VF-3 Space Superiority Fighter

VF-3 Meteor Fighters are the frontline space superiority fighter of the Confederate Spatial Service.

Pairing speed and agility, with an unrivaled armament, the VF-3 is the unquestioned dominating interceptor in space combat.

The VF-3 was designed to phase out the limited production fighters; the VF-2 Viking, and the VF-1 Thunderbolt. It is a clean improvement on the designs of its predecessors, using the same general spaceframe and engine placement.

Fleet Interceptor Program
The origin of the VF-series fighters, can be traced back to the creation of the Confederate Spatial Service, when a spatial warfare study decided a dedicated interceptor would be required for a dedicated fleet defensive system.

The Fleet Interceptor Program, resulted in the rapid design and testing of a series of Interceptors, starting with the VF-1 Thunderbolt.

The Thunderbolt was deemed to be unacceptable, due to low acceleration, and saw only limited production. The VF-2 Viking had a much higher acceleration, but it was still below the required minimum, and the higher acceleration had come at the cost of armament.

The VF-3 Meteor was developed using the same spaceframe as its predecessors, but the powerplant was replaced with the new General Electric VF-510 engines, giving it a much higher acceleration rate, without having to sacrifice armament.

Flyoff
The VF-3 was not the only design to emerge from the Fleet Interceptor Program. The YVF-5 Asp was designed by Northrop Grumman, and was the VF-3's primary competitor.

The YVF-5 was a heavier fighter than the VF-3, with a lower turn rate, and an identical acceleration rate. It boasted a heavier armament, and much longer maneuvering time. The engines were arrayed in the rear of the ship, only letting it accelerate forward. The primary feature of the YVF-5 was an aerodynamic spaceframe, letting it enter atmospheres.

Safety trials revealed no alarming weaknesses in either ship.

Combat trials began on March 29th 2037. Early trials showed that the VF-3 was a vastly superior purebred space interceptor, over the YVF-5, due to better maneuvering abilities.

Due to its ability to enter an atmosphere, the YVF-5 was tested against the F-35 Lightning II. Despite the F-35 being considered a mediocre multirole fighter, it dominated engagements against the YVF-5, with the YVF-5 lacking maneuverability, and a fuel-efficient atmospheric engine.

The Fleet Interceptor Program recommended the VF-3 to the Confederate Spatial Service after the trials, but also recommended funding for development of a ground attack craft, derived from the YVF-5. This craft would be developed into the VA-5 Condor.