NIAL CLASS HEAVY FIGHTER |
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Minbari fighters, also known as "Windstars", are 22 meters long and carry one pilot. Their maximum speed is much greater than that of a Starfury, almost three times as fast with an acceleration rate of over 2.5 km/s2. Beyond being substantially faster than an Earthforce Starfury, Windstars are significantly more maneuverable than their Earth Alliance counterpart. The Minbari fighters achieve this high level of performance through the use of the same type of gravity/energy principals incorporated into Minbari capital ships, combined with the use of highly advanced pressure suites. Powered by some form of fusion/quantum reactor system, the Windstar's weapons consist of three "Gravimetric" enhanced Neutron Particle Beam cannons, with a power output of 800 Gigawatts (800,000,000,000 watts) each. That is a combined power output several orders of magnitude greater than the pulse cannons on a standard SA-23E Starfury. With that kind of weapon payload, a Sharlins full payload of Windstars packs enough firepower to take down an Earthforce Hyperion type Heavy Cruiser. Like Minbari capital ships, the Windstar class fighters are also equipped with the standard Minbari cloak. This stealth device renders the Windstar invisible to virtually all forms of scanner and sensor technology, hiding Minbari vessels from detection until it is too late. The Windstar is an elegant weapon that is capable of attacking and destroying an enemy with the precision of a surgical instrument. Thick armor, powerful weapons and unparalleled speed and maneuverability makes the Minbari Windstars nearly impossible to defeat in a dogfight. During the Earth/Minbari war the average kill ratio was 12 to 1; 12 Starfuries were destroyed for every Windstar. At first glance it would appear that the Minbari forces did extremely well. It should be noted however that in the last armed Minbari conflict against the Streib, their kill ratio was 17 to 1. |