Panther medium fighter
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The F-108 Panther medium fighter was a fictional spaceplane in the Wing Commander computer game. It was introduced in the 2680s and proved to be an excellent fighter. It was more than a match for the vast majority of enemy fightercraft and the equal of anything it couldn't best.
The Panther was a product of an era of military budget cuts; it did not receive many of the features of older fighters (such as auto-tracking guns). However, it did have a horizontally-articulating engine pod that greatly improved yaw. The Panther was inexpensive enough to be produced in numbers.
The F-108A was the initial version and was armed with two tachyon cannon and two ion cannon. Six image-recognition missiles and six IFF missiles were usually carried, but on wild-weasel they usually carried six anti-turret missiles, two image-recognition missiles and 36 unguided rockets. The gun armament has been criticized: the ion cannons were not particularly powerful despite their fast refire rate and the tachyon cannon were slow to recharge despite their power.
The F-108S "Black" Panther was an advanced version originally used in special operations missions. Two cloudburst electrical-discharge weapons and two chain ion cannons were fitted, increasing output but causing their own problems; cloudburst emissions travel roughly 50% faster than do chain-ion blasts, making it difficult to land a full barrage at longer range. The fighter also featured appropriately increased top speed, shielding and armor.
The Panther was a solid design despite the flaws of the F-108A and performed excellently in many engagements, though it occasionally suffered the drawbacks of its role--decreased durability and ordnance--in the heavier brawls of the Proxima campaign.