The Raptor is usually operated by a crew of two (one pilot and one ECO), has synthetic gravity on board, and is controlled by means of a fly-by-wire system. It is capable of atmospheric flight and is also equipped with a short-range FTL engine, allowing it to make short faster-than-light hops. Due to its size and shape, a Raptor is not launched from a battlestar's launch tube, rather, it deploys from the forward end of a flight pod. The vehicle has been a mainstay of the Colonial fleet for over 40 years, having entered service sometime prior to the twelfth year of the first Cylon War. Its versatility and reliability in various roles has likely prevented it from being phased out by newer Colonial craft.

As a scout, Raptors can:

    Undertake short and medium-range scans to detect electromagnetic, heat or other signatures from other vessels
    Scan planetary surfaces for signs of life, energy output, or to locate and assess mineral deposits.
    Scout ahead of its parent warship in other planetary or celestial systems for any signs of hostile intent or stellar conditions prior to the parent ship's arrival.
    Undertake search & rescue operations after an engagement with Cylon forces.

When scouting, Raptors can operate independently, or in concert with other Raptors and Vipers.

As an ECM platform, the Raptor contains a full suite of electronic countermeasure and monitoring tools, enabling it to:

    Jam wireless or relay transmissions (by wireless or optically) from other spacecraft.
    Scramble control signals used by guided weapons.
    Undertake IFF operations for Viper squadrons.

In addition to reconnaissance and scouting, the Raptor can also undertake the following roles:

    Airborne warning & control and electronic countermeasures platform supporting Viper operations.
    Marine assault craft.
    Ambulance / evac vehicle.
    General purpose transport.
    Combat Search and Rescue.
    Secure communication with other vessels.
    Launching decoy drones.
    Combat assault vehicle.

In the transport role, a Raptor is capable of carrying around eight to ten adults in addition to the two-person crew. In the assault role, it can carry a squad of some eight equipped Marines.

Atmospheric Operations

The Raptor is designed for atmospheric as well as space-based operations. However, a critical element for atmospheric operations is that to remain airborne requires fuel: once in an atmosphere, the engines must be run constantly to maintain lift and to hover. Depending on the composition of the atmosphere itself, this can place severe strain on the Raptor's engines.

Due to their overall configuration and bulk, Raptors may also suffer from poor handling at low speeds, and rely heavily on directed thrust to remain airborne.

Raptors are fitted with small, general purpose FTL drives, but unlike larger drives on capital ships, they seem to be limited to ten to twenty FTL jumps, depending in part on the amount of tylium fuel being carried.

The main flight deck / cabin of a Raptor is fully pressurized. However, crews operate in flight suits and helmets to help protect them against any hull breach. The cabin can also be depressurized and used in space rescue operations. Re-pressurization takes 10 seconds. The forward pilot and co-pilot seats can eject in an emergency as the forward canopy is blown away prior to the ejection.

Propulsion

    2x fixed sublight engines mounted aft
    1x small-scale FTL system
    RCS points (reaction control system).

Armament

Offensive

Raptors are normally unarmed as they make for a poor general-purpose fighter. The craft have an internal weapons bay capable of holding both offensive and defensive weapons. They are also capable of carrying heavy external armaments on four wing hardpoints, two wingtip hardpoints, and two fuselage hardpoints on the sides of the Raptor's body. Known weapons carried include:

    nuclear missiles
    bombs/munitions pods
    quad racks of missiles
    multiple-tube rocket batteries mounted on the fuselage points
    dual Kinetic Energy Weapons

Defensive

The Raptor's contours provide it a reduced DRADIS signature to avoid detection. In addition, the craft carry an assortment of pods to aid in communications or defense as well as electronic countermeasures such as a jigger.[2]

    Up to 6 decoy drones
    Up to 4 communication drones
    Up to 4 sets of flares
    Up to 4 chaff pods

Layout

The Raptor is an angular vehicle built for function, not aesthetics. The forward section consists of a flight cabin with side-by-side seats for the pilot and ECO, with a large bubble canopy providing wide fields of view both forward and side. The flight cabin opens into the main compartment where a workstation containing early warning, electronic countermeasures, and other equipment is manned by the ECO when not co-piloting the craft.

Access to the Raptor's main compartment is primarily through a large port-side hydraulic door, and a floor-mounted hatchway provides access through the deck. A pressurized docking skirt can also be extended from the underside, enabling the Raptor to dock to the hulls of other vessels. In assault missions, marines can use this skirt to breech a hull and board a hostile vessel.

Aft of the pressurized area are the FTL drive and main sublight engines. Port and starboard stub wings provide additional lift during atmospheric flight, and winglets reduce drag and provide step access to the wings and hull. RCS thrusters are placed throughout the craft for landing, maneuvering and stabilization
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:21, Sun 21 Oct 2018.