Starfire (Aerospace Fighter class)

This article is about the aerospace fighter design. For other uses, see Starfire.
Starfire.jpg
Starfire
Production information
Manufacturer Banzai Weapons Design Company
Production Year 3028[1]
Model SF-1X
Class Medium aerospace fighter
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Cost 2,939,045 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass 55 tons
Structural Integrity 7
Frame NAIS MXA/22
Power Plant CoreTek 275
Armor NAIS Special-X Ferro-Fibrous
Fuel
Armament
Communications System Wunderland Fighter Series 60
Tracking & Targeting System Wunderland Raptores 2
Heat Sinks 20 single heat sinks
BV (1.0) 995 [2]

Description[edit]

The Starfire was a New Avalon Institute of Science-developed aerospace fighter intended as a testbed for recovered LosTech. Scrambling to be the first Successor State to field the advanced Star League era technology discovered in the Helm Memory Core, the NAIS and the closely linked Banzai Weapon Design Company immediately began working on prototype proof of concept designs to gain a better understanding of the new technology and how best to employ it. While only a handful of the craft were constructed, the Starfire assisted the Federated Suns to more quickly and safely employ the advanced technology than its neighbors.

The Starfire's flying-wing chassis, heavily influenced by the specifications for the advanced Star League Defense Force Hellcat II, mounted more advanced ferro-aluminum armor. However, the NAIS's inability to mass produce the advanced material restricted the craft to only seven tons of coverage. The base model additionally carried 20 single heat sinks.[3]

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

The Starfire's baseline model carried an advanced General Motors PTAA UAC/5 prototype in its nose, supported by a relatively common laser array comprising a pair of Martell medium lasers in each wing and an aft-mounted ExoStar small laser.[3] A single ton of reloads for the ammo hungry autocannon was considered more than adequate for a test craft.[2]

As a testbed for lostech equipment, the designers attempted to develop a semi-modular weapons port to aid testing, but were ultimately unsuccessful and were forced to return to the drawing board to rebuild the fighter for each new system. Field refits of the Starfire included variants with still-experimental LB 10-X AC, ER large lasers, Star League style double heat sinks, or Artemis IV FCS and Narc missile beacon enhanced missile launchers.[3]

Variants[edit]

  • Limited Production Model 
    In the mid-3040s it appears that the Starfire entered limited production. These models were widely used by the NAIS Cadet Cadre. These were equipped with prototype UAC/5s. Several of the Cadet Cadre's Starfires were seen in combat against the Word of Blake during the Jihad.[4]

Design Quirks[edit]

The SF-1X Starfire variant is subject to the following Design Quirks:[4]

Notes[edit]

  • As of this writing, there is no published BV2 for the SF-1X Starfire. Also, there is no published information on the limited production Starfire, nor a record sheet or if it differs from the original. The Master Unit List for the Starfire does not include a BV but does have the vehicle's introduction date and Alpha Strike data card.

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Starfire (Aerospace Fighter class)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 99
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Technical Readout: 3026 Revised, p. 98
  4. 4.0 4.1 Experimental Technical Readout: Succession Wars, Volume 1, p. 15

Bibliography[edit]