A-33 Sting (TL8 turboprop interceptor)
The Sting hovers at the upper boundary of prop-driven airplane performance. It is designed to intercept other turboprops and ground attack jets, which typically have top speeds in the 400-550 mph range, as well as all helicopters, most aerodynes and most tilt-rotors. It normally carries a pair of 127mm AAMs but has another 1,000 lbs of hardpoint space for other missiles (the most common is the 750-lb 135mm IIRH missile, with a range of 97 miles). The 15mmC minigun is mainly present for pilot morale, but can be used to administer a coup de grace to aircraft badly damaged by missile fire, as well as providing some means of defense after firing missiles.
Though decoy dischargers are not provided, the empty space in the wings is intended to hold one discharger and five reloads (treat as a modular socket). Note that carrying anything on the hardpoints negates the basic stealth.
Unless noted otherwise, all components that are "facing specific" are mounted Front.
Subassemblies: two high-agility wings, three rough-field (standard)
retractable wheels (body and wings)
Body Features: good streamlining
Propulsion: one 1500 kW ducted propeller facing rear (pusher)
Weaponry (body): 1x15mmC minigun, 2000x15mmC API rounds, 1x1000-lb
hardpoint
Weaponry (wings): 1x200-lb hardpoint each (normally carries 1xSidewinder
II)
Instruments and electronics (body): air-search radar (25 miles,
Scan 19), two long range (1000 mile) scrambled radios, military GPS, two
small computers, one terminal, advanced laser/radar detector, digital camera,
HUDWAC, laser spot tracker, 2xIFF, optical bombsight
Miscellaneous: fire extinguisher system
Controls: Computer
Occupancy: Short
Passengers: None
Crew: Pilot in cramped crewstation
Environmental Systems: 6 hours limited life-support
Power: 1525 kW gas turbine, uses 83.875 gph
Fuel: three self-sealing fuel tanks (one 75-gallon tank body,
one 25-gallon each wing), 125 gallons diesel fuel
Access, Cargo and Empty Space: body: 30.8 cf access, 1.92 cf
empty, no cargo; each wing: 3.5 cf empty
Volumes: Body 150 cf, each Wing 14.75 cf, Wheels 15 cf; Surface
Area: Body 169 sf, each wing 72 sf, wheels 36 sf, Total Area 349 sf
Structure: medium frame
Structural Options: sealed, basic stealth, basic IR cloaking
Hit Points: Body 253, each Wing 108, Wheels (each) 54
Armor: PD 4 DR 20 expensive composite (body and wing)
Statistics (full payload): Loaded Weight 8,580 lbs (4.29 tons),
Volume 194.5 cf, Size Modifier +3, Loaded Price $504,580, HT 10 (12 if
hardpoints unloaded)
Air Performance (Hardpoints Loaded): Stall Speed 107 mph, drag
119.3, Top speed 600 mph, aAccel 14, aDecel 30, aMR 7.5, aSR 5, Takeoff
run 193 yards, Landing run 287 yards
Air Performance (Clean): Stall Speed 98 mph, drag 104.3, Top
Speed 600 mph, aAccel 17, aDecel 36, aMR 9, aSR 5, Takeoff run 147 yards,
Landing run 241 yards
New Weapons
15mmC minigun: six long barrels, electric gatling
API ammo: Dam 13d+2(2) Cr, Malf Ver, SS 20, Acc 14, 1/2 Dam 1100 yds,
Max 5100 yds, ROF 60; $3.36 and 0.21 lbs per round; gun $17,100, 76 lbs,
1.27 kW
127mm short-range AAM:
IIRH, normal HEPF-ABF warhead, Dam 6dx128 [20d] Exp, Skill 19, Max
25,000 yards (14.8 miles), Speed 2000 yds/sec, 195 lbs, $29,800