SF-128 Bobcat Light Starfighter (CAF):

The Kitten light trainer is the main starfighter trainer used by the Consortium of Civilized Worlds. It is used by many other small independent governments in this role as well. Some small independent governments also use the trainer as a light fighter. While under armed compared to most true light fighters, the Kitten is maneuverable and very fast. Because of this, an independent manufacturing facility within the Consortium of Civilized Worlds decided to develop a full-fledged light starfighter from the Kitten as a private enterprise. The company already manufactured Kitten class trainers, parts for Osprey class starfighter, and several civilian designs but saw a need to expand production. So, the Bobcat class light starfighter was born. While the fighter was built as an independent project, it was given the designation SF-128 to fit within the Consortium designation system. Because of relying on an already proven design, development of the Bobcat was very rapid and took less than a year between concept and the start of production. Many components on the fighter came from modified Osprey system designs to further reduce retooling for the new design and to reduce costs. The fighter has been manufactured for about ten years. While the design is not as prolific as the fighters from the major companies such as Bushido and Naruni, it has been sold to both small systems and mercenary companies.

The fighter is designed around the same basic frame as the Kitten but is larger to be able to carry more weapons and ordnance. In addition, the larger size enables the fighter to withstand more damage. The fighter is available without combat shields although most fighters produced carry variable shields. The shield generator is based off of the shield generator on the Osprey although the system is smaller and more efficient. All versions of the fighter carry military class radiation and particle shielding. The engines on the fighter are the same as those carried on the Kitten class trainer. Due to the larger mass of the Bobcat, it has a slightly lower acceleration than the Kitten. The Bobcat is still faster in acceleration than that of the Katana, produced by Bushido industries. The fusion reactor powering the fighter also has a lower duration than those carried in many fighters which allows further reduction in the fighters cost compared to other designs. Like the Kitten, the fighter can perform equally as well in space or in an atmosphere due to being aerodynamic in design.

Electronics on the Bobcat are a mixture of civilian and military components. Most high stress systems use military grade electronics while civilian systems do most of the fighters low stress operations. This seems to not have reduced the performance of the fighter by a measurable amount and has allowed a considerable cost saving. The Bobcat does carry any of the safety override systems that the Kitten does. The systems could have potentially given enemies the ability to take over the fighter.

Unlike the Scorpion, the Bobcat does nor carry a rail gun. Instead the fighter carries two laser cannons. While the lasers have a shorter range, they have an unlimited payload. The mounting for a heavy railgun would have required more space than the design could afford. The laser cannons on the Bobcat are based off of those carried on the Osprey but like the shields are both smaller and more efficient. The missile systems on the fighter are laid out in a fairly simple way and are more flexible than many other designs. Many other fighter designs have dedicated pylons for specific missile types. The Bobcat simply has four hard points than can carry a variety of different ordnance. Each hard point can carry one cruise missile, two long range missiles, or four medium range missiles. One disadvantage is that the missiles are not mounted in bays or in hard points that conform to the fighters. This causes the missiles to create more drag than they would otherwise when the fighter is operating within an atmosphere.

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

(Note: The power system is fusion not anti-matter because the author’s opinion is that anti-matter is too dangerous to be used in vehicles that may be used in an atmosphere. If a starship powered by anti-matter was to detonate in an atmosphere it would cause huge planetary damage. At GM option, this can also be applied to all starfighters or this “fighter” can be changed to anti-matter.)

Model Type: SF-128
Vehicle Type: Light Starfighter
Crew: One.

M.D.C. By Location:

	Wing Light Lasers (2):	30 each
	Missile Hard Points (4, on the Underside):	10 each
	[1] Wings (2):	250 each
	[2] Main Body:	430
	Cockpit:	100
	[3] Variable Force Field:	200 per side (1,200 total)

Notes:
[1] Destroying a wing will cause the light fighter to crash if it is flying within an atmosphere. Destruction of a wing has no effect in space.
[2] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will put the trainer out of commission. All internal systems will shut down, including life support and internal gravity. The ship itself will be an unsalvageable floating wreck.
[3] 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 (Shields are optional.)

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 1.5 percent of light per melee.
Atmospheric Propulsion: Maximum normal speed is Mach 8 (5,931.6 mph / 9546 kph), can enter an atmosphere because flight system is using contra grav. When loaded down with ordinance, fighter’s top speed in an atmosphere is Mach 3 (2224.4 mph / 3,579.8 kph)
Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for pilot for four days.

Statistical Data:
Length: 27.5 feet (8.4 meters)
Height: 10 feet (3.0 meters)
Width: 25 feet (7.6 meters)
Weight: 5.8 tons (5.3 metric tons) empty and 7.7 tons (7.0 metric tons) fully loaded with cruise missiles
Power System: Advanced Fusion with 6 year life span.
Cargo: Minimal Storage Space, place for a rifle, handgun, small survival kit, signal flares, and food rations.
Market Cost: 26 million credits. Without variable shields, reduce fighters cost by 4 million.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Light Laser Cannons (2): On each wing of the starfighter is a laser cannon mount. The laser cannons are based on those carried on the Osprey class starfighter but are smaller and more efficient. The laser cannons are slightly more powerful and slightly longer ranged than those carried by the CAF Black Eagle. However, they are not as powerful as the rail gun mounted on the Black Eagle. The gun pods are controlled by the fighter’s pilot.
Maximum Effective Range: 6 miles (9.7 km) through atmosphere and 600 miles (966 km) in space.
Mega-Damage: 2D4x10+10 per single blast, or 4D4x10+20 per double blast
Rate of Fire: Equal to the combined hand to hand attacks of the pilot (usually 4 or 5).
Payload: Effectively Unlimited
Missile Pylons (4): The light fighter has four hard points. Each hard point can carry one cruise missile, two long range missiles, or four medium range missiles. The pylon must carry all the same type ordnance. A Cruise missile is normally carried when on an anti-capital ship role and long and medium range missiles when fighting other starfighters. Cruise Missiles have a top speed of Mach 25 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 10% of light per turn (far faster than any starship.) Long Range Missiles have 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). Medium Range Missiles have a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Whether weapons can be shot down is calculated from the speed of target, launcher, and missile. When drive goes dead, missiles will continue to travel in a straight line unless set to self destruct but has very low odds of hitting starships (Great for hitting bases and planets because the target does not move and missile when dead at -25% to be detected.) Cruise missiles have penalties to hit small targets but all missiles are all considered smart missiles.
Maximum Effective Range: Cruise Missile range is 8,000 miles (12,875 km) in an atmosphere and 4,000,000 miles (6,437,376 km/ 21.5 light seconds) in space, 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, and 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 & Properties: See revised Phase World / Three Galaxies Missile tables for details (Cruise Anti-Matter multi-warheads inflict 5D6x100 M.D.C. each and Long Range Fusion warheads inflict 2D4x100 M.D.C. each.)
Rate of Fire: Can fire missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2) missiles.
Payload: One (1) Cruise Missile, two (2) Long Range Missiles, or four (4) Medium Range Missiles per hard point.
Special Bonuses: The light fighter is both very maneuverable and very forgiving. This gives the following bonuses: add +5% to the pilots piloting skill, +2 to dodge energy and projectile fire, and +3 to dodge missiles, obstacles, and stellar debris. The fighter also has a very advanced terrain following system. All bonuses are in addition to pilots bonuses (Hand to hand and Starfighter Pilot: Basic or Elite).

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Image drawn and copyrighted by Roman Kochnev (r_kochnev@hotmail.com) .

More Roman Kochnev artwork at The Science Fiction Art and Design Portfolio of Roman Kochnev

Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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