Kestrel

Teladi Kestrel Class M5 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 Strength 2,000 / 4,000 (AP) Max. Shield (Total) 1 x 5 MJ (5 MJ) Shield Reactor 130 MW Cargo Class (Min-Max) 19 - 55 @ M Laser Capacitor 1,500 MJ Laser Recharge 37 MW                                                                                                          Main x 2                                                                                                          Rear x 1

Teladi Kestrel Advanced Class M5 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 Strength 5,000 (AP) Max. Shield (Total) 4 x 1 MJ (4 MJ) Shield Reactor 135 MW Cargo Class (Min-Max) 19 - 50 @ M Laser Capacitor 1,400 MJ Laser Recharge 39 MW                                                                                                          Main x 2                                                                                                          Rear x 1

Pirate Kestrel Class M5 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 Strength 3,000 (AP) Max. Shield (Total) 1 x 5 MJ (5 MJ) Shield Reactor 104 MW Cargo Class (Min-Max) 19 - 52 @ M Laser Capacitor 1,500 MJ Laser Recharge 37 MW                                                                                                          Main x 2                                                                                                          Rear x 2

Overview

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

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

Kestrel

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

Kestrel Advanced

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

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

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

Combat

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

Missiles

Mosquito Missile Wasp Missile Dragonfly Missile

Silkworm Missile Disruptor Missile Firefly Missile

Hurricane Missile Aurora Missile Remote Guided Warhead

Rapier Missile Firelance Missile Wildfire Missile

Availability

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

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

Ships by Class

M5 Ships