GA-TL2 Greatsword

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The GA-TL2 heavy bomber, colloquially dubbed the Greatsword, is a powerful anti-ship and ground-attack bomber that first flew during the . It is designed by as a dedicated attack platform, equally suited to large-scale planetary bombings, anti-ship strikes, and short-ranged interception.
Developed by the very same team that created the successful Longsword interceptor, the Greatsword is designed from the outset to complement its preceding cousin, not replace it. It is the largest and heaviest deployed by the during the , exceeding the size of some patrol ships. Too big and slow to properly contend with small attackers despite carrying defensive turrets, it requires a fighter escort to fend off attackers. To make up for this, it has the thickest armour and most potent arsenal of any bomber. These are enough to penetrate the armour of and heavily-armoured bunkers, with enough and shells to spare to level their interiors. To streamline costs and reduce the strain on logistics to field these immense machines, much of its airframe borrows from the Longsword; indeed, the only requirement a facility needs to host them is the space.
Although it had more-or-less finished its development phase in , no working examples were released until . This is because of concerns regarding its ridiculous overgunning and size, and as a result, it was originally shelved in favour of smaller, more specialised space fighters such as the B-65 Shortsword. However, as the threat of stolen Colonial Military Administration ships became a likely scenario, Greatswords began to be built on a limited basis attached to dedicated . They were posted at every troublespot that the UNSC struggled to hold, being deployed en masse at Falkirk, Wealth, and as the Insurrection worsened. However, full production was not authorised until , when the threat of the was fully understood. Every available Greatsword was posted in the UNSC's most strategic bases and , with every major military world and economic powerhouse being prioritised. However, even their raw firepower had its limits. The ease that Covenant warships could destroy them with their meant that they must be properly covered by missile and fighter cover cover, although this was rarely followed as the UNSC became more and more desperate. Only four operational squadrons survived the Great War, however, the lack of an adequate heavy bomber replacement saw a revised order being placed to satisfy demand. As of , production has permanently halted on these powerful machines, although new upgrades including the installation of ensures that it will be years before retirement will be considered.
== Operational History ==
=== Development ===
The development of the GA-TL2, internally known as the C703, began almost immediately following the UNSC's order for the first block of Longswords to supplement and eventually replace their aging air force among their planetside bases. Initial reports summarised that their customers were impressed by the fighter, enough so that they entered negotiations for a contract for a -based model that was better adapted for exoatmospheric conditions. Amid all this, was recognised for his leadership abilities, and was promoted to Chief Design Officer to oversee all of Misriah's future space fighter development programs. Part of his duties was to capitalise on the success of the Longsword, including isolating the best features of the design to properly incorporate them into any future spacecraft that the company may create.
Category:UNSC Aircraft