Cutlass

Description
Manufactured for the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns by Wangker Aerospace from their plant on Axton, the Cutlass entered service at the beginning of the thirty-second century. The Cutlass was intended to battle front-line Capellan Confederation Armed Forces fighters such as the Transgressor and Troika, and the Cutlass quickly found itself taking pride of placement in AFFS interceptor squadrons.

Well equipped with advanced electronic systems, the Cutlass makes good use of its Guardian ECM Suite to close within range of the primary weapons; high acceleration and sixteen tons of Wangker Solarion Reflective Armor help protect the Cutlass after it strikes with its weapons. The Cutlass was swiftly in service in both the Capellan and Draconis Marches.

Weapons and Equipment
The Cutlass mounts a Poland Main Model C Gauss Rifle in the nose, which is supplied with two tons of ammunition. Mounted alongside the gauss rifle is a single ExoStar ER Large Laser. The fighter also carries both a Guardian ECM Suite and a Beagle Active Probe. For engagements at shorter ranges the Cutlass mounts a pair of Martell ER Medium Lasers in each wing.

Variants

 * CUT-01E : In service by 3145, the CUT-01E variant is intended to be a pursuit fighter and harasser. The CUT-01E lacks the Gauss Rifle and ER Medium Lasers of the -01D, replacing them with a single Extended LRM 20 and enough ammunition for sixteen volleys . BV (2.0)= 2,234

Design Quirks
The Cutlass is subject to the following Design Quirks.
 * Atmospheric Flight Instability
 * Improved Life Support