A powerful aircraft designed to support ground troops in battle, the Patriot is a heavy weapons platform built to engage ground vehicles, infantry, and other low flying aircraft. The mere presence of a Patriot on the battlefield acts as a moral boost to the men on the ground.
Capable of hitting up to 101 G’s of acceleration, the Patriot acts as both a close air support craft and a light anti-capital bomber, using its 100 mm railgun to tear apart armored targets. A pair of turret mounted M100 machine guns are mounted to either side of the airframe, primarily used for attacking enemy infantry, but also useful for fending off aircraft in a pinch, though they generally require a fighter escort to survive in a hostile airspace.
Heavily armored with composite plate, Patriots are durable enough to shrug off small arms fire, while agile enough to avoid heavier weaponry such as tank guns. The only real threat to these formidable gunships are dedicated anti-aircraft weapons.
A destructive force on the battlefield, the A42 has proven to be the bane of the ISP’s enemies on many occasions. Its continued service is a testament to its lethal effectiveness in combat.