Ke-V6-1D "Hayabusa" Starfighter

The Ke-V6-1D “Hayabusa” is an reworked design of the Ke-V6-1C "Hayabusa" Starfighter. It entered service in the Star Army of Yamatai in mid YE 32, replacing the “C” model on production lines. It was heavily mass-produced by Ketsurui Fleet Yards for use in the Second Mishhuvurthyar War.

The “D” model features new engines, repositioned turrets, and fully retractable landing gear as well as two additional missile hardpoints. Distortion field projectors have been moved to the hull, allowing for the ring-shaped structure to be removed. It maneuvers much more easily than the “C” model due to its new engines, which are equipped with twelve micro-engines for thrust vectoring. The new engines are essentially a scaled-down model of the Turbo Aether Plasma Drive engines first used on the Plumeria-class (2D) Medium Gunship; this makes them somewhat maintenance-intensive compared to standard engines. Several components have been standardized with other Star Army craft.

Hayabusa starfighters are either assigned to starships like Irim Gunships and Sharie-class Battleships or to planetary garrisons around the Empire. The name Hayabusa (隼, “Peregrine Falcon”) is an OOC homage to the Ki-43 "Hayabusa" fighter and the Hayabusa spacecraft.

The Hayabusa faces some rivalry with the larger but less expensive Ke-V8 "Kawarime" Fighter; the the Hayabasa carries FTL drives and turrets while the Kawarime fires forward and is equipped with sublight drive only. This makes the Kawarime being generally associated with large carriers whereas the Hayabusa is used more independently in small planet-based units and in small quantities on smaller starships. The Hayabusa fills more of an starship-attack role while the Kawarime (while multi-role) is used more for dogfighting. The Hayabusa's cockpit is considerably more cramped. The Hayabusa is about twice the size of its most common enemy, the NMX Battlepod.

The V6 has an arrowhead shape with its two large engines positioned on either side of the rounded cockpit. Most V6 starfighters are painted in the standard Star Army light blue-gray color scheme or in Multi-Net 3 Camouflage Pattern, although some aces and special persons have alternate color schemes and markings. Because of its shape, the V6D is sometimes mistaken for a Hayabusa SD.

The Hayabusa seats two Nekovalkyrja, Type 33 (only one required to operate) in its very cramped cockpit. Generally, the forward pilot controls the heavy cannons and maneuvers the fighter while the second pilot controls the turreted guns, sensors, and missiles.

• 8 meters long; 2.2 meters tall; wingspan of 6 meters.
• FTL Speed: 5,000c (~0.57 ly/h)
• STL Speed: .4c (~119,916 kilometers per second) (~74,512 miles per second)
• Shields: 20 SP (Threshold 4)
• Structure: 16 SP
• 2 Heavy Cannons: Tier 8
• 6 Double Turrets: Tier 5
• Hardpoints (for missiles, etc): 4 on the fighter's underside, each capable of mounting:
  • Ke-Z1 Series Anti-Starship Torpedoes
  • Ke-T8-W3101 Mini-Missile Launcher Pod
  • Ke-T8-W3103 Countermeasure Module
  • OI-Z1A Anti-Ship Cruise Missile
  • Origin Mini-missile Pod
  • Ke-Z2 Strategic Aether Bomb (limited to max of 1 per fighter)

• Durandium Alloy body with Yamataium armor plates.
• High-powered engines
• Many small control thrusters
• SPINE system controlled
• Running lights
• Landing gear, retractable
• Wings and flaps for atmospheric use
• Compact Integrated Electronics System (CIES) computer and sensor package with T8-E3104 Communications Array
• Ejection seats
  • Type 31A Survival Kit, Type 31C Sea Survival Kit, or Type 31C Medical Kit located under seats (choose 2 kits for each seat)