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[RCN] F-16 "Banded Kestrel"

The F/A-11 "Night Owl" is a highly effective yet expensive craft, and as such many lessons were learned during its design and trials. Among those lessons were the need for a cheaper manned fighter that retained some of the advantages the F/A-11 provided. Thus a bid went out for a light fighter to fill the large gap between the ADF-10 "Sparrow" and the Expensive multi-role F/A-11.

The winning bid was from the same company that brought us the A-12 "Black Falcon". Their skills in miniaturization from that design allowed them to utilize a lot of the same principles in designing their new fighter, eager for a win since they lost the last fighter competition.

What they put together was a single seat, all weather, atmospheric capable, light fighter. It has an internal weapons bay for up to 4 S.R.A.I.M. missiles and two 20mm autocannons. However, the newly named F-16 "Banded Kestrel" can carry up to 14 missiles with a full external load.

Flight performance the Kestrel was seen to be extremely agile both in and out of atmosphere. Its on board radar and data-link give it good all round battlefield awareness.

Stats:
- Max acceleration: 9G's
- Max speed in earth-like atmosphere: 1350km/h
Armament options:

Fixed:
2 - 20mm autocannons with 300 rounds each
200 - IR/EM/Chaff countermeasures

Ventral Weapons Bay:
4 - Short Range Air Intercept Missiles

Under-wing:
4 - Long Range Air Intercept Missiles
4 - Short Range Air intercept Missiles

Wingtip:
2 - Short Range Air Intercept Missiles