While the vast majority of the ISP’s fighter force is comprised of unmanned drones, there are a few notable exceptions. One of the rarest is the Leopard-class, a high performance superiority fighter designed to surpass their drone craft in every way.
The Leopard is unique among ISP fightercraft in that it carries anti-starfighter missiles. This gives it far superior range compared to its automated cousins, though it only carries six, as the weapons are in short supply. Meanwhile, it is armed with a 30mm rotary cannon used for close-up dogfights.
For protection, the Leopard has light polarity shields that help supplement its thin armor. It is also quite fast and highly maneuverable, giving it excellent agility in combat. However, its main source of defense is its stealth. With low emissions, a dispersive hull coating, and a jamming suite, the Leopard is not only difficult to detect, but also a challenge to draw a bead on in a dogfight.
Only given to the very best pilots in the ISP’s fighter corps, the Leopard represents the very best they have to offer. Leopard squadrons are elite units that are only deployed in the most dire situations.