The P5G Gladius is a single-seat lightweight aerospace fighter craft featured in the universe of Star Citizen. Developed by Aegis Dynamics in 2573 to take advantage of rapid advances in Humanity's spacefaring technologies, the adaptable and continuously-upgraded Gladius has successfully served as the backbone of the United Empire of Earth Navy (UEEN) carrier aviation for more than two centuries and remained to this day a workhorse with smaller border patrol contingents, including one centered around Idris class frigate UEES Stanton and deployed to Odin system in 2945.
The UEE Navy small ship designation system conveys its information in the form:
- (Mission)(Design Number)(Manufacturer)
In this case, P5G means Aegis Dynamic's (G) fifth (5) pursuit craft / light fighter (P) design.
History[]
The development of what would eventually become the Gladius began as a response to the various issues faced by the UEEN's then-standard Stiletto carrier-borne interceptor. The Stiletto is a venerable design from an earlier age of Human expansion in space and really little more than a rocket with a cockpit, fire control equipment, and weapon hardpoints. It can only operate in the void and, despite being in the medium weight class, is lightly-equipped for its single purpose of fleet defense against small strike craft and cannot operate far from its mothership; when Humanity developed energy shield generators small enough to be utilized by single-seat spacecraft, the Stiletto still lacks the allowance to accommodate the technology. Its replacement became even more urgent when its manufacturer, Elio-Harman Aerospace, declared bankruptcy in 2568, leading to supply chain issues for the active service fleet.
The Gladius proved an instant success upon its rollout in 2579, and for the past three centuries the Gladius has served with distinction in almost every type of operation and engagement the UEEN could think of using it for and has scored thousands of kills against pirates, rebels, and hostile aliens alike. It's not until the 29th Century that the Gladius would be displaced from frontline fleet carriers of the UEEN by the heavier and more robust Anvil Aerospace F7A Hornet medium fighter. The introduction of the next-generation F8A Lightning heavy fighter into elite carrier fighter squadrons in 2933 means that even some second-tier units are converting to Hornets handed down from those squadrons, creating a surge in surplus Gladius frames and parts for civilian use after removal of weapons and other "sensitive" components (the civilians are free to install replacement modules they have access to). Such "civilianized" Gladii are in such high demand that in 2951 Aegis Dynamics ramped up its once-reduced efforts to produce new frames, and there is a dedicated team still working at Aegis on upgrading and evolving the design for use by mercenary guilds and civil defense units. Meanwhile, the Gladius remains something of a common sight onboard Idris-class patrol frigates, each capable of accommodating up to three of these fighters (although normally a frigate's composite wing would include two fighters and a shuttle). Despite not enjoying as much public prestige as carriers and cruisers, these frigates lead patrol flotillas throughout territorial space of the United Empire of Earth, and their Gladius flights are among the military's first responders to any serious trouble along Human frontiers.
Description[]
Compared to its predecessor that is essentially a manned and armed rocket, the Gladius adopts the forward-swept wing planform with canards and twin tailfins more like an aircraft and is equipped to the standard of a small standalone ship. For mobility it is equipped with two main thrusters and ten strategically-located vernier thrusters.
Designed with the most up-to-date experience of space operations (including an interstellar war against the alien species of Tevarin) in mind and expanding on the modular concept already present on the Stiletto but to a level previously enjoyed only by civilian space ships, the Gladius represents a revolutionary improvement over its predecessor. It is capable of operating in both space and planetary atmospheres off even smaller capital ships that weren't outfitted for full-scale aerospace operations, and its modularity allows for upgrades and repurposing for different missions to be quickly and easily implemented, often without the need for extensive industrial facilities. Frames disarmed and declassified for sale to civilians can be rearmed and restored just as easily using civilian-legal weaponries and other components due to unification of interface standards within Human space. The Gladius has been continuously upgraded to remain competitive into the foreseeable future, to the point where a modern-day Mark VI pilot in the 30th Century would have trouble getting used to the initial Mark I or Mark II model. Even without the latest upgrade to keep pace with the threats it faces, later variants remain dependable enough to enable their pilots to develop tactics and better their chances in a fight.
The Gladius is equipped with three hardpoints for guns and four underwing hardpoints for disposable stores. Military Gladii standardize on a mix of laser repeaters for general purpose use and one Gatling gun when extra punch is required, all on trainable gimbal mounts with limited traverse so as to be able to aim at targets within the fighter's frontal arc.
For disposable stores, a variety of regular and heavy air-to-air missiles, the former on multiple ejector racks, can be optionally carried for patrol or combat missions.
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
- 1 x Gallenson Tactical Systems GT-220 "Mantis" Gatling Cannon, under the nose on limited-traverse mount
- 2 x Klaus & Werner CF-337 "Panther" Laser Repeaters, one under each wing on limited-traverse mount
- 4 x Hardpoints for disposable stores, two under each wing
Gallery[]
