Designed by the Imperial Navy’s respected Kanushiaa Aaruun Design Bureau the Vaiirkaan (Lightning) is the Navy’s premier front line fighter, it’s airframe-wedge profile a familiar sight near any Naval installation.
Nominally a 50-ton craft the Vaiirkaan actually displaces 49.4-tons and although large by the standards of previous fighter generations it is only by the use of the Empire’s most advanced technology that it is possible to put such a punch in as small a package. As a fighter it is extremely fast and agile and is one of the few small craft that retains it’s full performance capabilities throughout its entire operational envelope. While traditionally fighters have been primarily space dominance vehicles with a secondary atmospheric function the Baairkaan is truly a multi-role craft with outstanding atmospheric capability in addition to its deep space patrol and intercept roles.
The described version is the “B” derivative and is the most common. The AFH-5A was the pre-production run model and differs from the “B” only in detail. Combat capabilites are identical but since only 1,500 were made it is a fairly rare beast. A third version virtually exclusive to the Core Worlds is the AFH-5C. As fighters were shipped off to reinforce the Spinward Fleets during recent Zhodani incursions General Products found that increased demand had caused a shortage of the advanced avionics package. As an interim measure, they installed a downgraded package. Other than slightly reduced atmospheric performance capabilites are identical. Several planetary governments whose navies conduct no atmospheric operations have expressed an interest in this version and despite initial reluctance the navy has released licences for limited production runs.
General Products, LSP and GSbaG are the main contractors for the Vaiirkaan although a lot of the work is subcontracted to smaller corporations and subsiduaries. Of course, due to Imperial Standards all parts from all manufacturers are interchangeable.
Nominally a 50-ton craft the Vaiirkaan actually displaces 49.4-tons and although large by the standards of previous fighter generations it is only by the use of the Empire’s most advanced technology that it is possible to put such a punch in as small a package. As a fighter it is extremely fast and agile and is one of the few small craft that retains it’s full performance capabilities throughout its entire operational envelope. While traditionally fighters have been primarily space dominance vehicles with a secondary atmospheric function the Baairkaan is truly a multi-role craft with outstanding atmospheric capability in addition to its deep space patrol and intercept roles.
The described version is the “B” derivative and is the most common. The AFH-5A was the pre-production run model and differs from the “B” only in detail. Combat capabilites are identical but since only 1,500 were made it is a fairly rare beast. A third version virtually exclusive to the Core Worlds is the AFH-5C. As fighters were shipped off to reinforce the Spinward Fleets during recent Zhodani incursions General Products found that increased demand had caused a shortage of the advanced avionics package. As an interim measure, they installed a downgraded package. Other than slightly reduced atmospheric performance capabilites are identical. Several planetary governments whose navies conduct no atmospheric operations have expressed an interest in this version and despite initial reluctance the navy has released licences for limited production runs.
General Products, LSP and GSbaG are the main contractors for the Vaiirkaan although a lot of the work is subcontracted to smaller corporations and subsiduaries. Of course, due to Imperial Standards all parts from all manufacturers are interchangeable.
