F/AV-77 Raptor

F/AV-77 Raptor

"I saw them. Just seven of them, painted as black as night. They swarmed us, our Banshees were no match, our Wraiths were nothing. Within fourty minutes... they had destroyed everything."

- Brute Captain Glaramus

The Fighter/Attack VTOL-77 Raptor is a two seat multi platform gunship. Nimble and deadly, this ultramodern, two-person, VTOL aircraft combines a multipurpose arsenal with a uniquely flexible flight profile, allowing the Talon to strike both air and ground targets with unparalleled force and accuracy. The Raptor's munitions include a gunner-controlled pneumatically charged 20mm Rotary Cannon and a number of stub wing pylons and internal compartments for missiles and rockets. The dual-layered composite buffer system, with a depleted uranium and nomex mesh insert, is durable enough to withstand heavy fire without hindering the gunship's maneuverability through excessive weight or rigidity. |long with this it features a titanium cockpit cover with internal multilayer kevlar spalling to protect the crew. Light Titanium alloys are used to protect the engines as well. Its engines are the same revolutionary design as the Gull's, using, rather than vectored thrust, tilt engines, developed from experience gained from the development of the Pelican and the Hornet. This allows it to match enemy fighters for speed and also become a stable VTOL craft. This means it can both fulfill the role of light fighter and gunship without the addition of vectored thrust engines or ducted fans. The Raptor is partially stealthy be design with a RADAR resistant design and RADAR resistant paint usually applied. Despite this, its paint scheme regularly changes from matte black 'strike' paint to wrap around blue-white 'air superiority' paint, digitised woodland camo and the traditional olive green. To aid in its stealthy nature, its wing stubs are optional, with internal compartments also availible for use.

The Raptor is naturally armed with both DECEPTION countermeasures and CARAPACE Dual Active Protection Systems though it lacks a point defence laser. Rockets and air to air missiles are directed by the pilot using a directed holographic interface and optical lock on systems. The co-pilot operates both air to ground missiles and the forward gun using TADS/PNVS slaved into his helmet and a mixture of optical, infrared and laser designation to lock on to spot and lock onto the target along with the onboard millimeter wave RADAR.

For its armament it mounts ftwo plyons on each stub wing capable of taking a rocket missile or gun pod. Rocket pods include a TUSK Launcher that carries 16 rockets, a INCISOR launcher carrying 8 rockets, a PINCER launcher carrying 4 missiles, a TSAM launcher carrying 3 missiles, a single BARB or CLAW missile or a M41B LAAG or a 20mm autocannon can also be carried. The pylons on the end of the wing can each take one CLAW. The three internal pylons can take PINCER missiles, a TSAM missiles or CLAW missiles.

UNSC Comments
"We had Carrions strafing our airstrip during the siege of Kasiim, stopping our Katanas from taking off. Five minutes later, under both our RADAR and their RADAR, fifteen of these badboys descend from the sky. Two minutes after they came, they moved on, leaving a pile of burning tanks and crashed Carrions... "

"These things came into their own during our defence of Skaville. The fly boys had a tactic of workin' in twos, one would hide behind a building with missiles and rockets and shit, get lock on on targets, jump out, blow shit up then go back into hiding. When their airsupport came in, one fitted with CLAWs would jump out, nail those bitches with missiles and they'd both relocate, like flying missile snipers! heh!"

"We got wind the Necros were gonna land en masse at Afield Plain, covered by ground based AA units, we went in in two waves. Wild Weasel first then we came in next, attacking their dropships and their gunships. Flaming siht all over, it was damn pretty. We were really tearing them up until their Assault Craft turned up. Nuts to fighting one of those. You need either special forces or a pile of Talon missiles to take down one of those beetches."