by Pieter Thomassen, with Peter Walker and Robert Morgenstern
edited by Tim Wing
Designation: Robotech Research Group Firebird Long Range Space to Space / Air to Air Missile
- Type: Long range space to space / air to air missile.
- Service history: 2010-2017, UN Spacy; 2018-2031, UEDF; 2023-, UEEF.
- Length: 410 cm.
- Diameter: 71 cm.
- Wingspan: none.
- Weight: 470 kg.
- Warhead: HE fragmentation.
- Weight/yield: 90 kg.
- Propulsion: Booster/sustainer rocket engine.
- Guidance: Combined inertial, IIR and active radar/home-on-jam.
- Max speed: Mach 6.5.
- Range: 234 km or 4 kps delta-v.
Platforms:
- VF-1 Valkyrie Veritech Fighter
- VF-4 Lightning III Veritech Fleet Defense Fighter
- VF/B-9 Beta Veritech Fighter-Bomber
- HWR-00 Monster Heavy Weapons Robot
- FA-101 Vulture Fighter Aerospacecraft
- FA-112 Chimera Escort Fighter Aerospacecraft
- SFA-5 Conbat Heavy Ordnance Strike Fighter Aerospacecraft
History:
The Firebird was developed as a very-long range air-to-air/space-to- space missile. Conceptually, the Firebird was the successor to the AIM-54 Phoenix missile developed by the US Navy in the later sixties of the twentieth century. By using the airframe of the RMS-1 ‘Angel of Death’ missile, development costs were cut sharply. Compared to the RMS-1, the Firebird had a seeker better suited for tracking mecha, and of course a non-nuclear warhead. Obviously, only one Firebird could be carried for each RMS-1 or RMS-2, but this excellent long-range missile, designed on the SDF-1, was used from 2010 on by the UN Spacy and UEEF both in space and in the atmosphere to great effect.
Robotech (R) is the property of Harmony Gold. The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (R) is the property of Big West Advertising and Studio Nue. This document is in no way intended to infringe upon their rights.
Original artwork by: Shoji Kawamori, Miyatake Kazutaka, Haruhiko Mikimoto and Hidetaka Tenjin.
Acknowledgement is extended to the work of Egan Loo and the Macross Compendium. Egan Loo is given all credit for all quotes and paraphrasing of the Macross Compendium that has been utilized on Robotech Illustrated.
Images Courtesy of Chad Wilson (Marchly) and the Macross Mecha Manual. Chad Wilson is given all credit for all images from the Macross Mecha Manual that have been utilized on Robotech Illustrated.
Acknowledgement is also extended to Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide. Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen and Robert Morgenstern are given credit for all quotes and paraphrasing of the unofficial Robotech Reference Guide that has been utilized on Robotech Illustrated.
Content by Peter Walker and Pieter Thomassen, with Rob Morgenstern
Copyright © 1997 Robert Morgenstern, Peter Walker, Pieter Thomassen