Articles
GAV-3 Fleet Defense Fighter
A new ship for Hard Nova 2 campaigns.
GAV-3 “Sfera” Defense Fighter
In the closing years of the Tarkosian conflict, the USU had sustained heavy losses to its capital ship fleets in several devastating battles. After an intense review of Tarkosian battle tactics, it was determined that a significant number of USU capital ships were crippled or destroyed by small Tarkosian craft deployed in large numbers. Fielding a mixture of fighters and strike craft armed with devastating torpedoes, the Tarkosians were able to get close to USU capital ships during fleet engagements and inflict devastating punishment. USU fighters were overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemy craft and proved ineffective at defending fleet assets.
USU Fleet Command issued a specification for a Fleet Defense Fighter that could be mass produced quickly and cheaply and was easy to maintain. A short competition between several aerospace manufacturers ensued with the Earth-based Gavalov Design Bureau (GDB) declared the winner. It’s GAV-3 “Sfera” craft immediately went into production at GDB’s Mars-Cydonia complex. Within four months the first GAV-3s were assigned to the carrier USU Kyoto. The GAV-3s saw limited action as the war had come to a successful conclusion before the USU fleets were fully supplied with them.
With the Tarkosian threat eliminated and a post-war fleet realignment underway, USU Fleet Command suspended further purchases of the GAV-3. The loss of such a major contract would have crippled many design firms, but GDB’s CEO, Stepan Gavalov, saw an opportunity. The inexpensive, easily maintained GAV-3 was a perfect product for other applications. Specifically, Gavalov marketed the ship to corporations, paramilitary agencies, and local planetary governments as a cheap defense fighter. This decision proved to be a stroke of genius, as these organizations jumped at the chance to purchase a genuinely modern fighter craft for very reasonable prices.
Description
All GAV-3 models share the same basic spaceframe: a spherical hull with a large front viewport and two stubby “wings” that mount the ship’s weapon systems. The shape of the hull inspired the name of the craft itself – sfera is Russian for “sphere.” Sublight speeds are achieved with three Korov XL5 xenon burst engines mounted at the back of the craft. These reliable, efficient engines are noted for their blue exhaust jets and quick start up sequences. A series of six Korov JL2 inertial-field generators provide the ship with outstanding maneuverability. While the standard production model GAV-3s sport plain gray hulls, many units emblazon their ships with custom paint jobs. Some of the more notable designs include the pirate “Eightballs” black and white scheme and the red and white New Canadia Defense Force’s “Corsairs” colors.
Variations
GAV-3a Sfera
Speed: +4
Handling: +4
Sensors: +1
Frame: 1
Shields: 0
Weapons: One pair of fire-linked laser cannons (forward facing)
This is the original USU-specification GAV-3. It is fast and maneuverable but lacks shields and armor. As such, this ship has proven to be very unpopular with all but the most daredevil pilots. However, the low price and easy maintenance of the GAV-3a has made it a top choice for cost-conscience businesses and governments. As such, the GAV-3a is still the most common of the GAV-3 line flying today.
GAV-3b Super Sfera
Speed: +4
Handling: +3
Sensors: +2
Frame: 2
Shields: 1
Weapons: One pair of fire-linked laser cannons (forward facing); 2 hunter-killer missiles (forward facing)
This upgraded version of the GAV-3 design incorporates a heavier spaceframe, improved sensor suite, and the addition of a shield system at the cost of some maneuverability. The overall result is a sturdier fighter that is more capable than its predecessor but also more expensive. The Super Sfera is capable of carrying two missiles for long-range strikes against larger ships, though not all GAV-3bs are outfitted this way. Super Sferas are almost always encountered as part of a mixed force of GAV-3s. Most organizations use them to bolster their existing fleet of GAV-3a fighters rather than deploy them as a unit on their own due to their greater expense.
GAV-3c Sfera Tank
Speed: +2
Handling: +2
Sensors: +3
Frame: 3
Shields: 3
Weapons: One pair fire-linked particle cannons (forward facing); 2 missile launchers (forward facing)
At the request of several security firms, Gavalov Design Bureau attempted to upgrade the GAV-3b design with increased armor and firepower. After an expensive design phase, it was determined that the craft would have to be designed from the ground up to incorporate all the changes desired by the potential buyers. This new craft featured much heavier armor and shields and a devastating weapons system combining particle cannons and missile launchers. While significantly slower and less maneuverable than its predecessors, the GAV-3c Sfera Tank’s firepower makes it a valuable addition to defense forces throughout the USU. Unfortunately for GDB, the expensive design process coupled with the final craft’s high production costs have resulted in meager sales numbers.
GAV-3d Sfera Avtomat
Speed: +4
Handling: +5
Sensors: +1
Frame: 2
Shields: 0
Piloting: 5 to 8
Gunnery: 5 to 8
Weapons: One pair of fire-linked laser cannons (forward facing)
Following the financially unsuccessful Sfera Tank, GDB began a “black project” at Mars-Cydonia code-named “Free Thinker”. Shrouded in secrecy and in development for over five years, the project ran into significant cost overruns and almost never saw the light of day. When finally revealed, the new craft, dubbed the GAV-3d Sfera Avtomat, proved to be a revolutionary redesign of the Sfera series. GDB completely eliminated the need for a pilot by integrating a custom warbot pilot AI into the ship systems. A return to the lightly armed and armored original GAV-3a-style format allows the ship to achieve incredible maneuverability. The only downfall to the design is that the Sfera Avtomat AI is particularly vulnerable to damage from ion cannon blasts. (Treat all ion cannon damage as 6MEC rather than the standard 4MEC.)
GAV-3e Sfera Gornjak
Speed: +2
Handling: +3
Sensors: +2
Frame: 3
Shields: 2
The successful Sfera design has seen its first non-military application in the GAV-3e Sfera Gornjak. Based partially on the GAV-3c Sfera Tank, the Gornjak is equipped with no weapons but instead sports two robotic manipulator arms. These arms can be outfitted with any number of special purpose tools to fit a variety of missions. The most common mission profile of the Gornjak is asteroid mining, a task the ship is well-suited for thanks to its sturdy hull and dependable shields. Other applications include salvage and repair work, rescue, construction, and cargo transfer. While not as robust in its features as a truly mission-dedicated craft would be, the GAV-3e’s modular tool system and easy maintainability make it a popular choice for cost-conscious businesses.
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