SF-9 Vixen class Light Starfighter (H.A.F.N. / C.A.F.):

The Vixen was the main light starfighter operated by the Human Alliance from before the formation of the Consortium of Civilized Worlds. Prior to the Vixen, the Starling was the main light fighter and even today remains in service in small numbers in backwater systems and as a training craft. While purchased in much larger numbers than the Starling, the Vixen was never operated in the huge numbers which the Osprey class starfighter was even though far cheaper and having a smaller “footprint.”

For the most part, the light fighter was not considered as flexible as the larger Osprey and was mainly operated from ground bases and from carriers. While the Osprey was adopted by the Consortium Armed Forces, the Vixen was not adopted and instead the Wolfen Falx Supina light starfighter was adopted officially. In general, the Wolfen light fighter is also a very good fighter.

However, a few Vixen starfighters were operated by the Consortium for a few years due to production problems with the Wolfen light fighters. The Human Alliance also continued to operate the fighter although it has mostly been replaced by newer designs. Both the Consortium Armed Forces and the Human Alliance chose the Scorpion starfighter as their main starfighter although a number of pilots preferred the older designs. As a result of their mass replacement, large numbers of these older light fighters were sold off.

Purchaser of the surplus fighters include smaller governments, both inside and outside Consortium space, and mercenary companies. Small numbers of the Vixen are operated by the Free Worlds Council although many pilots prefer the Scorpion. Several companies specialize in repair parts for the Vixen and there are several companies which specialize in upgrades to the Vixen fighter. There is an upgrade version of the fighter known as the “Super Vixen” which is considered to be the equal of most light starfighters.

The Vixen was designed as a low budget fighter similar to the late Twentieth Century F-5 Tiger jet fighter. The engines on the Vixen were adapted from those mounted on an experimental extremely long range capital missile. The missile program was eventually canceled but the engine design was virtually perfect for the new fighter and quickly adapted. While the light fighter was much heavier than the intended missile, the engines provide enough power that the Vixen is considerably faster than the Osprey. Still, the Human Alliance light fighter is not quite as fast as most of the newest generation of light fighters such as the Scorpion, Tanto, and Badger light starfighters.

One of the main disadvantages of the Vixen compared to many newer is that the light starfighter does not have defensive shields. Even though far newer, the Scorpion shares this disadvantage although the latest versions of the Scorpion do mount shields. The Scorpion did have to have the fuselage lengthened to mount the shield generators however. There was simply no internal space to mount them otherwise.

The Vixen mounts a pair of two centimeter laser identical to those carried on the Osprey. The original prototype only mounted a single laser but it was decide that the light fighter needed greater short range firepower for dogfighting.

Unlike the Osprey, the light fighter mounted a combination of internal missile bays and external hard points. The external hard points are designed to carry either two cruise missiles or four long range missiles each. The light fighter’s bay are designed to carry eight medium range missiles each. As one might expect, missiles carried on the external hard points reduce the fighter’s performance in an atmosphere but the fighter can carry a full load of medium range missiles in the bay without reducing the fighter’s atmopsheric performance. Similar to the Osprey, the light fighter is designed with an aerodynamic airframe and is capable in an atmosphere as well as in space.

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 to 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-9.

Vehicle Type: Light Interceptor or Attack Fighter.

Crew: One (Pilot).

M.D.C. By Location:

	Wing Laser Cannons (2):	30 each
	Medium Range Missile Bays (2):	50 each
	Missile Hard Points (2, on the Underside):	6 each
	[1] Main Body:	350
	Cockpit:	80

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.

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 7.5 (5,709.1 mph / 9,187.9 kph), can enter and leave atmosphere because flight system is using contra grav. Internal ordinance does not reduce performance but when loaded down with external ordinance, fighter’s top speed in an atmosphere is Mach 4.5 (3,425.5 mph / 5,512.8 kph.)

Maximum Range: Effectively Unlimited by drive system but only has supplies for pilot for two weeks.

Statistical Data:

Length: 36 feet (10.97 meters).

Height: 14 feet (4.27 meters).

Width: 34 feet (10.36 meters).

Mass/Weight: 6.6 tons (5.99 metric tons) empty and 8.5 tons (7.71 metric tons) fully loaded with cruise missiles.

Power System: Advanced Fusion with 10 year life span.

Cargo: Minimal Storage Space, place for a rifle, handgun, small survival kit, signal flares, and food rations. Does not include missile bays and hard points.

Market Cost: 25 million credits (Fighter is no longer being produced).

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

Two (2) Wing 2 cm Light Laser Cannons: On each wing of the starfighter is a laser cannon mount. They are not as efficient as modern laser cannons beams but are more massive than most modern laser mounts. This means that they are actual 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 fighters 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.
Two (2) Medium Range Missile Bays: On the side of the fuselage of the Vixen are two medium range missile bays. Weapon system is used for hitting enemy robots, fighters, and long range and cruise missiles. Missile has a top speed of Mach 15 in an atmosphere and in space has an acceleration of 6% of light per turn. Weapon system can be used on multiple targets simultaneously.

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 medium range missiles one at a time or in volleys of two (2), four (4), or eight (8) medium range missiles.

Payload: Four (4) medium range missiles per bay for a total of eight (8) medium range missiles.
Two (2) Missile Pylons: The light fighter has two hard points. Each hard point can carry one cruise missile or two long 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.) 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 unpowered, is 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 and 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 (Cruise Anti-Matter multi-warheads inflict 4D6x100 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).

Payload: One (1) cruise missile or two (2) long range missiles per hard point (Maximum of two cruise missiles or four long range missiles.)

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Writeup by Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune).

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