Ship Preybird-class Starfighter

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PREYBIRD-CLASS STARFIGHTER

AFFILIATION
Open market.

MANUFACTURER

• SoroSuub Corporation.
• Outlaw techs.

CLASS
Heavy starfighter.

ROLE
Escort starfighter.

COMPOSITION
Titanium and transparisteel.

DIMENSIONS
Length - 21 meters.CREW
1-2.

PASSENGER CAPACITY
N/A.

CARGO CAPACITY
300 kilograms.

HANGAR CAPACITY
N/A.

CONSUMABLES
4 standard days.

SPEED/MANEUVERABILITY
The Preybird-class starfighter has a top speed of 80 MGLT and has average maneuvering characteristics.

ARMAMENT

• 2x heavy laser cannon.
• 1x concussion missile launcher, 8x missile in magazine.

EQUIPMENT

• 1x class 2 hyperdrive.
• 1x navicomputer.
• 1x medium deflector screen generator.
• 2x ejection seat.

DESCRIPTION​

The Preybird-class starfighter is a heavy combat spacecraft originally produced by the SoroSuub Corporation. The type has a long and unusual history; developed by SoroSuub, the Preybird was intended as a heavy escort starfighter for the export market. Though a perfectly capable design, disputes over the weapon systems and other components led to substantial cost overruns during the development phase, and ultimately, only small numbers were built by SoroSuub itself. Those few that were made wound up in the hands of various system and sector navies, as well as some mercenary groups. For several decades, Preybirds were exceptionally rare, that was until the post-Imperial era.

During the early years of the New Republic, a handful of Preybirds somehow wound up in the hands of a pirate band located in the Outer Rim. Being capable machines, they were well liked, and outlaw techs in the employ of these pirates became intimately familiar with them. Seeing an opportunity, the techs managed to convince their employers that they could fully reverse engineer the Preybird and build their own. The pirates financed a secret production line, and ran a profitable side venture making Preybirds for various third parties. These included some remnants of the defeated Empire, who used Preybirds in place of their attrited TIE forces. They saw action during mopping up operations by the New Republic in the years after the Battle of Jakku.

Preybird starfighters are heavy starfighters, about 21 meters in length with a crew of 2, including a pilot and an optional co-pilot. Preybirds have notably spacious cockpits and amenities such as a micro-galley and and enclosed refresher, making them well suited to the long-range escort missions for which they were designed. They are armed with a pair of heavy laser cannons, plus an 8-shot concussion missile launcher and medium shields. The Preybird is able to reach a top speed of 80 MGLT; this is not as fast as most other starfighters, but it is impressive given the vessel's size. Maneuverability is only average, however, and so the Preybird is not well suited to nekfighting against smaller, nimbler opponents.

Preybird starfighters are still manufactured in the present day by various outlaw starship factories, and are still a staple of pirate starfighter squadrons in parts of the Outer Rim. Original SoroSuub-made are considered to be highly collectible, and are quite rare, with some "cloned" versions attempting to duplicate the originals as closely as possible in order to fool gullible starship collectors. Preybirds are available almost exclusively through black market channels.

LEGALITY​

Restricted. Preybirds are starfighters, if large ones, and are subject to extra licensing requirements and increased scrutiny by authorities.

INTENT​

To create a heavy 2-seat starfighter.