Craft: Incom T-36 Skyfighter
Type: Near-Orbit Planetary Defense Fighter
Scale: Starfighter
Length: 8.2 meters
Skill: Starfighter Pilot: T-36
Crew: 1 pilot
Crew Skill: Varies
Passengers: None
Cargo Capacity: 30 kilograms
Consumables: 2 hours
Cost: 64,000 (new), 16,000 (used)
Hyperdrive Multiplier: None
Maneuverability: 1D
Space: 7
Atmosphere: 350; 1000 km/h
Hull: 1D+1
Shields: None
Sensors:
Passive: 15/0D
Scan: 25/1D
Search: 40/2D
Focus: 1/2D
Weapons:
Double Laser Cannon (fire-linked)
Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Starship Gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-3/12/25
Atmosphere Range: 100-300/1.2/2.5km
Damage: 4D
Concussion Missile Launcher (1 missile)
Fire Arc: Front
Skill: Missile Weapons
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1/3/7
Atmosphere Range: 50-500/1/5km
Damage: 9D
Game Notes: The above statistics are for a T-36 that has been modified by adding a concussion missile launcher; otherwise, the entry resembles a standard T-36. As printed in SOT, the T-36 tends to spin in turns or other tight maneuvers when in atmosphere. To reflect this, increase the difficulty of maneuvers in atmosphere by +10.
Background: The T-36 Skyfighter was originally built by Incom to fill the near-orbit planetary defense niche, and later upgraded to compete against new mass produced and expendable Sienar TIE designs. As it was originally designed as an advanced skyhopper capable of orbital operations, life support systems were added although the T-36 Skyfighter possessed a poor design that sacrificed everything else redundant to a limited fighter role, consequently neither hyperdrive engines were added nor deflector shields, but even the final frame lacked inertial dampers and landing gears. Its sublight speed relayed on two modest ion fission engines fitted at the back and atop of the main fuselage, the hull structure was strictly basic to maintain its main systems, its cockpit, the engine and its two wings together to form the simplest starfighter spaceframe possible. The T-36 was usually compared with the TIE/LN starfighter, but it became quickly evident that the comparison was just nominal as the Sienar design outperformed Incom’s Skyfighter in every aspect.
Unfortunately for Incom, the lack of inertial dampers meant that, in atmosphere, even the unwieldy TIE Fighter was far superior. The T-36 couldn’t land without special platforms, making it useless for anything but light reconnaissance. Production stopped on the cheap Skyfighter almost as soon as it began. Shortly, only the novice, ignorant or truly desperate purchase them, and even then, they got significant discounts from the factory price.