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Gideon020 — Janes LA Weapons: Thunderfist
Published: 2009-02-22 22:47:41 +0000 UTC; Views: 4959; Favourites: 53; Downloads: 92
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Disclaimer: This image belongs to Production IG and Masamune Shirow, I'm just screwing around with it for fun and non-profit."There was like, no sound and then Nicky's head just...vanished, I mean poof! One second he was going for his gun, the next his head was all over the walls and we didn't even hear a shot!"
Recording of professional bank robber Jimmy 'Moneytaker' Ancelotti after his arrest at Gotham First National Bank. Police records indicate the deployment of a Lockheed-Hughes ASP-120S 'Thunderfist' airborne sniper platform based on bullet ballistics.
Lockheed-Hughes ASP-120S 'Thunderfist' Aerial Sniping Platform.
Sniping is a calling that requires precision greater than a surgeon and an ability to concentrate that rivals the greatest supercomputer coupled with patience that would make a saint envious.
It is no surprise that no police sniper wants to be called upon in situations where they will be exposed and have the added stress of being fired at once they take their shot and the current methods for firing from a helicopter as a sniping platform is an extremely tricky and dangerous prospect that not all snipers can pull off effectively.
Lockheed's corporate office in Los Angeles had been working on a new type of heavy-lift helicopter comparable to the MI-26 Halo in cooperation with the Hughes Aircraft Company and upon testing the prototype, the design teams found that the helicopter was incredibly stable, even in a powerful crosswind that popped up during the test.
At first this was merely noted as something to put down for the purchasing pamphlet until it came to the attention of the LAPD, whose Special Technologies Office was looking for helicopter large enough to take their new sniper stabilization system and they requested a prototype for their tests.
The LAPD design team fell in love with the large, rock-steady and surprisingly agile helicopter and made a recommendation for the helicopter to be marketed as an aerial sniping platform and the design team retooled for that recommendation, replacing the current engine and rotor system with a far more powerful one that was also gave off no noise, making the helicopter incredibly stealthy even for its large size.
The first production models of the ASP-120S, given the NATO reporting name of 'Thunderfist', were given to the LAPD for their sniper operations and were quickly used to deal with a gang of air-bandits who used a modified cargo helicopter to rob arcologies.
The incident was displayed on international news and the sight of the new, and incredibly stable sniping platform staying horizontal even in the extremely dangerous Los Angeles cross-winds generated by the arcology towers allowed for a flood of orders from military and police agencies.
Currently the Thunderfist is in usage with the LAPD, Los Angeles National Guard, the Foundation, and the FBI with all known police departments and militaries currently evaluating the Thunderfist for duty.
Armor:
-Stealth composite consisting of ferro-plastics, RAM Insulation and Radar Deflecting Nano-composite plating.
Crew:
-1x Pilot
-1x Copilot
-1x Sniper
-1x Electronic Warfare Officer
Powerplant:
-Lockheed SMA-890X 'Whisper' Plasma Reactor.
Systems:
-Military Radio with scrambler.
-Full Optics Package
-Satellite Uplink
-Damage Control Systems
-Fire Extinguisher System
-Autopilot and Navigation Suite
-Cybernetic Linkage
-Military Radar with Terrain Following System
-Passive Radar Detector
-Laser Communicator
-Spotlight mounted on belly.
-2x Camera Pod fitted with IR, Thermographic Imaging, Image Enhancement and Telescopic lenses on wing tips.
Armament:
-1x 12mm Needle Gun
-4x Hardpoints on stub wings
-Joint Strike Harness (LAPD and LA National Guard versions only.)
Joint Strike Harness:
While the Thunderfist is an incredibly stable machine, the LAPD and LA National Guard weren't simply satisfied with a stable machine and the Special Technologies Office of the LAPD used the prototype to test their own prototype sniping system, the Joint Strike Harness.
The JSH is a computer-assisted and gyro-stabilized harness and muscle-suit combination that keeps the sniper in a perfectly prone position even while the Thunderfist is moving and with it, the sniper can make perfect shots in any condition.
Currently, only the LAPD and LA National Guard use this massive system for their snipers due to the cost of the system which takes up the entire internal space of the helicopter; the LAPD use it in conjunction with the GOL Magnum and Hammer Heavy Sniper Rifle along with the SIU 'King Slayer' 12mm Gauss Sniper Rifle while the National Guard use it with the 'Oberon' Sniper Hellbore System.
Price:
-LAPD and National Guard Model: $16 million per helicopter.
-Standard Export Model: $4 million per helicopter
-Medical Model: $4.3 million per helicopter
-British and Australian SAS 'Black Valkyrie' Gunship Model: Approx. $5.2 million per helicopter.
