The following material is an adaptation of mecha from MACROSS M3, an Dreamcast game sequel to the original Japanese MACROSS TV series (which became Robotech in the U.S.) Please feel free to use, copy, and distribute it as you see fit. All I ask is that you give proper credit to the author and do not claim that it is your own work. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

 

VF-9 CUTLASS
LIGHT VARIABLE FIGHTER

RPG Stats by PIERRE COURTEMANCHE
Based upon RPG Stats by DANIEL HENWOOD
Background info provided by the SKETCHLEY'S STATISTICS

 

 

BACKGROUND

The VF-9 Cutlass was General Galaxy's first assignment for the UN Armed Forces. Under their chief project advisor Algus Selzaa, development on the VF-9 Cutlass began in 2018. After three years of development the first flight of the VF-9 took place in 2021, with mass production beginning  in 2023, and ending in 2029. The original concept for the VF-9 was as an inexpensive light variable fighter, for use on colony worlds with low budgets.  However Captain Milia Jenius of the Dancing Skulls Squadron, and a test pilot¸ was so impressed with its high manouverability and speed that she recommended it as a Special Forces Fighter.

The VF-9 was a fighter to be built on the VF-4 Airframe as a replacement to an aging VF-4 fleet. Project Nova was funded by the UN Spacy in a search for a high performance carrier based variable fighter. The VF-X-10 incorporated some of the latest technology for it's day. The project was a complete success and 1,200 were ordered by the Spacy after being redesignated VF-9. By 2030 only 675 VF-9s had been delivered to 5 Spacy squadrons, and more were planned to come until all armed services agreed to buy the VF-11 Thunderbolt. The 4 service investment in Thunderbolts had dropped their price to half that of the VF-9s. The Spacy cancelled plans to buy 525 more fighters, and instead ordered the VF-11 Thunderbolt.

Lockheed/Martin and Rockwell/Bell (Boeing?), trying to recoup their loss decided to release a Civilian Variant of the VF-9. The factories were quickly changed over from VF-9s to VC-9s and 325 limited edition fighters were produced. These VFs found homes among Airshow Flyers, News Agencies, VF Enthusiasts, Civil Air Patrol, and Spiritia Warfare Units. The civilian models are unarmed, but cameras and research equipment can be fitted in the forearms and fuselage if needed.

The VF-9 Cutlass was only replaced as the UN Armed Forces choice of Special Forces fighter  in the late 2030's by the VF-17 Nightmare. However many VF-9's can be found in Colony World defence forces, and with private VF collectors. The VF-9 was a huge success for General Galaxy and has made them a lot of money which they have wisely plowed into more variable fighter designs, such as the YF-21/VF-22 Sturmvogel.

 

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: VF-9 Cutlass
Class: Light Variable Fighter
Manufacturer: General Galaxy
Crew: One pilot wearing Tactical Life Support System

Variants:

 

MDC BY LOCATION: 

(1) Head                                    75
    Hands (2)                               50 each
    Arms/Beam Cannons (2)                  100 each
(2) Shoulders/Engine Nacelles (2)          150 each
(2) Legs/Main Thrusters (2)                200 each
(3) Main Body                              275
    Canard Forward Wings (2)                25 each
    Main Wings (2)                         100 each
    Tails (4)                               50 each
    Reinforced Pilot's Cockpit             150
    GU-12 Gun Pod                          100

NOTES:

  1. Destroying the head of the VF will knock out the mecha's major sensor systems, including all of the optics systems (infrared, nightvision, thermal). Radar and communications will be unaffected.
  2. Destroying the shoulders/engine nacelles or the legs/thrusters will severely damage the VF-9's engines. Destruction of either shoulder will reduce maximum speeds by 20%, and destruction of either leg will reduce speeds by 30%. If three of the four engines are destroyed the Lightning will have insufficient thrust to remain airborne and must land. If all four engines are destroyed the variable fighter will lose power and crash.
  3. Destruction of the main body will completely destroy the mecha.


 

SPEEDS:

FLYING IN AN ATMOSPHERE:
Mach 4 (2680 mph/4288 kmph) max speed at 10,000-30,000 meters above sea level. Mach 19+ max speed at 30,000+ meters above sea level. The Cutlass is capable of achieving orbit over an Earth-class planet without additional rocket assistance.
MAX ENGINE THRUST:
45,000 kg x 2

STATISTICAL DATA:

HEIGHT:
49 ft in soldier mode.
LENGTH:
45 ft in fighter mode.

 

PHYSICAL STRENGTH:
Equal to a P.S. of 50
CARGO:
Small compartment behind pilot's seat for personal belongings.
POWER PLANT:
Two Shinnakasu-Daimler FF-2650 engines. P&W-Daimler HMM-5D high-manueverability vernier thrusters at key locations along the VF-9's hull for added mobility.

 

 

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. LARGE-CALIBER HIGH POWERED BEAM CANNONS (2): The VF-9 Cutlass' main weapons are a pair of high-power beam cannons mounted in the engine nacelles of the fighter. The cannons can be fired together or individually. The cannons are fixed forward, In battloid mode the beam cannons are mounted on the VF's  back and are capable of firing forward, although this is not the best position for them.

     

     

  2. ANTI-AIRCRAFT LASERS (2): Similar to the earlier VF-1J,the VF-9 sports twin anti-aircraft lasers for close in defence. In battloid mode however the lasers re stored on the right shoulder like the VF-3000 Crusader.  The lasers power is weak compared to its other weapons and they are normally used as a last choice weapon or for anti-missile work.

     

     

  3. MAUSER PBC-13F PARTICLE BEAM GUNPOD :  For additional close-range combat capability, the VF-9C carries a new type of hand helded weapon; Unlike the old GU-11 Gunpod, the PBC-13F fire particule beam instead of bullets. The weapon is able to fire 15 MJ bursts up to 30 times per minute at a range of 5 kilometers  utilises clips of ammunition rather than pre-loaded ammo. The VF-9A where originally assigned the GU-12, a gunpod based on the GU-11 but instead utilises clips of ammunition rather than pre-loaded ammo. This gives it a lower ammo count that the older GU-11 but as the Cutlass is capable of carrying spare clips, the VF-9's GU-12 Gunpod essentially gives more ammunition. One spare GU-12 clip is stored in each leg of the VF-9. Since the new PBC-13F don't use ammo clip, this space have been used to add internal pallet.

     

  4. BODY/WING HARD POINTS: The VF-9 is equipped with eight fixed hard points for missile loads and other ordinance. Two hard points are mounted on each wing of the aircraft and four are mounted under the main body. These hardpoints can be used to hold a variety of different ordinance types, including long or medium range missiles, bombs or UUM-7 micro-missiles pods. One long range, 3 medium range or 1 UUM-7 missiles pods can be mounted per hardpoint. Usually long range missiles are used.

    NOTE: Due to the location of the hard points, ALL missiles must be fired or ejected before the VF-9 may convert into soldier mode. For this reason the hard point missiles are usually fired within the first few passes of an attack. Note that the ventral hard points of VF-9 must also be free before to convert into Gerwalk mode.

     

  5. STANDARD INTERNAL CUSTOMIZABLE PALLETS (2): Each engine nacelle (leg) of the VF-9 Cutlass contains an concealed and enclosed Standard Internal Pallet, which can be customized for different mission objectives and carry a variety of different loads. When activated the internal pallets open and slightly extends from the engine nacelle (leg,) allowing all of the pallet's payload (usually missiles) to be activated at once, if necessary. The leg pallets can be used in all modes. The standard UN Armed Forces load for the internal pallets is the B-7 STANDARD INTERNAL PALLET, with its load of micro-missiles. However, if the mission calls for it, any of the various types available in the Modular VF Pallet System can be used, such as ECM and PPB generating equipment. .

    The internal pallets were introduced to the VF-9 Cutlass with the C upgrade starting in 2035. Currently the internal pallets are standard to only C and D models.

     

  6. COUNTERMEASURE DISPENSERS: Every VF has combined chaff, flare and squib dispensers mounted on them that are useable in all modes. When used, it fires a burst of 6 flares, 1 exploding chaff container or one parachute squib per 1 unit listed in the stats. Chaff, flares and squibs are each unique in their means of countering attacking missiles. The following will describe the individual details of each of the the three types of countermeasures. The short and easy benefit is that they add a +3 to dodge the missiles.

     

  7. HAND TO HAND COMBAT: If necessary, the pilot of the VF-9 can engage in melee combat rather than use a weapon. The Cutlass is incredibly agile and can execute most typical hand to hand combat moves, such as punches, jump kicks, leap attacks, rolling with impacts, etc.

    DAMAGE:

 

 

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE VF-9:

 

 

COMBAT BONUSES FOR VF-9 CUTLASS VARIABLE FIGHTER TRAINING:

BASIC VARIABLE FIGHTER COMBAT TRAINING

ADVANCED CUTLASS COMBAT TRAINING

 

 

 

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN

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