QF-3000E

The following is by no-means meant to be all encompassing. The following are MRC specific MODIFICATIONS to stats that are preexisting. Note that the following should not be taken as canon. The following is an extrapolation and speculation from canon materials.

NORTHROM QF-3000E GHOST

http://www.mahq.net/mecha/macross/sdfmacross/qf-3000e.jpg

BACKGROUND

The Northrom QF-3000E Ghost Fighter is a later extension of the Superbird series hypersonic lifting body unmanned fighter bomber that used the latest in AI technology prior to the start of SWI. The aerospace lifting body was designed by Northrom, a company renowned for making heavy-duty fighters and bombers. The name "Ghost" passed on to the QF-3000E, a and thus much larger than the QF-2200 Ghost series. The QF-3000E is designed to operate in any and all environments and it includes guidance thrusters and control fins on its surface. It also features a rear ventral mounted arresting hook for Carrier landings.

The AI is situated in the reinforced forward dorsal cockpit bay, parked behind something that looks like a large single eye emerging from the surface of the fighter. The single eye is the primary sensor. The AI controls all of the fighter’s functions, and receives updates from its supervisor based either in a ground base or in an UN Spacy ship or fighter. The supervisor is able to monitor and direct numerous QF-3000e Ghost Fighters at once. The supervisor will transmit new mission parameters and orders or target data to the Ghost Fighter so long as they are within communications range. If the QF-3000E goes outside of communications range, it will attempt to get back into communication range with its supervisor, so long as this does not conflict with its mission orders.

Due to the ability to not endanger human life in combat, the Ghost fighter and its descendants (such as the Ghost X-9) are a favoured backup to the Variable Fighter, as they are able to conduct missions that humans wouldn't or couldn't conduct. The QF-3000E is also cheaper to manufacture than a Variable Fighter and the AI's can, with re-programming, be put into any Variable Fighter. Some tests in this area have been made (the QVF-1 and QVF-11 being the most notable,) but they are normally only used for target practice. QF-3000E's were the favoured combat vehicle on the ARMD platforms, Apollo base, the L-5 space docks and Embaterion Transporter. The SDF-1 was initially deployed with a fleet of 120 QF-3000Es.

Post Space War 1, the QF-3000E programme was expanded upon to provide a stopgap fighter force until VF-1s and properly trained pilots could be produced en masse. Once a sufficient number of VFs and trained pilots came into active service, the QF-3000E was retired from it’s role as main fighter of the UNS and was returned to its original role of conducting missions that humans wouldn’t or couldn’t perform.

During the colonization phase of the 2020s and 2030s, retired QF-3000E and newly manufactured models were sold to Colonies as a means of bolstering their VF defense forces or basing their space defenses entirely on unmanned aerospace fighters that could remain in orbit for months at a time.

By the late 2030s, the UN largely stopped using the QF-3000E, opting for the lower cost Drone Fighter. However, due to the robust range that the QF-3000E possesses, it is still used for long-range, long-duration solar system type patrols that are unfeasible for pilots to perform. The Ghost X-9 fighter is expected to entirely replace the remaining QF-3000Es in the UN’s service by the early to mid-2050s.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type QF-3000E Ghost: Standard version
Class: UN Spacy Unmanned All-Environ Fighter
Manufacturer: Northrom
Crew: None, AI controlled

Variants:

• QF-3000e: AI controlled fighter.
• F-3000e: Manned version, sold to colony defense forces.

Customer: UN Spacy and colony governments.
Design Features: Blended lifting body, canard wing, overfuselage air intake, forward-looking main sensor, six large-bore cannons, internal missiles

MDC BY LOCATION:

Location	MDC
Main Body¹ Engine² Reinforced AI cockpit³ Missile Bays/Thrusters (2) Forward Sensor	300 150 100 100 each 50

http://unsd.macrossroleplay.org/ghost.jpg

NOTES:

¹ Depleting the MDC of the Main Body will destroy the fighter.

² Destroying one thruster will reduce the flight speed of the fighter by 50%. Destroying both thrusters will render the Ghost immobile.

³ Destroying the Reinforced AI Cockpit will destroy the Artificial Intelligence controlling the fighter. The fighter will automatically shutdown.

SPEEDS:

FLYING: Mach 4, with thrusters providing temporary speed of Mach 5.2 to pemit Ghost fighter to breach atmosphere to obtain orbit.

STATISTICAL DATA:

LENGTH: 16 m

POWER PLANT:

Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

1. LARGE BORE LASER CANNONS:

Secured within large ports on the port and starboard sides of the Fighter are 6 Laser Cannons. The Cannons are fire-linked together and fixed forward so the AI must line up the target to hit. The damage from the fire-linked cannons enables them to destroy enemy mecha with single blasts against most mecha.

• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
• SECONDARY PURPOSE: Anti-Aircraft
• RANGE: 1200 m (4000 ft)
• DAMAGE: 1D4x10 M.D. (Per Cannon) 6D4x10 MD for fire-linked cannon blasts.
• RATE OF FIRE: 4 times per melee.
• PAYLOAD: Effectively Unlimited.

2. SHORT RANGE MISSILE LAUNCHERS:

Located in the side mounted thrusters are 8 missile launchers (4 per side) which provided additional firepower for the QF-3000E Ghost Fighter. The QF-3000E will normally keep the missiles for specific mission parameters so as to be efficient and conserve ammunition.

• PRIMARY PURPOSE: Assault
• MISSILE TYPE: Any Short-range missile
• RANGE: Varies with missile type
• DAMAGE: Varies with missile type
• RATE OF FIRE: Volleys of 1-8 missiles, 4 volleys per melee
• PAYLOAD: 4 missiles per launcher, total of 32 missiles

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE QF-3000E:

• AI PILOT
• Vehicle_Standard_Equipment#LANDING_GEAR.2FCATAPULT_HOOK
• COMBAT COMPUTER Era iii.
• HEAT AND RADIATION SHIELDS
• HOMING SIGNAL (Homing Signal only, no ejector seat for the AI.)
• LASER TARGETING SYSTEM
• RADAR
• RADIO/VIDEO COMMUNICATION Era i.
• REINFORCED AI COCKPIT
• SELF-DESTRUCT

COMBAT BONUSES FOR QF-3000E GHOST FIGHTER TRAINING:

QF-3000E GHOST FIGHTER COMBAT ATTRIBUTES

4 attacks per melee +2 to strike +4 to dodge +2 to roll with an impact, reducing damage by half.

Pilot QF-3000E 70% Weapon Systems 70% Read Sensory Instruments 65% Navigation: ALL 60% Radio: Basic 65%

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

Palladium Books Game Engine and MDC Rules
"Macross Compendium: QF-3000e Ghost entry"
Design layout adapted from DAVE DEITRICH ([email protected])
UNSD QF-3000e stats
Macross TV Series
Macross 7 Trash Manga