Meteor

Meteor.jpg
Meteor Heavy Strike Fighter
Production information
Manufacturer Jalastar Aerospace;
Wingman Enterprises Limited[1]
Equipment Rating
Use
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Cost 1,499,461
Introduced 2665[2]
Technical specifications
Mass 45 tons
Engine (Type) GM 225 Atmo-fusion
Fuel 480 - 3 tons
Communications System O/P R Janxiir
Targeting Tracking System TargiTrak 700
Heat Sinks 10 single
Armament
Armor StarGuard II
Crew 1
BV (1.0)
BV (2.0) 451[3] or
405[4]
381 or[5]



Description[edit]

The Federated Suns-designed Meteor, also called the Heavy Strike Fighter, is the standard against which all heavy conventional fighters in the Inner Sphere and Periphery are judged.

Seeking to claim a slice of the same military niche of for-export conventional fighters as Andurien AeroTech's Angel and Imstar Aerospace's Defender, rather than aggressive sales tactics Federated Suns-based Jalastar Aerospace of Panpour chose to focus almost entirely on planetary militias in the Terran Hegemony. Third-party sales during the Star League era, and examples captured as the Hegemony was sliced up after the League's collapse, made the Meteor the template for all heavy strike fighters across the human inhabited space.[3]

While more expensive than turbine engine-powered designs, the wealthy and technologically advanced Terran Hegemony buyers welcomed Jalastar's choice of a GM 225 Atmo-fusion engine to power the Meteor, which gave the fighter both a respectable airspeed, heavy weapons loadout and two and half tons of armor. Three tons of fuel gave the design good endurance for its role.[3]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Meteor's primary weapon is a single nose-mounted Mydron Model B Autocannon/10 supplied with two tons of ammo, providing sustained medium range firepower. Backing this up are two wing-mounted Holly SRM-4 with two tons of ammo, ideal for ground attack.[3]

Cargo[edit]

Often billed as a fighter-bomber, the Meteor frequently flew into combat with its nine external hardpoints laden with enough ordnance to threaten even the toughest foes.[3]

Variants[edit]

  • Inseki 
    Japanese for meteorite, the Inseki is a carbon-copy of the Meteor produced by House Kurita and introduced in 2683.[3][2] BV (2.0) = 381[6]
  • Bat Hawk 
    Introduced in 2916,[2] the Taurian Concordat based Wingman Enterprises Limited's Bat Hawk variant[1] replaced the fusion engine with a locally manufactured 225-rating turbine engine. While the autocannon was retained, the heavier engine forced both SRM-4 racks to be replaced with a single nose-mounted Harvester SRM-2, both weapons only supplied with a single ton of reloads each.[3] BV (2.0) = 341[9] or 293[10]
  • Meteor-U 
    A FedCom Civil War-era Davion variant introduced in 3063,[2] the Meteor-U upgraded the standard autocannon to Ultra model and replaced both SRMs with a pair of Intek medium lasers and two extra heat sinks. While able to inflict nearly double the damage of the standard model, the extra weight required reduced the U's fuel load by one ton.[3][13] BV (2.0) = 794[14] or 716[15]
  • Seabuster Strike Fighter (Standard) 
    A five-ton heavier Magna 250 fusion engine-powered variant of the Bat Hawk intended to replicate the MechBuster-based custom built version, the mass-produced SeaBuster carries a nose mounted Pontiac Ultra 100 Ultra AC/20 to inflict massive damage on an enemy force. A Diverse Optics Type 2 medium laser in each wing provides supporting firepower. For additional tactical flexibility, the SeaBuster carries a recon camera in the nose. Finally, the SeaBuster uses a flotation hull to allow it to land or take off from waterways. Iron Halo 777 heavy ferro-fibrous armor protects the pilot from enemy fire.[1] BV (2.0) = 856[16][17]

Design Quirks[edit]

The SeaBuster strike fighter is subject to the following Design Quirks:[1]

Notes[edit]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. 162
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 MUL online date for Meteor
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Technical Readout: 3039, pp. 182–183: "Meteor Heavy Strike Fighter Profile"
  4. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 212
  5. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 290
  6. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 288
  7. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 211
  8. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 289
  9. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 210
  10. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 287
  11. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 213
  12. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 291
  13. Objectives: Federated Suns, p. 28: "Jalastar Aerospace"
  14. Record Sheets: 3039, p. 214
  15. Record Sheets: 3039 Unabridged, p. 292
  16. Technical Readout: Prototypes, p. 163
  17. Record Sheets: Prototypes, p. 81

Bibliography[edit]