Generational History of TSFs

To circumvent the overwhelming anti-air superiority of the laser-class BETA, @Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF)s were thus developed as all-purpose assault units, able to fight in urban areas, on uneven terrain, and 3-dimensional combat within the interior of BETA Hives without their maneuverability being constrained in the heat of battle, following the successful deployment of bipedal mechanized units such as the Hardiman Feedback Protector and NCAF-X1 used in the preceding First Lunar War. Since their first deployment in 1974, TSFs have become essential to humanity's survival over the 30-year war.

TSF Operational Breakdown

TSF movement is a combination of bipedal locomotion and thrust from their @Jump Units. Their legs and arms are moved with carbon actuators, superconducting bands of carbon-based material that expand and contract based on the electrical current passed though them; the electricity to power the carbon actuators come from a combination of batteries and magnesium fuel cells. Jump Units produce thrust by processing specialized jet fuel, usually stored in the Jump Units themselves or in storage tanks in a TSF's legs. External tanks can be attached to a TSF for increased operational time and distance.

TSF mobility is further enhanced by their joint construction; the combined usage of carbon actuators and multiple joints structures in a single joint segment impart TSFs with high operating limits and shock-absorbing capabilities during battle. One example is the wide-ranged rotational capability of a TSF's shoulders and elbows, allowing them to engage targets directly behind them even without gun-equipped @Mount Pylons. Sub-arms positioned underneath the shoulder-block armor allow TSFs a wide range of arm movement without interference.

Mobility is not just all that @Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF)s have, however; they are also armored in an anti-projectile and heat-resistant composite that has been further treated with anti-laser coating. Armor on the upper body segment also aids in maneuverability by improving the active instability aspect of a TSF; a higher center of gravity improves the execution time of maneuvers during combat. However, with the immense power wielded by the laser-class BETA, armor protection for TSFs remains a low-return concept compared to attack avoidance.

Generations of TSFs

TSF development can be split into three distinct generations, with each generation an indicator of their technology level and advancement. However, the generation standing is not a direct indication of combat strength in any capacity.

1st Generation

Early on, 1st generation TSFs such as the @F-4 Phantom were envisioned as mobile tanks, and were sent into battle with heavy armaments and armor plating while operated by retrained former military aviators. The results were disastrous, with life expectancies dropping to a mere 8 minutes for first time combatants; BETA combat strength easily bypassed any amount of armor, and pilots struggled with the conceptual differences between piloting an airplane and a TSF. Specialized TSF training was quickly established and taught to officers early in their careers to improve and advance TSF combat doctrines throughout the years.

With the experiences gained from fighting the BETA, later 1st generation TSFs began a shift towards lighter, more agile units. Examples include the @F-5 Freedom Fighter and its derivatives, the Tornado IDS and Mirage III. Nations that adopted the F-4 also upgraded their TSFs for improved close-quarters capabilities; examples include the @MiG-21 Balalaika, J-8, and the @Type-77 Gekishin.

2nd Generation

Starting from the 2nd generation, manufacturers shifted their focus to improving the agility and maneuverability of TSFs, as the numbers and offensive strength of the BETA in a war of attrition assured that pilots fared much better by avoiding attacks, rather than withstanding them. One of the means by which improved performance was achieved was active instability—2nd generation TSFs had their center of gravity located in their upper body segment, using the inherently unbalanced design to reduce the time needed to commence maneuvers during combat. Otherwise, the TSF is kept upright by its own OS.

During the 2nd generation of TSF development, tactics such as the High-Low Mix were developed, resulting in TSF designs built around exploiting this strategy; examples include the @F-15 Eagle/@Su-27 Zhuravlik as "heavy" TSFs, and the @F-16 Fighting Falcon/@MiG-27 Aligatori as "lightweight" TSFs. Numerous 1st generation TSFs also underwent extensive upgrading into 1.5th generation TSFs, their upgrades vastly improving their mobility and evasion capabilities. 1.5th generation TSFs were still constrained by their physical frames, however, and some, like the @Type-82 Kai Zuikaku, were unable to reach a level of performance comparable to 2nd generation TSFs of that time.

Not counting @The United States of America (USA), most nations attempting to enter the 2nd generation of TSF technology often found themselves outmatched, mostly due to the pressure on their infrastructure and industry from the advancing BETA, or from a lack of specialized knowledge on TSF construction; examples include the quasi-2nd generation @MiG-23 Cheburashka, the poorly-developed @MiG-25 Spirt-Voz, and the troubles experienced by the @Empire of Japan during the development of their own TSF, forcing them to acquire the F-15J Kagerou as a stopgap measure.

3rd Generation

By the 1990s, the development of @Tactical Surface Fighter (TSF)s had shifted into the 3rd generation. TSFs of this tier boast superior maneuverability, mobility, and firepower compared to 2nd generation TSFs, due to the input of combat data over the past two decades, which helped shape the vast improvements in the technology, hardware and software used as their components; their resultant designs clearly reflect the strategic needs of their nations. The @Type-94 Shiranui, the world's first 3rd generation TSF, remains a high-performance unit nearly a decade after its introduction, and late 3rd generation units like the @Type-00 Takemikazuki focus on overwhelming close-combat advantages, while the @F-22A Raptor uses stealth and superior mobility to not only outmaneuver BETA, but human and TSF opponents as well.

Even with the superiority of 3rd generation TSFs, development, production, and procurement difficulties for most of them have resulted in renewed improvement and experimentation projects involving 2nd generation TSFs. Some, like the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-18E/F Super Hornet, have received upgrades with tried-and-tested technology originating from the 2nd generation of development, but others, such as the F-15ACTV Active Eagle and MiG-29OVT Fulcrum, have been partially upgraded with technology developed for 3rd generation TSFs. Heavily upgraded TSFs are known as 2.5th generation TSFs, while TSFs extensively upgraded with 3rd generation technology are known as quasi-3rd generation TSFs. Depending on development and performance, a quasi-3rd generation TSF (such as the F-15SE Silent Eagle) may be reclassified as a full-fledged 3rd generation TSF.

Tactical Surface Attackers

Tactical Surface Attackers, or TSAs, are a variation on the Tactical Surface Fighter concept that have been adapted to carry massive firepower and armor volume, usually by sacrificing speed and maneuverability in their design. TSAs excel in clearing operations and establishing a beachhead in contested regions, where their immense volume of firepower can easily stop the advance of the BETA head-on. TSAs have also been used to shore up gaps in defensive lines as slow, but mobile support in less fortified areas. TSAs suffer from low speed and low maneuverability, making them unsuitable for close-quarters combat, or tactical actions that require speed and precision.

Currently, there are only three known series of TSAs: the @A-6 Intruder and its offshoots, the @A-10 Thunderbolt II, and the A-12 Avenger.