Arctic Cheetah (Hankyu)

Description
The Arctic Cheetah was originally designed by Clan Ice Hellion to replace the Mist Lynx OmniMech. Shortly after they began production in 3037, Clan Smoke Jaguar conquered the factory on Foster that produced the design, enabling the Jaguars to replace their Mist Lynx 'Mechs. The design was dubbed the Hankyu (Japanese for "short bow") by the Draconis Combine forces that first encountered it during the Battle of Luthien. The Ice Hellions subsequently recovered or recaptured Foster MechWorks Facility Beta, but by that point, the majority of the Ice Hellion MechWarriors preferred the Hellion OmniMech.

The Arctic Cheetah uses all the weight-saving materials that were available to the Clans in the 3030s: an Endo Steel structure, an XL Engine, and four tons of Ferro-Fibrous armor. It maintains enough jump jets in the base chassis to leap up to one hundred eighty meters at a time.

Weapons and Equipment
Every variant of the Arctic Cheetah mounts a modular Flamer somewhere on the 'Mech for anti-infantry work. The most common configuration to Clan Smoke Jaguar and Clan Nova Cat uses a pair of LRM-5s and ER Medium Lasers, enabling it to excel in medium-range work. The primary configuration is also an incredible scout, mounting an Active Probe, ECM Suite, and TAG.

Variants

 * Alt. Config. A : The most popular variant in Clan Steel Viper adds a Small Pulse Laser and a pair of Streak SRM-6s to the Flamer. BV (1.0) = 1,148, BV (2.0) = 1,117


 * Alt. Config. B : Appealing to patient warriors, the bravo configuration uses an LB 2-X AC, a Medium Pulse Laser, and an ER Medium Laser. BV (1.0) = 1,094, BV (2.0) = 1,076


 * Alt. Config. C : This variant excels in urban combat and scouting thanks to its Active Probe. This hunter-killer makes use of four ER Medium Lasers and a pair of Medium Pulse Lasers in addition to the standard Flamer. BV (1.0) = 1,627, BV (2.0) = 1,840


 * Alt. Config. D : A capable long-range missile boat, configuration D mounts a pair of LRM-10s in each arm with a Medium Pulse Laser and a Flamer mounted in the Left Torso. BV (1.0) = 1,295, BV (2.0) = 1,080


 * Alt. Config. E : Configured for anti-infantry work, this variant carries two Machine Gun Arrays populated with three Light Machine Guns each as its primary weaponry. These are backed up by a single Flamer, and battle armor troops are threatened by the twin B-Pods mounted on the torso. For harder targets, it carries two Medium Pulse Lasers. BV (2.0) = 1,084


 * Alt. Config. F : This configuration is equipped with two Streak LRM-5 launchers and two Improved Heavy Medium Lasers. It also carries a Light TAG and a Watchdog CEWS. BV (2.0) = 1,394


 * Alt. Config. H : This variant uses a Heavy Medium Laser and a pair of Heavy Small Lasers for short-range firepower. For long range, it has an ER Large Laser. Three additional double heat sinks keep heat levels in check. BV (1.0) = 1,148, BV (2.0) = 1,264

Apocryphal Variants
These variants were introduced in various apocryphal sources, and thus far have not appeared in any canonical media.

From MechWarrior Online:
 * ACH-SH Shard : A customized variant of the Arctic Cheetah piloted by Eva Hordwon, the Shard carries two ER Medium Lasers in each arm, supported by twin Heavy Machine Guns in the right torso and a left torso-mounted Streak SRM-4. A single ton of Streak missiles and a ton and a half of HMG ammo give the Shard good endurance.