Directorate Officer
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To update the Typhoon-class Modular Starfighter to the modern market and make it modular in a different way
- Image Source: 'Puma' Racer / light fighter concept art
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: Typhoon-class Modular Starfighter
- Manufacturer: Lucerne Labs
- Affiliation: Silver Jedi Concord, Directorate, Lucerne Labs customers
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: Typhoon II-class Starfighter
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: Starskimmer-series Hull (Carbo-plas, condensed-matter composite, corellian epoxy, thermal gel), Biolux-series Organoform Circuitry, Calor-series Bio-Computers, typical starfighter components
- Classification: Starfighter
- Length: 10.3 meters
- Width: 3.4 meters
- Height: 2.1 meters
- Armament: Average
- 2 Wing tip Vaapad-class Laser Cannons
- 2 fuselage mounted Juyo-class Ripper Cannons
- 2 LLT-7 General Purpose Warhead Launchers(each capable of holding one of the following loadouts or other equivalent)
- Defenses: Average
- Squadron Count: Average: 12
- Maneuverability Rating: Average (Low in boost mode, High in maneuver mode)
- Speed Rating: Average (High in boost mode, Low in maneuver mode)
- Hyperdrive: x1
- Standard Communications Array
- Standard Life Support Systems
- Standard Navigational Systems
- Standard Repulsorlift Engines
- Can Enter Atmosphere and Land
STRENGTHS
- Modular Subsystems: Most of the Typhoon II's subsystems have some degree of modularity built into them, whether its the ability to carry different types of ordnance or the ability to switch shield settings. This can make the Typhoon somewhat more adaptable to different situations than many of its counterparts.
- Weak Hull: Using a Starskimmer-series Hull makes the Typhoon fairly lightweight, which while great from a flight performance standpoint, also means that the hull is less durable against many weapons. Slightly stronger shielding than normal somewhat helps compensate for this, however.
The original Typhoon-class Modular Starfighter was moderately successful by Lucerne Labs's standards, yet the use of physical modules meant that once a module was installed meant that its abilities were static once the craft took flying. The company thought it could do better, making a fighter whose characteristics could change midflight, largely due to the use of adaptable subsystems. To this end, they embarked on designing such components and gradually adding them into current production ships as such parts became available. But the Typhoon design itself never truly died, finally being resurrected as the Mark II when all foreseeable adaptable subsystems had been designed. The resulting Mark II has an almost bewildering amount of subsystems that can be reconfigured midflight: sensors, shields, engines, laser cannons, and ripper cannons. Some systems are still modular but hardware based: Modular Auxiliary Systems Turret, warheads, and physical autocannon ammunition. All of these options mean that the Typhoon is an exceptionally adaptable craft to fly, even if it doesn't quite have the breadth of role options that its predecessor had. Typhoon IIs typically work in the classic superiority role, where their adaptive abilities allow them to easily become tailored for facing certain opponents as they are encountered.
Technical Descriptions
Flight Control Systems: The Typhoon II largely builds off of the original Typhoon design, but its flight controls and avionics were largely updated based on previous work on the Vortex II. Basic control layout and design mimic those of the popular X-wing and common Skyhopper airspeeder to ease the transition from other craft to the Typhoon. Another refinement to the base controls was integrating the inertial compensator to the ship's sensor suite. This allows the field to expand or contract automatically based on stimuli, whether it's a tumultous asteroid or a dovin basal. Aside from its basic controls, the Typhoon II features a pair of linked Calor-series Bio-computers that function as an integrated droid brain for the craft. These computers act as a co-pilot for the pilot, using their parallel-processing power to calculate hyperspace jumps, tune various subsystems for optimal performance, and act as secondary gunners, particularly for the turreted MAST and smart warheads. These bio-computers do have an auto-pilot function that allows them to autonomously fly the craft, though their skill is not as great as most organic pilots. Interesting enough, the computers' flying styles mimic that of the pilot that has used their craft the most, meaning that while their performance is not great, they are not predictable flyers either. Because of that, Tyhpoon IIs are sometimes remotely piloted from ground stations or capital ships.
Sublight Engines: The Typhoon II uses a trio of Nimble-7 Ion Engines, with one at the end of each wing and another mounted on the fuselage just aft of the pilot. Additional These engines provide the Typhoon with fairly average flight performance for a multi-role starfighter, but with the added ability to alter ion stream deflectors to make the craft more maneuverable or faster as needed. Combined with an aerodynamic design and a lightweight hull, the Typhoon is also fairly fuel-efficient in atmospheric flight, making it ideal for extended planetary operations.
Hyperdrive: The Typhoon II is equipped with a standard starfighter hyperdrive comparable to that of the older X-wings, giving it some limited ability to operate away from capital ships and bases.
Hull: The Typhoon II is perhaps the most significant craft yet to be designed and built with the Starskimmer-series Hull. This unconventional hull is largely nonmetallic and thanks to its 3d printed construction, tends to draw both admirers and detractors from its unusual technological base. Almost all agree that the lightweight nature of the hull along with its aerodynamic design give it excellent atmospheric flight performance, even it's a little bit weaker and more difficult to repair than conventional metal-based hull designs.
Shields: The Typhoon II uses the Buckler-class Shield Generator that provides the Typhoon II with slightly greater than average shield power. Unlike many starfighter shields, the Buckler is fairly complex and actually uses anticoncussion field generators as part of its shielding processes. It also features greater modularity in settings compared to the shields of many existing starfighters, which means that it can theoretically be optimized to better fit mission parameters or fight certain foes. Most pilots dislike dealing with this level of complexity, especially in a fight, and thus often leave them on default settings or delegate this task to the ship's automatic co-piloting bio-computers.
Weapons: The Typhoon has fairly average weapons power for a multi-role starfighter, carrying two wing tip laser cannons, two projectile autocannons, and a pair of modular warhead launchers - all of which are integrated through the ship's droid brains to the StarSight Sensor Array. Both of the gun types have multiple fire settings, which like the shields, can theoretically allow the ship to be optimized midflight against different opponents. As examples of this adaptability, the Vaapad Laser Cannons can be set to rapid fire mode and the Juyo Ripper Cannons to blaster cannon mode to provide a high rate of fire for use against small, light targets such as infantry or swarm fighters. Conversely against enemy armored ground vehicles or gunships, the Typhoon's pilot might opt to supercharge the laser cannons and use the long-range mode on the Juyo Ripper Cannons. Both the Juyo Ripper Cannons and the General Purpose Warhead Launchers also have the ability to use different ammunition types, further allowing the Typhoon to be optimized for different roles. It's not uncommon to see a Typhoon II outfitted with simple solid slugs and micro-missiles for use in a ground support role one day to have them changed over to ion slugs and ion torpedoes the next day to help disable and capture enemy starships the next day.
Countermeasures: Like the Mark I version before it, the Typhoon II has a single, ventral Modular Auxiliary Systems Turret. The sensor jammer module is probably the most commonly used module, as it provides yet another means of defense, especially against enemy warheads. The tractor beam module is frequently used when pilots plan on chasing down exceptionally fast prey or when the object is to capture a small vessel. The projected particle shield is often used when engaging ground defenses. While the pilot can manually control the MAST, in actual practice, it is most frequently controlled by the onboard bio-computer as the pilot is often too busy handling other tasks, and the bio-computers can more precisely direct the turret for particular sensitive operations.
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