The Sabercat was developed as a quick means to replenish Clan Nova Cat's long depleted aerospace forces. A product of its time and the limited resources of its designer, the Sabercat is essentially a heavily reconstructed SB-29 Sabre, using a fairly cost effective light class engine to improve on the original's thrust capacity. Fuel, armor, and warload are all impacted by the larger powerplant, though Clan grade armor makes up for most of the loss of protection. In addition, though the Sabercat has no more warload than even the basic SB-27, the use of improved heavy lasers give it a deceptively heavy punch, making for a deadly interceptor and ground attack fighter.
For all those capabilities, however, the Sabercat does have its problems. The airframe was never actually designed to handle the higher thrust of the new powerplant, meaning that stress damage is a regular problem that complicates even basic maintenance. In addition, early production models had difficulty with interfacing clan and inner sphere technology systems, creating problems with the targeting system in particular (though this problem has since been corrected). These problems, along with the fighter's association with the Nova Cats, make it an unpopular craft for all but the most discerning pilots.
Due to almost punative terms placed by the Combine on Clan Nova Cat during the Second Dominion War, half of all Sabercats manufactured were handed over to the DCMS, where they were assigned primarily to rear area and other garrison formations across the Combine. With the destruction of Clan Novacat in 3143, this has left the vast majority of Sabercats in Combine hands, with only a handful found among renegades, mercenaries, or the Free World's League's Clan Protectorate. Though now out of production, the abundance of compatible spare parts for its cousin the Sabre means the survivors can be expected to last for some time to come.
Design Quirks: Difficult to Maintain, Poor Workmanship, and Bad Reputation. Before 3130, the Sabercat also suffered from the Sensor Ghost quirk.
Sabercat SB-C
Mixed (Base IS)
25 tons
BV: 1,042
Cost: 3,079,181 C-bills
Movement: 12/18
Engine: 250 Light
Heat Sinks: 11 [22]
Structural Integrity: 12
Armor: 86 (Ferro-Aluminum)
Armor
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Nose 23
Left Wing 21
Right Wing 21
Aft 21
Weapon Loc Heat
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Improved Heavy Medium Laser (Clan) NOS 7
Improved Heavy Medium Laser (Clan) RWG 7
Improved Heavy Medium Laser (Clan) LWG 7
Equipment Loc
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Ferro-Aluminum None
