Lightning (Aerospace Fighter class)

This article is about the aerospace fighter. For other uses, see Lightning.
Lightning Aerospace Fighter.png
Lightning
Production information
Manufacturer Tengo Aerospace

HildCo Interplanetary


Lockheed/CBM Corporation


United Outworlders Corporation

Production Year 2511[1]
Model LTN-G15
Class Medium aerospace fighter
Tech Base Inner Sphere
Technical specifications
Mass 50 tons
Structural Integrity 9[2]
Frame Hildco Aerospace Type 4
Power Plant GM 200
Armor Aerobus Vanluminum Advanced
Fuel 400[3]
Armament
Communications System Endicott Type 22 Master
Tracking & Targeting System Dwyerson Mark XI
Heat Sinks 13 single
BV (1.0) 919[4]
BV (2.0) 1,057[5]
1,093[6]

Description[edit]

Built around a large bore autocannon, the venerable Lightning is well admired for its speed as well as its armor.[5]

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.[5] 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.[5]

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.[5]

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.[7] In addition, Lycomb-Davion IntroTech on New Avalon within the Federated Suns[8] and Taurus Territorial Industries on Taurus in the Taurian Concordat[9] were also counted among the craft's manufacturers.

Weapons and Equipment[edit]

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.[5]

Variants[edit]

  • 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[13]
  • 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[14]
  • 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[17]

Custom Variants[edit]

  • 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[18]

Notes[edit]

  • 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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. MUL online date for the Lightning (Aerospace Fighter class)
  2. Experimental Technical Readout: Pirates, p. 12
  3. Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 87
  4. AeroTech 2 Record Sheets, p. 84
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Technical Readout: 3075, pp. 250–251: "Lightning Fighter Profile"
  6. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 155
  7. Technical Readout: 3085, p. 250
  8. Objective Raids, p. 97
  9. Objective Raids, p. 162
  10. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 154
  11. Record Sheets: Operation Klondike, p. 87
  12. Historical: Operation Klondike, p. 161
  13. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 156
  14. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 157
  15. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 158
  16. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 159
  17. Record Sheets: 3075 Unabridged - Age of War, p. 160
  18. Experimental Technical Readout: Pirates, p. 12

Bibliography[edit]