Pros: Adaptability, Crew survivability, Firepower, especially with armament packages installed
Cons: Expensive, Complicated, Not as agile as a dedicated space-superiority fighter
The KD-56 Gryphon multirole fighter is an evolution of the venerable Valkyrie, and is called Valkyrie Mk II by some. It addresses some problems in the original design, and was designed with adaptibility, modularity and survivability in mind. Although it closely resembles the Valkyrie, it is in fact a completely new design, following a very similar design philosophy and very similar requirements.
Although designed primarily for space combat, it's capable of entering atmosphere, atmospheric operations, making planetfall and returning to space under its own power. Its top speed in atmosphere is 1200 kph for the bare ship.
The ship is armed with two forward facing Type U+ pulse cannons mounted in the wing mounts, two micro torpedo launchers mounted behind the pulse cannons and four individual Type VII phaser strips, two facing forward and two aft, to give a coverage arc of 360 degrees. Being more heavily armed than any other Starfleet fighter in service, the Gryphon is also heavier and utilizes a highly advanced power plant to achieve high cruising speed, max speed and emergency speed.
The fighter employs a modular design, consisting of three major components: The 'core block' which houses the cockpit, communication systems and life support, the main body and the power plant package. The core block can be ejected and serves as life pod in emergency situations. It also houses several small compartments with emergency rations, simple flight suit repair tools, basic medical equipment and other assorted emergency equipment.
The Gryphon furthermore has two external hardpoints underneath the wings. These can accept a multitude of mission-specific packages, ranging from increased armament to sensor suites to aerodynamic containers enabling the Gryphon to act as a warp capable light transport when needed. Fitting armament packages has a negative effect on the fighter's speed and maneuverability, especially in atmosphere. The severity of this negative effect depends on the size and mass of the package fitted.
Available optional armament packages, Gryphon fits one per hardpoint for a maximum of two packages.
- Additional launcher for 5x full size photon torpedo or 15 micro torpedo, maneuverability effect: major
- Dual M-142 RF Mass Driver mount, maneuverability effect: moderate
- Mk I Hellborne heavy torpedo, maneuverability effect: major
- Hell-hound cluster bombs, maneuverability effect: moderate
Further non combat packages:
- High-resolution, advanced sensor suite
- Light cargo containers
- Search-and-rescue pods
- Medical emergency evacuation pods, with a capacity of a single standard humanoid per
- Sensor decoy suite pod
A bare Gryphon functions as heavy fighter, while the additional packages enable her to take on the role of long range anti-ship strike craft, ground attack strike fighter, air attack strike fighter, light bomber, long range scout, light cargo craft, emergency ambulance and even a light espionage craft.
The Gryphon is further equipped with a light shield system, additional structural integrity fields, a subspace communication suite, basic sensors, a navigational deflector system and a bussard radome.