Firebird

Firebird asf.jpg
Firebird
Production information
Manufacturer Mujika Aerospace Technologies[1]
Production Year 2400[2]
Model FR-1
Class Medium Aerospace
Tech Base Inner Sphere (Primitive)
Technical specifications
Mass 45 tons
Structural Integrity 5
Frame Mujika Aerospace Type 4
Power Plant Rawlings 165-F
Fuel 240
Armament

1x Autocannon/2
2x LRM 10

Communications System Endicott Type 20
Tracking & Targeting System Dwyerson Mark IX
Heat Sinks 10
BV (2.0) 403[1]

Description

The Firebird was built on Capella as an early, Age of War-era aerospace fighter design. Underpowered and lightly-armored, it did not fulfill the expectations of the CCAF. Though it carried enough fuel to achieve good velocity in space, it was not very maneuverable. Its low speed and sluggish handling in atmospheric flight combined with its weak rear armor and lack of aft-mounted weapons made it easy prey for even the lightest conventional fighters.[1]

With the rapid development of aerospace technologies, the Firebird quickly became obsolete and was taken out of CCAF service and scrapped in 2420. The Taurian Concordat used some units captured during the Rim War but retired the last of them in 2437.[1]

Weapons and Equipment

Realizing their design could not handle dogfights, the developers equipped it with long-range weapons to stay as far away from enemies as possible. Two Zeus LRM-10 launchers mounted in the wings and an Imperator-D light autocannon in the nose, each with one ton of ammunition, met those requirements and gave it a potent punch for hit-and-run strikes.[1]

Variants

Due to its short service life, no variants were known to exist.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Era Digest: Age of War, pp. 27-28, "Firebird Profile"
  2. MUL online date for the Firebird

Bibliography