| SMALLCRAFT CLASS | |
|---|---|
| Viper Mark III | |
 A Viper Mark III | |
| Affiliation: | Federation, Starfleet |
| Classification: | Space superiority fighter |
| Service period: | 2370s-present |
| Length: | 10.6 meters |
| Width: | 6.7 meters |
| Height: | 3.85 meters |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity: | 1 pilot |
| Speed: | warp 2 |
| Maximum speed: | warp 4.5 |
| Cruising speed: | warp 3 |
| Armaments: | 2 phaser cannons photon torpedoes |
| Defences: | Deflector shields |
The Viper Mark III is a fighter craft used by the Federation Starfleet in the 24th century. It is the successor of the Viper Mark II and a precursor to fighters used by the fleet, including the Viper Mark VII. Introduced in the 2370s, as the successor to the venerable Mark II, the third-generation Viper was a single-pilot, multi-role strike ship. Its design inspired subsequential iterations of the multi-role VIpers in the following years, culminating in the highly advanced Mark VII.
Design[]
A slightly larger craft than the Mark II, the Mark III featured several functional and cosmetic alterations. The Angular forward fuselage contrasted with the rounded profile of the Mark II, while segmented hull plating allowed for ease of access to the ship's systems for maintenance. Control surfaces were fitted to stabilizer fins for improved atmospheric handling. In addition, the dimensions of the atmospheric intake ports were marginally increased, with a more squared-off shape. Conversely, the single-pilot cockpit canopy was slightly curved in comparison to the previous models' hard-edge contours.
Mark III's three sublight engines differ from the Mark II in that thrusters cowlings tapered inwards. The new ship also featured cantilevered landing gear for improved stability on planetary touchdowns. The three landing skids retracted flush to the ventral fuselage, eliminating the need for gear bay doors. The fighters were equipped with internally mounted missile launchers, hardpoints on the underside of the fuselage allowed for additional munition pods to be fitted. The ships' primary dogfighting and strafing armaments were twin KEW installed on fore-mounted ports and starboard fin struts. The Mark III was painted gunmetal grey, with stripes bored by while trim running along the upper fuselage and stabilizer fins. Inside the cockpit, a central screen displayed DRADIS scans, system status read-outs, and targeting information. Advanced RCS thrusters gave the Mark III improved maneuverability, while Tylium fuel-powered Mark III's sublight engines.
The Mark III retains the same shape and layout as the Mark II, however is slightly larger than the predecessor. It featured a drab grey paint scheme with red accents along the wings and nose, and identification numbers printed along the front side and along the vertical stabilizer.
The Viper Mark III features:
- an angular forward fuselage cross section
- a revised cockpit canopy featuring rounder edges
- more angular side intakes with intake ramps
- narrower thrust nozzles
- deletion of structures housing the rear undercarriage and reduction of the ventral fairing; all three landing struts retract directly into the main fuselage
- two internal missile launchers on the underside
- control surfaces for maneuverability in atmosphere