The Kittani Hover Jet is a very advanced and unusual aircraft, in many ways reminiscent of those used in other dimensions. Its semi-transformable ability makes it in a league of its own. The problem is that the vehicle has a serious flaw. The vehicle is both under armored and not armed very heavily. Most aircraft are tougher and even sky cycles have two thirds the armor of the Hover Jet. For that reason a stronger and better armed version of the Hover Jet was designed. The aircraft is a bit more expensive but everybody who has purchased the advanced model has said that the additions were easily worth the extra cost. The vehicle is available for sale on Splynn and Kittani cities but few have been sold outside of Splugorth control territories.

The main body of the fighter was replaced by stronger and more advanced alloys. This allows the vehicle to withstand about one third greater damage than the original design. The weapon systems have been greatly upgraded. While the vehicle can still use cyborg and other heavy handheld weapons, the main laser cannons have been replaced by powerful laser pulse weaponry. They are copies of the K-4 Pulse laser rifle and are connected directly to the vehicles power supply. The vehicle also has the addition of missile weaponry. The Advanced model has two mini-missile launchers with one in each leg. Each launcher can carry twelve mini-missiles for a total of twenty four mini-missiles. There have also been hard points added to the vehicles wings. The fighter has two light hard points on each wing for a total of four hard points. Each hard point can carry one medium range missile, two short range missiles, or a five shot mini-missile zuni-pack. The physical strength of the Hover Jet has been increased when compared to the original which allows it to carry more. The vehicle retains spaces for four additional passengers and has the standard cargo space of the original K-ATV Hover Jet

Although this fighter and its ancestor are not primary designed for use either underwater or in space, the vehicle is still fairly capable in those environments. Underwater travel is fully covered under the speed section. To be more accurate with space travel, this fighter follows theoretical information about starships operating non chemical propulsion in space. This has meant much greater speeds and accelerations. Listed is the formula to allow player and game masters to calculate the fighter's velocity.

Velocity = Acceleration x Time + Initial Velocity
Distance Traveled = Acceleration x ½ x Time ² + Initial Velocity x Time
1 G = 32 feet (9.8 m) per second ²

Model Type: Kittani ATV-RV MK II
Class: Advanced Robotic Jet Fighter
Crew: One or Two, can seat four additional passengers

M.D.C. by Location:

	[1] Forearm Lasers (2):	30 each
	Arms (2):	110 each
	Legs / Mini-Missile Launcher (2):	200 each
	Wings (2):	150 each
	[1] Hover Wing Jets (2):	75 each
	[2] Tail Fins (2):	75 each
	[3] Main Thrusters (2):	225 each
	Directional Thrusters (4):	20 each
	Pilot & Crew Compartment:	150
	[3] Main Body:	350

Notes:
[1] These are small and difficult targets to strike, requiring the attacker to make a "called shot" but even then the attacker is -4 to strike. The loss of a Hover Wing Thruster will prevent VTOL flight but a running take off and landing can still be done
[2] Destruction of the fighter's rudder or one elevator will still allow the fighter to be controlled by the varying of power levels of the engines and vectoring thrusters but the fighter has a penalty of -10 to dodge, and a -30% penalty to all piloting rolls. Destruction of both of the elevators will leave the plane uncontrollable and pilot must eject to survive.
[3] The destruction of one engine will reduce the fighters top speed by half and give the pilot a -2 penalty to dodge as well as giving a 10% penalty to piloting. Destruction of both engines will cause the aircraft to crash. Pilot may attempt an emergency landing or pilot can choose to eject. If used in space, the Fighter will not crash but will be only able to travel at 5% of normal using maneuvering thrusters.
[4] Depleting the M.D.C. of the main body will shut the Aircraft down completely, rendering it useless and causing it to crash if in flight.

Speed
Running: 60 mph (96 kph) maximum. The hover Jet is capable of ground travel in most terrains.
Leaping, In an Atmosphere: The powerful robot legs can leap up to 10 feet (3 meters) high or across unassisted by the thrusters. A jet thruster assisted leap can propel the unit up to 100 feet (30.5 m) high and 200 feet (61 m) across without actually attaining flight.
Flight, in an Atmosphere: The fighter can hover and go up to a maximum speed of 650 mph (close to Mach 1 / 1,040 kph). It can hover stationary and can fly up to 25,000 feet (7,620 m). The fighter is NOT trans-atmospheric.
Flying, Space: The vehicle does not have an effective top speed but is limited by acceleration. The K-ATV can reach a top acceleration of 0.8 G but will normally travel at .4 G to conserve fuel. Because the K-ATV is mostly unshielded from the effects of radiation and hypervelocity atomic particles, the vehicle is not operated at speeds exceeding 20% of the speed of light.
Underwater: It can walk along the bottom of the sea floor at 25% of maximum speed. The K-ATV can also use its thrusters to travel up to a maximum speed of 50 mph (80 km)
Maximum Ocean Depth: 1 mile (1.6 km)
Range: Unlimited in an atmosphere, the K-ATV Fighter has supplies for two crew members for two weeks
Conditional in space, The fighter carries 4 days of reaction mass for travel at 0.4 G of acceleration. Double the consumption of fuel for 0.8 G of acceleration. The fighter would likely accelerate for a period of time and then shut down the engine and travel using the fighter velocity. If the fighter uses more than half of its reaction mass when accelerating, the fighter will be unable to decelerate fully and the fighter will normally only use a third or less of its fuel on accelerating so it does not run into a problem. If the fighter runs out of fuel then it must be recovered by another vehicle traveling faster or be lost.

Statistical Data
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters) standing on its legs, about half as tall when in Jet form
Width: 22 feet (6.7 meters) with wings spread open or 14 feet (4.2 meters) with wings folded inwards
Length: 17 feet (5.2 meters)
Weight: 10 tons (9.07 metric tons)
Physical Strength: Equal to a P.S. 35
Cargo: Small Storage Space, 4 x 4 x 4 feet (1.2 x 1.2 x 1.2 meter) storage compartment behind the pilot's compartment
Power System: Nuclear Fusion with average life span of 10 years
Market Price: 3.8 million Credits. Fair Availability in the city of Splynn and other Kittani cities on Rifts Earth. Not widely available elsewhere, including Phase World.

Weapon Systems:

1. Forearm Pulse Laser Cannons (2): One is mounted on each forearm but have special fire control that allows the weapons to be fired at the same time. The laser cannons are copies of the Kittani K-4 laser rifles but have greater range and damage inflicting ability than the original weapons. They draw power off of the fighter's engines and are quite powerful for their size. The pulse lasers are controlled by the pilot of the K-ATV.
   Maximum Effective Range: 3,000 feet (910 meters).
   Mega Damage: 3D6+6 for one cannon, 6D6+12 for both cannons, 1D6x10+6 for three round burst from one cannon, 2D6x10+12 for three round burst from both barrels (6 total shots)
   Rate of Fire: Equal to the pilots combined hand to hand (usually 5 or 6).
   Payload: Unlimited (Draws Power off the main engines).
2. Mini-Missiles Launchers (2): In each leg, the vehicle has a mini missile launcher. Each side pod carries twelve mini missiles for a total of twenty four missiles. Missiles are assumed to accelerate at 2 times normal mach speed in Gs greater than the vehicles speed when used in space. Missiles can be launched at non moving targets beyond the powered range of the missiles to hit targets without the chance of the launching ship being hit by missiles itself but penalties exist when launching missiles beyond normal missile range.
   Maximum Effective Range: Varies with mini missile type, assume powered range is 8 x normal in space (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Mega Damage: Varies with mini missile type (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of fire: On at a time or in volleys of 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12
   Payload: Each pod has 12 missiles for a total of 24 mini-missiles.
3. Ordnance Hard Points (4): The K-ATV has four missile hard points with two on each wing. These racks can carry any missile from mini-missile to medium range missiles. Missiles are assumed to accelerate at 2 times normal mach speed in Gs greater than the starships speed when used in space. Missiles can be launched at non moving targets beyond the powered range of the missiles to hit targets without the chance of the launching ship being hit by missiles itself but penalties exist when launching missiles beyond normal missile range. Missiles can be mixed and matched at the rate of two short range missiles or a five missile mini-missile pack for one medium range missile.
   Maximum Effective Range: Varies with missile types, assume powered range is 8 x normal in space (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Mega Damage: Varies with missile types (Go to Revised bomb and missile table).
   Rate of Fire: One at a time or in volleys of 2 or 4
   Payload: 1 medium range missile, 2 short range missiles, or a 5 mini-missile Zuni style missile pack
4. Energy Rifles & Other Rail Guns: The K-ATV can fire any other robot sized weapon currently in use in the on Rifts Earth including rifles designs not constructed by the Kittani.
5. Anti-Missile Chaff Dispenser: Located at the very tail of the fighter are two chaff dispensers. When tailed by a missile, a cloud of chaff and other obtrusive particles can be released to confuse or detonate the enemy's attack. Rifts Earth decoys systems are assumed to not operate on Phase World missiles due to technological difference. Reduce effects by 20% against smart missiles (Add +20% to rolls for smart missiles.)
   Effect:
   01-50 Enemy missile or missile volley detonates in chaff cloud - Missiles are all destroyed
   51-75 Enemy missile or missile volley loses track of real target and veers away in wrong direction (May lock onto another target.)
   76-00 No effect, missile is still on target
   Also note that the chaff cloud will also blind flying monsters that fly through cloud. They will suffer the following penalties: reduce melee attacks/actions, combat bonuses, and speed by half. Duration: 1D4 melee rounds.
   Payload: Eight (8)
6. Hand to Hand combat: The K-ATV has a moderate strength and only average hand to hand damages when compared to other vehicles.
   Damage:
   Restrained Punch: 1D4 M.D.C.
   Full Strength Punch: 1D6 M.D.C.
   Power Punch: 3D4 M.D.C. (Counts as two attacks)
   Full Strength Kick: 2D6 M.D.C.
   Leap Kick: 4D6 M.D.C. (Counts as two attacks)
   Body Block/Ram: 4D6 M.D.C.

Special Equipment:
The fighter has all the standard features of a standard fighter (same as standard robot minus loudspeaker and microphone) plus these special features listed:

• Radar: Range 500 miles (805 km) in an atmosphere and 25,000 miles (40,250 km) in space. Can identify and track up to 96 targets simultaneously. With Combat & Targeting Computer, the aircraft can fire missiles at up to sixteen targets at the same time. It is also capable of Terrain Following for low altitude flight.
• E.S.M.: Radar Detector, Passively detects other radars being operated.
• FLIR: Forward Looking Infrared. Allows pilot and weapons officer to get visuals on targets at night.
• Laser Navigational System: Allow flight at low altitude without use of Radar. Gives a map of the Terrain.

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[ Rifts® is a registered trademark owned by Kevin Siembieda and Palladium Books Inc.]

By Kitsune (E-Mail Kitsune ).
Copyright © 1999 & 2001, Kitsune. All rights reserved.