In September, Gutamaya Shipyards released a new version of the enduringly popular Eagle. This month, the company has announced the launch of a new fighter designed specifically for the CQC Championship – the Imperial Fighter. Gutamaya has said that the small, manoeuvrable vessel will be ideally suited to close-quarters dogfights, and more than capable of going toe-to-toe with other CQC fighters.
As befits a ship created with the CQC Championship in mind, the Imperial Fighter offers a delicate balance of defence, firepower and manoeuvrability. The ship is more agile than the F63 Condor, which offers a similar spread of features, although it lacks the Condor’s speed and hull strength. In terms of firepower, the Imperial Fighter matches the Condor with two small hardpoints.
The Imperial Fighter’s specifications are not the only important factor, however. According the ship’s designer, Pascal Roux, the vessel was created as a tribute to the late Emperor, Hengist Duval. In an interview with the Imperial Herald, Roux said: “What I admired most about the Emperor was his balance of elegance and strength, and the fighter represents my attempt to reflect those qualities.”
The Imperial Fighter is due to be released for use in the CQC Championships in December, and will go on general sale in early 3302.