AV-18 Guardian

## AV-18A Guardian

An unusual aircraft, the **AV-18A Guardian** was essentially a permanently guardian-mode configured VTOL strike fighter used by the UEDF.

## Background

The experiences of the First Robotech War had made it abundantly clear the conventional helicopters and aircraft were hopelessly outclassed by Zentraedi Mecha. To counter this limitation, the UEDF sought a new Robotechnology attack craft to replace legacy designs such as the MiM-31 Karyovin and AH-72 Comanchero. Two different designs emerged, both based around the shared concept of a permanently Guardian-mode fighter.

In many ways, the YAV-18 Guardian was a budget design. It shared a large number of components with the VF-1 Veritech including the engines, avionics and some structural elements. Conversely, its rival, the YAV-17 Aggressor was more ambitious and capable, with entirely purpose-built components. However, the UEDF preferred the YAV-18 for budgetary reasons, as well as for its more cannon-focused armament which was seen as being more useful in the planned strike role. Consequently it was ordered into production as the AV-18 Guardian.

Entering service in 2015, the Guardian was used by the UEDF during the Malcontent Uprisings against renegade Zentraedi forces. While technically capable and effective in its role, the Guardian proved to be unpopular with both pilots and the UEDF's leadership. Many pilots saw it as being a cut-rate design which gave it a poor reputation as being a poor-man's Veritech. Operationally, some of its design decisions, such as the somewhat inexplicable centerline-mounted single arm proved to be more of a hinderance than anything else. Furthermore, as a purely atmospheric design, the Guardian was of no use to UEEF.

Production ended by 2020, with the remaining Guardians being transferred to the Army of the Southern Cross' Tactical Air Force. The design lingered in second-line service until 2026, when the remaining examples were retired from active service. Ironically their retirement left the TAF without a capable attack aircraft, a situation exacerbated by the premature retirement of the VF/A-6 Alpha from ASC service and the ongoing problems with the development of the VFH-10 AGAC.

Guardians were also offered to the militaries of UEG-affiliated powers, where their capabilities were more appreciated. However, the cost of the aircraft along with being dependent on the UEG for Protoculture supplies limited its appeal. None the less, Guardians remained in service with some trusted powers such as the Central African Union up until the Invid Invasion. It is believed that all remaining examples were destroyed during the Invasion.

## Capabilities

The AV-18A Guardian was inspired by the VF-1 Veritech's Guardian mode, and was built with the idea of using the utility of that form as an attack aircraft. Because of its form, the Guardian was able to fly at supersonic speeds with the advantage of the massive acceleration and effectively unlimited range offered by the fusion turbines and Protoculture engine. The Guardian had a maximum speed at altitude of Mach 2.0, and could sustain Mach 1 speeds. It could also hover in place and take off and land vertically, even at a full load.

From its inception, the AV-18A Guardian was designed around re-using as many components from the VF-1 as possible. This included the FF-2001 fusion turbines, the entire avionics fit, elements of the cockpit and even the lower leg and arm designs. The latter proved to be something of a sticking point, as the designers chose to give the fighter a single arm mounted on its centerline which proved to be of little actual utility in practical use, while adding to the craft's weight and complexity. A second arm would have exponentially increased the usefulness, however it was also seen as being a pointless expense by the designers. Added to that, the presence of the arm precluded the use of a traditional centerline hardpoint. Finally, while the Guardian could carry a Gun Pod in its hand, it also was incapable of stowing it. As a result, if it needed to use the hand for anything else, it had to first drop the gun pod.

The Guardian had a single crew, seated in a cockpit that made use of equipment originally designed for the VF-1. Likewise, the avionics fit was largely derived from that of the VF-1, and was led by a X-band pulse-Doppler radar, providing long-range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes. Secondary sensors included a telescopic forward-looking Infrared display, laser rangefinder and target designator.

In the attack role, the Guardian was armed with a combination of underwing ordinance alongside a pair of permanently-mounted GU-10 gun pods, themselves derived from the weapons designed for the VA-1 Thunderstrike. In addition, the Guardian could also carry a GU-11 gun pod held in its hand, but this option was rarely employed. The use of the GU-11 was suggested as a justification for the single arm; however, the gun pod could have also been easily mounted on a conventional centerline hardpoint.

The armor of the Guardian was composed of an advanced titanium-steel alloy, commonly referred to as "Space metal". The armor stopped all small arms fire, provided excellent protection against heavier infantry weapons, such as a 12.7mm machinegun round, and good resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3mm HE autocannon round. The armor protection on the Guardian was significantly heavier than that of the VF-1 series Veritech.

The Guardian provided full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure cockpit environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated.

## Weapons and Equipment

* 2 **E-19 Lasers:** located in the nose of the aircraft. Can fire 60 times per minute.

* 2 **GU-10 3-barreled 40mm Gun Pods:** Mounted on the wingtips. Standard procedure was to fire the two weapons together to maximise firepower. Fires 40mm APFSDS (Armor Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) and HESH-I (High Explosive Squash Head-Incendiary) rounds at approx. 800 rounds per minute. The GU-10s were fed from a shared 400-round internal box magazine.

* 4 Under-Wing Hardpoints capable of mounting:
	+ **AMS-2 Renegade** Air-to-surface Missiles
	+ **AMM-1 Arrow** Air-to-Air Missiles
	+ **Brimstone** Anti-Tank Guided Weapons
	+ Precision-targeted 'smart' bombs
	+ Various free-fall bombs including explosive, fragmentation and cluster weapons

* (optional) **GU-11 55mm gun pod:** A three barreled smoothbore rotary cannon, has a 200 round capacity. Cannon fires APFSDS (Armor Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding Sabot) and HESH-I (High Explosive Squash Head-Incendiary) rounds at 1200 rounds/minute. Carried in the Guardian's hand.

## Game Statistics

* **Required Rank:** 1

* **Designation:** AV-18A

* **Division:** UEDF, ASC-TAF

* **Stats**
	+ **Armour – Mecha:** 1
	+ **Structure – Mecha:** 2
	+ **Hardware Points**: 3+1
	+ **Speed** – **Flying:** 1200 kph / 2 km / 200 Ground Units

### Weapons

* **Nose Lasers:** The Guardian is also equipped with Mecha-Class Lasers, Mounted in the nose. These Lasers have a range of Medium. They inflict Mecha-class damage. [H]

* **GU-10 Gun Pods:** The Guardian has a pair of GU-10 gun pods built into the wingtips, firing high-velocity rounds. The weapons have a range of Long. If both weapons fire at the same target within Short range, then they ignore 1 Point of the Target's Armour [H] [H] [P0/1]

* **Wing-Mounted Weapon Hardpoints:** The Guardian can carry a compliment of weapons under its wings. Pick one from the following options. [H]
	+ **Tactical Missiles:** The Guardian can carry Tactical Missiles under the wings. This weapon can only be used as a part of an Equipment Suite. [H]
	+ **Bomb Racks:** The Karvoyin carries four racks of Smart Bombs under its wings. These racks release guided 'smart' bombs that glide towards their target, inflicting x2 Mecha-Class damage on a hit. They have a range of Short and attacks with Bombs may be used a total of 2 times. [H][B10]
	+ **Rocket Pod:** Launches a spray of unguided rockets for close air support. Creates a Cone area of attack at Medium Range. Less effective against fast-moving targets. The Rocket Pods can be used up to twice. These weapons inflict Mecha-class damage. [C]

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

### Features

* **Indexing Hand:** The Guardian has a fully functioning hand that can pick up objects. It has a sensitivity of .5 kg.

* **VTOL Capability:** As a VTOL craft, the Guardian is able to hover or travel at speeds that would stall regular fixed-wing aerial craft.

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

### Options

* **GU-11 Gun Pod:** The GU-11 Gun Pod is one of the most powerful weapon systems deployed on a mobile assault craft. It holds 200 55 mm exploding rounds with a high rate of fire and velocity, and can attack targets at up to at Medium range. [B1][E][H]

### Equipment Suites

* **Rock and Roll:** The Guardian comes barreling in with both GU-10s blazing fire. As the rounds burst from both chambers in rapid succession, the locked target is ripped apart. When the Guardian can bring both GU-10s to bear, it can activate this Skill. Massive amounts of ammunition are used, so when the last point is expended, the GU-10s' ammunition is considered depleted. [B3]
	+ **Uses:** 3
	+ **Skill:** 3

* **Tactical Missiles:** The Guardian carries six air-to-surface missiles for use against various targets. These weapons can be used up to Long range and inflict Mecha-class damage. This Equipment Suite can only be used if the Tactical Missiles option is chosen above. Make a weapon attack at up to Long range. [B5]
	+ **Equipment Required:** Tactical Missiles
	+ **Uses:** 2
	+ **Skill:** 4

* **Heavy Burst:** The Gun Pod may be used to fire a Long Burst of fire. At Short Range, the heavy burst causes increased effect, but risks depleting the weapon's ammunition. When all the uses of this Skill have been used, the GU-11 is considered to be out of ammunition and cannot be used until reloaded. [P1]
	+ **Uses:** 2
	+ **Skill:** 2 + Ignore 1 point of Target's armour at Short range