Exoatmospheric Fighters
Exoatmospheric Fighters — Terra Invicta technology. We develop small combat craft able to reach Low Earth Orbit from the surface.
About Exoatmospheric Fighters
Exoatmospheric Fighters is a Terra Invicta technology in MilitaryScience with a research cost of 7,500.
We develop small combat craft able to reach Low Earth Orbit from the surface.
The sheer difficulty of boosting a massive armored warship out of Earth's gravity well, and the utter lack of survivability of something like an armed space shuttle, have collectively to date precluded us from considering any kind of combat-capable surface-to-orbit craft. We have instead focused on assembling our spacecraft away from Earth's surface. But advancements in propulsion and lightweight materials have made small combatants a viable option for near-Earth orbits. These exoatmospheric fighters, or Exofighters, would be boosted from Earth surface using traditional rocket stages, launched from jetliner-sized mothership aircraft, or take advantage of new single-stage-to-orbit capabilities to reach a combat area in a Low Earth Orbit. After an engagement, they then would return to Earth and land like an airplane at a long airstrip. Because of the significant ground support required for these craft, they will be nation assets under an executive faction's command, built via national investment and hangared at launch facilities on Earth. They will be able to join battles in any Earth interface orbit, or initiate combat on their own against targets in those orbits. Upgrades in chemical and solid-core nuclear propulsion, small solid-core nuclear reactors, armor, targeting computers, ECM, and missiles will enhance their capabilities.