H29 Ares

The H29 Ares, manufactured by Crusader Industries, is a purpose-built anti-capital ship starfighter designed to spearhead attacks on the largest threats in space warfare. It stands at the forefront of the United Federation of Nations’ doctrine of high-impact, precision fleet engagement, where tactical superiority depends not just on the weight of firepower, but on its delivery. The Ares is tailored to confront heavily fortified vessels—gunships, carriers, and capital ships—breaking their shields and cracking their armor so that the rest of the fleet can finish the job. In this role, the Ares is unmatched, acting as the spearhead of any UFN assault fleet. Developed as a specialized strike platform rather than a dogfighter, the Ares trades maneuverability for concentrated firepower. Its reinforced frame, bespoke weapon systems, and dedicated energy infrastructure make it a devastating weapon in focused engagements, capable of bringing capital-class ships to their knees. It is frequently deployed in squadrons during major naval operations, with fighter wings built around the Ares acting as coordinated precision strike groups.

Weapon Systems and Armament

The H29 Ares is defined by its forward-focused armament. Mounted along the front of the craft are two main weapon systems, each serving a critical role in its anti-capital warfare capability.
The primary system is the Behring SF7E Laser Cannon, a bespoke weapon designed to penetrate and destabilize the shields of large targets. Its high-energy laser projectiles deliver concentrated bursts of power across long distances, maintaining accuracy and damage consistency during high-speed approach vectors. In fleet engagements, Ares pilots use the SF7E to soften targets from a distance, collapsing shield integrity so that allied bombers and support vessels can exploit the vulnerability.
Complementing this energy weapon is the Behring SF7B Ballistic Gatling Gun. Where the laser cannon disables, the ballistic gatling destroys. The SF7B is capable of sustained fire, with armor-piercing rounds designed to chew through the hull plating of cruisers, destroyers, and battleships. Its rate of fire is calibrated to maintain pressure on enemy systems, targeting critical subsystems such as engine clusters, weapon arrays, or command nodes. While optimized for large targets, the ballistic gatling gun’s overwhelming output also allows the Ares to eliminate smaller fighters or interceptors in mere seconds, giving it limited close-range versatility.
This dual-weapon system allows for synchronized attacks: laser fire strips defenses, and ballistic rounds deliver the killing blow. The synergy between the SF7E and SF7B creates a rhythm of destruction that capital ships cannot easily counter, especially when caught between multiple Ares operating in formation.

Missile Payload

The H29 Ares further augments its capital-killing potential with an integrated missile payload system. The fighter carries three external racks, each loaded with multiple Size 3 missiles, bringing the total complement to twenty. These missiles are modular and can be configured for different payload types—armor-piercing, EMP, or fragmentation—depending on the mission’s demands.
In capital ship engagements, Ares squadrons typically coordinate missile barrages immediately after the SF7E has depleted enemy shielding. This layered assault ensures that the maximum payload breaches the hull without interception, creating openings that shift the momentum of large-scale naval battles.

Combat Doctrine and Deployment

The Ares is rarely deployed alone. Instead, it is fielded as the centerpiece of heavy fighter squadrons or as a shock unit within mixed fighter wings. Its tactical role is not to chase or engage in turning dogfights, but to deliver decisive hits against fortified targets. In this respect, the Ares often acts in tandem with smaller, more agile escort fighters that protect it from interceptors and provide suppression fire.
During the opening of a fleet engagement, Ares squadrons are launched to pierce the outer defenses of enemy flotillas. Their long-range weapon systems allow them to engage from outside most capital ship firing arcs. Once shields are weakened or dropped entirely, the Ares moves into a mid-range engagement zone, bringing its ballistic gatling gun to bear for maximum destruction. Timing and formation discipline are critical; a properly executed Ares strike can break the spine of an enemy task force in a single coordinated run.
Though its armor is reinforced, the Ares is not indestructible. Its durability allows it to absorb some punishment, but the craft relies on formation flying, precise fire timing, and escort protection to survive prolonged engagements. Its greatest strengths lie in decisive, overwhelming firepower—not endurance or agility.

Storage and Maintenance Features

While the Ares is built around firepower, it does not neglect the needs of its crew and mission endurance. Located at the rear of the craft is an 860K μSCU storage unit, accessible from the exterior, which allows the pilot to stow personal gear, mission essentials, or repair equipment. Additionally, the fighter includes specialized gun racks for securing infantry weapons such as rifles or sidearms, making it suitable for emergency landings, retrieval missions, or temporary deployment to planetary surfaces.
These features ensure that Ares pilots can remain self-sufficient during extended operations, particularly in long-range fleet actions where resupply may not be immediate. The inclusion of storage space and exterior access points also makes field maintenance and rapid turnaround between sorties more efficient.
The H29 Ares is Crusader Industries’ answer to the escalating scale of interstellar warfare—a purpose-driven capital ship killer with no equal in its class. By combining long-range energy disruption, sustained ballistic firepower, and heavy missile salvos, the Ares offers a complete anti-ship solution in a single frame. It is not fast. It is not subtle. But it is powerful, reliable, and devastatingly effective. When deployed in numbers, few ships—no matter their size—can withstand the storm it brings.
In the doctrine of the UFN Navy, the Ares represents a fundamental shift in how space superiority is achieved: not only through control of the skies, but through the precision destruction of the enemy’s mightiest assets. With the Ares in formation, every capital ship becomes a target—and few survive the encounter.

Weapons & Armament

Equipped with a Behring SF7E Laser Cannon designed for shield disruption on large and capital-class ships
Features a Behring SF7B Ballistic Gatling Gun capable of sustained armor-piercing fire
Combines laser and ballistic weapons for coordinated shield breaking and hull penetration
Effective against both large vessels and small craft during high-pressure engagements

Missile Payload

One bespoke missile launcher loaded with twelve Size 3 Arrester III cross-section missiles
Two Size 5 MSD-543 missile racks, each armed with Viper III infrared missiles
Total missile capacity includes twenty Size 3 missiles distributed across all racks
Configurable payloads allow adaptation for EMP, armor-piercing, or fragmentation missions

Creation Date

2680

Width

30 meters

Length

27 meters

Height

6 meters

Speed

1,100 m/s

Complement / Crew

1 Pilot