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I can feel a change in the air.
—A Stormchild pilot ready for take off

The Stormchild is the fighter jet used by the United States. It relies on its fast speed and laser guns to precisely strike threats and evade attackers.

Official description[]

The Stormchild is an advanced fighter specifically equipped to efficiently deal with fast moving targets. With its high-tech lasers and powerful targeting systems, it's theoretically impossible for the fighter to miss its target. Its plentiful missiles benefit from the targeting systems as well, though they cause less damage individually than comparable warheads. Although the Stormchild is one of the fastest fighters in the Allied arsenal, it is rather fragile in the face of anti-aircraft fire. Due to a low radar cross-section, the fighter is invisible on enemy radars, giving the Stormchild the element of surprise.[1]

Overview[]

The Stormchild replaces the Harrier for the United States as the standard jet that can be built with only an Air Force Command Headquarters, though the latter can still be unlocked by acquiring a Shield Command. Other factions can unlock this unit by acquiring a Mercury Network Uplink.

The Stormchild is an all-purpose aircraft, being the fastest (although lightly armored) of all the Allied fighter jets. Though its missiles are less effective against vehicles and buildings compared to its Allied counterparts, it is completely accurate, meaning not even the fastest vehicles (which are common in the mid game, where the Stormchild is also available) are able to evade its attacks and of course, the Stormchild itself.

Its other primary advantage is its laser guns, which are just as precise as its missiles. These laser guns are able to burn even the most durable of heroes, which makes a squadron of Stormchildren the deadliest aerial assassins in the Allied arsenal, if not the game. Combined with its radar invisibility, it ensures that Stormchildren can strike with lethality, then fleeing the scene with a very late reaction from the enemy commander.

American commanders should take note that using either of its weapons will both consume the Stormchild's ammo capacity, meaning it cannot fire both weapons twice in a single run.

AI behavior[]

Stormchildren controlled by the AI have the following attack patterns:

All difficulties[]

  • 2x targeting vehicles or ore miners

Medium/Hard[]

  • 2x targeting vehicles
    • This task force may be accompanied by a Hummingbird

Appearances[]

The Stormchild is the world's fastest fighter. We are currently testing a new very precise anti-personnel laser system on it.
—Allied intel during Operation: Road Trippin'

Act One[]

  • In Bleed Red, the Americans will use several Stormchild prototypes to destroy V2 Launchers when the Soviet base is handed to the player. The prototypes in this mission do not have laser guns.
  • The schematics for the Stormchild were stolen by the Soviets during Eagle Fly Free. Fortunately, Tanya and an Allied strike force were able to reclaim it after they destroyed the Soviet base the Stormchild schematics were stored.
  • The first operational Stormchildren were utilized in Road Trippin' to strike down approaching Latin vehicles. Their lightning speed and attacks proved pivotal in the early phases of the mission, as most of US armored divisions were unable to reach the border.

Assessment[]

Pros Cons
  • Invisible on radar.
  • Fastest of the three Allied fighter jets.
  • Able to accurately strike fast-moving targets.
  • Precision lasers are effective against infantry.
  • Can minimize AA damage if the commander micromanages well.
  • Very fragile.
  • Its missiles deal less damage compared to other warheads.
  • Has to return to airfields for rearming frequently.

Behind the scenes[]

  • Prior to 3.3 the Stormchild was able to use its lasers as an anti-aircraft weapon.[2]

Trivia[]

  • The Stormchild's cameo bears a strong resemblance to the real-life F-16 Fighting Falcon used by the U.S. Air Force, but its in-game model closely resembles the real-life Dassault Rafale used by the French Air Force, but modified to a single-engine fighter, which is not a real-life variant of Rafale.
  • Some of the Stormchild's quotes are based on the Raptor in Generals.

See also[]

References[]

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