F-17 CONDOR INTERCEPTOR

The F-17 is a reliable workhorse and is the primary dogfighting and escort aircraft of the Xenonauts. Tough, agile and versatile, it mounts both light missiles and a craft cannon and is able to use the ‘Roll’ evasive maneuver in combat to evade incoming projectiles. Although slower than the MiG-32 and unable to carry heavy missiles, its cannon excels at destroying agile UFOs that are difficult to destroy with missile fire and its high survivability means it will usually make it back to base even after sustaining a few hits in battle.

However, the comparitively shorter operational range and low top speed means it is unlikely to catch the faster UFOs and it is better suited to asserting air superiority against the more agressive UFOs. The lack of heavy missile slots means that it is relatively ineffective against capital ships, which possess sufficiently thick armour that an F-17 does not carry enough ammunition to destroy one alone. In such situations, it is advisable to either deploy multiple F-17s as a squadron or bring along a MiG-32 in a capital-ship hunting role.

MiG-32 Foxtrot Interceptor

The MiG-32 is a high-speed strategic interceptor, a delicate instrument suited to precision strikes rather than dogfighting. Although fragile and unmaneuverable, the MiG-32 has four weapon slots to the F-17′s three and can mount either light Sidewinder missiles or the devestating heavy Avalance missiles in each. These make it excellent at both engaging and destroying both agile high-speed scout craft and lumbering alien capital ships.

However, the MiG-32 remains a vulnerable target and will not last long if caught in a dogfight. It is a bad choice for engaging alien air superiority fighters, as it can be difficult to obtain a missile lock on agile targets and the lack of a craft cannon means it is defenceless once it has fired off its missiles. Additionally, the aircraft’s poor turning circle and inability to perform an evasive roll means that it is unlikely to escape if an alien does close to combat distance. Thus the MiG-32 is best used to tackle lone scout craft, and should be escorted into battle if it likely to be encountering a target with escorts of its own.

CH-48 Charlie Dropship

The CH-48 Charlie is the primary method of delivering Xenonaut strike teams to combat sites across the world. A modified Chinook helicopter that trades cargo space for considerably larger fuel tanks,  the Charlie is still capable of carrying twelve soldiers and their equipment (or the equivalent vehicles) into battle. These soldiers and vehicles can be arranged inside the dropship to the Commander’s tactical preference.

Unfortunately, the Charlie does not mount any weapons and is therefore an extremely vulnerable target when in the air. If shot down, all soldiers and equipment on board are lost along with their dropship, so it is important that it should be escorted adequately on any excursions into territory where hostile craft may be encountered.