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Designation:

I. Dimensions

II. Type

• Design: Erebar design bureau.
• Builder: Erabar Munitions.
• Unmanned aerospace point defense fighter.

III Service Use

• Served with the Zentraedi Imperial Navy from 2055 onward.

III. Propulsion

Engines:

• 1 x Varshtann Type-32 Plasma Shock Engine with a maximum output of 150 kN of thrust.  Located directly center aft of the fighter.
• 4 x X'terra Type-7 Plasma Shock Engines with a maximum output of 40 kN of thrust each.  Mounted in pairs on either side of the main thruster.
• Assorted small reaction thrusters and gyroscopes for all-environment maneuvers, attitude adjustment, and stability.

Powerplant:

(Pre 2065)

• 1 x X'terra Type-4 miniaturized fusion-cell energizer providing electrical power to the mecha. Total output, 3000 kW each.

(Post 2065)

• 1 x X'terra Type-10 miniaturized fusion-cell energizer providing electrical power to the mecha. Total output, 5000 kW each.

Fuel Capacity:

• 10 Standard canisters of reaction mass
• 34.3 liters of graphite reactant for plasma engines.

IV. Performance:

V. Sensory Systems:

Radar System:

• Hyzan X-band pulse-Doppler radar, providing medium-range detection and tracking of targets at all altitudes.
• Hyzan IFF secondary surveillance transponder

Optical tracking:

• Bardaz multi-band digital camera system, for short range traversable UV, infra-red imaging and optical band detection and tracking;
• Bardaz multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Y'terk low power internal countermeasures system
• Multiple VHF and UHF antennas
• Y'terk Heuristic Artificial Intelligence

VI. Armament:

• 2 x Karatszon Quillo-127 Laser Cannons:  Two long range Karatszon Quillo-127 laser cannons are mounted on either side of the sensor eye.  Each cannon is nearly 8 meters long which provides the culminating lenses the ability to accurately fire 90 MJ laser bursts twice per second at extreme distances and hit stationary targets.  In testing the drone was able to hit a stationary target out at 200 kilometers.  However, under combat conditions the effective range against mecha size units is limited to 10 kilometers because of the accuracy of the sensor and slew rate.  Unfortunately, the lasers were unable to effectively track targets at less than 500 meters and suffered from a decrease in accuracy. 
• 4 x Makharz Vawnous-11 Light Lasers: Mounted around the main sensor eye are four light lasers.  Each laser is capable of firing 22 MJ bursts thrice per second.  The lasers were only used if the enemy forces were able to close within 500 m of the unit at which point the primary weapon system would have difficulties targeting the incoming units.  

VIII. Armor:

The armor of the Dezalg Badra is composed of an advanced tungsten-titanium alloy. The armor stops all small arms and heavy infantry weapons fire, provides good resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3mm HE autocannon round, and fair resistance to medium mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the 55mm APFSDS round, if the latter strikes perpendicular. Due to the sloping armor, incoming fire has a higher chance of a glancing hit.

IX. Development:

Following the advances made in AI, it was only a matter of time before AI combat units began making their way into the field as full fledged battle participants.  Few expected the Zentraedi to field such weapons, but in 2055, after nearly eight years of development, the Zentraedi unveiled the Dezalg Badra Drone.  This was intended to complement their capital ships own point defense turrets as those mounted on most ships are relatively few for their size leaving many gaps in the defensive systems.

The Dezalg Badra possessed only laser weaponry which allowed them to loiter on the battlefield long after other ammunition based units would be forced to withdrawal.  The Dezalg Badra has short range laser cannons supplemented by two pairs of light laser cannons which are used for close in targets at less than 1 km and for destroying incoming missiles. The armor on this unmanned drone is very light as one expect of a Zentraedi mecha.  Enough to protect from a few stray bullets and even a single missile hit occasionally, but any sort of deliberate attack will more than likely destroy the drone.  

The drone first saw combat against the Neld Fleet in 2057's Transient War.  During this war Dezalg Badra were deployed ahead of the capital ships to act as pickets reporting enemy activity and harrasing it leaving time for the Zentraedi's own mecha to reach the combat zone.  When used in a point defense role, these drones performed well, unfortunately several problems have become apparent, the most glaring of which is a power problem which has never been solved.  The powerplant has a tendency to overheat after prolonged use of over ten minutes at full power.  This has lead to the destruction of many drones.  This problem however is slight as the drone is cheap to produce and requires no pilot further reducing the cost in both manpower and resources.  

During the Fourth Robotech War the Dezalg Badra found itself faced with overwhelming opposition forces and this weakness, became tragic as the drone was required to operate well over its limitations to keep pace with the sheer number of enemy forces present at most battles.  During 2065, all new drones shipped with a more powerful reactor which allowed for increased operating time without ill effect.  These drones were able to even the playing field often times by supporting allied troops in their own attacks.  Many Zentraedi pilots soon found Dezalg Badra as their wingmates which actually gave the Zentraedi a fighting chance against their numerically superior opponent.

The Dezalg Badra drone continues to see service and will do so for the foreseeable future.

Layout adapted from Robotech Reference Guide

Original content by Kenneth Olson
Updated content by Jeffrey R. Spillner
Copyright © 2001 Jeffrey R. Spillner

Page Last Updated on November 13, 2001 @ 03:00 GMT