Viper Mk III
The Viper Mk III is the most recent development of the most successful fighter classes ever built. The original Viper Defence Craft was designed by Faulcon Manspace in 2762 in the Reorte shipyards. The basic model was beefed up with the Viper II by Faulcon deLacy. The new Viper III is a revitalised model with a new more armoured look. It is a top class fighter found in many well equipped police and naval forces.
— In-Game Description
The Viper Mk. III made its first appearance in the game in Standard Beta 1. It is a vessel used by station security forces and law enforcement, and is currently the second fastest ship available to purchase (the Cobra being the fastest due to boost). It is a highly effective combatant, with a turning rate comparable to that of the Sidewinder and the same weapon capacity as the Cobra Mk. III. This has resulted in a "run away from whatever you can't beat" ship which has been known (with sufficient skill) to defeat any other ship class released thus far in single combat.
Its main drawbacks are that its heat dissipation, power generation and hyperspace capacity do not equal that of the Cobra, which limits the value of having the same hardpoint capacity; mounting the ship's full weapon weight makes it very short-ranged, and an energy-heavy armament causes it to either overheat or use all available power very quickly. Fuel is also an issue as the ship comes with a tank with a capacity of only 4 Tons, and it can be extremely difficult to find a fuel efficient setup that does not compromise combat ability.
In addition to its official police/security role, the Viper's speed, range and combat capability make it ideal for bounty hunters, small-load couriers, mercenaries or smugglers, while its small cargo capacity makes it a very poor choice for merchants, and a survivable but inadequately profitable platform for pirates.
Specifications
| Type | Medium Fighter |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
| Maximum Cargo Capacity | 22 T |
| Maximum Jump Range | 14 LY |
| Dimensions: | -- |
