Mosquito IX

Mosquito IX.jpg
Mosquito IX Radar Plane
Production information
Manufacturer Malrite Company[1][2]
Production Year 3064[3]
Use High-altitude spy plane,
Surveillance craft,
Airborne refueling aircraft
Tech Base Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Chassis Type (Size) Fixed-Wing (Medium)
Equipment Rating E/X-X-D[2]
Introduced 2448
Technical specifications
Mass 75 Tons
Structural Integrity 4
Safe Thrust 2g
Max Thrust 3g
Power Plant fission
Fuel (Type/Range) 777
Communications System Unspecified
Fire Control System Basic
Armament 1x ER medium laser
Heat Sinks 5
Fitted Equipment 4x external stores hardpoint
Armor Commercial Armor
Barrier Armor Rating (BAR) 6
Crew 6 (1 officer, 4 enlisted/non-rated, 1 gunner)


Description

The Mosquito IX Radar Plane is a long-range surveillance aircraft design.

History

Development

The Mosquito was first developed by DMI Limited on Caph in the early 2400s. DMI, using a treasure trove of electronics and communication equipment found in the Rocky Mountains on Terra, began designs on an airborne radar plane. After several years, the company was forced to sell its manufacturing and cache of high technology to the Mallus brothers, William & Nathan. William invested his family fortune into redesigning the aircraft to handle the thin atmosphere of high altitudes; however, after seven years of development, he died of a heart attack and Nathan took over.[1][2][4]

Nathan finalized the design and formed the Malrite Company, producing the aircraft for market in 2448. The aircraft was a success in the Terran Hegemony, compelling Malrite's expansion to meet demand for the Mosquito.[1][2]

Deployment

Since its introduction, the Mosquito, was purchased by various organizations, initially by colonization groups and provincial militaries.[1][2]

The aircraft continued into the late thirty-first century, when it was deployed into new roles, such as firefighting, refueling aircraft, and even as a storm chaser, while planetary militia still employed the Mosquito in its original role. The Second Star League, prior to its demise in 3067, used a number of these aircraft deployed on both Huntress and Strana Mechty for monitoring the people of those worlds.[1][2]

The company still produces the Mosquito and has noted that it would sell more of the aircraft if the price tag for its array of sophisticated equipment was not so high.[4]

The Mosquito was also used by the Republic Armed Forces.[5]

Equipment and Capabilities

The current incarnation of the Mosquito, which premiered in 3058,[6] uses a single extended-range medium laser for self-defense, while it is only protected by one ton of BAR 6 armor. However, the aircraft is not designed for direct combat. The craft is powered by a Hermes fission engine, which has been touted as being highly reliable, allowing the Mosquito to adapt to a variety of planetary environments.[4][1][2]

It does employ four external stores hardpoints, two on each of the craft's wings for external ordnance or additional equipment needed for any particular mission. The craft was designed to use the SISO (Slide In/Slide Out) module system which was seen used on Cortez Series N exploration vehicles. Other design features include short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability, two tons of communication equipment, a high-resolution imager camera, an infrared imager camera, look-down radar, a remote sensor dispenser and a refueling drogue.[1][2]

Cargo

The vehicle is equipped with a liquid cargo bay with a 20.02 ton capacity with door mounted in the rear.[1][2]

Variants

The Mosquito has a number of variants in use as of 3067, these include firefighting, weather monitoring aircraft, and some others. Noted variants include 3052 Model & 3067 Model, however these aircraft only differ in cosmetic appearance.[4]

Notes

It is unclear exactly when the Mosquito IX which stats are featured in the Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex profile actually came out. This is due to the inclusion of an ER medium laser which didn't exist when the vehicle first premiered.

As of this writing, there is no published record sheets for this vehicle or its variants.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex, p. 116: "Mosquito IX Radar Plane"
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex Revised, p. 110: "Mosquito IX Radar Plane"
  3. online date for the Mosquito IX
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 TechManual, p. 112: "Mosquito IX Radar Plane"
  5. Technical Readout: Vehicle Annex Revised, p. 108: "Fixed Wing Support Vehicles"
  6. Writers confirm date of IX version of the Mosquito (dead link)

Bibliography