Swift (Aerospace Fighter class)

This article is about the aerospace fighter. For the JumpShip, see Swift (Individual JumpShip).

Swift
Production information
Manufacturer	Caletra Fighters
Production Year	2682
Model	SWF-606
Class	Light aerospace fighter
Tech Base	???
Cost	1,738,613 C-bills
Technical specifications
Mass	25 tons
Structural Integrity
Frame	Mujika-L9 Aerospace
Power Plant	Shinobi 275-A fusion engine
Armor	KX4 Ferro-Aluminum
Fuel
Armament	1x Medium laser 1x Small laser
Communications System	Lockheed Matrix-V
Tracking & Targeting System	Phantom Trac 55
Heat Sinks	10 single heat sinks
BV (1.0)	353
BV (2.0)	301 288

Description

The Swift was created for use on Star League aerospace fighter carriers and originally scheduled to enter service in 2675, however various technical problems delayed the craft's deployment until 2682. Even then, an infamous incident resulting in a Swift pilot being ejected from the craft without warning, followed by its subsequent crash-landing into the flight deck of the carrier Oliver Jones, caused the SLDF to pull all new Swifts out of service while a six-month investigation looked into the problem. In the end, no fault could be found, and the cause of the crash was listed as "unforeseeable." It would take a nearly flawless flight history and pilots' own experiences to finally erode any suspicion of the Swift's worthiness.

Once pilots were able to get into the Swift's cockpit, they found a compact recon and dogfighter packed with advanced aeronautic gear, which would be rivaled only by later Clan fighters. The Shinobi 275-A fusion engine, which takes up nearly sixty percent of the craft's airframe, gives it an impressive 10 Gs of thrust that allows it to outrun almost any other craft, and it has the maneuverability to run circles around any other Inner Sphere fighter. Its master computer, the B-TT7i, performed most of the complex functions needed to fly the craft, allowing pilots to focus on shooting down the enemy. A voice synthesizer allowed the computer to give "friendly warnings" to the pilot, though to many they were more nagging than helpful. The system earned the name "Bitching Betty" and Caletra was quick to make modifications to the B-TT7i once they learned pilots took drastic actions, including shutting down the computer after launch, to silence it.

All of the equipment, however, left little room for armor and armaments, including only two tons of ferro-aluminum. However the Swift's flight performance, as well as periodic electronic and software upgrades, led to a century of service as the primary light aerospace fighter of the SLDF, with some even redeployed to ground bases for air-to-ground attack roles. However, very few were sold to the armies of the Great Houses, and after the events of the Amaris Civil War and resulting Succession Wars the Swift practically disappeared from the Inner Sphere, maintained only by ComStar with a manufacturing plant located on Terra's Asian continent - the Caletra Fighters manufacturing facilities on Fletcher having been destroyed during the First Succession War. Close to a hundred joined Kerensky's Exodus Fleet, and would survive to serve as second-line fighters and trainers for the Clans' OmniFighters.

Weapons and Equipment

The fighter's primary weapon is a Madell-UD6 medium laser and McCorkel small laser, a result of the limited space available on the Swift's airframe. Both weapons are mounted in nose of the fighter, and are considered sufficient to sting the enemy.

Variants

• Swift C 

  The Clans upgraded this venerable craft with Clan technology. This included upgrading the original medium laser and small laser to more advanced ER medium laser and ER small laser versions. BV (2.0) = 562

• SWF-606R 

  Lacking an official designation, some models of Swift fighters in service to ComStar replace their weaponry with advanced sensor packages. This version is equipped with a Beagle active probe. BV (2.0) = 166

Custom Variants

• SWF-606CA Swift Aaron 

  This Swift is a custom modification by Aaron Haversham, a former Hegemony Armed Forces officer turned mercenary. The Swift Aaron swaps the standard engine for a 250-rated extralight model, which frees enough space to replace the standard medium lasers with medium pulse lasers. Each of these lasers is equipped with a Laser Insulator to control heat. Finally the armor protection has been upgraded and doubled to four tons of ferro-fibrous. BV (2.0) = 633

Notes

• In German products, the unit's proper name was translated to Mauersegler. The model code was accordingly changed to MSG-606.

Gallery

• 

  Original Swift from TRO:2750

• 

  Swift from TRO:3050 Upgrade

Bibliography

• AeroTech 2 Record Sheets
• Combat Operations
• Dark Age: Republic Worlds (3130)
• Experimental Technical Readout: Gunslingers
• Record Sheets: 3050 Upgrades Unabridged (Clan & Star League)
• Technical Readout: 2750
• Technical Readout: 3050 Upgrade
• Technical Readout: 3057