P-45 Corvus
The Vesta-Tatius P-45 Corvus is a Bardonese single seat, dual engine ground attack aircraft serving in the Vis Aerae. Where most military aircraft would have some kind of rotary machine gun to unleash a burst of high volume gunfire, the P-45 instead mounts a large large, 90mm cannon which fires a much slower stream of high explosive shells.
Origins
Development of the P-45 began not with the aircraft itself, but the main canon that made it famous. Tatius Arsenal had developed a 90mm repeating cannon with the intent of it being mounted on armored ground vehicles, but their proposal was rejected by the Vis Mundis. However, at the same time, the Vis Aerae was looking into a dedicated ground attack aircraft to take the reins from the large fleet of C-15 Vespas, as the Vespa was beginning to prove insufficient for ground attack as anti-air defenses grew more advanced. Vesta Aviation saw these two emerging situations, had an idea, and began talks with Tatius to develop an aircraft capable of carrying the 90mm repeating cannon. After a five year development program, the aircraft that was developed as the "VeT-20" was given the Vis Aerae designation of "P-45 Corvus" and entered service for the commonwealth. The P-45's first combat action was close air support for Bardonese infantry putting down insurgencies in the recently acquired Ephebia.Variants
P-45X Corvus Fulmun - Experimental variant that replaces the 90mm cannon with an electrically driven railgun. Sacrifices the explosive power of the cannon shells and comparatively high rate of fire for greatly increased projectile velocity, making it especially effective against naval vessels and large targets.Propulsion
The P-45 is powered by a pair of Vesta Aviation's own MM150 turbofan engines.
Weapons & Armament
The Corvus features eight hard points to mount aircraft delivered munitions, as well as its signature 90mm cannon.
Armor and defense
Although well-armored, the P-45 prioritizes using its high speed to avoid being hit in the first place over taking chances with the armor holding up to whatever may hit it.
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