The Blackstar is a superagile
fighter, optimised for close combat. Intended role is night-time ground
attack/armed reconnaissance (hence the dark paint finish). The craft bears
no resemblance to earlier ISI 0-G fighters, being a totally new derivative
free of legacy design issues.
Once in combat, a Blackstar
pilot has to rely on the ship's side agility more than the pitch/roll controls.
The pitch and roll controls
should be reserved for a panic situation; the Blackstar fighter's capable
of making a full turn in less than a second, so the "6 o'clock" notion
becomes very blurry. This ship is flown by thrust, not by the usual directional
control.Armament is extensive for the weight and size of the fighter (one
reason for this is the excellent thrust:weight ratio and use of lightweight
materials in the structure).
Blackstars come equipped
with RIM-39B off-boresight ASRAAMs, medium-calibre
GAU-140 Equaliser Gatling
cannons, and fast level 4 Lasers which are usually underrated in combat.
For ground attack, a typical
load includes either dual-fired Concussion Missiles or the far more effective
Unguided Rockets pods, up to three rocket pods may be carried for a total
of 18 rockets. As a bonus, the Blackstar is capable of carrying the prototype
Photon Particle Accelerator cannon, but these are not likely to be easily
available, so pilots should
rely on standard armament such as the Mauser BK-30T "Gauss" 30mm Gatling
for destroying armoured targets. |
