Whipsnake Space Plane
Overview and History
Vehicle Specifications   General Stats
Name: Whipsnake Space Plane   Threat Value: 4,860
Vehicle Type: Space Ship   Offensive Value: 2,810
Production Type: Mass Produced   Defensive Value: 5,790
Cost: 25,937,300 $PR   Miscellaneous Value: 5,981
Manufacturer: Paxton Arms   Size: 10
Use: Shuttlecraft   Original Default Size: 28
Height: 8.64 meters   Indv. Lemon Dice: 3
Length: 18.62 meters   Crew: 2
Width: 11.90 meters   Bonus Actions: 1
Avg. Armor Thickness: Classified
Armor Material: Classified   Armor
Standard Op. Weight: 45,163 kg   Light Damage: 20
Primary Move Mode: Flight (1350 kph)   Heavy Damage: 40
Secondary Move Mode: Space (3.6 G)   Overkill: 60
Deployment Range: 2000 km
Sensor Range: 2 km   Vehicle Availability
Communication Range: 25 km   Availability Threshhold: 10
Powerplant: Fusion Tube (x1)   Max Number on Field: 2
Engine Output: Classified  
    Movement
Electronics   Primary Move Mode: Flight
Sensors: +1   Combat Speed: 23
Communications: +1   Top Speed: 45
Fire Control: +1   Stall Speed: 5
    Secondary Move Mode: Space
    Combat Speed: 1.8 G
    Top Speed: 3.6 G
    Maneuver: -1
Weapons
Quantity Name Code Arc ACC Damage Range ROF Ammo Special
 1
  Light Laser Cannon
 LLC
 T
 +1
 x16
 5/10/20/40
 
 30
  DpRB-2, Snpr
 1
  Light Railgun
 LRG
 FF
 0
 x14
 5/10/20/40
 +2
 60
  
Perks
Name Rating Game Effects AUX
 Autopilot
 
  Acts as Level 1 Pilot
 AUX
 Backup Life Support
 
  Absorbs first "Life Support" hit
 
 Chaff/Flare Dispenser
 2
  20 shots
 AUX
 ECM
 2
  Offensive Electronic Warfare equipment
 AUX
 Fusion Tubes.c
 
  660 Burn Points
 
 HEP: Space.c
 
  HEP: Extreme Cold, Radiation, Vacuum (3)
 
 Limited Life Support
 
  Life support for 1 week
 AUX
 Reentry System.c
 
  Permanent Renetry System
 
 Stealth
 3
  Add rating to Concealment
 AUX
 Stratosphere Flight
 
  Vehicle can exceed 12km altitude
 
 Vehicle Bay
 6
  Up to 6 size points in vehicles
 AUX
 Sniper System
 
  +1 to long and Extreme rolls for LLC
 AUX
Flaws
Name Rating Game Effects
 Requires Airstrip
 
  -
 Max Climbing Angle
 3
  Must move Rating hexes before climbing 1 altitude level
 Man. Flaw
 -1
  Space reduced in maneuver.
Defects
Name Rating Game Effects
Variants
There are no variants.
Designer Notes
Named after a Badlands predator, Paxton Arms designed the Whipsnake Anti-Orbital Strike (AOS) space plane to intercept enemy orbital assets over Peace River protected territory. The aircraft's engines are powerful enough to boost it into low orbit, where it can engage enemy targets with its railgun or turret-mounted laser cannon. The targeting systems have been optimized for long range firing, and Whipsnake pilots like to brag that they can carve their names into their targets without being detected. Satellites and ortillery platforms are the Whipsnake's primary opponent but it can also engage smaller spacecraft that venture close to the atmosphere. Whipsnakes also carry two ASAT missile drones in an internal vehicle bay that can be released in flight to strike at targets beyond the reach of the spaceplane's weapons. The tailless design, sleek surfaces, and internal weapon mounts contribute to the Whipsnake's stealth, which it relies on during approach and when evading enemy return fire. Not designed to engage other dedicated fighter aircraft, the Whipsnake relies on this stealth and its speed for its defense. Very few aircraft can catch a Whipsnake at full throttle in a shallow dive.

Nominal load: 2 x ASAT drones (size 4), throw weight 7 tons.