AI War:Space Plane
 |
Cloaked fighter excellent for bypassing enemy defenses (such as mines and tractor beams), with special onboard radar-dampening equipment that makes it impossible for ships to hit it if they are beyond a certain range from the plane. |
Base Stats
| Ship Cap | Ammo Type | Armor Type | Immunities | Damage Bonuses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 344 | Laser | Ultra-Light | Area Damage Tractor Beams Mines | 3.2 Light, 3.2 Heavy, 3.2 Ultra-Heavy, 3.2 Polycrystal |
| Mark | Damage | Attack Range | Reload | Health | Armor | Speed | Engine Health | Single Ship DPS | Ship Cap DPS | Ship Cap HP | Abilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 36 | 5,500 | 9 sec | 146 | 0 | 108 | 200 | 4 dmg/sec | 1,376 dmg/sec | 50,224 | Cloaking Radar Dampening Range 3,000 |
| II | 72 | 6,000 | 9 sec | 293 | 0 | 108 | 200 | 8 dmg/sec | 2,752 dmg/sec | 100,792 | Cloaking Radar Dampening Range 3,000 |
| III | 108 | 6,500 | 9 sec | 439 | 0 | 108 | 200 | 12 dmg/sec | 4,128 dmg/sec | 151,016 | Cloaking Radar Dampening Range 3,000 |
| IV | 144 | 7,000 | 9 sec | 585 | 0 | 108 | 200 | 16 dmg/sec | 5,504 dmg/sec | 201,240 | Cloaking Radar Dampening Range 3,000 |
| V | 178 | 7,500 | 9 sec | 730 | 0 | 108 | 200 | 20 dmg/sec | 6,804 dmg/sec | 251,120 | Cloaking Radar Dampening Range 3,000 |
| Mark | Knowledge | Metal Cost | Crystal Cost | Total Cost | Energy Cost | Build Time | Cap Metal Cost | Cap Crystal Cost | Cap Total Cost | Cap Energy Cost | Cap Build Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | -- | 150 | 150 | 300 | 58 | 00:00:02 | 25,800 | 25,800 | 51,600 | 9,976 | 00:05:44 |
| II | 2,500 | 300 | 300 | 600 | 116 | 00:00:03 | 51,600 | 51,600 | 103,200 | 19,952 | 00:08:36 |
| III | 4,000 | 600 | 600 | 1,200 | 116 | 00:00:05 | 103,200 | 103,200 | 206,400 | 19,952 | 00:14:20 |
| IV | Adv Fac | 900 | 900 | 1,800 | 116 | 00:00:08 | 154,800 | 154,800 | 309,600 | 19,952 | 00:22:56 |
| V | Core Fab | 1,200 | 1,200 | 2,400 | 116 | 00:00:10 | 206,400 | 206,400 | 412,800 | 19,952 | 00:28:40 |
How to use in your fleet
In the balance between Raiders, Raptors and Space Planes, the planes are the most extreme example of a glass cannon. For as long as you keep them out of tachyon coverage and out of range, they will inflict much general pain - on Fighters, Bombers, and on some of the things that Bombers excel at. Because their attack range exceeds their radar dampening range, they can attack unsupported Guard Posts and other stationary targets with complete impunity. Space Planes are immune to tractor beams and thus good for chasing down Tractor Guardians and Spire Tractor Platforms that kidnap your ships. Upgrades increase range, helping you keep your Space Planes alive longer.
Unike most raiders, Space Planes are not effectively countered by Missile Frigates as they find it difficult to get into radar dampening range. If you don't watch them, however, they aren't likely to escape on their own - set up auto-kiting in the controls to >3000. Thankfully Space Planes are not expensive to replace, as you will need to do so semi-regularly.
How to counter when in the AI fleet
If allowed to disperse throughout your systems, Space Planes will be hard to root out. Establishing tachyon coverage and gravity turrets will make everything a cake-walk, so it's important not to neglect your basics whenever you expand.
If you're having trouble tracking down everything, here is a forum list of things that ignore radar dampening: Sniper Turret, Spider Turret, Railgun modules (on Spire Destroyers and larger), Counter-Spy and Ion Cannon.
