Alkyonides

Alkyonides
Role	Interceptor aircraft
National origin	Republic of Syara
First flight	1965
Introduction	1969
Retired	1988
Status	Retired
Primary user	Syaran Army Air Corps
Produced	1969-1974
Number built	43

Alkyonides was a high speed, long-range interceptor aircraft produced by the Republic of Syara. First flown in 1965, the design went through several upgrades before being introduced in 1969 for the Syaran Army Air Corps. The Alkyonides was intended to serve as an fast moving, high flying interceptor to challenge bombers fielded by the Ruvelkan Imperial Air Force. Capable of exceeding Mach 2.4, it was the fastest jet ever built by Syara. Primary armarment was limited to just four air-to-air missiles; despite its speed, the limited manoeuvrability of the aircraft made it largely useless as a dog fighter, although Syaran pilots on occasion used its speed to engage in hit-and-run strikes on Ruvelkan patrols. The Cacertian made AFASF-10 Donnola Air Superiority Fighter flown by Ruvelka was its primary opponent, which were responsible for three of the four Alkyonides lost to enemy fire. The Alkyonides saw extensive service during the Granika Border War, occasionally altered to operate as reconnaissance aircraft.

Ultimately the Alkyonides had only a limited service in the SAAC; just 38 were built and the acquisition of the Nephele from Æþurheim in 1976 displaced the primary role of the Alkyonides. The aircraft was set to be retired in 1984, though the outbreak of the Refusal War prevented this. The aircraft was officially retired from service in 1988 by the Commonality Air Force.