Z-9 Peregrine

## Z-9A Peregrine

The **Z-9A Peregrine** was an advanced air superiority fighter used during the Global Civil War.

## Background

The F-203 Dragon II had served as the standard air-superiority fighter for the Western Alliance and a number of other powers since before the Global Civil War. While and advanced aircraft at the start of the conflict, it was now being out-performed by newer and more capable enemy aircraft such as the FX-101 Hayate. As such, there was now a need to replace the Dragon with a newer fighter. The result of this need was the Z-9A Peregrine, an aircraft that was built on several pre-war programs, but only made possible by the formation of the Internationalist Coalition and the shared resources that it offered.

Entering service in the last year of the conflict, the Peregrine was designed from the outset as a pure air superiority fighter. While it was a very demanding craft towards its pilots and very unforgiving on less experienced or capable ones, it also proved to be an excellent dogfighter and easily a match for any other fighter in the air. The fighter achieved an outstanding air-to-air kill rate during the heated final months of the conflict, a statistic that was as much a result of its capabilities as it being used by a number of ace pilots, such as Roy Fokker.

Despite the Peregrine's capabilities, the UEDF chose the F-203C as its main air superiority fighter. Compared to the Peregrine, the Dragon was less sophisticated, but also was far easier to use and far more forgiving to less skilled pilots. Likewise, the Dragon was also easier and cheaper to build, and less maintenance-intensive. Finally, the Dragon possessed STOL capabilities that the Peregrine lacked, making it more flexible. However, those remaining Peregrines in the Internationalist Coalition's inventories would remain in service with the UEDF as an interim design, and saw action against Anti-Unification League forces.

Most of the remaining Peregrines were destroyed during the Rain of Death. The few remaining examples were withdrawn in the years afterwards due to the combination of technological obsolescence and the high demands on pilots. By 2020, no examples existed outside of private collections or museums.

## Capabilities

The Peregrine was constructed from the outset to be a premier air superiority aircraft. The design took a number of radical steps which are reflected in its unusual layout and appearance. Built around a single, high-powered engine using three-dimensional thrust vectoring, the Peregrine used a forward-swept wing platform with an even more severe sweep then that of the FX-101 Hayate. Furthermore, its design made extensive use of light-weight composites to reduce weight while retaining performance and airframe strength. All of these elements resulted in a very agile and responsive craft with excellent dogfighting capabilities.

However, these same elements also counted against it in a number of ways. The Peregrine was highly responsive and as such, was a very unforgiving aircraft for inexperienced pilots who often would over-correct. Likewise, it was very expensive to build and very maintenance-intensive. Finally, it was a pure air superiority aircraft, and lacked any sort of air-to-ground capability, an capacity that even the Dragon possessed (even if to a limited degree).

To support its role, the Peregrine was equipped with an advanced, multi-mode radar with look-down and shoot and multi-track capabilities. To support it and aid in targeting, it was equipped with an infra-red search and track camera; furthermore, some craft were compatible with a helmet-mounted sight. However, it lacked any sort of surface tracking capability. Communications were provided by a contemporary radio fit.

The skin of the Peregrine is composed of an advanced titanium-steel alloy. The armor on the Hayate stops all small arms fire, provides fair protection against heavier infantry weapons, such as a 12.7mm machinegun round, and poor resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3mm HE autocannon round.

## Weapons and Equipment

* **Six-Barreled 20mm Cannons:** Mounted in the wing root. Fires 20mm Armour-Piercing Incendiary (API) or High-Explosive Incendiary (HEI) rounds. Approximate rate of fire 4000 rounds per minute; carries 500 rounds in the ammunition bin.

* 6 under-wing hardpoints for air-to-air missiles. In UEDF service, the **Dagger** and **AMM-1 Arrow** missiles were the most commonly used.

* 1 centerline hardpoint for drop tanks and other equipment.

## Game Statistics

* **Required Rank:** 1

* **Designation:** Z-9A

* **Stats**
	+ **Armour – Light:** 2
	+ **Structure – Light:** 15
	+ **Hardware Points**: Basic
	+ **Speed** – **Flight:** 2400 kph / 4 km / 400 Ground Units

### Weapons

* **Vulcan Cannon:** The Peregrine is armed with a 20mm Vulcan Cannon in the wing root. The weapon has a high rate of fire and is designed for use in air-to-air combat against other aircraft. It inflicts x3 Light damage to targets and have a range of Long [L1][H]

* **Tactical Missiles:** The Peregrine has six hardpoints for air-to-air missiles. These weapons can only be used through an Equipment Suite [H]

* **No Melee:** The Peregrine cannot engage in melee except to make Ramming attacks.

### Features

* **Atmosphere Only:** The Peregrine can only be used in an Earth-like atmosphere.

### Equipment Suites

* Tactical Missiles: The Peregrine carries air-to-air missiles for use against enemy aircraft. These weapons can be used up to Long range and inflict Mecha-scale damage. [B5]
	+ **Uses:** 2
	+ **Skill:** 4

* **Aerial Trick:** The Peregrine is nimble in the air, which makes it hard to hit. Use this ability when defending against attacks.
	+ **Uses:** Unlimited
	+ **Skill:** 2

* **Unforgiving:** The Peregrine Interceptor can streak through the skies with a velocity worthy of its name, leaving a visible wake in its trail as it accelerates to its maximum speed. As the fighter hurdles at extreme velocity, near enough to make the pilot pass out, the most skilled operators withstand it just long enough to unleash a volley of missiles. Use this equipment suite when accelerating at max speed while Attacking. Each time this equipment suite is used, the pilot gains 1 point of Fatigue.
	+ **Uses:** Unlimited.
	+ **Skill:** 4+ Take 1 Fatigue.