SF-101-I Storm Eagle class Medium Starfighter (CAF):

The SF-101I Storm Eagle is a modified version of the Black Eagle starfighter which is becoming the standard medium fighter of the Consortium Armed Forces. This modified "interceptor" version of the Black Eagle has only been in production for around five years. While presently only making up a fraction of the fighter forces of the Consortium, it is planned that around half of all medium fighter forces will operate the Storm Eagle.

Because still in small number, only a handful of squadrons have switched over to the new fighter. These are concentrated on a handful of carriers. As a result, many carriers continue operating the old Osprey class fighter in the interceptor role. As well, the interceptor role is often filled by the Bushido Industries Katana fighter armed with long range missiles and medium range missile weapon pods.

There have been a large amount of infighting with regard to the design. Many fleet officers would like a design more similar to the Storm Eagle filling both the interceptor and attack versions. The Katana is much more flexible in this respect with it being able to carry capitol, long range, and medium range missiles. As well, the Black Eagle needs to get into knife fighting range for its mini-missile launchers to be effective. Even replacing the mini-missile launchers with medium range missile launchers would do much to help reduce this problem. As one might expect, the Storm Eagle is far more popular with pilots than the standard Black Eagle. Several independent groups operate modified versions of the Black Eagle which adds the ability to carry long range and medium range missiles instead of cuiser missiles.

The Storm Eagle is armed for an interceptor role even though its long range missiles make it capable of striking hard enough to damage capital ships. One main change is in the position of the two cruise missile hard points, the Storm Eagle fighter’s body between the two engines is extended back and the fighter mounts a pair of bay for long range missiles. Each bay can carry four long range missiles for eight long range missiles. With some minor modifications, the bay would be able to carry two cruise missiles or a large number of medium range missiles in each bay. Where the standard Black Eagle mounts mini-missile pods, the Storm Eagle replaces these with medium range missile launchers with a total of sixteen medium range missiles. The two high intensity lasers and single gravity rail gun are retained from the Black Eagle. Even though slightly heavier than the Black Eagle, reduction in acceleration and general performance is negligible. On main advantage of the bays over external ordnance is that atmospheric performance is not reduced.

In the interceptor role, the Storm Eagle is designed to act as ship defense against attacking fighters. Even though as capable a dogfighter as the Black Eagle, the Storm Eagle is designed to intercept targets at long range with missiles. A secondary role is to intercept incoming capitol missiles fired at the fleet. In addition, the large number of long range and medium range missiles makes the medium fighter quite capable in anti-mine roles.

Like the Black Eagle, there is a version of the Storm Eagle which is equipped with contra-grav faster than light drives. While the SF-101I-LR is not as fast as most larger ships, this makes the fighter extremely useful in the scouting role. This version is more expensive than the standard model and only a comparatively small number of Storm Eagle fighters are fitted with faster than light drives.

This starfighter design uses modified starship speed and weapon range rules. See Revised Starship Rules for Phase World / Three Galaxies for more details.

(Note: Some of the weapons that the fighter carries that are identical to the standard Black Eagle Starfighter have been modified. At GM option, these modification can be applied to all Black Eagles or the modification can be discarded and these weapon systems can be considered the same as on the Black Eagle. The power system has also been changed from anti-matter to fusion because the author’s opinion is that anti-matter is to dangerous to be used in vehicles that may be used in an atmosphere. If the ship was to detonate in an atmosphere it would cause huge planetary damage if it is anti-matter powered. At GM option, this can also be applied to all starfighters or this fighter can be changed to anti-matter.)

Model Type:	SF-101I	Standard Interceptor
	SF-101I-LR	Long Range "FTL" Interceptor

Vehicle Type: Medium Interceptor
Crew: One and can accommodate two passengers (One often operates as a sensor operator / electronics warfare officer)

M.D.C. By Location:

	Pilots Cockpit/Escape Pod:	120
	Laser Cannons (2, built into body):	100 each
	Nose GR-Cannon:	40
	Long Range Missile Bays (2, underside of body):	150 each
	Medium Range Missile Launchers (2, on sides):	80 each
	[1] Main Body:	800
	Pilots Compartment:	120
	[2] Variable Force Field:	200 per side (1,200 total)

Notes:
[1] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the fighter out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[2] Shields positions can be varied and all could be combined in one shield. Shields regenerate at the rate of 5% (60 M.D.C.) per melee round.

Speed:
Driving on the Ground: Not Possible.
Sublight: Has a special sublight engine that allows the ship to travel up to 40 percent of the speed of light. Fighter can accelerate/decelerate at the rate of 1.6 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum speed is Mach 7 (5190 mph / 8352.8 kph), can enter an atmosphere because flight system is using contra grav. Because long range missile are in a bay, they do not reduce the fighters atmospheric top speed.
Stardrive: The SF-101I-LR has a Gravitronic Drive system which allows the ship to reach a maximum of two light-years per hour.
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for pilot for six weeks (Two crew for three weeks or three for two weeks)

Statistical Data:
Length: 45 feet (13.7 meters)
Height: 14 feet (4.3 meters)
Width: 32 feet (9.8 meters)
Weight: 14.5 tons (13.2 metric tons) fully loaded
Power System: Advanced Fusion with a 40 year lifespan
Cargo: Utility closet (4x4x4 feet /1.2x1.2x1.2 meters) for personal effects / emergency supplies. Does not include missile bays.
Market Cost: 48 million credits for SF-101I and 78 million credits for SF-101I-LR. Due to structural modifications required, the standard “Black Eagle” cannot be modified to the "Storm Eagle" configuration

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Two (2) HI-Laser Cannons: These laser cannons are identical to those carried on the standard Black Eagle Starfighter and can be used simultaneously or can be fired individually. They can also be combined with the GR-cannon when the GR cannon is forward for greater damage if both are in range.
Maximum Effective Range: 5 miles (8 km) through atmosphere and 500 miles (800 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: 2D4x10 per single blast or 4D4x10 per double blast (can be combined with rail gun at still the cost of one attack).
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited
One (1) Gravity Rail Gun: The Rail gun is mounted in a turret under the nose of the starfighter and is the fighters primary weapon system. Weapon is mainly used as an anti-starfighter, anti-missile, and strafing weapon. When used in space, projectiles are fired from rail guns at a significant fraction of the speed of light in space and when used in an atmosphere are fired at a slower but still at hypersonic speeds. The weapon system cannot be used to engage targets while traveling at faster than light velocities. The gravity rail gun uses a 25 mm projectile. The turret can angle up to 90 degrees down and can rotate 360 degrees. When forward, weapon can be combined with laser cannons if laser cannons are also within range
Maximum Effective Range: 10 miles (16 km) through atmosphere and 1,000 miles (1,600 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: 30 round burst inflicts3D6x10 M.D. (can be combined with laser cannons at still the cost of one attack).
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: 6,000 Rounds (200 Bursts).
Two (2) Long Range Missile Bays: Under the main body of the fighter there are two bays that each carry four long range missiles. Missile has a top speed of Mach 20 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 8% of light per turn (faster than any starship.) Whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missile will continue to travel in a straight line unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting star ships (Great for hitting bases and planets because target does not move and missile, when unpowered, is at -25% to be detected.) Long range missiles do not have penalties to hit small targets unlike cruise missiles and are all considered smart missiles. Launchers can launch on multiple targets at the same time.
Maximum Effective Range: Long Range Missile range is 3,400 miles (5,470 km) in an atmosphere and 1,800,000 miles (2,897,000 km/9.7 light seconds) in space.
Mega-Damage & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details (Fusion warheads inflict 2D4x100 M.D.C. each.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), three (3), four (4), or eight (8) long range missiles.
Payload: Eight (8) Long Missiles (4 each bay)
Two (2) Medium Range Missile Launchers: On the sides of the main body are medium range missile launchers in place of mini-missile launcher. Weapon system is used for hitting enemy robots, fighters, and missiles. Weapon system is also used for anti-cruise missile. Missile has a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Launchers can launch on multiple targets at the same time.
Maximum Effective Range: Medium Range Missile range is 160 miles (257.5 km) in an atmosphere and 80,000 miles (128,750 km/0.43 light seconds) in space.
Mega-Damage: Varies with medium range missile type (See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies missile tables for details.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), eight (8), or sixteen (16) medium range missiles.
Payload: Sixteen (16) medium range missiles (8 each launcher)

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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