K-Wing Bomber

The K-wing was designed for the close/precision-bombardment role in
planetary assaults (the standoff/area-bombardment role is adequately filled
by a number of other platforms). As such, it has been designed for a primary
combat environment deep in gravity wells and usually deep in atmosphere.
That means big engines and lift-producing wings as well as repulsors. The
primary assault modes of the K-wing are dive-bombing, skip-bombing (with
delayed fusing), and lob bombing against fixed targets. With a special
ordnance package, it could also be sent against ground-based mobile armor
such as the Imperial AT-AT, but this has not yet been tested in combat. As
befits a close-in assault platform, the K-wing is heavily armored and
shielded. The airframe is specifically engineered to withstand extremely
high wing loadings and provide maximum protection to the crew and avionics
systems.

Viewed head-on, the K-wing resembles a capital K lying on its face - a
single center fuselage, two medium straight wings above, two short angled
wings below (ending in landing skids). Just outboard of the fuselage on the
straight wings are two of the three primary thrust engines; the third is
further aft in the fuselage, on the centerline, and has vectored-thrust
nozzles. The third engine's vectored thrust allows for non-ballistic
translations during attack runs, increasing survivability. The four wings
have a total of 18 hard points (10 up, 8 down) to which a variety of
ordnance packages can be attached. The wings are swept and staggered, with
the upper wings set further back than the lower to provide drop clearance.
The total weapons payload of a K-wing exceeds that of any other starfighter
by a substantial margin, and is the equal of the larger TIE bomber. In some
load-out configurations, not all 18 hard points can be used.

The K-wing has no integrated air defense capability of its own unless
equipped with antiship missiles as part of its load-out. However, even when
so equipped, the K-wing makes a poor dogfighter, and standard combat
protocols call for K-wing missions to receive fighter coverage at no less
than a two-to-one ratio - one-to-one where possible.

Flight Envelope: details are closely held secrets. In general, the K-wing is
not noted for either its rate of acceleration or its top speed in a
planetary atmosphere. However, it is known that the K-wing can go supersonic
at pressures up to five atmospheres, and can outrun an X-wing in a
sufficiently long straight-line race in vacuum.

The K-wing is an exception among New Republic starfighters in that it is not
equipped with hyperdrive, and must be ferried to the target in a fleet
carrier. Eliminating the hyperdrive was a compromise dictated by the demands
of the assault role - an extremely strong and compact airframe, dual shield
generators, the third engine, and various other redundant systems.

As with all larger, multi-crew New Republic starfighters, the K-wing employs
smart systems rather than an astromech droid.

Initial trials of the K-wing were carried out aboard the training carrier
Monitor. The first operational wing was assigned to Task Force Quickfire of
the Third Fleet.

Craft: Republic Sienar Fleet Systems' K-Wing Bomber
Class: Starfighter
Cost: 210,000 credits (new)
Size: Tiny (11 meters long)
Crew: 2 (Skilled +4)
Passengers: None
Cargo Capacity: 50 kilograms
Consumables: 2 days
Hyperdrive: None
Maximum Speed: Ramming
Defense: 22 (+2 size, +10 armor)
Shield Points: 60
Hull Points: 110
DR: 5

Weapon: 4 Laser Cannons (fire-linked)
Fire Arc: Front
Attack Bonus: +10 (+2 size, +4 crew, +4 fire control)
Damage: 5d10x2
Range Modifiers: PB +0, S -2, M/L n/a

Weapon: 18 Ordnance Hardpoints
Fire Arc: Front
Attack Bonus: +12 (+2 size, +4 crew, +6 fire control)
Damage: Varies (see below)
Range Modifiers: Varies
Note: The K-wing may be fitted with up to 18 concussion missiles
(9d10x2), 18 proton torpedoes (9d10x2), or any combination of the
two. Other ordnance includes various free-fall bombs, a pair of
"eggs" (5d10x5), 8 heavy rockets (10d10x2), or 4 heavy space bombs
(11d10x2).

Designer Notes: This version of the K-wing was created using the Black Fleet
                Crisis FAQ, something that hasn't been used to create any of
                the various K-wing versions floating around on the internet
                yet. The capsule was taken from this FAQ.