .0001 m² radar cross section (the magnitude of the F-22A) at 25 km+. By frequency hopping over 1,000 times per second and using less energy per radar pulse than more antiquated systems, the AN/APG-01 has a low probability of intercept. The difference in these systems lies in the AN/APG-01's arrayed radar, rather than the traditional single antenna. With a single antenna, a high energy radar pulse must be released in order to achieve the equivalent range. By measuring the time of return and the Doppler shifts of the radar pulses, the AN/APG-01 may accurately produce a 3D image of the target. In conjunction with the AN/PYQ-09 datalink, the central processor of the Gryphon's avionics suite can compare this image to other known aircraft.

Supplementing the forward-facing AN/APG-01, the KIA AN/ALR-06 Omnidirectional Passive Radar is a radar array consisting of 30 arrays comprised of hundreds of antennae built into the Gryphon's air frame. Providing a 360° view of its environment, the AN/ALR-06 provides such functions as geo-location and the detection of radar sources (such as missiles or other aircraft). With nominal estimated range of 470 km, its function aids the Gryphon by reducing its overall power output (allowing it to function with passive systems rather than active) and filling in the 240° blind spot of its forward facing AN/APG-01. In the event that the AN/ALR-06 detects a potential target, the IDPU activates the AN/APG-01 to provide more accurate and more effective tracking and identification.

The AN/ALR-06 incorporates several sub-systems, including the AN/AAR-56 Missile Launch Detector and AN/APG-04v3 AESA Radar, the former providing purpose built protection against radar homing missiles and the later acting as a supplement to the AN/APG-01. The AN/APG-04v3 is built into the cheeks of the Gryphon. With approximately 700 transmitter/receiver modules in each array, it is functionally identical to the AN/APG-01, extending the Gryphon's field of view to 300°. Like the AN/APG-01, it is a solid-state active electronically scanned array linked to the IDPU. As such, it is able to focus on specific targets, providing active detection and tracking.

By providing 360° coverage, the radar-homing weapon systems of the Gryphon do not have to have a view of the target, nor do they need to be facing that target when fired. During launch and the initial stages of flight, the Gryphon's tracking systems guide radar homing ordnance in the direction of the target, switching control over to the missile's own guidance system. As such, a missile that is fired at a target directly behind the Gryphon is still able to home in and eliminate its target.

The KIA AN/AAQ-25 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System is an infrared search and track array consisting of 8 infrared sensor apertures, providing 360° coverage. The AN/AAQ-25 is multi-function, able to detect incoming missiles and aircraft, spikes in heat, and provide the pilot with an all-around day or night infrared view of his surroundings. As an integrated part of the IDPU suite, the need for external targetting pods is eliminated, allowing the fighter to carry more ordnance and while retaining their benefits.

The Gryphon's EODAS system consists of a laser transmitter and receiver, a video feed, FLIR, a global positioning system, and 7 IR sensors for peripheral protection. EODAS provides a high resolution all-weather feed to the crew and command, allowing him or her to monitor, identify, and track targets. In the Gryphon, ordnance may be slaved to the EODAS system, giving the fighter advanced ground attack capabilities. The Gryphon has two EODAS modules; one on the bottom front of the fuselage and one on the top behind the canopy. This allows the weapon system officer to track either targets on the ground as well as hostiles on its rear. In addition, a laser transmitter built into the Gryphon's air frame allows it to designate targets for ground forces or other aircraft, and its laser receiver allows it to acquire targets which have been designated. This gives the Gryphon the capability of laser ranging and guidance. The EODAS's 30 secondary IR sensors are spread throughout the Gryphon's air frame, providing 360° infrared detection coverage. This system is responsible for the infrared component of the IDPUs missile lock warning system. This system is able to detect and track multiple suborbital ballistic threats at ranges of up to 1,400 km, including surface-to-air missiles, interceptor missiles, artillery, and shoulder-fired rockets. The EODAS system acts in conjunction with the Gryphon's countermeasure systems, providing the weapon system officer with the best options for evading incoming missiles.

The Gryphon is equipped with an advanced electronic countermeasure system. Taking inputs processed by the Integrated Data Processing Unit, the AN/ASQ-06 Electronic Warfare System, feeds information to the weapons system officer and automatically responds to potential threats. The AN/ASQ-06 combines the capabilities of multiple subsystems, including physical flare and chaff countermeasures, radar jamming, the AN/AAQ-25 EODAS, and the AN/ALR-06 passive radar array to provide the most thorough protection against hostile fighters and ground forces. The Gryphon's EWS has been proven effective in detecting, tracking, and evading radar and infrared guided munitions, and has the capability of jamming enemy radar arrays. By consolidating all the information presented to it and sending it to the IDPU for further processing, the pilot receives a full view of the battlespace.

The AN/ASQ-06 takes in information from the Gryphon's peripheral avionics, including the AN/AAQ-25 EODAS's 8 infrared sensors, the AN/ALR-06's 28 passive and 2 active radar arrays, and the primary front facing AN/APG-01 AESA radar, to identify threats and decide the best course of action. The passive radar arrays within the AN/ALR-06 system emit no energy, but provide the Gryphon with radar detection capabilities. When hostile radar signatures are detected, the AN/ASQ-06 cues the Gryphon's active radar systems (which provide a 300° field of view) to actively jam the incoming radar frequency. It does this by projecting a radio wave of identical wavelength and amplitude at an angle opposite to the incoming wave. Each pulse is out of phase, its wave crests lining up with the incoming wave's troughs and vice versa. This concept is called "destructive interference," and completely eliminates the incoming radar pulse. The weapon system officer is notified of the hostile radar and of its source, but the AN/ASQ-06's independent processor handles the jamming process, as well as the triangulation and tracking of targets.

In addition to radar jamming, the AN/ALR-06 works in tandem with the AN/AAQ-25 EODAS to provide full coverage against incoming missiles and enemy aircraft. The AN/AAQ-25 works to identify infrared shifts in the Gryphon's surroundings, identifying missiles and enemy aircraft. The AN/ALR-06 provides the weapon system officer with information regarding incoming radar waves, allowing him to determine if the missile uses an active radar, semi-active radar, or infrared guidance system. When a threat is detected, the AN/ASQ-06 cues the AN/ALE-52 Countermeasure System which may launch a variety of countermeasures, including flares, chaff, and dazzlers. The AN/ALE-52 is purposed built to carry ordnance to counter hostile missiles, able to rapidly deploy high energy ion flares and laser dazzlers (to redirect infrared homing missiles) and chaff (to confuse active/semi-active radar homing missiles). As the Gryphon is able to track supersonic projectiles with its multi-directional warning sensors and antennae, the AN/ALE-52 is capable of deploying directional ordnance, able to focus on the guidance unit of the missile. These systems are extremely crucial to the Gryphon's combat performance and survivability, as over 80% of all Tiperyn air losses have been the result of fighter- or man-launched passive infrared homing missiles. Adding to its rugged air frame, the Gryphon's electronic countermeasure suite is projected to lower air combat losses dramatically when compared to previous generation fighters.

The AN/PYQ-09 is the communications and data processing unit of the Integrated Data Processing Unit, giving the pilot and his command an unprecedented level of situational awareness and connection. The Gryphon is equipped with a WiFi access point and several secondary and tertiary satellite communication systems. The AN/PYQ-09 is able to monitor the movements and locations of friendly aircraft, hostile aircraft, and ground units within an area of operations. Able to receive at 1.4 gigabits per second and transmit at 800 megabits per second, the pilot is able to be in constant contact with his command and other aircraft and receive all relevant information regarding his mission. Even with this capability, the AN/PYQ-09 makes each Gryphon more independent than otherwise possible, allowing it to detect and track all units within its range and process all relevant environmental data without the aid of a command center's data collection and consolidation. This makes the Gryphon a viable supplement to a more developed AWACS system, able to close in on enemy positions and provide real-time tactical data regarding the positions of enemy units and battle damage assessment using its multiple radar, infrared, and video imaging systems.

In order to lower the probability of intercept of the AN/PYQ-09's transmissions, the system hops frequency rapidly. It operates in the Ku band (12 GHz to 18 GHz), lowering the chance of interception. However, operating at the higher end of this frequency range may cause signal degradation in adverse weather conditions.

Cannon
The Gryphon is also outfitted with an Armstrong 35x228mm automatic cannon mounted in its portside wing root. This gives the Gryphon the capability of engaging hostile aircraft at close ranges without the use of missiles, as well as an added ground support capability. The auto cannon has a rate of fire of 1,100 rounds per minute, propelling each shell at a muzzle velocity of 1,050 meters per second. This round is incredibly effective against materiel and vehicles. The Gryphon has provisions for up to 130 rounds of 35mm ammunition, although an additional 300 rounds may be added through additions in the central internal bay should the mission dictate. The firing of the cannon is controlled by the Integrated Data Processing Unit, ranging the target with EODAS and compensating for environmental conditions, distance, and the aircraft's relative speed.

In order to increase reliability, all internal components of the cannon are put through a salt bath ferritic nitrocarburizing in which each piece is quenched in a salt bath, polished, and then quenched once more, creating a layer of iron oxide. This process gives the steel added resistance against corrosion, fatigue, and scuffing. When subjected to a spray salt test, components which had undergone ferritic nitrocarburizing corrosion over only 15% of their total surface area in 320 hours, versus the 75% of chromed components over 90 hours. As shown by environmental trials undergone by the Tiperyn Realm Defence, this specific method of nitrocarburization has drastically increased the reliability and durability of all metal components, with the added benefit of reducing friction between internal components and hardening the steel itself rather than simply plating it. The barrel of the cannon is stainless steel, also put through ferritic nitrocarburizing. The decision to go with stainless steel over the cheaper 4140 steel (Chrome Molybdenum steel) was motivated by stainless steel's longer life expectancy, greater accuracy, and easier cleaning. Because stainless steel is more malleable, allowing for greater precision during manufacturing, accuracy is leaps and bounds better than chrome moly. This allowance for greater precision during rifling means that on a microscopic level, the barrel is much smoother than a chrome moly barrel, reducing the chance of fouling. This combined with the salt bath nitrocarburizing gives the barrels of cannon an exceptional lifespan and undeniable reliability in the air.

Ordnance
The Gryphon is equipped has three internal ordnance bays; two bays on either side of the aircraft's air intake ramps and one large bay on the underside of the fuselage. In addition, there are also 6 wing-mounted hardpoints, 2 wing-tip mounted rail launchers, and 4 fuselage-mounted hardpoints. Of these external hardpoints, 2 of the wing hardpoints are plumbed, accommodating for external fuel tanks. The central internal weapons bay may carry a maximum of six medium range air-to-air missiles, eight short-range air-to-air missiles, or a mixture of ordnance. Plumbed hardpoints in the Gryphons internal bay are an option, allowing for the mounting of one 850 kg fuel tank. Each side bay is fitted to carry one short range air-to-air missile (such as an AIM-9X Sidewinder). Each underwing hardpoint has a maximum carrying capacity of 2,300 kg, and is capable of carrying a variety of ordnance, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, gun pods, electronic warfare systems, guided munitions, and anti-radiation missiles. Each wingtip launcher may be fitted with one medium- or short-range air-to-air missile each. Of the 5 fuselage hardpoints, 2 are mounted under each of the air intake ramps and are only outfitted to carry short- or medium-range AAMs.

The Gryphon's high performance increases the effectiveness of its munitions. When deployed at high altitudes at high speeds, its missiles and bombs have a significant kinetic energy advantage over previous launch platforms. It has been noted at an altitude of 17,000 m at a speed of Mach 1.8, guided munitions have an increased range, a 500 kg JDAM able to destroy a moving target over 50 kilometers out. The range and efficiency of interceptor missiles has been increased by 50% when deployed at altitude by the Gryphon. The potential energy gained by being at altitude allows missiles to glide with the aid of aerodynamic surfaces. This, combined with the Gryphon's speed adds a significant amount of kinetic energy to its munitions, increasing its air-to-air lethality.

Powerplant
The Gryphon is outfitted with two Earn Yndustry Dominance MTE-51 turbofans, providing the aircraft with 219 kN of dry thrust and 346 kN of wet thrust. With an exceptional thrust-to-weight ratio at a typical loading (1.21), the Gryphon is fully capable of achieving supersonic flight without the use of an afterburner, increasing its fuel efficiency and range. The maximum speed of the Gryphon at supercruise (with internal weapons, a pilot, and no afterburner) is rated at Mach 1.7 (2,099 km/h; 1,134 knots). At altitude with afterburners engaged, the Gryphon can achieve Mach 2.5 (1,650 mph, 2,665 km/h). Although heavier and more expensive than a single engine fighter, the stipulation for two engines was made by the Tiperyn military which were concerned with the possibility of a flame-out over water where the danger of drowning was very prevalent and the Koryeo military which wanted high speed and altitude capabilities for its interceptor aircraft.

The Gryphon is equipped with three-dimensional thrust vectoring and circular, titanium nozzles. Thanks to the MTE-51's pitch-axis thrust vectoring, the Gryphon can be classified as supermaneuverable, able to perform such maneuvers as Pugchev's Cobra and the Herbst Maneuver easily, maintain control past the aircraft's stall speed under normal conditions without thrust vectoring, and maintain roll control at an angle of attack of up to 60°. The addition of thrust vectoring gives the Gryphon capabilities far beyond older fighters that are limited to maneuvering solely with aerodynamic control surfaces. Three-dimensional TVC gives the Gryphon exceptional departure resistance and agility in dogfight scenarios. The components of the powerplant (compressor blades, the housing, etc.) and the nozzles make great use of titanium alloys and carbon fiber. Much more heat resistant than either steel or aluminium, the use of these materials reduces the overall IR signature of the Gryphon significantly. Additionally, a fixed diverting structures are affixed in the air intake ramp to reflect radar waves away from their source and obscure the fan blades of its engines, reducing its overall RCS.

The function of the MTE-51 is controlled electronically by the Gryphon's automated systems, increasing efficiency and performance. This system also controls the thrust vectoring system, integrating it into the pilot's heads-up-display. Ease of maintenance has been increased through a "one-deep" placement, meaning all vital components may be accessed through surface panels, eliminating the need for components to be removed from the powerplant to grant access to others.

Cockpit
The Gryphon features a glass cockpit, the throttle for its two turbofans on the left hand side of pilot and the stick on his right. Data such as radar, infrared readings, fuel levels, speed, altitude, etc. are all displayed on the pilot's and weapon systems officer's dashboards, with the option to display a video feed from the EODAS arrays, a GPS map of friendly units in the AO, and a text message program meant to allow for the transfer of data from command to the crew. The IDPU provides the pilot with vital information in combat scenarios, including missile warning and the signatures of hostile fighters which have been ranged, tracked, and identified by its three active radar arrays. The pilot has the capability of accessing a database and communications network, enabling him to always been connected with his allies and command. The pilot's may be equipped with an HMD (head mounted display) visor, which may display critical information such as the structural integrity of his aircraft, the status of his weapons, and a reticle for targeting hostile aircraft. As the Gryphon has almost full 360° infrared and radar coverage, even if an aircraft is directly behind it (at a distance), the pilot can deploy infrared homing or active radar interceptor missiles to dispatch the target.

At 150 kilograms, the canopy is strengthened to protect against birdstrikes and projectiles. In order to lower the Gryphon's radar cross section, its canopy is coated in an indium tin oxide film. When a radar pulse hits an untreated canopy, the wave reflects off of the hard surfaces in the cockpit and the pilot himself, increasing the aircraft's radar signature. By coating the canopy in a conductive material, the radar pulse acts similarly when it hits it as it does when it hits a metal plate, decreasing its RCS.

The cockpit of the Gryphon is equipped with a reliable life support system, including an oxygen generation system, a breathing apparatus, and pressurized garments. The Gryphon uses a modified version of the previous generation Ares ejection seat. In order to reduce the time to ejection, the standard center ejection cord has been replaced by two levers on either side of the pilot near the throttle and the control stick. Once the pilot pulls the ejection levers, explosive bolts launch the canopy off, several spring loaded rails launch the seat, and rocket motors at the base of the ejection seat fire. A drogue chute located behind the pilot's head rest deploys, slowing his descent. The seat is capable of, meaning it is capable of ejecting its occupant safely from a stationary ground position. The rocket motors' burn and deployment of the chute are based on flight data gather by the IDPU immediately before ejection. Additionally, the seat is designed to modify its acceleration based upon the weight of the occupant to avoid unnecessary injury. An emergency kit (including a radio, food, water, and a first aid kit) is located at the base of the ejection seat. The ejection seat itself is equipped with an oxygen supply system, designed to (1) provide the pilot with a limited oxygen supply after ejection at high altitude and (2) provide the pilot with oxygen if the primary life support system fails.

Tiperyn
The Gryphon has been the premiere air superiority fighter of the Tiperyn Realm Aero Service and Realm Armada Air Service since its adoption by the services in 1998 and 2001 respectively. The Realm Aero Service deploys the Gryphon primarily as a home defense fighter and interceptor, stationed in air bases in inland Tiperyn and patrolling the home island's air space and that of the Saint Channel and Balearic Sea. Meanwhile, the navalized Gryphon M has been employed by the Realm Armada as a ground-attack and fleet security fighter and saw its first combat almost immediately after its adoption in Naseristan. Although light attack and counter-insurgency aircraft are more common in Tiperyn's fight against Mihrani insurgents and central and southern Naseristan, the Gryphon has been employed in place of heavier strike aircraft such as the Ares Trident to deliver large amounts of ordnance and provide sustained support of coalition ground forces.

Additionally, both the land-based Gryphon A and carrier-based Gryphon M were deployed during the height of the Veikan Conflict. During the conflict, Tiperyn Gryphons flew over territory controlled by Veikan loyalists and enforced a no-fly zone for League of Free Nations and rebel military aircraft. Gryphons were noted to have engaged in ground-attack missions three times during their patrols from 2013 to 2016 in defense of Tiperyn soldiers that had been stationed in Veikaia prior to the beginning of the conflict and ports containing numerous Tiperyn-registered cargo ships. Additionally, Tiperyn Gryphons intercepted a flight of Legantian fighter aircraft after democratic rebel forces had broken through a point in the loyalist lines that had Tiperyn Gryphons had been patrolling. The incident did not result in casualties. This conflict saw the first operational use of the Gryphon A's carrier operations capability, as well as its first and, thus far, only combat use in Artemia.

Variants
''Note: All variants are referred to as by their export designation given by Ares Aerospace. Individual operators may have different designations''
 * Gryphon A - The primary land-based interceptor and air superiority fighter variant of the Gryphon introduced in 1998, adapted for air-to-air and multirole combat scenarios. The Gryphon A is basically able to operate from aircraft carriers as it is equipped with a strengthened undercarriage and arresting hook.
 * Gryphon EK (Eksportearje) - Export version for nations outside of the North-South Concordant with downgraded avionics and engines. Variants of the export version are denoted by a EK. followed by a number in sequence unique to each order. For example, the Gryphon EK.1 is an export model with few changes from the Gryphon A other than avionics and powerplant downgrades that was delivered to the SiWallqanqa Royal Air Force in 1999. Meanwhile, the EK.2 is capable of accepting weapons and ordnance typically used by nations within the League of Free Nations.
 * Gryphon K (Koryeo) - The Koryeo-specific model of the Gryphon adapted specifically to air-to-air interception and lacking avionics dedicated to ground-attack. The Gryphon K also had a lightened undercarriage and lacked an arresting hook.
 * Gryphon M (Marine) - A navalized variant of the Gryphon A equipped with folding wings, a microwave landing system, and built in ladder introduced in 2001. The upgrades give the Gryphon M enhanced carrier operations capabilities, as the initial Gryphon A had basic carrier operations capability.
 * Gryphon S (Slaan) - A strike fighter/fighter-bomber variant of the Gryphon with side-by-side seating, additional avionics for ground attack missions, and canards for added stability introduced in 2004.

Current
 Agrana y Griegro  Koryeo - Operated as the KIA Geulipin  SiWallqanqa  Thesparos  Tiperyn - Operated as the Jachtfleantúch Griffioen
 * Royal Armed Forces Aerial Service
 * Unified Armies Air Forces - 155 Gryphon Ks delivered and 30 on order. 73 Gryphon Ss delivered and 19 on order.
 * Royal Air Force - 4 Gryphon EK.1s delivered and 2 currently operational.
 * Thesparossian Air Force
 * Realm Aero Services - 64 Gryphon As delivered and 46 on order.
 * Realm Armada Air Services - 274 Gryphon Ms delivered and 145 on order.

Former
 Kingdom of Veikaia - Operation ceased due to the collapse of the kingdom during the Veikan Conflict