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F94-Cataphract

F94-Cataphract Air Superiority Fighter
Unlock level 20, CPU T4 at 60404.
IMPORTANT INFO: FOR MULTIPLAYER SERVERS WITH "THRUSTER OBSTRUCTION" ENABLED PLEASE USE THIS VARIANT:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2141842580
(Thank you clownkrieger for the info about the obstructed thrusters)

RP-Description: The Navy's new F94 Cataphract (which comes from the Greek "Kataphraktos" and means "Iron Knight" or "Panzerreiter") is a twin engine hypersonic VTOL SSTO fighter craft with advanced stealth features and all target engagement capability.

Translation to actual game: It flies as fast as everything else, it can shoot stuff and carpet texture has absolutely no anti radar propperties.
Anyway, if the Manticore is the A-10 Warthog, this is the F-22 Raptor.

While the real life Raptor was WAY too expensive for the benefit, the F94 is actually a good choice for the player. The craft has jump capability, quite a bit of storage, strong lift thrusters and everything an SV can bring to the table. I did not want to design a super slim, light-weight attack only vessel, as the Navy-Nightingale already covers that and since that craft is also considerably smaller without a warpdrive it's a way better choice for carrier deployment. So the F94 is 78 tons empty ... but it can shift, as the thrusters are quite powerful.
TEST: Can fly pretty well on a 4G world at a total weight of 170 tons, if using lift and forward thrust to get off the ground.

Warpdrive: Yes.

Armament:
4 Laser cannons (long range)
2 SRAAM launcher (guided missiles)
4 Rocket pods against ground targets (dumbfire rockets)
3 GAU-10 Autocannons (cheap to fire)

Defense:
Hardened steel hull, armored cockpit
Shield generator

Storage:
Ammo feeder 1
4250 units, loaded topside
Main storage / Ammo feeder 2
15000 units, accessible from the pilot's utility cabine at the rear

Also found in that utility cabine:
Armor locker
Fridge
O2 Station
Constructor
3 x 250 units storage boxes (look up)
Wireless cargo access point in case you want to download a beer and a sandwich to your phone.

Features:
The cockpit can be reached from the ground, when standing next to it, which is very useful on high G worlds. And no, stop clicking there, you can't get in that way. These are only windows to make it look good. The actual cockpit is behind and up.
A detector is at the back of the craft
The craft moves very well in atmospheric flight mode. Leave only the main thrusters on and move around for very little fuel.
If you think that military coloring is too damn bloody dull, have a look at the pictures. Chose your color, "replace all" and spraypaint a wing. TADAA ...
Works well with almost all colors.
It DOES actually fit through the hangar door of an Arcturus Cruiser.