Talk:AFOH/@comment-14850713-20150530103240

IC:

Due to the troubled development of the XASF-12 "Tencendur", the fleet decided to pursue a smaller, lower-cost alternative. Instead of an aerospace fighter with warp capability, the new XASF-10 program codenamed "Vautour" ("vulture") aims to produce an aerospace-capable fighter-bomber for the Devastation and Hybridland Sea class flying carriers, and Viper, Venom, Revanche and  Themis escorts (which can only fight in space using their guns as they only embark the Diable atmospheric multi-role fighter).

Based heavily on the Diable planform, the XASF-10 is non-nuclear-powered (uses synthetic fuels) thus having less endurance than the Cobra II, Durandal, and the UAC Longsword (considered to be the standard in SSA aerospace fighters). While smaller than the latter three, it is still twice the size of the Diable and so the flying warships will embark less aircraft. What it lacks in range it makes up for in speed, extreme agility and versatility. Test flights and simulations indicate that the XASF-10 is more maneuverable than the three, and faster than the Longsword and Durandal but still slower than the Cobra II. Like the XASF-12, it is designed to be dual-capable with no performance degradation in atmospheric flight. It has, however, lighter armor and armament, dropping the Mk 45s for 3 60mm auto-cannons (1 facing the rear as with the XASF-12). It also mounts 4 rotary launchers for guided missiles, bombs and aerial torpedoes.

The XASF-10 is envisioned to take over the air defense of the aerospace fleet, allowing the Durandals to focus on air superiority/Cobra escort and anti-ship missions, while giving flying carriers and escorts a lighter attack capability. Moreover, the design is proving versatile enough that the fleet is now planning to use it as a long-range strike bomber for the surface fleet's carrier and hybrid-warship squadrons as well as land-based units, thereby preserving the Cobra/Durandal air groups for the really important targets.