Stinger LAM

Description
In 2680, the Star League requested designers to develop 'Mechs which could fly as well as function as standard 'Mechs. The first Land-Air 'Mech off the drawing board, the Shadow Hawk LAM, proved so fatally flawed the concept was almost shelved altogether. However, LexaTech Industries reworked the conversion equipment and unveiled the first viable LAM based on the old Stinger design, the Stinger LAM, in Introduction Year::2688. LexaTech's reworking of the concept proved so successful that the Land-Air 'Mech became highly sought after, especially for operations on minor planets such as asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets. In fact, the Stinger LAM first saw combat destroying a nuclear weapons facility in the Oort Cloud orbiting Sol, Terra's star.

Despite never being produced in large numbers, there were still many in service during the Succession Wars due in part to the LexaTech facility on the Draconis Combine world of Irece remaining intact. It was the last such facility in the Inner Sphere, and was able to construct new Stinger LAMs as well as new parts. The loss of the factory to the forces of Clan Nova Cat in Production Ceased::3050 during the Clan Invasion sounded the death knell for the Land-Air 'Mech as a viable combat unit, as the Nova Cats viewed Land-Air 'Mechs as an abomination and utterly razed the LexaTech factory to the ground.

Weapons and Equipment
The standard production model uses three Magna medium lasers mounted on the head and arms. It is powered by a GM 180 fusion engine, allowing a maximum ground speed of 97.2 km/h supported by six GM ATO 100 jump jets for a jumping range of 180 meters. While in aerospace fighter mode it is able to reach a cruising speed 194 km/h, and accelerate to a flanking speed of 291 km/h.

Variants

 * STG-A1 (Stinger LAM MK I) : The original Stinger LAM used by the Star League Defense Force Royal Divisions, this version carried a medium pulse laser and replaced the machine guns with small pulse lasers. Double heat sinks kept the temperature manageable, and it was also more heavily armored than its forerunner, carrying five tons of protection. BV (2.0) = 788


 * STG-10 : Found in the Draconis Combine, this variant uses a pair of Martell small lasers on each arm instead of the medium lasers. BV (2.0) = ????

Notable Pilots

 * See Category:Notable Stinger LAM Pilots

Related BattleMechs

 * Stinger - LexaTech based the first successful Land-Air 'Mech on the venerable Stinger light BattleMech.