- "Fast moving aerial strikecraft. Strong against ground units." — In game description
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Strike Fighter
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| Vehicle Information | |
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Classification
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Aircraft
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Purpose
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Air Strike
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Vehicle Type
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Strike Fighter
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Cost
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150 CUs 100 RUs
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| Technical Information | |
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Length
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20 meters
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Speed
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435
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Armaments
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10x Missiles
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Damage
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15
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Rate of Fire
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MED
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Hull
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650
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Armor
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1
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Build Time
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15s
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Fleet Supply
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2
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| Usage | |
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Eras
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Affiliation
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Note: These are stats are from multiplayer.
Campaign units have different stats. | |
The SJF-14 Hammer-class Strike Fighter is a Kiith S'jet designed combat aircraft used by the Coalition of the Northern Kiithid during Operation Khadiim. Flights of up to three fighters were launched from carriers and utilized air-to-ground missiles to destroy ground targets.
Lore[]
- "Accepted for service in the Alliance Air Wing during the final triad of 1108 KDS, the Hammer is the cutting edge of aerospace design in Kharak. Reputed to be the most expensive aircraft produced by Kiith S'jet, the Hammer is capable of making high speed missile attacks against ground targets. Its highly advanced swing-wing design allows the aircraft to sprint at its target and then extend its wings for tight maneuvers and carrier landings." — Expedition Guide
Campaign[]
Strike fighters are high speed aircraft, launched from the Kapisi to deliver precision missile strikes against distant Gaalsien vehicles. To launch the fighters you select the launch ability from a carrier and designate a target area. When launched from Kapisi, the strike fighter squadron will fly to the marked area, ignoring enemy units on the way. If any enemy units are found in that area, they will launch their single payload of air-to-ground missiles and then return to the carrier. If there are no targets in the area, the strike fighter will enter into a patrol pattern above temporarily before turning to the carrier. Strike fighters carry only two missiles, both of which will be fired before returning to the carrier.
The missiles have a small area of effect and a single salvo can destroy a number of strike craft or do significant damage to a larger target. With upgrades, three strike fighters can destroy siege cruisers in a single sortie. Strike fighters can out-range Gaalsien missile ships even without upgrades, but the strike fighter must be ordered to attack the missile ship itself, rather than directed to an area where the target is. Later on, strike fighter missile upgrades will ensure Gaalsien missile ships are out-ranged without the moderate risk of locking on and launching an anti-air missile. This keeps strike fighters relatively useful despite heavy Gaalsien anti-air defences, as they can always surgically eliminate missile ships and clear the skies for bombers and gunships to follow. Strike fighters can only attack ground units.
The fighters can be controlled like any other unit from the moment they are launched to the moment they have launched their payload, and can therefore be reasonably effective scouts. Strike fighters are fragile; enemy anti-air units will be able to destroy them with three missile hits, so caution is advised.
The strike fighter has a unit count limit in addition to fleet capacity; the Kapisi can hold up to five squads of three, up to fifteen total. No other aircraft can fill these slots.
Veterancy[]
| Rank | Effect | XP Required |
|---|---|---|
| Officer | +100 Hull | 1200 |
| Lieutenant | +100 Hull | 2600 |
| Lt. Commander | +100 Hull | 5200 |
| Commander | +100 Hull | 10000 |
| Captain | +100% Damage | 20000 |
Research[]
| Name | CU Cost | RU Cost | Time | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strike Fighter Fabrication | 650 CUs | 50 RUs | 35s | Enables strike fighter production |
| Strike Fighter - Hangar | 500 CUs | 25 RUs | 15s | Reduce hangar recharge time by 50% |
| Strike Fighter - Hull | 450 CUs | 50 RUs | 20s | Increases aircraft hull by 25% |
| Strike Fighter - Speed | 400 CUs | 25 RUs | 25s | Increase strike fighter's speed by 25% |
| Strike Fighter - Range | 600 CUs | 50 RUs | 30s | Increase strike fighter's weapon range by 25% |
Multiplayer[]
Strike fighters main role is to attack and debilitate exposed enemy ground vehicles with impunity. If there are enemy vehicles with no nearby anti-air defence, then it is an opportunity for strike fighters to fly in quickly and deal some damage. They carry many more missiles compared in the variant in campaign, a total of ten, but deal roughly quarter the amount of damage, with less range. Strike fighters usually launch two missiles per fly by, but sometimes will only launch one. Strike fighters unload all their missiles after roughly six or seven fly bys, which can render them particularly vulnerable if nearby anti-air units move in to engage. Strike fighter's missiles never miss their target, regardless of air or ground units.
They can also function as scouts, with a large sensor radius, providing vision over a large battlefield for railguns, provided that there are no anti-air threats. Strike fighters do return to carrier when idle, so to keep them in the air, queue way points back and forth over an area that they need to patrol and provide sensor coverage for.
Strike fighters can attack both air and ground units, so they can be launched to intercept enemy aircraft. In comparison to the Gaalsien interceptor, strike fighters are inferior, with a lower fire rate, half the top speed and less range. Strike fighters will need to greatly outnumber interceptors for it to be an even air battle. However, even then, interceptors high speed ensure they can respond quickly to strike fighters wherever they attack and ensure they cannot escape simply by bugging out. Strike fighters can safely engage and pursue other air units like precision bombers or gunships with impunity. Strike fighters cost less and have slightly more hull, although their RU costs is high enough that they should not be considered expendable and their increased hull makes little difference but does ensure that three anti-air missiles are needed to shoot one down. Be wary that production cruisers are one of the vehicles that can deal substantial damage to aircraft with the use of non-missile weaponry, and strike fighters that stray over one will likely be shot down.
Given that they're an air unit, they can quickly respond to distant firefights with no nearby friendly vehicles that require support. They are also ideal for flanking around enemy lines and attacking exposed resource nodes behind it, destroying salvagers and in large enough numbers, support cruisers with anti-air or production cruisers.
Strong against:[]
Coalition/Soban:
Gaalsien/Khaaneph:
- Salvagers
- Assault Ship
- Heavy Railgun
- Assault Railgun
- Gaalsien Siege Cruiser
- Khaaneph Siege Cruiser
- Precision Bomber
Weak against:[]
Coalition/Soban:
Gaalsien/Khaaneph:
Veterancy[]
| Rank | Effect | XP Required |
|---|---|---|
| Officer | +20% Sensors | 370 |
| Lieutenant | +100m Weapon Range | 703 |
| Lt. Commander | +10% Speed and Turning Rate | 1336 |
| Commander | +10% Damage | 2538 |
| Captain | +200 Hull | 4822 |
Research[]
| Name | CU Cost | RU Cost | Time | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fighter and Gunship Fabrication | 500 CUs | 200 RUs | 50s | Enables strike fighter and gunship production |
Trivia[]
- Strike fighters are crewed by two members of Kiith S'jet.
- Kapisi engineering team later on incorporates Gaalsien thrusters into the strike fighter's design, increasing its speed.