Kestrel

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Teladi Kestrel
ClassM5 Scout
Buy:Company Trader @224,611 Cr
Speed (Min-Max)173.0 - 605.5 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)47 - 165 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)16.8 - 42.0 RPM
Hull Strength2,000 / 4,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)1 x 5 MJ (5 MJ)
Shield Reactor130 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)19 - 55 @ M
Laser Capacitor1,500 MJ
Laser Recharge37 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 2
                                                                                                         Rear x 1
Teladi Kestrel Advanced
ClassM5 Scout
Speed (Min-Max)173.0 - 622.8 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)55 - 198 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)15 - 37.5 RPM
Hull Strength5,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)4 x 1 MJ (4 MJ)
Shield Reactor135 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)19 - 50 @ M
Laser Capacitor1,400 MJ
Laser Recharge39 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 2
                                                                                                         Rear x 1
Pirate Kestrel
ClassM5 Scout
Speed (Min-Max)181.5 - 635.2 m/s
Acceleration (Min-Max)61 - 215 m/s2
Steering (Min-Max)20.1 - 50.3 RPM
Hull Strength3,000 (AP)
Max. Shield (Total)1 x 5 MJ (5 MJ)
Shield Reactor104 MW
Cargo Class (Min-Max)19 - 52 @ M
Laser Capacitor1,500 MJ
Laser Recharge37 MW
                                                                                                         Main x 2
                                                                                                         Rear x 2

Overview[edit]

The fastest buyable ship in the game, the Teladi Kestrel is a far cry from normal Teladi design philosophy and is a highly capable ship. The ship's only drawback is a tendency to smear itself over things, due to the autopilot not quite possessing the ability to correctly pilot such a fast ship.

The cigar boat of the X universe, the Kestrel is obscenely fast, not terribly maneuverable, and well-suited for smuggling contraband. As mainstream military technology turned toward improved heavy fighters and lighter, more mobile capital ships, Teladi shipwrights saw a profit opportunity for a ship fast enough to stay clear of police patrols and, when necessary, break through military blockades.

Background[edit]

A departure from conventional Teladi design, the Kestrel is arguably the fastest production ship in the known universe. It may boast phenomenal acceleration but suffers from poor maneuverability.

Variants[edit]

Kestrel[edit]

Not featuring any fancy title, the basic version of the ship is the standard by which other variants are measured.

Kestrel Advanced[edit]

Not in Vanilla game files, this ship is unique in the class in that it boasts compatiblity with the M3 class weapon the Energy Bolt Chaingun.

Pirate Kestrel[edit]

Faster and more offensively minded than the standard, the Pirate take on this ship has a smaller cargobay, hampering its usefulness as a mapping ship due to less capacity for satellites. Until the introduction of the Arrow and the Starburst, it was the fastest ship in the unmodified game. However, it remains the fastest armed ship, as well as the fastest ship that can use a jumpdrive and Triplex Scanner.

Physical Characteristics[edit]

Very much a missile with a cockpit and engines bolted on, looking very Teladi, if rather streamlined for them.

Combat[edit]

The Kestrel's armament is good, with Particle Accelerator Cannon compatiblity and a rear turret. In addition, it can even carry the Remote Guided Warhead and Silkworm Missile, making it even more dangerous. It is used in a wide range of roles, from light and medium fighter interception to mapping and scouting. With high shielding for its class and a small profile, it is surprisingly difficult to kill IS, making Kestrel wings potentially very lethal in combat. Its usefulness in combat OOS is also good: Due to its speed and firepower, a Kestrel is likely to defeat any opposing M5 quickly, very useful when a Xenon Migration ruins your patrol. Its cost effectiveness and power make it a favourite of its class, and a near-guaranteed buy at some point in the game.

One of the best M5s in a fight, the Kestrel can be used as a swarm fighter, reasonably cheap distraction for capital ships, an interceptor, a surveillance ship, or a combination of any of the above. A highly versatile craft, although even then it is best sent away from combat. Not that it cannot fight; the problem is it cannot fly in busy environments without crashing.

The Kestrel's high speed makes it a perfect candidate for strafing runs against slower crafts, if used correctly, and with sufficient time, it can take down even M3's. OOS, the Kestrel does not fare that well against other fighters, so it is always suggested that the Kestrel is used IS, in order to utilize it to maximum effect.

Kestrel pilots do have to beware those carrying Rapier Missiles, as they're the only missiles that can catch up to these craft and can cause reasonable damage. Fortunately, the Kestrel's rear turret can deter them from connecting with the fighter.

Equipment[edit]

Missiles

Availability[edit]

Pretty much any Teladi shipyard will sell the Kestrel.

The Kestrel Advanced and Pirate Kestrel are not available for purchase.

Variant Ceo's Sprite Grand Exchange Ianamus Zura Ministry of Finance PTNI Headquarters Seizewell
Kestrel x x x x x

Suggested Roles[edit]

Perfectly capable of mapping, scouting, ferrying passengers and any task where running away quickly is useful.

This craft is the best ship for doing the Follow Ship missions because the target you're required to follow will sometimes fly an M5 vessel.

This craft can support JumpDrive permit short jump, is excellent for speed mission.

See Also[edit]


Ships by Class
Capital  M1M2 / M2+M7 / M7M / M7C
Escort  M6 / M6+M8
Fighter  M3 / M3+M4 / M4+M5
Transport  TLTS / TS+TPTM
M5 Ships
Argon  ArrowDiscoverer (Hauler) (Raider) (Vanguard) (Advanced) • Starburst
ATF  Valkyrie
Boron  Octopus (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard)
Goner  none
Kha'ak  Kha'ak Scout
OTAS  none
Paranid  Pegasus (Raider) (Sentinel) (Vanguard)
Pirate  Pirate Harrier (Hauler) (Raider) (Vanguard) • Pirate Kestrel
Split  Jaguar (Hauler) (Raider) (Vanguard) (Enhanced)
Teladi  Harrier (Hauler) (Sentinel) (Vanguard) • Kestrel (Advanced)
Terran  Rapier#deca.fade
Xenon  N
Yaki  Fujin (Raider) (Sentinel)


Teladi Navigation
Core Sectors Ceo's Buckzoid | Grand Exchange | Greater Profit | Homily of Perpetuity | Ianamus Zura | Ministry Of Finance | PTNI Headquarters | Seizewell | Tears of Greed | Teladi Gain
Border Sectors Bad Debt | Blue Profit | Bright Profit | Ceo's Doubt | Ceo's Sprite | Company Pride | Company Strength | Eighteen Billion | Home Of Opportunity | Merchant Haven | Mines Of Fortune | New Income | Profit Center Alpha | Profit Share | Sanctity of Corruption | Scale Plate Green | Shareholder's Fortune | Spaceweed Drift | The Vault | Two Grand
Capital Ships M1: Condor | M2: Phoenix | M2+: None | M7: Shrike | M7C: Cormorant | M7M: Gannet
Fighters M3: Falcon | M3+: Kea | M4: Buzzard | M4+: Kite | M5: Harrier, Kestrel
Escort Ships M6: Osprey | M6+: Heavy Osprey | M8: Peregrine
Transports TL: Albatross | TM: Pelican | TP: Toucan, Geochen | TS: Vulture | TS+: Tern
Shipyards Ceo's Sprite | Grand Exchange | Ianamus Zura | Ministry Of Finance | PTNI Headquarters | Seizewell
Racial Wares Swamp Plant | Sunrise Flowers | Nostrop Oil | Space Weed | Teladianium