OD-83C Merlin Scout

D83B Gull DAP

The OD-83C Merlin Scout is a UNSC Aerodyne for short range aerial reconnaissance and fire control missions primarily within atmospheres of planets, rather than the longer range extra atmospheric and atmospheric missions of the Pelican and the Petrel. The Merlin is designed to be light, nimble and and fast, with a pair of powerful, vector thrust tilting engines, with multiple thrust vectored nozzles capable of switching to only one nozzle to support lift or forward flight backed up by a pair of single vector thrust X-13 Series variable engine, with a vectored thrust nozzle and a secondary directional nozzle for minute control to give it transatmospheric ability. The vehicle is capable of carrying plenty of infantry into combat zones and safely escort them ground side. The vehicle is extremely capable for this task, with a sealed cabin and folding doors, exposing the infantry inside, two crew operated M45B HMGs, stored on recoil absorbing armatures inside the cabin, capable of destroying light vehicles, numerous self defence systems. Since the vehicle is both smaller and more agile than the Pelican, it can negotiate more dangerous terrain more easily and make landing on smaller LZs. It is fitted with two forward snub wings each carrying two light pylons, for extended combat missions and a roof mounted fire control RADAR. It is capable of preforming advance combat insertions, special forces operations, combat search and rescue, close aerial reconnaissance and fire control.

To augment it's role in aerial reconnaissance, it has been outfitted with a nose mounted boosted visual target detection system, using LIDAR, full colour television and infra-red cameras to designate targets, and has a expanded roof mounted targeting system, using a millimetre wave RADAR, laser range finder, full colour/infra-red camera and LIDAR, providing the ability to designate targets for a variety of vehicles, such as artillery, strike fighters, orbital bombardment or other fighters. It also have a electromagnetic antennae for gathering information in the electromagnetic spectrum and analysing it, allowing it to intercept and triangulate radio, RADAR, microwave and MASER signals.

The 's airframe is constructed from a basis of superplastic-shaped diffusion-adhered metal matrix composites. These light, oxidation resistant light-matrix composites are formed from high modulus and high strength gold doped zirconium oxide fibres and a titanium/aluminium laminate matrix, formed by heat bonding layers of titanium, aluminium and titanium aluminide, forming high strength crystal matrices, the results forming a high strength, yet flexible and light airframe. The skin is formed from four layered plates attached to the frame. The inside layer is a high strength carbon nanotube nanobud mesh composite, which does not melt on re-entry and protects the ship and occupants. Above this is a environmental layer, which regulates internal and external heat, preventing layers from outright melting or freezing, and protecting the occupants. The third layer is a resin bonded layer of structural titanium aluminide with a titanium mesh insert. The fourth layer is a outer layer of AEGIS tiles, built on a non-newtonian shock absorbing layer, providing thermal and oxidation protection. The cockpit and troop bay are situated in titanium-AEGIS compound armoured 'tubs'. These give limited protection against enemy fire. The windscreen is bullet-proof diffusion-bonded self-regenerating stretched-acrylic, with a coating of liquid glass, with a variable electronically controlled gold tinted setting, which protects it from solar rays, laser dazzles and electronic interference. These give limited protection against enemy fire. The skin is painted with thermal diffusing paint, heat controlled hull to generate a black body exterior, infra-red suppressors on the engines, RADAR absorbent paint, liquid glass composites and LASER absorbent laminates, which when compounded with its stealth design, gives it excellent stealth abilities.