Lightning (Aerospace Fighter class)

Description
Built around a large bore autocannon, the venerable Lightning is well admired for its speed as well as its armor.

After reverse engineering the Terran Hegemony's brand new AC/10, the Capellan Confederation began a crash program to develop an Aerospace Fighter to carry it. The resulting Lightning was well received although eventually the ever advancing pace of military technology left it behind.

The Lightning received a new lease of life when the Lyran Commonwealth developed the mammoth AC/20, with Tengo Aerospace reworking the venerable design to include the new weapon along with ten and a half tons of BattleMech class armor and a more efficient GM Fusion Engine in 2511.

Unfortunately, Tengo's hopes for renewed sales were dashed when the CCAF chose to go with Mujika Aerospace Technologies' cheaper knock-off of the Lightning, the Transit, instead. Desperate to survive, Tengo illegally sold the design to Lyran and Davion manufacturers, with the fighter slowly spreading across the Inner Sphere and ensuring its survival in the Succession Wars.

The license was sold to HildCo Interplanetary on Texlos in the Capellan Confederation, Lockheed/CBM Corporation on Tharkad in the Lyran Alliance and United Outworlders Corporation on Ramora in the Outworlds Alliance. Tengo Aerospace continued to produce the Lightning at the factories on Sarna and St. Ives for the CCAF. In addition, Lycomb-Davion IntroTech on New Avalon within the Federated Suns and Taurus Territorial Industries on Taurus in the Taurian Concordat were also counted among the craft's manufacturers.

Weapons and Equipment
Built around the massive Luxor Heavy 20 Autocannon, the Lightning is to be feared at short range. Unfortunately, its only other weapons are four Diverse Optics II Medium Lasers (one mounted in the nose, one in each wing, and one covering the rear arc), leaving the design relatively short-ranged, relying on its speed and armor holding out to get into a position of advantage.

Variants

 * LTN-G14 : The original Lightning model built in 2465, it mounted an AC/10 along with the four medium lasers and featured more primitive armor and engines. BV (2.0) = 826


 * LTN-G15b : Used by the SLDF, this 2721 version carried a Gauss Rifle and Medium Laser in place of the AC/20. It also traded the standard wing armament for a Medium Laser and a Medium Pulse Laser. Finally, a standard Medium Laser covered the rear arc. Ten Double Heat Sinks kept the heat under control. BV (2.0) = 1,671


 * LTN-G16D : A more radical update developed in 3068 by the Federated Suns, the G16D features the Ferro-Aluminum armor and double heat sinks of the other recent upgrades, but also includes an XL Engine to free up space for a pair of Rotary AC/2s in the nose and a Medium Pulse Laser to each wing alongside the now upgraded ER mediums. BV (2.0) = 1,328


 * LTN-16L : A 3067 upgrade developed in House Liao space, the 16L uses Ferro-Aluminum armor and Double Heat Sinks to free up space for an Ultra AC/20 and ER Medium Lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,376


 * LTN-16O : Developed in 3068 by the Outworlds Alliance, the upgraded 16O retains the armor of the original but replaces the weapons with LB 20-X AC and a trio of ER Small Lasers on each wing. BV (2.0) = 1,220


 * LTN-G16S : Another more expensive and radical updating, the Lyran's G16S features double heat sinks, a Light Fusion Engine and Heavy Ferro-Aluminum armor to boost protection and free up weight for a Heavy Gauss Rifle in the nose, and four extended range small and medium lasers on the wings. BV (2.0) = 1,633


 * LTN-16T : A upgrade developed for the Taurian Concordat, the 16T also uses Ferro-Aluminum armor and double heat sinks to free up weight for an imported Targeting Computer and extended range lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,256

Custom Variants

 * LTN-G16-P Lightning Branson : The customized fighter of a former Clan Snow Raven warrior, the Lightning Branson uses several new experimental systems to keep enemy forces on their guard. The standard armor has been replaced with Clan-made Ferro-Lamellor armor and double heat sinks. The weapon loadout of the Lightning has been replaced as well, using three Inner Sphere made ER Medium Lasers, two ER Small Lasers covering the rear, while a nose mounted Hypervelocity Autocannon/10 provides a long-range punch. BV (2.0) = 982