Colonial Raptor
Encyclopedia
The Raptor is a multipurpose military spacecraft featured in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica
. According to producer Ronald D. Moore
, the Raptor is analogous to the U.S. Navy
's EA-6B Prowler.
and provides targeting information and electronic counter measures (akin to the Prowler). Raptors can also carry external munitions to assist Vipers against large targets. Its non-combat roles include SAR (search and rescue
) operations (akin to the SH-60 Seahawk
) and transport of military personnel in hostile areas. Raptors, like Vipers are capable of atmospheric operations but unlike Vipers are also capable of short-range FTL jumps. Standard crew includes at least two: one pilot, and one electronics countermeasure
officer (ECO).
It is designed for reconnaissance, scout operations, electronic countermeasures supporting Vipers, marine assaults, ambulance, EVAC, and general transport.
It has a multitude of electronic countermeasure and monitoring tools including jamming transmissions, scrambling signals of guided weapons, and Viper Identification friend or foe
operations.
As a scout it can operate independently or with other Raptors and Vipers using short and medium-range scans to detect radio, heat, or other signatures from spacecraft, scanning planet surfaces for life, energy output, and mineral content and location, scouting ahead and looking for hazards before its Battlestar takes an FTL jump, and search and rescue operations.
A Raptor can carry about eight to ten adults in addition to its two-person crew functioning as a transporter and can carry about eight marines including their equipment as an assault vessel. The crew of a Raptor operate using their flight suits and helmets in order to ensure their protection in case of any hull breach causing depressurization of its cabin.
It cannot takeoff from a Battlestar's launch tube like the Vipers because of its large size; it is launched from a flight pod instead. Battlestars carry squadrons of 8 to 10 Raptors and each Raptor is designated to a Viper squadron with two Raptors on reserve.
The Raptors can fly in both atmosphere and space, but in order to maintain lift in an atmosphere its engines must be constantly running which consumes more fuel. At low speeds, Raptors may experience poor handling.
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
. According to producer Ronald D. Moore
Ronald D. Moore
Ronald Dowl Moore is an American screenwriter and television producer best known for his work on Star Trek and the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica miniseries and television series, for which he won a Peabody Award for creative excellence in 2005 and an Emmy Award in 2008.-Early life and...
, the Raptor is analogous to the U.S. Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's EA-6B Prowler.
Description
The Raptor's primary function with the Colonial Defense Force is as an electronic warfare platform. It scouts ahead of the fleet, accompanies VipersColonial Viper
The Colonial Viper is the primary fighter spacecraft type used by the human protagonists in the Battlestar Galactica fictional universe. Appearing in both the 1978 original series and the 2003 reimagined series, as well as various derivative works, the single-pilot spacecraft are carried aboard...
and provides targeting information and electronic counter measures (akin to the Prowler). Raptors can also carry external munitions to assist Vipers against large targets. Its non-combat roles include SAR (search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
) operations (akin to the SH-60 Seahawk
SH-60 Seahawk
The Sikorsky SH-60/MH-60 Seahawk is a twin turboshaft engine, multi-mission United States Navy helicopter based on the United States Army UH-60 Black Hawk and a member of the Sikorsky S-70 family. The most significant airframe modification is a hinged tail to reduce its footprint aboard ships.The...
) and transport of military personnel in hostile areas. Raptors, like Vipers are capable of atmospheric operations but unlike Vipers are also capable of short-range FTL jumps. Standard crew includes at least two: one pilot, and one electronics countermeasure
Electronic countermeasures
An electronic countermeasure is an electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy...
officer (ECO).
It is designed for reconnaissance, scout operations, electronic countermeasures supporting Vipers, marine assaults, ambulance, EVAC, and general transport.
It has a multitude of electronic countermeasure and monitoring tools including jamming transmissions, scrambling signals of guided weapons, and Viper Identification friend or foe
Identification friend or foe
In telecommunications, identification, friend or foe is an identification system designed for command and control. It is a system that enables military and national interrogation systems to identify aircraft, vehicles, or forces as friendly and to determine their bearing and range from the...
operations.
As a scout it can operate independently or with other Raptors and Vipers using short and medium-range scans to detect radio, heat, or other signatures from spacecraft, scanning planet surfaces for life, energy output, and mineral content and location, scouting ahead and looking for hazards before its Battlestar takes an FTL jump, and search and rescue operations.
A Raptor can carry about eight to ten adults in addition to its two-person crew functioning as a transporter and can carry about eight marines including their equipment as an assault vessel. The crew of a Raptor operate using their flight suits and helmets in order to ensure their protection in case of any hull breach causing depressurization of its cabin.
It cannot takeoff from a Battlestar's launch tube like the Vipers because of its large size; it is launched from a flight pod instead. Battlestars carry squadrons of 8 to 10 Raptors and each Raptor is designated to a Viper squadron with two Raptors on reserve.
The Raptors can fly in both atmosphere and space, but in order to maintain lift in an atmosphere its engines must be constantly running which consumes more fuel. At low speeds, Raptors may experience poor handling.
External links
- Sci Fi Channel's Battlestar Galactica Ship Gallery
- Raptor on the Battlestar Wiki