Designation:Bell/Rockwell FL-200 Mastiff Laser-equipped High Altitude Interceptor |
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The skin of the Mastiff is composed of treated steel plate. The skin provides excellent protection against small grenade and shell fragments, good protection against small arms fire, and poor resistance to heavier infantry weapons, such as the 12.7mm machinegun round, as well as from fragments and near misses from higher caliber weapons. The Dragon provides 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. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for eight hours maximum.
This limited production run fighter/interceptor was displayed on the tarmac during the SDF-1 launching ceremonies. This fighter was the first production fighter to use laser armament, hence the 'L' included in the designation, with a protoculture-powered laser cannon replacing the integral gunpod previously contained in fighters. With the mass production of the VF-1 and destroid series, the 'L' designation was dropped on future models to reduce the proliferation of nomenclature.
This small lifting body fighter contains an internal weapons bay for aerodynamics and stealth considerations capable of holding four missiles to complement the laser cannon. The problematic laser cannon and limited missile payload kept the Mastiff from a large production run and the introduction of the Ghost and Valkyrie fighters supplanted this utility of this interceptor.
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Partial Content by Rob Morgenstern with Neil Baumgardner.