Colonial Raptor
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The Raptor is a multipurpose military spacecraft of the new Battlestar Galactica. According to producer Ronald D. Moore, the Raptor is analogous to the U.S. Navy's EA-6 Prowler. [#endnote_aprilblog]
The Raptor's primary function with the Colonial Defense Force is as an electronic warfare platform, similar to the modern day AWACS system. It accompanies Vipers and provides targeting information. Raptors can also carry external munitions to assist Vipers against large targets. Its non-combat roles include S&R operations and transport of military personnel in hostile areas. Raptors, unlike Vipers, are capable of short-range FTL jumps. They are also capable of atmospheric operations. Standard crew includes a pilot and electronics officer (ECO).
It is designed for reconnaissance, scout operations, electronic countermeasures supporting Vipers, marine assaults, ambulance, EVAC, and general transport.
It has a multitude of electronic countermeasure and monitoring tools including jamming transmissions, scrambling signals of guided weapons, and Viper Identification friend or foe operations.
As a scout it can operate independently or with other Raptors and Vipers using short and medium-range scans to detect radio, heat, or other signatures from spacecraft, scanning planet surfaces for life, energy output, and mineral content and location, scouting ahead and looking for hazards before its battlestar takes an FTL jump, and search and rescue operations.
A Raptor can carry about eight to ten adults in addition to its two-person crew functioning as a transporter and can carry about eight marines including their equipment as an assault vessel. The crew of a Raptor operate using their flight suits and helmets in order to ensure their protection in case of any hull breach causing depressurization of its cabin.
It cannot takeoff from a battlerstar's launch tube like the Vipers because of its large size, is launched from a flight pod instead. Battlestars carry squadron of 8 to 10 Raptors and each Raptor is designated to each Viper squadron with two Raptors on reserve.
The Raptors can fly in both atmosphere and space, but in order to mainain lift in an atmosphere its engines must be constantly running which comsumes more fuel. At low speeds, Raptors may experience poor handling.
Technical Specifications
Dimensions
- Length: 8.53m
- Wingspan: 5.59m
- Height: 2.90m
Propulsion
- 2x sublight engines
- 1x small-scale FTL system
- RCS points
Armaments
- Missiles similar to Vipers
- Decoy drones, communication drones, and flares
- Reduced electronic signature to avoid detection
Footnotes
- ↑ - Taken from Ron Moore's [Battlestar Galactica blog] (April 2006 archive)
External links
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