Acarid Conventional Fighter
Mass: 35 tons
Frame: Prosoma Roche-35
Power Plant: Prosoma 210 Turbine
Armor: Ferro-Aluminum
Armament:
4 Streak SRM 4
Manufacturer: Prosoma War Works
Primary Factories: Asturias, Granada, Valencia
Communication System: various
Targeting & Tracking System: various
Introduction Year: 3082
Tech Rating/Availability: F/X-X-D-D
Cost: 874,376 C-bills
Overview
The Acarid is a conventional fighter that saw widespread use with the Escorpion Imperio, and later the Scorpion Empire.
Capabilities
Powered by an air-breathing turbine, the Acarid possesses respectable performance for an aircraft of its type. While it is unable to match the sheer speed or high-altitude capability of fusion-powered airframes, the Acarid boasts a major advantage: with four clantech Streak SRM-4s, it delivers a punishing missile barrage at short to medium range.
The airframe makes sacrifices to achieve this firepower. It lacks a VSTOL system, and the internal fuel capacity is rather small. Therefore Acarid squadrons are generally tied to their airfields and must use external tanks or aerial refueling to extend their range. The Scorpions do not necessary view this as a disadvantage.
Like all conventional fighters the Acarid is fragile. However, clantech ferro-aluminum ensures that the craft bears as much protection as it can. Aside from its weapons and armor the aircraft's components can be constructed in relatively low-tech facilities, and the aircraft itself can be sustained with basic maintenance.
Deployment
Squadrons of Acarids use numbers, pack tactics, and a torrent of pinpoint-accurate missile fire to overwhelm aerial opposition. Once aerial superiority is secured, they continue to use their missiles and external ordnance to destroy ground targets.
The Acarid performed well in the Hanseatic Crusade, and the absorption of the Hansa worlds created more demand for this aircraft than ever before. By the 3140's large numbers of this aircraft dominated the aerospace force of almost every Scorpion world.
History
In the 3080s the Scorpions found themselves in the difficult position of having to garrison nearly twenty worlds despite having glaring gaps in their Touman- including a critical absence of air support. By then, their bloody exile from Clan space had taught the Scorpions that they could no longer afford to ignore air power.
The Acarid thus ensures Scorpion air superiority while simultaneously freeing up Omnifighters for higher-priority duties. It also provides a respectable post for lower-caste warriors to aspire to.
Type: Acarid Conventional Fighter
Technology Base: Clan (Standard)
Tonnage: 35
Battle Value: 613
Equipment Mass
Engine 210 ICE 18
Safe Thrust: 6
Max Thrust: 9
Structural Integrity: 6
Heat Sinks: 0 0
Fuel: 240 1.5
Cockpit 3.5
Armor Factor (Ferro) 35 2
Armor
Value
Nose 10
Wings 9/9
Aft 7
Weapons
and Ammo Location Tonnage Heat SRV MRV LRV ERV
4 Streak SRM 4 NOS 8.0 3 8 8 0 0
CASE FSLG 0.0 - - - - -
Streak SRM 4 Ammo (50) FSLG 2.0 - - - - -
