SPECIFICATIONS

GOVERNMENT:
Earth Federal Space Marines/Jovian Defense Forces
TYPE: Multipurpose Space Shuttle
MODELS: AS-01D (Dropship)
DATE INTRODUCED: 2073 AD
DIMENSIONS:
       Overall Dimensions: 100 ft long x 100 ft wide x
       29.164 ft high
       Main body: 100 ft. long x 29 ft high x 20 ft wide
       Wings: 40 ft. long x 25 ft wide x 8 ft high
       Engine Pods: 50 ft long x 15 ft wide x 20 ft high
MATERIAL: Composite-Alloy
POWER PLANT: Federal/Hensai Energy F/HEFR-1200A
OUTPUT: 1200 megawatts
ARMOR TYPE: Crystal Composite
ARMOR THICKNESS: 6 inches
DISPLACEMENT: 250 tons
CREW: 54 (14 Gunners, 3 Engineers, 3 Electricians, 3 Technicians, 3 Operators, 5 Officers, 20 Marine Exosuit Pilots, 3 Medical)

PROPULSION

             PRIMARY
             2x SkyKing IPFE-20 ion plasma fusion engine
             SPEED: 1,520,000 mph each (3,040,000 mph total)

             SECONDARY
             4x Astro-Dynamics FT-15 fusion thrusters
             SPEED: 15,200 mph each (60,800 total)

WEAPONS:

             PRIMARY (ASSAULT):
             6x Republic Arms RA-STL-02A2 space torpedo tubes; Missile Type: MST-01 medium-range 1000-pound Active EMS-guided warhead; Effective Range: 7111 miles; Payload: 5 rockets each; ROF: 1 torpedo fired from each launcher for a total of 6 space torpedoes per salvo.

              PRIMARY (OFFENSIVE):
              1x MMI RFPT-5010 Militia Military Industries 50-megawatt rapid-fire PHELAC turret; Effective Range: 400 miles; Payload: unlimited with 500 megawatt nuclear battery clutch system recharged by the shuttle's main reactor: ROF: up to 60 blasts per minute. 

ELECTRONICS:

             1x Microwave Radio Communications with an 18,000-mile range.
             1x Laser Communications array with a 1000 AU range.
             1x LADAR Sensor array with a range of 80,000 miles.
             1x Passive EMS array with a range of 1,000,000 miles.
             1x Active EMS array with a range of 100,000 miles.
             1x Gravitational Control/Antigravity unit Effect: provides artificial lift,g-force compensation and enhanced maneuverability.

DEFENSE SYSTEMS:

             2x Warptron IFG-50 50-megawatt ion field generators, Effect: each of these systems are able to absorb up to 10 gigajoules of energy from both beam or missile weaponry.

HANGAR BAYS:
             1x 53-yd3 hangar which holds twenty .66-ton Drop-Containers that each contain one CA-02 Zack Exo-Suit complete with weapons and shield.

Description/Overview:
         The AS-01D was an extension of the widely used and very popular UNSC AS-01 assault shuttle of the 2050s, 60s, and 70s. The Earth Federal Space Marines built this unit in 2073 AD specifically for use with the then new CA-02 Zackary Taylor class of exosuit.
         The AS-01D was seen as a logical step in the development of EFSM/JDF military forces as the EFSM had captured numerous UNSC AS-01 shipyards on various planetoids during the initial phases of the 1st Interplanetary War. It was a relatively simple matter for the EFSM to retrofit these facilities to accommodate a slightly larger assault shuttle design. Most of the former UN shipyards were already under refit for the AS-02 shuttle, which was the upgrade of the AS-01. These retooled facilities allowed the EFSM to build a large number of AS-01Ds very quickly. The Pallas AS-01D shipyards were moved to Jupiter’s three main moons, Io, Ganymede, and Europa, during the 2074-75 period as General Walsh’s forces prepared to secede from the EFR.
         The fusion reactor of the AS-01D was an advanced Federal Energy produced version of the Hensai Energy HEFR-1200. This new reactor, dubbed the FE/HEFR-1200A, was smaller and more efficient than the one used in the AS-02.
         The engines of the AS-01D were completely new. The old main ion engines were replaced with a pair of SkyKing IPFE-20 20-megawatt ion plasma fusion engines. Each of these engines was able to propel the shuttle at a speed of 1,520,000 mph with a combined speed of 3,040,000 mph or .0045C. This gave the dropship/assault shuttle a considerable range and allowed larger craft to launch the dropship from a safe distance.
         The secondary/emergency engines of the AS-01D were four Astro-Dynamics FT-15 15-megawatt fusion thrusters. Each of these engines was able to propel the ship at a speed of 15,200 mph or 60,800 mph total. These engines were used primarily within fleets, near planets, and in the atmosphere of a planet and were not intended for long cruising flights.
         The weapons of the AS-01D were very different than those of the UN shuttles. The main weapon of the dropship was one MMI RFPT-5010 Militia Military Industries 50-megawatt rapid-fire PHELAC turret. This turret was able to fire up to sixty blasts per minute. Its primary use was against mecha and spacefighters of the UNSC, while its secondary application was against other assault shuttles and small escort warships.
         The AS-01D was armed with six Republic Arms RA-STL-02A2 space torpedo tubes. These torpedo tubes fired the MST-01 medium-range space torpedo with a 1000-pound warhead that provided the assault shuttle with thirty capital ship-grade missiles that the dropship could unleash in volleys of six. This level of firepower allowed the AS-01D to double as a torpedo boat.
         The primary purpose the AS-01D was to deliver either twenty CA-02 Zack exosuits or 20 USMC-EA-45 exo-armors to a target area anywhere either in space or on a planet. The AS-01D performed this mission quite well and was the premier dropship throughout the 21st and 22nd centuries for exoskeleton deployment.
         The defenses of the AS-01D were mainly its thick armored skin; however, in an effort to minimize the damage to the ship from long-range beam and missile weapons, a pair of Warptron IFG-50 50-megawatt ion field generators was mounted on the port and starboard engine pods.
         The detailed history of the AS-01D is largely unknown due to the secret nature of this small type of vessel’s missions. Thousands of these craft were produced over two centuries by numerous powers including the Neo-Hebrews of Saturn, the Jupiter Federal Colonies, and the Colonial Confederacy. Rumors abound of both the Earth Federal Republic and the Union of Solar Republics (and subsequent Union of Sovereign Solar Republics) building unknown numbers of these craft for their covert operations.