Taorith-class fighter

The Taorith-class was a single-seat heavy strike fighter manufactured by Themix Industries for the Tilanex Navy starting in the early years of the Osphat-Tilanex War. The Taorith-class was developed at the same time as the Jorac-class interceptor, as a strike craft capable of independent operations away from stations or other logistical lines. Prior to the conflict between the Tilanex Empire and Osphat Canommin Republic in the 48,800s, the Tilanex armed forces lacked significant long-range strike capability, and did not have a fighter able to match the durability and firepower of the Osphat Oda-205, which would be used in large quantities during the war. An advanced heavy strike fighter was thus in the Aedos Naval Modernization Initiative under section 6.04.3, with the Defense Office laying out technical requirements for the expected design. Themix Industries bit the Taorith-class in 48,784 ACT, the same year as they bid the Jorac-class for another part of the Aedos program, and the government selected the ship as the only finalist in the competition due to poor technical readiness and contract noncompliance among other bids, leaving the Taorith-class the only design which matched the contract requirements. Development of the Taorith-class took 24 years, with production models entering service in 48,808 ACT. The company would produce over 50,000 Taorith-class fighters, most of which operated from surface bases or space stations due to their large size prohibiting deployment on most capital ships, with the exception of carriers.

The Taorith-class lacked the agility of other strike fighters in the Tilanex Navy both before and during its production run, but was able to accelerate at a higher rate with its cutting-edge TI VDT-Dascat 120-Eir ion thruster. Modified from the 120-model developed by Themix Industries' propulsion division for the Jorac-class, the 120-Eir could, with a more efficient cooling system, accelerate the Taorith-class at 12,400 g's. This made the ship one of the fastest heavy strike craft in Ivesceel, and significantly improved its ability to strafe capital ships and facilities and chase down escaping targets. Defensively, the Taorith-class was a difficult ship to take down; heavy armor plating alongside a number of shield systems, including particle and energy shields for improved capacity against kinetic and energy attacks, allowed the Taorith-class to withstand multiple direct hits from anti-fighter turrets and even light laser cannons. Offensively, the Taorith-class carried four laser cannons: two TY85 Sie light laser cannons as on the Jorac-class and two TY60 Sie standard laser cannons, with a yield of 8.00E+11 Joules per shot and a 0.85 second cooldown between shots. The larger laser cannons could switch between different firing modes, with a sustained mode for combat against strike craft and small ships and a burst mode for heavy targets. Additionally, the Taorith-class carried 90 TI-Neph-20 Osed missiles and four TI-Febah 8905m anti-ship torpedoes on hardpoints below the wings, allowing for a simultaneous launch or staggered fire as appropriate.