A space fighter, also called a starfighter or a strike fighter and known by the Covenant as Strikecraft,[1] is a small, versatile, and maneuverable spacecraft, primarily used for exoatmospheric interception, interdiction, or space-supremacy operations.
Role
These ships are unable to enter slipspace by themselves, and need to be launched from planetary bases, orbiting space stations, or capital ships to conduct strike-operations against enemy warships, intercept fighters, and provide escort for warships and dropships.[2][3] Their size varies from a few meters to well over 50 meters. Most known space fighters are spaceplanes, capable of operating in both atmospheric/exoatmospheric (A/X) and suborbital/orbital (S/O) environments. The Forerunner Warrior-Servants often used space fighters in combat. Some space fighters, called weapon-ships, could be remotely-controlled at a ratio of up to a million ships per warrior.[4]
Warships primarily designed to transport and maintain fighter-squadrons are commonly known as carriers.[5] In the UNSC Navy, starfighters were deployed from all warships larger than a corvette, as corvettes were too small to carry anything larger than a shuttle.[6]
Known space fighters
Covenant
UNSC
Forerunner
Sources
- ^ Halo: Warfleet, Glossary, page 92
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 266
- ^ Halo: First Strike, page 6
- ^ Halo: Cryptum, page 174
- ^ Halo Encyclopedia, page 259
- ^ Halo: Contact Harvest, page 64
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