GTF Draco

All information related to the GTF Draco is non-canon.
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The original GTF Draco.

The GTF Draco, as it is seen in Blue Planet.

Description:

Tech Room Description

The GTF Draco is the first dedicated military fighter designed by the Starr Corporation, and represents absolute dedication to one thing, and one thing alone - speed. In a straight line, the Draco is the fastest thing in the fleet, both with and without afterburners. This makes it ideal for either bomber escort or interception, as it is capable of controlling a vast region of space with relatively little effort, though this comes at the cost of extremely high maintenance costs on the somewhat delicate engines. However, in a dogfight situation against more agile enemies, the Draco's restrictive handling will become a major handicap. The Draco is still new to Alliance deployment, and time will tell if this model of fighter design has long term practical application. For now, only a few daredevil squadrons dare fly such an unpredictable fighter.

Blue Planet Tech Room Description

Analysis of defensive actions during the Second Incursion, such as the evacuation of Third Fleet Headquarters in Capella, revealed systemic failures in defensive fighter coverage. Multi-axis attack by lightly escorted Shivan bombers demanded rapid redeployment across kilometers of space, and in terms of pure linear speed, no Terran fighter design was up to the challenge. When the Threat Exigency Initiative was launched, one of the first demands of the GTVA admiralty was for a new dedicated fighter design in the pure intercept role, a tactical niche left empty since the retirement of the GTF Valkyrie in 2361.

The result of a rare collaboration between Triton Dynamics and its longtime competitor Nankam Aeronautical, including subcontracts to Snapka-Flegel and Boone Thrusters, the Draco was accepted for combat evaluation trials a few weeks before the outbreak of the war in Sol, conducting peacekeeping and customs operations in the Terran periphery. Its stunning speed and fast recharge drive capacitors quickly made it a pilot favorite.

Evaluation did not complete in time for the departure of the 14th Battlegroup, and GTVA Command further held back its deployment to the Sol theater for fear that it would be easy prey for UEF point defenses and the heavier Kentauroi. While it remains a rare sight, these concerns were largely unfounded, and thanks to a doctrine of evasion and attack by pure speed, the Draco now enjoys one of the highest kill/casualty ratios of any Alliance strikecraft in the conflict. Although its light weapons suite - designed to engage Shivan bombers and intercept warheads - leaves it arguably undergunned when attacking heavier UEF strike craft, the Draco nonetheless exerts a powerful tactical presence, dictating terms of engagement and placing its opponents firmly on the defensive.

Credits List

• Model and POF by Stratcomm
• Texture and Table by Black Wolf
• New model by Aesaar and textures by Esarai

Performance:

Statistics

Original

Name	GTF Draco
Type	Interceptor
Manufacturer	Starr Corp.
Maneuverability	Poor
Max Velocity	105 - 135 ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	210 ms-1
Armor	Light
Hitpoints	160 pts
Shields	475 pts
Length	18 m
Weaponry
Primary weapons
1st bank	2 guns
2nd bank	2 guns
Secondary weapons
1st bank capacity	35
2nd bank capacity	20

Blue Planet

Name	GTF Draco
Type	Interceptor
Manufacturer	Triton Dynamics/Nankam Aeronautical
Maneuverability	Average
Yaw, Pitch, Roll	3.8, 3.8, 2.1 s
Max Velocity	100 - 130 ms-1
Max Afterburner Velocity	210 ms-1
Max Afterburner Duration	12.5 s
Armor	Average
Hitpoints	290 pts
Shields	375 pts
Length	15 m
Weaponry
Primary weapons
1st bank	4 guns
Secondary weapons
1st bank capacity	40
2nd bank capacity	40
Countermeasures
Countermeasure capacity	40 countermeasures

Armaments

• Gun Mounts

Default Statistics			Blue Planet
Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout	Bank	Guns	Standard Loadout
1st	2	Subach HL-7	1st	4	Balor
2nd	2	UD-8 Kayser	2nd	N/A	N/A
Compatible Primaries			Compatible Primaries
Subach HL-7, MorningStar, Lamprey, Circe, UD-8 Kayser			Subach HL-7, Akheton SDG, Morning Star, Prometheus S, UD-8 Kayser, Circe, Lamprey, Balor, Maxim

• Missile Banks

Default Statistics			Blue Planet
Bank	Capacity	Standard Loadout	Bank	Capacity	Standard Loadout
1st	35	Harpoon	1st	40	Harpoon
2nd	20	Harpoon	2nd	40	Harpoon
Compatible Secondaries			Compatible Secondaries
MX-64 Rockeye, Tempest, Harpoon, Hornet, EMP Adv.			Rockeye, Tempest, Harpoon, Hornet, Tornado, EMP Adv., Stiletto II, Trebuchet

Veteran Comments

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The Draco lacks reverse thrust, but is slightly faster than the UEF Kentauroi, although the latter can also afterburn for three additional seconds. In terms of firepower the Draco is down two guns and one size-40 missile bank. The Draco is, in any case a joy to fly and an effective interceptor. It's more maneuverable than even the GTF Perseus, but it has a target profile bigger than the GTF Myrmidon so don't get drawn into dogfights if you can help it; use hit and run tactics against fighters. Notably, the Draco was intended to be used in The Cost of War but made the mission "suicidally hard" according to developers.

In Blue Planet, the Draco is a bit of an oddity. Despite being an interceptor, it can't carry Trebuchets, which does somewhat limit its reach. Its speed is its main argument : it can cross more than 60% more distance than an Atalanta in a full burner burst, and barely needs a couple more seconds to fully recharge it. This comes at a cost, as it has less firepower and is more fragile than other TEI and UEF crafts. Much like the Kulas, you can feel this craft was designed to defeat numerous and mostly undefended shivan bombers, and protect large convoys from threats coming from every direction. In essence, it shares most the qualities of the Horus and Serapis without doing much to fix their biggest flaws. Do not try to fly it like you would a Kent or a Perseus, as you need to resort to hit-and-run tactics to exploit its fullest. The target profile is large, from top and bottom, but when this thing is burning away from you, good luck hitting the paper-thin target maneuvering at 200 meters per second. The AI is extremely good as flying this craft the right way, and Carl helps you if you're flying anything heavier than a Kent when a wing of gunship-hunting Dracos jumps in the battlefield.

Note that the Tenebra update improved the Draco's weapon compatibility significantly, giving it access to the Trebuchet, Stiletto II, and Maxim.

In the 2016 Complete Edition update, fulfillment of certain conditions can allow you to pilot one of these in Age of Aquarius' Universal Truth. Bring a Balor or Prometheus S for good reach. With the right use of rapid-response tactics, it is entirely possible to reach the 40-kill mark in that mission with this fighter.

Related links

• http://sectorgame.com/f2s/downloads.php?action=downloads&id=491
• Release thread:
  • Warships of the TEI (GTF Draco released) | Hard Light forums