By: Stanley S. Bundy
The Robotech versions of these aircraft are made to give Veritechs a real, terrestrial challenge. However, with the modifications given at the end of this article, they can be adapted into Rifts aircraft; the first can be either an experimental fighter of the Coalition or an in-service aircraft with the NGR. The second type could be found in the arsenals of any of the Rifts: Space powers, or could even be a lost and forgotten space fighter from the pre-Rifts era, waiting to be rediscovered on the moon or in an abandoned asteroid base.
The EBSIS MiG-34:
Two Variants:
MiG-34B "Firefox" Atmospheric fighter
MiG-34G "Starfox" Space fighter
(Note - Yes, the MiG-34B is inspired by the Clint Eastwood movie; however, there is no connection between the Starfox and the Super Nintendo game of the same name. I created and named both MiG-34s in the late 1980s, long before the SNES game was announced. They have no relationship whatsoever with real aircraft designed by MAPO MiG)
The MiG-34B Firefox (designed and named by an EBSIS engineer with a warped sense of humor)
Vehicle Type: Jet Interceptor (Atmospheric)
Crew: One
M.D.C. by Location
Main Body: 200 Pilots Compartment/Cockpit: 75
Wings(2): 100 each Canards(2): 40 each
Tail Fins(2): 50 each MR Missile Launchers(2): 30 each
Autocannons(2): 25 each Primary Engines(2): 100 each
Laser Turret: 25 Secondary Engines(2): 50 each
Speed - Maximum: 4020 MPH (Mach 6) with primary engines.
- Cruising: 1005 MPH (Mach 1.5).
Operational Ceiling: 60 miles.
Height: 20 feet
Length: 56 feet
Width: 48 feet.
Weight: 32 tons fully loaded.
Engines: Primaries are ramjets, assisted at lower speeds by the secondary, conventional jets.
Operational Range: 3000 miles, but can be extended by use of in-flight refueling.
Vehicle Bonuses: Special; see MiG-34 Fighter Combat.
Primary Purpose: Anti-aircraft Secondary Purpose: Ground Attack Mega-Damage: 4D6 per twin burst (2D6 if one destroyed). Range: 2000 feet. Payload: 90 twin bursts. If one cannon is destroyed, its ammo is automatically diverted to the remaining one.
2. Laser Turret - Also from Zentraedi Battle Pods, this has been mounted on the underside of the MiG-34B similar to the location of a VF-1 head in Jet mode. The turret is capable of 360o rotation and has a 180o firing arc. Its fire-control system is programed not to fire if positioned at an angle that would result in damage to the jet itself.
Primary Purpose: Anti-aircraft
Secondary Purpose: Anti-missile
Mega-Damage: 2D6 per burst (1D6 per laser).
Range: 4000 feet.
Payload: Conditionally unlimited; powered by a small fusion reactor salvaged from Zentraedi
mecha. The reactor's original purpose was to supply power to secondary systems while the pod main
engine was shut down prior to Zentraedi ambushes of Invid.
3. Long-Range Missiles (Nuclear) - These tactical nukes are identical to those found on the MiG-29E, except that two are mounted on each wing. For the Rifts variants, any LRMs from that game may be used.
Primary Purpose: Assault Secondary Purpose: Anti-Mecha Mega-Damage: 2D6x10 each. Rate of Fire: 1, 2 or all. Range: 400 miles. Payload: 4 (2 per wing).
4. Medium Range Missiles - These are launched from pods built into the wings, and are Zentraedi Fragmentation missiles (normally used by the Heavy Artillery Pod).
Primary Purpose: Anti-aircraft Secondary Purpose: Ground Attack Mega-Damage: 2D4x10 each. Rate of Fire: 1, 2 or 4. Range: 40 miles. Payload: 12 (6 per wing).
5. Short Range Missiles - These are old Soviet AA-6 missiles, modified for launch from four launchers built into the body to the rear of the cockpit (1 port, 1 starboard, 2 ventral/underside).
Primary Purpose: Anti-aircraft Secondary Purpose: Anti-missile Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 each. Rate of Fire: 1, 2 or 4. Range: 5 miles. Payload: 16 (4 per launcher).
6. Rear-mounted Missiles - These are nasty defensive weapons, which can be put to limited offensive use (such as blowing away the position you just buzzed) by creative pilots. Two of these missiles are mounted on the trailing edge of each wing.
Primary Purpose: Anti-dogtail Secondary Purpose: Anti-missile Mega-Damage: 2D4x10 each. Rate of Fire: 1 at a time. Range: 1 mile. Payload: 4 (2 per wing). Note: These weapons have no bonuses to strike, but opponents are -10 to dodge and cannot shoot them down. When used to shoot down other missiles, they have a 90% chance of success on a hit.
7. Optional Use of Tactical Nuclear bombs - The MiG-34B can carry 4 of these monstrosities by eliminating the LRMs and MRMs, but flight speed is reduced to 1/3 normal and dodges are at -6.
Primary Purpose: Ground Target Elimination Payload: 4. Mega-Damage: Special! 1D6x1000 inside 50' radius, plus radiation. Objects in this initial radius cannot roll with the impact. Burst Damage (Roll for 1/2 damage applicable): 1/2 damage in area 50' to 250' from GZ, 1/4 damage from 250' to 500'.Radiation levels released are as follows (mecha shielding will only stop 90% of radiation): Main blast area = 2D4x1000 rads, 50'-250' = 2D4x100 rads, 250'-1000' = 2D4x10 rads. The area will remain radioactive afterward, unless decontaminated. The initial radiation level will decrease by 1 rad per hour, with the resulting figures representing the amount of radiation a person would pick up by remaining in that area for 1 hour. Divide by 60 for rads/minute, 240 for rads/round.
Vehicle Type: Non-Transformable Space Fighter
Crew: One
M.D.C. by Location
Main Body: 250 Pilots Compartment/Cockpit: 100
Wings(2): 125 each Canards(2): 50 each
Tail Fins(2): 60 each Nose Lasers(2): 10 each
Engines(2): 150 each Laser Turret: 25
Speed - Atmosphere (Max): 2300 MPH (Mach 3.4)
- Atmosphere (Cruising): 670 MPH
- Space: 4150 MPH (Mach 6.2).
Operational Ceiling (Atmosphere): 50 miles.
Height: 17 feet
Length: 50 feet
Width: 45 feet.
Weight: 24 tons fully loaded.
Engines - Robotech Version: Two salvaged VF-1 engines.
- Rifts Version: Twin Ion Engines.
Operational Range: Robotech: unlimited power supply;
Rifts: 300,000 mile reaction mass range.
Robotech Version's power supply lasts 1D4+4 years.
Vehicle Bonuses: Special; see MiG-34 Fighter Combat.
Primary Purpose: Anti-aircraft Mega-Damage: 2D6 per burst. If one cannon destroyed, reduce damage by 1/2. Can be volleyed with #2 below. Range: 4000 feet (8000 feet in space). Payload: Unlimited.
2. Laser Turret - Identical to the turret of the MiG-34B, except that it can be volleyed with the nose lasers above.
Primary Purpose: Anti-aircraft
Secondary Purpose: Anti-missile
Mega-Damage: 2D6 per burst (1D6 per laser).
Range: 4000 feet.
Payload: Conditionally unlimited; powered by a small fusion reactor salvaged from Zentraedi
mecha. The reactor's original purpose was to supply power to secondary systems while the pod main
engine was shut down prior to Zentraedi ambushes of Invid.
3. Long-Range Missiles (Nuclear) - These battlefield nukes are identical to those found on the MiG-34B, except that four are mounted on each wing. For the Rifts variants, any LRMs from that game may be used.
Primary Purpose: Assault Secondary Purpose: Anti-Mecha Mega-Damage: 2D6x10 each. Rate of Fire: 1, 2 or all. Range: 400 miles. Payload: 8 (4 per wing).
4. Short Range Missiles - These are upgraded AA-6 missiles, modified for use in space. The launchers are identical to those on the MiG-34B.
Primary Purpose: Anti-aircraft Secondary Purpose: Anti-missile Mega-Damage: 1D6x10 each. Rate of Fire: 1, 2 or 4. Range: 5 miles. Payload: 16 (4 per launcher).
5. Rear-mounted Missiles - As on the MiG-34B. Two of these missiles are mounted on the trailing edge of each wing.
Primary Purpose: Anti-dogtail Secondary Purpose: Anti-missile Mega-Damage: 2D4x10 each. Rate of Fire: 1 at a time. Range: 1 mile. Payload: 4 (2 per wing). Note: These weapons have no bonuses to strike, but opponents are -10 to dodge and cannot shoot them down. When used to shoot down other missiles, they have a 90% chance of success on a hit.
6. Optional Use of TSM-3 Space Mines - The MiG-34G can carry two of these monstrosities by eliminating the LRMs. These are essentially old ICBM warheads that have been equipped with a modified pirate version of the AM-2 "Watchdog" IFF system. They are programmed to detonate if a large vessel (all Zentraedi types have been programmed in) comes within range. Note that it will figure the closest approach, and will wait for that distance before detonating in order to do the most damage. These are issued only for specific missions.
Primary Purpose: Zentraedi Spaceship Elimination
Mega-Damage: 3D4x1000 at range of 1500 feet or less;
1/2 damage at range of 1500' to 3000 ';
1/4 damage at range of 3000' to 1 mile.
A ship within 1500 feet that is not destroyed has its radiation shielding overloaded, and crew members take 5D4x10 rads (x10 for full-size Zentraedi, due to their larger surface area). Humans can take PEx5 rads before developing radiation sickness, and a fatal dose is PEx50 (cumulative lifetime dosage).
Zentraedi can ignore single doses less than their current PEx10, with only the excess accumulating (fatal amount is 10 x human fatal levels); resizing eliminates all previous exposure to radiation.
MiG-34 Fighter Combat: Applies only if the modified Tele-mental Helmet is worn by the pilot. This helmet is based on the similar design used in the EBSIS Battloids.
+3 to Strike, +8 to dodge (+10 for MiG-34G), +3 to Roll with Impact, +5/+25% to dogfighting & maneuver rolls. Four additional attacks at first level, +1 additional attack at 5th and 10th levels.
MiG-34 Combat bonuses without the helmet, it's just another aircraft. Use standard Fighter combat skills. (Elite is +2 attacks, +2 to Strike, +5 to dodge, +3/15% to dogfight).
The autocannons and lasers are of conventional design. The power plant for the laser turret is now a small fusion engine like those found in power armors. The fusion engine also allows operation of flight controls in case the flight engines shut down. The large-scale nukes are not available, unless the CS or NGR radically change their stance on use of nukes on a scale larger that anti-mech devices.
The MiG-34G can be one of three possibilities. First, it can be a fighter built on the American space station by KLS. The second option is for it to be CAN Republic design. The third option would make it any one of a number of nationalities, dating from before the rifts. If a new weapon (KLS or CAN), then double the MDC and weapon damage, and forget the space mines. Also change the Zentraedi references in the weapons to Rifts: Space references, and note the Rifts engine listings in the description.