Rihkxyrk Assault Fighter

Rihkxyrk Assault Fighter

Manufacturer: TransGalMeg Industries Incorporated
Model: Rihkxyrk Assault Fighter
Class: heavy fighter
Length: 16m
Max Acceleration: 2075G
MGLT: 58
Max Atmospheric Speed: 750km/h
Engine Units: 2
Hyperdrive: none (class 1 w/booster ring, class 2 w/upgrade kit)
Shielding: equipped
Hull: titanium-reinforced alusteel
Sensors: equipped
Targeting: equipped
Avionics: equipped
Armment: heavy laser cannons(3), concussion missile launcher w/8 missiles(1), countermeasure launcher(1)
Other Systems: ejection seat
Crew: pilot
Passengers: none
Cargo: 80kg
Consumables: 1 day
Roles: short/long range heavy fighter
Eras: Rise of the Empire, Galactic Civil War, New Republic, New Jedi Order, Legacy
Affiliation: various

The Rihkxyrk Assault Fighter was a popular design built just prior to the Clone Wars and was TransGalMeg Industries' first successful starfighter design. Like most of their starship products the Rihkxyrk began as an internal venture to save on costs. Rather than buy or license produce an external fighter design TransGalMeg chose to build their own internally and the Rihkxyrk was the result. Initially only used by the company to guard its convoys it was quickly realized that they had built a reliable and rugged starfighter and began to market it to outside buyers. Right away the design was a success and TransGalMeg capitalized on its experience building hyerpdrive rings for Kuat Drive Yards' short range fighters to package the same technology with their fighter which only increased profits.
The fighter was used by merchant shipping companies, planetary defense forces and numerous other less reputable organizations such as Black Sun and various pirate and smuggler groups. With its powerful heavy lasers and concussion missiles the Rihkxyrk could outgun many of the fighters of its era and when deployed in groups or with more nimble fighters its low speed and poor maneuverability could be easily overcome. Where the design truly excelled was in survivability. Pilots from all over the galaxy learned to respect the rugged durability of the Rihkxyrk design and those that flew it often told stories of the fighter's ability to soak up punishment that would have crippled or destroyed other fighter types. Its redundant construction, shields and armored hull meant that the Rihkxyrk was more likely to keep on fighting after suffering heavy damage in combat which further served to balance out its sluggish nature.
The fighter went on to have a long and successful service life that lasted decades and the design went through repeated upgrades and revisions. Like all of TransGalMeg's designs it was highly customizable and both TransGalMeg and several other starfighter manufacturers offered numerous and varied upgrade kits for the fighter throughout its life. It was not uncommon to find highly customized Rihkxyrks that looked nothing like the original design. The most noted users of the fighter were Black Sun, the Hutt Cartels and the Zann Consortium however the Alliance to Restore the Republic and its various rebel predecessors made limited use of the design as well until more advanced fighters became available. The design proved so capable that Rihkxyrks were still flying at the time of the Second Galactic Civil War. From humble beginnings the Rihkxyrk joined the ranks of enduring independent starfighter designs like the Z-95 and CloakShape which seemingly would endure forever as they were continually upgraded and improved upon by their various users.