Raider-class Heavy Gunship
Heavy assault gunship / armed landing craft
Close support, anti-vehicle attack, anti-ship strike, troop transport, armed insertion
40 meters
• 1,000 G
• 5.0 MGLT/s
860 km/h(Higher speeds possible with deflector shields enabled)
High-output plasma engines with vectored-thrust VTOL system
• Class 2.0
500 SBD
Heavy hull armor (150 RU)
- Wingtip-mounted heavy railguns (2)
- Light turbolasers (2)
- Retractable dorsal dual-quad laser turret (1)
- Retractable aft dual-quad laser turret (1)
- Missile launchers (2)
- Standard load:
- Singularity torpedoes (30)
- Standard load:
4 (pilot, co-pilot, aft gunner, dorsal gunner)
Several dozen troops
or several light vehicles
Mission-dependent
Short-duration
- Vectored-thrust VTOL system
- Ventral thrust-deflection nozzles
- Forward and lateral balancing thrusters
- Repulsorlift-independent atmospheric landing capability
The Raider-class Heavy Gunship is a large Olarian assault gunship and armed landing craft manufactured by Raiden Assault Craft. At forty meters in length and approximately fifty meters in wingspan, the Raider occupies a niche between conventional starfighters and small capital ships, combining heavy armor, powerful shielding, substantial weapons, and limited troop or vehicle transport capacity.
The class is notable for being among the smallest Olarian military spacecraft equipped with turbolasers. Rather than relying on speed or agility for survival, the Raider is designed to absorb punishment, deliver concentrated fire, and continue operating in heavily contested environments.
Design and development
The Raider was designed around the idea that a gunship should remain effective even when operating under sustained fire. Its broad lifting surfaces, heavy central fuselage, and reinforced wing structure support unusually large weapons and defensive systems for a craft of its size.
The airframe also reflects an older Olarian atmospheric design tradition predating the widespread use of repulsorlifts. Although modern examples may incorporate repulsorlift assistance, the Raider is fully capable of vertical takeoff and landing through redirected engine thrust alone.
During VTOL operations, portions of the main engine output are diverted through armored ventral nozzles. Forward and lateral balancing thrusters stabilize the craft while hovering and during transition between vertical and forward flight. Once sufficient airspeed is reached, the wings carry an increasing proportion of the vehicle's weight and the thrust-deflection system returns toward normal aft-directed propulsion.
This arrangement allows the Raider to operate from small landing areas, forward bases, and unimproved terrain without depending entirely upon repulsorlift infrastructure.
Performance and systems
The Raider is capable of approximately 1,000 G of acceleration, or about 5.0 MGLT/s. These figures are modest compared with dedicated Olarian fighters, but appropriate for a heavily armored craft carrying passengers, ordnance, and capital-grade weapons.
Maximum atmospheric speed is approximately 860 kilometers per hour under normal operating conditions. Despite its unusual size and broad planform, the Raider handles reasonably well once established in forward flight. Its wings provide substantial aerodynamic lift and allow the craft to maneuver more efficiently than many comparably sized landing vehicles.
Low-speed handling is much less graceful. Pilots often describe the Raider as behaving more like a small cruiser than a fighter, with considerable inertia and slow response to abrupt control inputs. The craft favors broad turns, gradual attitude changes, and carefully managed energy rather than aggressive maneuvering.
Sustained transonic flight is generally avoided. Although the engines are capable of driving the vehicle faster, aerodynamic buffeting, structural vibration, and increasing wing-root loads become severe as the craft approaches the sound barrier. Deflector shields may permit brief operation beyond the normal speed envelope, but this is rarely comfortable for the occupants or desirable for the airframe.
A Class 2.0 hyperdrive allows the Raider to deploy independently when required. Its heavy defensive systems include 500 SBD of shielding and approximately 150 RU of structural protection, making it significantly more durable than most small combat spacecraft.
Armament
The Raider carries an unusually heavy weapons fit for a vessel of its size.
Two wingtip-mounted heavy railguns provide powerful direct-fire capability against armored vehicles, transports, fortified positions, and smaller spacecraft. Two light turbolasers give the craft firepower normally associated with much larger vessels and allow it to threaten corvettes, capital-ship subsystems, and heavily protected ground targets.
A retractable dorsal dual-quad laser turret and a matching aft installation provide wide defensive coverage against starfighters. These turrets are especially effective against opponents attempting to exploit the Raider's limited agility.
Two missile launchers normally carry a combined load of thirty singularity torpedoes. This gives the gunship substantial anti-ship and strike capability and allows it to engage targets beyond the effective range of its direct-fire weapons.
The combination of railguns, turbolasers, defensive laser batteries, and guided ordnance makes the Raider one of the most heavily armed craft below corvette size in regular Olarian service.
Operational use
The Raider serves primarily as an assault gunship, providing heavy fire support during planetary operations and fleet engagements. Common missions include close air support, anti-vehicle attack, suppression of fortified positions, anti-ship strikes, and armed insertion of troops.
The craft can carry several dozen infantry or a small number of light vehicles depending upon internal configuration. This capacity is modest compared with dedicated dropships, but sufficient to place a small assault force directly into contested terrain while supporting it with heavy weapons.
In atmosphere, Raiders are typically used where survivability and firepower are more important than speed. Their VTOL system allows them to land close to frontline positions, while the wings provide efficient forward flight once clear of the landing zone.
In space combat, the Raider often operates as a heavy escort or strike platform. Its limited maneuverability makes it poorly suited to conventional dogfighting, but its strong defensive turrets and heavy weapons make attacking one at close range a dangerous proposition.
The class is frequently deployed in small numbers alongside fighters and dedicated dropships rather than in large formations. Its role is to bring disproportionate firepower to the point where it is needed and survive long enough to use it.