The AT-99 “Scorpion” Gunship is a VTOL rotorwing light attack aircraft used by the Dark Angels. Outfitted with a Mosquito-class targeting and missile launch platform, the Scorpion is the gunship of choice to escort shuttle landings and take-off, for close fire support for military operations, and air support for ground assault.
Specifications/Overview
Crew
The AT-99 Scorpions are operated by a single pilot, who must coordinate what is happening with and around the aircraft, control and fire weapons, operate communications and navigation.
Weapons/Armament
Scorpion Gunships are known for their superior frontal firepower, while not lacking in speed, agility, and maneuverability.
The Scorpion has two forward-mounted stub pylons that are armed with four gimbal-mounted .50 caliber machine guns with a 700-rounds per minute cyclic rate of fire as close-range primary weapons. It carries two dual 50 cal. Machine Guns and two triple-barrel 20mm Gatling Guns. The Scorpion has two pairs of huge stub-wing pylons to carry its armament of 190 TK-411 WAFAR (Wrap-Around Fin Aerial Rocket) in ten 19-tube rocket launchers. The use of the rocket varies according to the warhead that can range from tactical applications to impact-based sensor systems. Eight Hawkeye HELLFIRE (Helicopter Launched Fire-and-Forget), are used to engage air-to-air targets in conjunction with the nose-mounted sensor suite.