Since the pre-Global Civil War days, the REF has had need of non-transformable, fixed-wing combat aircraft. These aircraft have serve the REF well for many centuries, and, though topically surpassed in some areas, continue to be a vital element of the UGC's Defense Department.
These aircraft are NOT transatmospheric, even though they are not necessarily air-breathing machines. The UGC prefers to keep aerial and space craft separate; However, for trans-atmospheric defense, the UGC does have several types of Guardian fighters, and continues to produce the original VF-1 (though only in the Super and Strike Veritech configurations) and both the VAF-6 Alpha Fighter and VBF-7 Beta Bomber/Attack.
Most of the aircraft herein listed date all the way back to the GCW and some even beyond; The A-10 Thunderbolt II (or "Warthog", as it is VERY affectionate affectionately known) is currently the "King of the Air", the oldest continuing design in the air. The F/A-18 Supra-Hornet, is the "Queen of the Air," the oldest continuing fighter design still in service. (Note that it is a REAL bad idea to call a Supra-Hornet pilot a "Queen", even when meant respectfully; Even the female pilots will knock your ass flat. Warthog pilots don't even get away with it.)
Just because the UGC has Guardians and Destroids and even Veritechs doesn't mean is doesn't have a use for Fighters; In fact, Guardians number only about 1 in 100 of all combat aero-space craft; Veritechs 1 in 1,000. It is the Space Fighters that go after incurring warships, and aerial fighters that pummel incurring raiders who manage to land.
The reason to keep fixed-wing, mostly standard-tech fighters is COST; One Guardian Fighter costs as much as 3 to FIVE standard tech fighters. Even in cash-flushed systems, this cost/benefit ratio is an INCREDIBLE consideration, especially as standard aero-space doctrine holds that the majority of combat between fighters are near planets, where Destroids and Tanks slug it out under the protection of their respective Attack aircraft, who depend on their Fighters to cover them. |
The REF has recently realized a need for full aero-spacecraft. Though the Guardians are more effective, their expense doesn't justify using them for minor duties.
Leading the charge for these craft was the UGC Spaceways Patrol and Enforcement Service, which needed quick-reaction platforms for High Interest Assets escorts (escorting large ships through established spaceways), as Ator Malconts routinely prey on these vessels, even in the ultra-secure Terra System (Earth's home). Supporting this effort was the various subordinate forces, especially the off-world Colonial Militias, which simply don't have the money for Guardians.
There are currently only a few combat craft that the REF has approved; The ASF-14 Viper Starfighter, ASS-14 Laura Starfighter, ASB-601 Cylon Aero-Space Bomber, SA-43 Hammerhead, S/A-6E Intruder, B-104 Galaxy Bomber, GS-8 Neopolis, and the new ASF-21 Sholagar Fighter; Under the par down principles of UGC philopsphy, the Sholagar is expected to take over all REF Aero-Space roles quickly, relgating the rest to RDF duties, then to local militias, and eventually to no duties (full retirement). |
 | | DH-4's In Action Defending An Invid Shelldor-Class Drop Ship. |
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For reasons not entirely clear to anyone, the various systems of the UGC have started making turbo-prop driven fighter planes for use in planetary defense. Developed by Kranick-Desel Aero Space, a Caminore based aerospace R&D firm, the panes are proving limitedly effective, and have even shot down much brawnier Guardian Fighters in the hands of Fehran Malcontents.
One thing that HAS come up is dodging; When a pilot of a Warbird tries to dodge with his/her propeller spin direction, the plane practically folds through the air; Even the best of the best have trouble keeping up with that. Additionally, "dive dodging", or dropping down out of the sky as fast as possible, is easier with the Warbirds, due to the lower power of the engines.
Equal to equal, Warbirds stand NO chance against jets or Guardians, but they can still hold the line against some incursions, and are an ideal stalling force. Automated versions are also available (see "Combat Bonuses; Automated Version" for each aircraft). History: The P-51 Mustang was, in truth, the inspiration for the whole Warbirds series- And it wasn't Caminorian. It was T'sentraedi.
A T'sentraedi by the name of Frehn "Red" SINTAIRE was applying for Veritech Fighter Candidate School. Due to his ancestry, combined with his "lack of prior military experience," he was denied. The reason; His heritage as a T'sentraedi made him high-risk. Prior military service MIGHT have shown him to be sufficiently stable, but he was denied the chance.
Major SINTAIRE left the REF and went into business for himself as a militry goods contractor- For Civil Defense Forces only. He would not sell anything to the REF that he felt had defrauded him. (He was denied a promotion once for lack of combat service, and a second time for lack of VT Qualification. Due to this, he was Honorably Discharged.)
Five years later, Mr SINTAIRE saw an old Terran movie about black pilots, who were systematically set up to fail- And succeeded. Their red tails told everyone who they were.
It was with this that Mr SINTAIRE formed Galactic Defenses, Ltd, a mercenary unit that would, for the right price, hunt down pirates and other malcontents and eradicate them. Using REF-surplus F/AG-8 Phantoms and a T'sentraedi RIN NADOW LOJM-Class Monitor that had been declared contraband (captured from a T'sentraedi Clan that had been smashed). Mr SINTAIRE painted his ship, Galactic Defense, with a red fantail (the stern 1/4 of the hull and certain compartments in that area) and his fighters red.
The success of GDL led Major SINTAIRE to seek new fighters; He wanted a P-51 in a space fighter configuration, and in 2479 he approached Kranick-Desel Aero Space to build them. Kranick-Desel Aero Space determined they simply wouldn't work, but that an aerial version would. The next year, the P-4 Hellcat came out; Then the P-38 (under special request), the P-40 Warhawk (which GDL bought a few of), and, in 2482, the P-51.
Major SINTAIRE, five years later, would buy a sizeable interest in Kranick-Desel Aero Space, and after 10 years would own her, his own companies SINTAIRE And Associates (his original company), GDL, and three other defense contractor agencies, as well as his own, internal vehicle augmentation shop which created for him is dream fighter, the SP-51 Spastang (of which only one was ever built). A few have been built by others, but these are mostly stunt planes or long range automated scouts.
Note: All of the planes listed here, plus one tank (the Mk XX Mobile Field Support Unit), are designed and manufactured by K-DAS, and manufactured under licence throught the UGC (as is standard), At this time, the UGC is only fielding the F-4U Corsair Fighter, B-25 Mitchell III Bomber, and de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito (the Corsair solely with the Marine, the Mitchel and Mosquito with the Spacy, Marine, ASF, and the Patrol). While there are no plans to replace any current designs with these craft, there is also no plans to take them out of service any time soon. The various RDF's and lesser services are at their discretion to field any, all, or none of these, and some do, some don't, but NO UGC funding may be used to procure, maintain, or field them. |
