LAC-1 Vulture

The Wilde Manufacturing Co. Light Attack Craft 1 Vulture was a tandem two-seat, single engine, supersonic jet strike aircraft designed for direct ground target attack. Its main armament was the 20mm Glacis Rotary Cannon, positioned to the right of the nose. Despite its overall favourable performance in its primary role, the Vulture suffered from very poor low speed manoeuvrability and energy retention when turning, as well as a slow roll rate. This limited its ability to make quick getaways in the event of a counterattack.

The LAC-1A was the first model of the Vulture, packaged with all of its base features. Several hundred units were purchased by the Human and Sleethier militaries on release. It was used almost exclusively to make direct bombing runs on enemy-occupied locations and proved very successful in Suppression of Enemy Air Defence missions. However, it was highly prone to Surface-to-Air Missiles, and a large number were lost during these bombing runs.

The LAC-1B was an experimental Vulture upgrade that never moved past prototype stage. It increased the aircraft's total wingspan and attempted to add more hardpoints further out, but it was found that this caused the structural integrity of to drop below acceptable levels.

The LAC-1C was a converted model of the LAC-1A models, and expanded on the aircraft's available armament options. The aircraft was retrofitted with a basic pulse air intercept radar, as well as air-to-air missile capability on the outer hardpoints. Additional units were manufactured and purchased by the Sleethiers.

The LAC-1D was a further upgraded model of the Vulture and introduced an additional two inner hardpoints, increasing the aircraft's maximum payload. The jet engine was also upgraded, increasing the total thrust generated and improving fuel efficiency. The LAC-1D was purchased in bulk by the Humans for use in their primary air assault force.