Fulcrum

Description
First brought into production by Cyclops Incorporation of Skye in 3057, the Fulcrum Hover Tank prototypes had performed well enough during testing to get an initial order of 500 units from the Lyran Alliance.

The vehicle was initially stationed along the Alliance's Periphery and Free Worlds League borders, where its low maintenance needs were a boon for worlds that had not seen much of the newest technological advances.

By 3067, Johnson Industries of New Syrtis received a license from Cyclops to produce the vehicle because of the huge demands for it.

The vehicle had continued to perform well during the FedCom Civil War and during the early Jihad, notably during Duke George Hasek's campaign against the Capellan Confederation as well as Duke Robert Kelswa-Steiner's conflict with the Free Worlds League.

Weapons and Equipment
All of the Fulcrum's weaponry is mounted in its turret. Its main weapon is the Sunglow Type 2 Large Laser, backed up by a Diverse Optics Type 18 Medium Laser. For its long range firepower, the tank is equipped with a Delta Dart LRM 10 Launcher with 12 volleys of missiles.

The Fulcrum has also been noted for its TAG and Guardian ECM, which makes the tank an exceptional reconnaissance and spotter vehicle.

Powering the Fulcrum is its 265-rated extralight engine, giving it incredible speed to out run enemies it can not out fight. The vehicle is protected by 10 tons of Standard Armor.

Variants

 * Fulcrum Heavy Hovertank II : Variant produced in 3067, the vehicle retains the TAG and Guardian ECM but drops the Large Laser and a Heat Sink for an additional Medium Laser and SRM 6 Launcher with a ton of ammunition. This gave the vehicle additional close quarters damage. BV (1.0) = 898, BV (2.0) = 1248


 * Fulcrum Heavy Hovertank III : This versions is refitted from a Alphard Trading field upgrade kit, equipped it with a Snub-Nose PPC and an MML-7 rack, and is linked to a C3 Slave; the TAG and Guardian ECM are retained and the armor is upgraded to Heavy Ferro-Fibrous Armor. BV (2.0) = 1,185


 * Fulcrum X : Developed by Johnston Industries during the Jihad, the Fulcrum X uses several experimental systems to survive on the battlefield. It carries a pair of Clan Medium Pulse Lasers and a single Magshot in the turret and a single Magshot covering the front arc. The tank's main defense is its high speed which has been upgraded with the use of a Supercharger. An Armored Motive System insures that the Fulcrum X will be able to survive hits that would kill other hovertanks. An Angel ECM Suite provides additional protection. In case enemy fire does hit the tank, it is protected with nine and a half tons of Reactive Armor. BV (2.0) = 1,686


 * Fulcrum Hybrid : This production version of the Fulcrum X trades the XL engine of that model for a standard fusion engine. This was necessary as the cost of the Clan made Medium Pulse Lasers was so high. A pair of Magshots are in the turret, while another covers the front arc. Like the Fulcrum X the Hybrid uses an Armored Motive System to provide additional protection, and a Supercharger allows it to hit speeds of nearly 170km/h. For protection the Fulcrum Hybrid carries ten tons of Reactive Armor and an Angel ECM Suite. BV (2.0) = 1,543

Design Quirks
The Fulcrum Hybrid variant is subject of the following Design Quirks:
 * Easy to Maintain
 * Non-Standard Parts
 * Rumble Seat