LNF Spatha

The Spatha (Warlord reporting name: Fire Fang) is a next-generation, single-seat interceptor designed for use in the Zaretian Campaign. The result of the Luminarian Navy's Modern Space Fighter program, the Spatha was designed primarily as a space-superiority interceptor, but also has limited warship attack, electronic warfare, and signal intelligence capabilities.

The Spatha is designed to have the highest top speed of any known Luminarian craft, with impressive maneuverability and limited stealth capabilities to overcome the next generation Zaretian StrikeCraft as well as warship point defense networks.

The Spatha entered service with the Luminarian Navy in Year 10 of the Great War. The primary role was long-range interception of Zaretian Gemini and Crusher bombers, Rapid response disarmament against hostile warships and escort for Luminarian Kodiak Bombers.

Origins
Analysis of defensive actions during the Zaretian Campaign revealed systemic failures in defensive fighter coverage. Multi-axis attack by Zaretian bombers demanded rapid redeployment across kilometers of space, and in terms of pure linear speed, the LNF Myrmidon was simply unsuited for the task of rapid interception. Furthermore, LCID learned of the Zaretian Wailer,  Prowler and Ambassador projects. The Luminarian Navy leadership soon realized that the new Zaretian strikecraft would represent a serious threat to Luminarian operations.

In response, the Luminarian Navy begun an effort to rework both doctrine and ship design to counter the increasing threat of hostile Zaretian strikecraft. One such response was the Modern Space Fighter program, designed to create new strikecraft to replace the aging Myrmidon fighter.

2 teams from the Luminarian Naval Design Bureau begun work on creating the next generation strikecraft. The first team took inspiration from Aeverian strikecraft such as the Monsoon and Lamia, developing a multirole heavy fighter capable of launching swarms of long-range missiles to intercept hostile strikecraft and disarm warship turrets. The other team developed a fast, agile interceptor with a blistering array of gun ports and missile banks, although at a cost of armoring and shielding.

Both teams prototypes would eventually be used as the basis for the creation of the Spatha and the Orphidian.

Production
The Spatha would be developed after the Orphidian. With the success of the Orphidian in OPEVAL trials, the Naval Design Bureau greenlit the trial production of Spatha interceptors. Initial tests had many pilots impressed with its stunning speed and impressive firepower, and it wouldn't take long before it became a pilot favorite.

After the conclusion of Operation Isomer, Feris Spaceframes won the contract to mass produce Spatha Interceptors.

Introduction
The first batch of operational Spathas was finished in time for Operation Turbulence, but the first deployment of Spatha interceptors would be in Operation Isomer.

Due to its poor armoring, the Naval Design Bureau held back its deployment to the Zaretian theater for fear that it would be easy prey for Zaretian point defenses and the newly introduced Wailer-Class Gunship. These concerns were largely unfounded, with many Luminarian pilots utilizing the speed and agility of the Spatha to outmanuever the heavier Zaretian strikecraft, and the sheer firepower of the 8 particle cannons to outright destroy the lighter strikecraft.

Present
The Spatha is commonly utilized by the Luminarian Navy alongside the Orphidian. Both strikecraft would serve as part of the multi-layered interception doctrine utilized by many next-generation warships.

The Naval Design Bureau is currently preparing a Block II upgrade for both the Orphidian and Spatha strikecraft, integrating the new FORESIGHT strategic communications and sensors, as well as improving the electronic warfare capabilities to disrupt hostile missiles.

SOC Variant
Unlike the Orphidian, SOC operatives which emphasized speed and stealth tended to prefer the Spatha over the slower Orphidian, as such, SOC developed a customized Spatha Interceptor that offers increased speed, greater maneuverability, and improved afterburner consumption rates, sacrificing some more of its durability by removing the standard nanomesh for a stealth nanomesh.