Cheetah
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Cheetah | |
Production information | |
Manufacturer | Imstar Aerospace |
Model | F-10 |
Class | Light |
Tech Base | Inner Sphere |
Cost | 1,669,463[1] |
Technical specifications | |
Mass | 25 tons |
Structural Integrity | 12 |
Frame | Imstar 10/f |
Power Plant | GM 250-a |
Fuel | 320 - 4 tons |
Armament |
|
Communications System | Lassitor-3QS |
Tracking & Targeting System | IMB SYS 3600 |
Heat Sinks | 10 |
BV (1.0) | 484[2] |
BV (2.0) | 448 |
Description
A House Marik production of a Star League design, the Cheetah is a light support or reconnaissance ASF. With little armor, the Cheetah is designed to use speed to evade enemy defenses to complete a mission, but is at a serious disadvantage if faced with heavier aerospace fighters. The high thrust rating and speed comes at a cost of significantly high fuel consumption, limiting the Cheetah to a short range in the basic variant.
Armament
Well armed for a light aerospace fighter, the F-10 Cheetah has a Starflash I Small Laser in the nose and a Starflash II Medium Laser in each wing. The lasers give the Cheetah a heavy punch for supporting other fighters or ground troops.
Variants
- F-11 - This upgraded variant uses an XL Engine, and change the armor to Ferro-Aluminum. The lasers are changed to pulse models. BV (1.0) = 583[3]
- F-11-R - The reconnaissance version of the Cheetah-R strips the two Medium Lasers and adds fuel. This version is not intended to fight an enemy, as the single Small Laser can offer only token resistance. BV (1.0) = 236[4], BV (2.0) = 197
- F-11-RR - Replacing the standard Fusion Engine with a GM 250-a XL Engine, the upgraded Cheetah-R has 10 tons of fuel and mounts 2 Starflash Medium Lasers in addition to a Small Laser.[5][6] BV (1.0) = 492[7], BV (2.0) = 448
- F-12-S - The Cheetah-S removes the Medium Lasers and one ton of fuel, to be replaced by an SRM-4 pack and ammo. This variant is used as a defensive craft for installations or Dropships. BV (1.0) = 329[8], BV (2.0) = 299
- F-13 - This model upgrades the lasers to extended-range models, and mounts a ER Medium Laser to each wing. The armor is changed to Ferro-Aluminum for better protection and add double heat sinks for a better cooling management. BV (1.0) = 973[9]
- OF-17 "Hawkeye" - This special reconnaissance variant removes all the standard weapons and armor and replaces them with a Hyperspectral Imager, Vehicular Stealth Armor and a Guardian ECM. By shutting down their engines and using a ballistic flight path, several of these Cheetahs sailed past Terra's defenses before Operation SCOUR came to Humanity's birthworld. The last minute data gathered by these units allowed Coalition commanders to modify their strategy. BV (2.0) = 352[10]