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Description

These powerfully armed fighters swept opponents from the skies in the Hassadian Campaign, allowing allied strike aircraft to attack ground targets with near-total impunity. More recent offensives against the Khandarian Directorate have seen Aggressor squadrons win equally spectacular but less decisive victories against determined enemies whose main centres of production lie outside these fighters’ range. The harsh Verengean climate, new Directorate tactics and the appearance of the Istarian Strela have raised further challenges, but Aggressors flown by experienced pilots remain potent air assets.

Design Features

- Extensive tests in wind tunnels shaped the Aggressor’s shark-like fuselage and knife-like low camber wings. A fully retractable undercarriage, short radio mast and countersunk rivets help to further reduce drag and the belly-mounted radiator is housed in a streamlined nacelle. Aggressors are much faster than most opposing nations’ fighters, though Valors have a better climb rate and Firebirds are more resilient. The latest versions of the Strela have a lighter armament but are as fast and can make tighter turns.

- The Aggressor’s V12 engine drives a four-bladed variable pitch propeller. Fuel injection and a supercharger gave it a decisive edge against older aircraft that had neither. These systems have now become standard for fighters, though some Aggressor variants carry nitro boosters that can be triggered in emergencies for a short burst of extra speed.

- Standard armament consists of two wing-mounted 20mm autocannons and one 20mm autocannon that fires through the propeller hub. Shells normally converge 200m in front of the aircraft, though adjustments to the wing cannons allow longer or shorter optimum ranges. Pilots view their targets through advanced reflector sights – another innovation the Collective’s enemies have been quick to adopt themselves.

- The streamlined bubble canopy gives the pilot less protection than a dorsal spine and armoured bulkhead, but offers better visibility. An ejector seat is fitted for fast exits in emergencies.

- The Aggressor’s capabilities are less obvious to ground crews based in northern Verengea. Its engine is complex and hard to maintain, and its long nose, narrow undercarriage and high stall speed challenge pilots during landings – more so on rough or damaged airstrips, in bad weather or when under fire. Autumn rains, winter snows and partisan activity have claimed many veteran pilots and their fighters’ short range is a drawback on a long and often ill-defined front. The drop tanks, larger main wheels, and longer tailwheel struts seen on some northern variants reduce the chance of accidents but lower these Aggressors' speed.

- The Aggressor’s excellence in less extreme environments has led to further variants. Cropped wings increase a fighter's speed and roll rate at low altitudes; wings with an extended span provide a higher service ceiling; removing the wing cannons increases agility; and a 30mm nose cannon and/or wing-mounted rocket rails are useful against heavy bombers. Some squadrons specialise in tactics based on locally appropriate airframe/weapon combinations.

- This Aggressor’s grey/green camouflage is standard for Tarkavian aircraft, though most squadrons switch to plain white in winter. Black lightning bolts, grey unit numbers and a dragon’s skull aid recognition and smaller skulls mark confirmed kills.

Description

These powerfully armed fighters swept opponents from the skies in the Hassadian Campaign, allowing allied strike aircraft to attack ground targets with near-total impunity. More recent offensives against the Khandarian Directorate have seen Aggressor squadrons win equally spectacular but less decisive victories against determined enemies whose main centres of production lie outside these fighters’ range. The harsh Verengean climate, new Directorate tactics and the appearance of the Istarian Strela have raised further challenges, but Aggressors flown by experienced pilots remain potent air assets.

Design Features

- Extensive tests in wind tunnels shaped the Aggressor’s shark-like fuselage and knife-like low camber wings. A fully retractable undercarriage, short radio mast and countersunk rivets help to further reduce drag and the belly-mounted radiator is housed in a streamlined nacelle. Aggressors are much faster than most opposing nations’ fighters, though Valors have a better climb rate and Firebirds are more resilient. The latest versions of the Strela have a lighter armament but are as fast and can make tighter turns.

- The Aggressor’s V12 engine drives a four-bladed variable pitch propeller. Fuel injection and a supercharger gave it a decisive edge against older aircraft that had neither. These systems have now become standard for fighters, though some Aggressor variants carry nitro boosters that can be triggered in emergencies for a short burst of extra speed.

- Standard armament consists of two wing-mounted 20mm autocannons and one 20mm autocannon that fires through the propeller hub. Shells normally converge 200m in front of the aircraft, though adjustments to the wing cannons allow longer or shorter optimum ranges. Pilots view their targets through advanced reflector sights – another innovation the Collective’s enemies have been quick to adopt themselves.

- The streamlined bubble canopy gives the pilot less protection than a dorsal spine and armoured bulkhead, but offers better visibility. An ejector seat is fitted for fast exits in emergencies.

- The Aggressor’s capabilities are less obvious to ground crews based in northern Verengea. Its engine is complex and hard to maintain, and its long nose, narrow undercarriage and high stall speed challenge pilots during landings – more so on rough or damaged airstrips, in bad weather or when under fire. Autumn rains, winter snows and partisan activity have claimed many veteran pilots and their fighters’ short range is a drawback on a long and often ill-defined front. The drop tanks, larger main wheels, and longer tailwheel struts seen on some northern variants reduce the chance of accidents but lower these Aggressors' speed.

- The Aggressor’s excellence in less extreme environments has led to further variants. Cropped wings increase a fighter's speed and roll rate at low altitudes; wings with an extended span provide a higher service ceiling; removing the wing cannons increases agility; and a 30mm nose cannon and/or wing-mounted rocket rails are useful against heavy bombers. Some squadrons specialise in tactics based on locally appropriate airframe/weapon combinations.

- This Aggressor’s grey/green camouflage is standard for Tarkavian aircraft, though most squadrons switch to plain white in winter. Black lightning bolts, grey unit numbers and a dragon’s skull aid recognition and smaller skulls mark confirmed kills.