Ship Interceptor USN Sword
| Sword | |
|---|---|
 Sword | |
| Type | Star Fighter |
| Combat role | Fighter |
| Service | |
| In service | 821 AE |
| Used by | United Space Navy |
| Wars | Second Antarean War |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 27m |
| Mod slots |
1x Primary weapon 1x Hardpoint 1x Chassis 1x Mines 1x Countermeasures |
| Statistics | |
| Hull | 800 points |
| Armour | 400 points |
| Boost time | 14s |
| Max thrust | 1400 |
Originally developed in a joint program between Draymark Aerospace and the Cinnabar government prior to the first ULP treaty of 849 AE, the original design documentation called for a cheap, versatile strike-fighter capable of sustaining long-term space and ground engagements with as little reliance on support assets as possible. Following these specifications, the first SWD-A01, dubbed "Sword" for its thin, angular appearance, rolled off the production lines in late 821 AE and since has become one of the most widely used and most versatile designs in the galaxy. Starting its life as an insystem-patroller and pirate-hunter, the Sword was quickly recognized as a small and lethal package, and often found itself used to escorting vulnerable merchant craft through the pirate infested outlying systems of Cinnabar.
When conflict commenced between Cinnabar, its allies, and the Antarean Empire, the Sword class quickly proved itself a solid design even when compared to the more heavily armed and venerated Antarean fighters. More Swords were produced from 849 to 861 AE then any other fighter and the design quickly found itself in service over hundreds of worlds. With the war now over, the Sword would be pressed into service in a role that more closely matched its original design specifications, as a deep-space patroller.
In 881, Draymark Aerospace acquired Mournecreek based Soltano Systems, a sector-wide leader in the field of starship propulsion and circuitry. The partnership produced dozens new designs as well as many new improvements and modifications to the SWD chassis. Most notable are the SWD-H11, the first fighter capable of generating its own particle field. The SWD-J29[s] an unmanned scout capable of traveling through subspace Finally, the current SWD-M10i model, which, despite its relatively advanced age, is still the primary strike-fighter in the USN arsenal.
Though capable of mounting a variety of weapon systems, the primary configuration retains the older model Manta-X plascannon as its main weapon, supplemented by paired Murchison FF-27 high-speed vulcan cannons and adds two Puma Interceptor burst-missile triple-packs, making the Sword a danger to both strike-craft and larger ships.
