Lightning (Aerospace Fighter class)

This article is about the aerospace fighter. For other uses, see Lightning.

Lightning
Production information
Manufacturer	Tengo Aerospace HildCo Interplanetary Lockheed/CBM Corporation United Outworlders Corporation
Production Year	2511
Model	LTN-G15
Class	Medium aerospace fighter
Tech Base	Inner Sphere
Technical specifications
Mass	50 tons
Structural Integrity	9
Frame	Hildco Aerospace Type 4
Power Plant	GM 200
Armor	Aerobus Vanluminum Advanced
Fuel	400
Armament	1x AC/20 4x medium laser
Communications System	Endicott Type 22 Master
Tracking & Targeting System	Dwyerson Mark XI
Heat Sinks	13 single
BV (1.0)	919
BV (2.0)	1,057 1,093

Description

Built around a large bore autocannon, the venerable Lightning is well admired for its speed as well as its armor.

After reverse engineering the Terran Hegemony's brand new AC/10, the Capellan Confederation began a crash program to develop an aerospace fighter to carry it. The resulting Lightning was well received, although eventually the ever-advancing pace of military technology left it behind. The Lightning received a new lease of life when the Lyran Commonwealth developed the mammoth AC/20, with Tengo Aerospace reworking the venerable design to include the new weapon along with 10.5 tons of BattleMech-class armor and a more efficient GM 200-rated fusion engine in 2511.

Unfortunately, Tengo's hopes for renewed sales were dashed when the CCAF chose to go with Mujika Aerospace Technologies' cheaper knockoff of the Lightning, the Transit, instead. Desperate to survive, Tengo illegally sold the design to Lyran and Davion manufacturers, with the fighter slowly spreading across the Inner Sphere and ensuring its survival in the Succession Wars.

The license was sold to HildCo Interplanetary on Texlos in the Capellan Confederation, Lockheed/CBM Corporation on Tharkad in the Lyran Alliance and United Outworlders Corporation on Ramora in the Outworlds Alliance. Tengo Aerospace continued to produce the Lightning at the factories on Sarna and St. Ives for the CCAF. In addition, Lycomb-Davion IntroTech on New Avalon within the Federated Suns and Taurus Territorial Industries on Taurus in the Taurian Concordat were also counted among the craft's manufacturers.

Weapons and Equipment

Built around the massive Luxor AC/20, the Lightning is to be feared at short range. Unfortunately, its only other weapons are four Diverse Optics II medium lasers, with one mounted in the nose, one in each wing, and one covering the rear arc. This leaves the design relatively short-ranged, relying on its speed and armor holding out to get into a position of advantage.

Variants

• LTN-G14 

  The original Lightning model built in 2465, it mounted an AC/10 along with the four medium lasers and featured more primitive armor and engines. BV (2.0) = 826

• LTN-G15b 

  Used by the SLDF, this 2721 version carried a Gauss rifle and medium laser in place of the AC/20. It also traded the standard wing armament for a medium laser and medium pulse laser, and another standard medium laser covered the rear arc. 10 double heat sinks kept the heat under control. BV (2.0) = 1,671

• LTN-G16D 

  A more radical update developed in 3068 by the Federated Suns, the G16D features the ferro-aluminum armor and double heat sinks of the other recent upgrades, but also includes an XL engine to free up space for a pair of RAC/2s in the nose and a medium pulse laser to each wing alongside the now upgraded ER medium lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,328

• LTN-16L 

  A 3067 upgrade developed in House Liao space, the 16L uses ferro-aluminum armor and double heat sinks to free up space for an UAC/20 and ER medium lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,376

• LTN-16O 

  Developed in 3068 by the Outworlds Alliance, the upgraded 16O retains the armor of the original but replaces the weapons with LB 20-X AC and a trio of ER small lasers on each wing. BV (2.0) = 1,220

• LTN-G16S 

  Another more expensive and radical updating, the Lyrans' G16S features double heat sinks, a light fusion engine, and heavy ferro-aluminum armor to boost protection and free up weight for a heavy Gauss rifle in the nose as well as four ER small lasers and ER medium lasers on the wings. BV (2.0) = 1,633

• LTN-16T 

  An upgrade developed for the Taurian Concordat, the 16T also uses ferro-aluminum armor and double heat sinks to free up weight for an imported targeting computer and ER medium lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,256

Custom Variants

• LTN-G16-P Lightning Branson 

  The customized fighter of a former Clan Snow Raven warrior, the Lightning Branson uses several new experimental systems to keep enemy forces on their guard. The standard armor has been replaced with Clan-made ferro-lamellor armor and double heat sinks. The weapon loadout of the Lightning has been replaced as well, using three Inner Sphere-made ER medium lasers, two ER small lasers covering the rear, while a nose-mounted HVAC/10 provides a long-range punch. BV (2.0) = 982

Notes

• The Lightning was introduced in AeroTech (1st edition) as one of the six original designs, but lacked model number, release date, or any description beyond its game stats. It was finally given a detailed description in line with that of other aerospace fighters in Technical Readout: 3075.

Gallery

• 

  Original LTN-G16-P Lightning from TRO:3057

• 

  Lightning from TRO:3075

• 

  Branson-variant of Lightning from XTRO:Pirates

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• Experimental Technical Readout: Pirates
• Record Sheets: 3075
• Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War
• Record Sheets: Operation Klondike
• Technical Readout: 3057
• Technical Readout: 3075