Lockheed OCP-11 Starfire II
| OCP-11 Starfire II | |
|---|---|
 A schematic of the OCP-11 Starfire II as featured in a Bazza's Sinowatch cassette. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Space interceptor |
| Role | Cislunar, Europan and asteroidal orbital defense |
| National origin |  United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Corporation |
| Built by | Lockheed Lunar Astronautics Factory |
| Primary users | United States Air Force Huxleyville Air National Guard Republic of China Rocket Force |
| History | |
| Introduction date | July 2051 |
| Predecessors | OCP-9 Starstreak |
The Lockheed OCP-11 Starfire II is a third-generation fighter-orbiter and space interceptor fielded by the U.S. Air Force (USAF). It was introduced in 2051 and is the United States' newest heavy space fighter. It is named after the Lockheed F-94 Starfire which was the first U.S. Air Force jet fighter equipped with an afterburner.
The Starfire is intended as the high of a high-low space fighter mix. It was designed as a large, semi-independent fighter platform capable of launching, escaping Luna's orbit under its own power, and either loitering in High Earth Orbit or transiting to Mars or Europa. It is equipped with missiles and two 25mm autocannons loading proximity-fuse fragmentation rounds for engaging threats. It complements the smaller, short-endurance Grumman OCP-10 Bobcat intended to be carried by larger spacecraft (such as cargo craft or dedicated spacecraft carriers) for point defense rather than independent operation like the Starfire.
In defense of American interests on Luna, the USAF operates two types of Starfire squadrons. The first are its alert fighter squadrons with Starfires maintained on Luna itself or orbital defense platforms supporting a fighter detachment. When a threat is detected, Starfires part of alert squadrons may be scrambled with a single crew intended for a short-duration mission. Generally when a fighter escort is to be generated to support a larger task force, an alert fighter squadron assumes the duty. The second type is the loitering squadron, which generate Starfire "patrols" in strategic regions beyond the typical range of a short-duration sortie to decrease response times in certain regions. Generally in High Earth Orbit or Luna's orbit loitering Starfires will hook into power satellites to increase their endurance, and they will carry two crews to operate in 12 hours shifts. Starfire squadrons protecting installations in the Asteroid belt also typically operate like this.
Starfire squadrons generally consist of 6 spacecraft, allowing for a squadron conducting operations to have 2 craft spaceborne at all times. The exception is squadrons charged with generating 3-ship detachments for forward basing on orbital defense platforms, which have 12 Starfires each.