AFPC-1 "POINTER" AIRCRAFT
Basic Information
- Full Title: Airborne Fission-Powered Carrier
- Generation: 1
- Candidate #: 241/1
- Role: Bomber
- National Origin: FoGM
- Manufacturer: Undetermined
- Introduction: 1989
- Produced: 1981 - 2002
- End of Service: 2013
Mounts
- 6x External Mounts [3000 lb]
Utilities
- Targeting Unit (Radar, Infared, Laser, Optical)
- Radar Jammer
- ECM Suite
- Decoy Dispenser
- Deployable Towed Decoy
Loadouts
- Configuration "Reflex"
- Description: General-purpose configuration viable in most situations.
- External Mounts
- 6x Longrange Tri-Missile [semi-active homing, 3000 lb]
"Monarch, show us your wrathful hand. Monarch, point us to our enemies. Monarch, watch their reckoning unfold."
Background
The AFPC-1 "Pointer" a superheavy air-based carrier; meaning, it is a flying vehicle which carries many other flying vehicles. It is powered by a fission reactor, which enables it virtually unlimited range. It can move around its air fleet anywhere across the world in a few hours, compared to the days and weeks it would take traditional carriers. It can carry up to two dozen Clusters, and can either deploy or retrieve up to two of them at a time. Alternatively, it can deploy and retrieve a single Cluster simultaneously.
Pointers are still very maintenance-heavy, which makes them less efficient unit for unit than traditional carriers. It also needs escorts which, while it can easily do so with its own fighters, limits its true range. Because of that, it is not a replacement to traditional carriers, but instead a way to augment military flexibility.
The lesson: sea-based carriers aren't leaving any time soon.