Shipyard: Fighters

Fighters are an important aspect to the game. A group of fighters can easily take out lone Warships, if there are a lot of them. No matter what type of player you decide to be, you'll have to deal with these ships.

	Defender	back to top
	The CDX Starworks I-287B Defender is used primarily by corporations and small governments who wish to protect their spheres of influence. Although the Defender is the fastest and most maneuverable fighter in production, its light armament, weak shielding, and abysmal fuel capacity relegate it to the role of an in-system interceptor, not a strike fighter. This latest version, the Defender Mk. II, has been retrofitted with larger fuel tanks to address this concern, but it is still limited in range.
Weapons 3 Laser Cannons	EVula's Notes: Ugh, avoid at all costs. This is a pathetic excuse for a ship. Its fast, yes, but its weak armament and defense make it prohibitive to actually fly one. Since you can't capture them (no armor), they're even worse.
Speed: 500 Au/h Accel: 375 Turn: 180°/sec Shields: 10u Charge: 0.33u/sec Armor: - Guns: 3 (max) Turrets: - Space: 5 tons Cargo: 1 tons Fuel: 300u (3) Length: 8m Mass: 9 tons Crew: 1 Avail: 2 Cost: 100,000 cr

	Hawk	back to top
	Mastech's F-5 Hawk light fighter provides an excellent defense for all types of starships. This specialized fighter was designed to operate only from the launch bays of other ships, and the resulting design compromises mean that its maneuverability and speed aren't the greatest, and it is only armed with a set of laser cannons and a pair of missiles.
Weapons 2 Laser Cannons 1 Missle Rack   + 2 Missiles	EVula's Notes: This is the only ship that you can have a bay for (aftermarket), other than the Lightning. For their price, they aren't a bad deal; they launch their 2 missiles as soon as they leave dock, which is helpful, but they're somewhat weak in close combat. If you can capture one, use it as an escort; otherwise, just ignore them.
Speed: 350 AU/h Accel: 280 Turn: 150°/sec Shields: 23u Charge: 0.38u/sec Armor: - Guns: 4 (max) Turrets: - Space: 10 tons Cargo: 3 tons Fuel: 100u (1 jump) Length: 9m Mass: 10 tons Crew: 1 Avail: - Cost: 250,000 cr

	Lightning	back to top
	Blazitron Industries' new F-563 Lightning fighter-bomber recently won the Shelton Award for Extreme Cleverness, and it's easy to see why. The Lightning mixes high speed and good maneuverability with excellent firepower, resulting in an unbeatable combination. In addition, the design is so adaptable that a modified version, the F-563N, has been produced for shipboard operations.
Weapons 4 Laser Cannons 2 Missle Racks   + 4 Missiles 1 Rocket Launcher   + 2 Rockets 1 Javelin Pod   + 40 Javelins	EVula's Notes: This is a very nice fighter, especially when you consider the fact that you get 2 in a Kestrel. They have enough heavy weaponry to keep their own one-on-one, but in pairs, and backed up by their mother ship, they can be extremely dangerous.
Speed: 350 AU/h Accel: 312 Turn: 150°/sec Shields: 25u Charge: 0.42u/sec Armor: 5 Guns: 5 (max) Turrets: 1 (max) Space: 15 tons Cargo: 5 tons Fuel: 500u (5) Length: 10m Mass: 12 tons Crew: 1 Avail: 3 Cost: 1,000,000 cr

	Rapier	back to top
	CDX Starworks's most popular offering, the F/A-927E Rapier attack fighter, is the heaviest-armed starfighter on the market. It has both missile racks and a torpedo launcher, and it is equipped with a laser turret for self-defense as well. However, all this firepower comes at the expense of speed and maneuverability, making the Rapier the clumsiest starfighter around. Still, it is popular with bounty hunters, corporate governments, and anyone needing a little more punch than is offered by other fighters.
Weapons 4 Proton Cannons 1 Torpedo Launcher   + 6 Torpedos 1 Rocket Launcher   + 6 Rockets 1 Rear Laser Turret	EVula's Notes: This is the heaviest fighter available in the game, and it packs quite a punch. Its rockets and proton cannons can take out targets in close combat, while its torpedos can eliminate fleeing targets. It is a bit slower than other fighters, but with its firepower, as long as it is backed up by another fighter or a warship, it can be VERY dangerous.
Speed: 300 AU/h Accel: 217 Turn: 120°/sec Shields: 35u Charge: 0.48u/sec Armor: 15 Guns: 4 (max) Turrets: 1 (max) Space: 20 tons Cargo: 15 tons Fuel: 400u (4) Length: 12m Mass: 15 tons Crew: 2 Avail: 3 Cost: 1,200,000 cr