The following material is an adaptation of mecha from MACROSS PLUS, a sequel to the original Japanese MACROSS TV series (which became Robotech in the U.S.).

X-9 GHOST UNMANNED FIGHTER
(PROTOTYPE) STATS


BACKGROUND

The X-9 Ghost is a top secret unmanned high performance transatmospheric prototype fighter developed in 2039 by the UN Spacy and the Macross Consortium. The Ghost was the brainchild of General Gomez, who wanted to develop a way to expand UN Spacy military might while decreasing the costs of training and maintaining fighter pilots. Unmanned fighters promised to be an ideal solution to this problem. They could be mass-produced in greater numbers and were far less costly than recruiting and training new pilots, and could be sent into combat and high-risk situations without endangering human lives. General Gomez was secretly working on the Ghost fighter at the same time he was overseeing the Project Super Nova design contest, intended to develop a new manned advanced variable fighter (AVF) for the UN Spacy. However once the prototype X-9 was perfected he cancelled the Super Nova contest (before a winning design was selected) and planned to unveil the Ghost at the UN Spacy's Armistice 30th Anniversary celebration on Earth.

The X-9 Ghost is an extremely advanced combat fighter. Approximately half the size of a standard variable fighter, the Ghost mounts three revolutionary thermonuclear turbine engines and numerous maneuvering verniers that give the fighter incredible speed and agility both in an atmosphere and in space (and the Ghost can be mounted with FAST packs for additional thrust if necessary). The armament for the drone is more modest but still impressive, including five pulse lasers and 29 high-maneuverability micro-missiles. In combat the Ghost relies on its speed and maneuverability to conduct hit-and-run attacks on multiple targets, allowing it to often take out entire squadrons before the enemy has a chance to retaliate. But the most impressive feature of the fighter is its onboard AI (artificial intelligence) computer system. The X-9 can be piloted by remote control from a UN Spacy starship, or can be allowed to operate autonomously in combat. The AI system is quick, clever, and almost savage in the ferocity of its attacks. The system uses bio-neural circuitry modeled after a human brain, which permits the AI both to formulate new plans and strategies on the fly as well as learn during combat to improve its performance. The combination of the Ghost's intelligence, speed, and weaponry make the small drone extremely deadly in combat, able to hold its own against even advanced VFs such as the VF-19 Excalibur and VF-22 Sturmvogel.

The prototype Ghost fighter was taken over by the renegade AI Sharon Apple during the Armistice celebration and used against the YF-19 and YF-21 prototypes which had travelled from Eden to Earth. After an extended aerial combat pilot Guld Goa Bowman managed to defeat the X-9 at the cost of the YF-21 and his own life. Although the project was not cancelled immediately after the incident, unexpected problems appeared during later testing of additional Ghost prototypes. The bio-neural circuitry of the drone possessed an erratic self-preservation tendency that sometimes caused the AI to disobey orders, even to the point of attacking other drones that were supposed to be fighting on the same side in mock combats. In addition, simulated engagements with experienced pilots in VF-19 Excalibur prototypes resulted in victory for the Ghost fighter only 55% of the time, leading to debate about whether the drone was actually superior to piloted variable fighters. Eventually the X-9 Ghost was turned down by the UN Spacy as a replacement for manned fighters. However AI research continues at the Macross Consortium, so it may only be a matter of time before a new Ghost fighter is produced that is superior in every way to combat pilots.

RPG STATS

Vehicle Type: X-9 Ghost
Class: Advanced Unmanned Fighter Drone (Prototype)
Manufacturer: UN Spacy/Macross Consortium
Crew: None! Can be controlled remotely by a pilot or operated autonomously via AI.

MDC BY LOCATION: 

(1) Front Sensor Eye                                     15
    Vernier/Weapon Clusters (3)                          35 each
(2) Engine Nacelles (2)                                 125 each
(3) Main Body                                           200
    Wings (3)                                            60 each
    FAST Augmentation Packs (2, optional)                75 each

NOTES:

  1. Destroying the sensor eye of the X-9 will knock out the drone's major sensor systems (including infrared, night vision, and thermal). Radar and communications will be unaffected, but the Ghost will be at -4 to strike. The sensor eye is a very difficult target to hit, however; -5 to strike in addition to velocity penalties.
  2. Depleting the MDC of one engine nacelle will reduce the Ghost's speed by 40% and give it a -3 penalty to dodge. Depleting the MDC of both nacelles will reduce speed by 80% and impose a -6 penalty to dodge. There is a third engine in the main body that will enable the Ghost to keep flying even if both nacelles are destroyed, however.
  3. Depleting the MDC of the main body will disable the Ghost. If controlled by the onboard AI the Ghost will self-destruct to avoid capture by an enemy.

SPEEDS:

ATMOSPHERIC FLIGHT SPEED:
Mach 4.0+ (2680 mph/4082 kmph) max speed at 10,000 meters or less above sea level. Mach 5.8+ (3886 mph/5916 kmph) max speed at 10,000-30,000 meters above sea level. Mach 25+ (16,750 mph/25,500 kmph) max speed at 30,000+ meters above sea level, for a maximum of 5 seconds. Cruising speed is usually Mach 2 (1340 mph/2040 kmph). The Ghost is capable of achieving orbital velocity over an Earth-class planet without additional rocket assistance. Maximum rate of ascent is 68,000 meters/minute. Structural G limits are +40.0 to -25.0 Earth gravities. Note: The Ghost cannot hover in place like a VF and must maintain a minimum speed of 100 mph (152 kmph) to remain airborne.

STATISTICAL DATA:

LENGTH: 34.54 ft (10.80 m)

WIDTH: 21.41 ft (9.23 m)

HEIGHT: 12.85 ft (5.54 m)

WEIGHT:
3,940 kg empty. Maximum takeoff weight in an atmosphere without booster assistance is 13,800 kg.
 
CARGO:
None, unless missiles are removed from ventral missile bay. If the missiles are removed the Ghost can carry up to 1,450 kg of cargo.

WEAPON SYSTEMS:

  1. PULSE LASER CANNONS: The main weapons of the X-9 Ghost are five powerful pulse laser cannons. Four are mounted in banks of two on either side of the drone, while one slightly more powerful one is mounted in the bottom of the aircraft. All five lasers can be fired separately or in combination, against single or multiple targets. The lasers are semi-fixed forward, and can only fire within a 40 degree arc from the front of the aircraft.


  2. VENTRAL MISSILE BAY: For additional offensive power, the X-9 Ghost has a concealed missile bay mounted on the bottom of the aircraft between the engine nacelles. When launched, the doors concealing the bay open and the missiles fire downward out of the craft, where they then move to intercept targets either in front of or behind the drone. The missile bay is designed to use the new Bifors BMM-24 all-environment high-maneuverability micro-missiles, but can use any type of UN Spacy mini-missile if HMMMs are not available.

  3. FAST PACK ANTI-SENSOR PODS: The optional FAST boosters for the X-9 Ghost each contain a combination chaff/flare pod that can be used disrupt optical sensors and radar on both missiles and attacking fighters. Each booster contains one anti-sensor pod that can be ejected at any time during combat, even if the Ghost has lost initiative for that round.

STANDARD EQUIPMENT FOR THE X-9 GHOST:

COMBAT BONUSES FOR X-9 GHOST FIGHTER TRAINING:

NOTE: As mentioned above, the X-9 Ghost can operate autonomously or can be directed via remote control from a UN Spacy base or starship. The stats below represent bonuses for operators trained in remote control operation of the Ghost fighter. In order to have X-9 Ghost combat training the controller must also have the following skills: Computer Operation, Radio: Scrambler, Read Sensory Instruments, Pilot: Jet Fighter (or Pilot: Variable Fighter), and Weapon Systems. Untrained operators attempting to control a Ghost fighter only get bonuses equivalent to VF-11 Thunderbolt Basic Training.

ADVANCED X-9 GHOST COMBAT TRAINING

If the Ghost is put in autonomous operation mode (fully controlled by the AI computer) then the X-9 has the following skills, abilities, and bonuses (treat as a 6th level Variable Fighter pilot):

X-9 GHOST AI COMBAT STATS

REFERENCES USED IN THIS DESIGN