Fighters and Bombers
Fighters and bombers are small attack spaceships. They are fast and manoeuvrable but easy to destroy. Fighters can score hits on enemy minor combatants and degrade enemy escort strength. One squadron per escort is typical for massed volley fire. They can be used to finish weakened ships which have withdrawn from the line of battle for repairs. They can provide cover for boarding operations as well. They can provide close point defense by intercepting homing ordinance targeting friendly fleet assets. They are invaluable for planetary assaults and are critical for marines to survive. Close fighter support allows assault capsules to land, supplies to arrive and wounded to be evacuated. Fighter strikes are used to smash hard targets so that marine forces can bypass centres of resistance and maintain an accelerated offensive tempo vital for their style of assault.
 Name: Legionnaire Type: Aerospace Fighter Class Year entered service: 2498 Crew: 1 A/DF: 5; MR: 5; DCR: 80 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 17; Space flight speed: 450 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 10 metres Weight: 19 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: The Legionnaire is a highly mobile interceptor and attack fighter. It is intended for assault missions and when used in a squadron formation is effective in the role of anti-Transport. |
 Name: Lightning Type: Aerospace Fighter Class Year entered service: 2460 Crew: 1 A/DF: 5; MR: 5; DCR: 80 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 15; Space flight speed: 400 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 10 metres Weight: 16 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: Perhaps the most outstanding aspect of the Lightning Fighter's design is its compatibility with the Thunder Bomber. The Lightning can attach itself to the larger Thunder, becoming a larger, faster, more formidable war machine. The two vessels can separate from one another at any time. The effect is that one large aircraft can separate and become two separate and incredibly powerful fighting planes. |
 Name: Maelstrom Type: Aerospace Bomber Class Year entered service: 2430 Crew: 2 A/DF: 5; MR: 4; DCR: 152 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 14; Space flight speed: 380 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 19 metres Weight: 22 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: The Maelstrom debut as the heaviest Aerospace Bomber ever produced, a devastating missile boat for the Galactic Fleet. While not as manoeuvrable as other fighters it more than compensates with greater armour and a staggering array of weaponry. |
 Name: Sidewinder Type: Aerospace Fighter Class Year entered service: 2430 Crew: 1 A/DF: 5; MR: 5; DCR: 80 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 16; Space flight speed: 450 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 10 metres Weight: 12 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive: Defences: Weapon Systems: While extremely short-ranged when first developed, the Sidewinder was well-regarded for its exceptional speed and manoeuvrability. The original manufacturer continued to upgrade the fighter as technology advanced; the final version produced features a Warp Engine, and replaces the previous primitive armour with four tons of Crystallion, giving the same protection for less weight. |
 Name: Starhawk Type: Aerospace Fighter Class Year entered service: 2475 Crew: 1 A/DF: 5; MR: 5; DCR: 160 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 13; Space flight speed: 375 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 20 metres Weight: 20 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: Created as an assault fighter, the Starhawk soon proved well suited to air-to-ground attack and Transport escort missions. Despite its less than sleek look, the sturdy and dependable Starhawk spread across the GFC. |
 Name: Thunder Type: Aerospace Bomber Class Year entered service: 2460 Crew: 1 A/DF: 5; MR: 4; DCR: 160 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 12; Space flight speed: 350 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 20 metres Weight: 20 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: Like the Lightning, the Thunder is a separate and distinctive fighter. However, it can connect to the Lightning, effectively becoming one large war machine. Together, the Thunder adds a barrage of missiles and bombs while still attached to the Lightning. When the situation demands it, the two can detach and fight as two completely independent combat units. The Lightning and Thunder combination is usually used when entering a planet's atmosphere from space (or exiting an atmosphere), first strike (then separate to engage in separate combat, effectively doubling the number of planes) and space combat. The Thunder Bomber is designed specifically to be a heavy back-up or counterpart to the speedy Lightning. Consequently, the Thunder is much larger and laden with explosives. |
 Name: AVT-1 Type: Aerospace Variable Transformable Fighter Class Year entered service: 2513 Crew: 1 +1 A/DF: 5; MR: 5; DCR: 160 Speeds: Height: Width: Length: Weight: 9 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: The AVT-1 was designed and built during the Federation's war with the Celestial Alliance and proved invaluable in deep strike missions on shipyards. The AVT was plagued with problems and mishaps throughout the course of its testing. Due to difficulties in controlling such a powerful variable fighter, the prototype was damaged several times and several test pilots were killed during the early trials of the aircraft. Eventually these problems were overcome and the AVT-1 has enjoyed a long and successful career. |
 Name: AVT-2 Type: Aerospace Variable Transformable Fighter Class Year entered service: 2522 Crew: 1 +1 A/DF: 5; MR: 5; DCR: 160 Speeds: Height: Width: Length: Weight: 10 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: The AVT-2 is a heavily armed, and transformable fighter that was pressed into service by the Federation as the older, standard AVT-1 fighters were being lost in severe numbers. The initial fighters were used it so well in defending an outpost that hardly any Arcturan fighters could get to the ships in the AVT-2’s vicinity. |
 Name: Warrior Type: Aerospace Bomber Class Year entered service: 2444 Crew: 2 A/DF: 5; MR: 4; DCR: 184 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 12; Space flight speed: 320 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 23 metres Weight: 29 tons Armour:
Crystallion Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: The Warrior like all Tsaurid craft is based on stolen plans from another race with more weapons added on. It is mainly used as a defensive craft for protecting planets and patrolling jump points .It can penetrate defences quickly and safely in order to wreck havoc, especially against larger enemy ships. |
 Name: Rattler Type: Aerospace Bomber Class Year entered service: 2453 Crew: 2 A/DF: 5; MR: 4; DCR: 168 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 12; Space flight speed: 320 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 21 metres Weight: 26 tons Armour:
Composite Alloy Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: Despite its unusual design the Rattler has proven its worth in ground assaults and escorting ships to the surface. |
 Name: Fiery Death Type: Aerospace Bomber Class Year entered service: 2678 Crew: 2 A/DF: 5; MR: 5; DCR: 152 Atmosphere flight speed: Mach 14; Space flight speed: 350 million kph; Max Warp: 1 Length: 20 metres Weight: 29 tons Armour:
Composite Alloy Drive:
Defences: Weapon Systems: Fast and lethal, this heavy escort fighter has quickly become feared by the Alliance's enemies. |
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