Striker Light Tank – Avalon

         With the Striker light tank, Valiant Vehicles set out to produce a tank design that would maximize the potential of a wheeled vehicle. Nearly all experts agree that Valiant succeeded admirably by ingeniously combining the low cost of a wheeled chassis with high quality weapons and electronics systems. The economical Striker attracted many budget-conscious buyers immediately, and after the design proved effective on the battlefield Valiant immediately began working on a refitted version of the Striker. The upgraded Striker retains the original design’s attractive combination of low cost and advanced weaponry and electronics, which makes it a popular tank throughout the Inner Sphere.

         To make the most of the Striker’s capabilities, the designers replaced the original design’s internal combustion engine with a more compact fusion engine. Though more expensive, the new engine freed up room for extra equipment. To increase the number of missiles that the Striker could deliver on target, the designers provided the new Striker with an Artemis slaved LRM-15 rack as its primary weapons system. This addition effectively doubled the long-range firepower of the new Striker.
         For short-range defense, a pair of Valiant Javelin Streak SRM systems replaced the original SRM-6. The Streak system provides the same firepower on average as the SRM-6, but the new system uses ammunition much more efficiently and thereby allows for extended field operations. Finally, Valiant Systems provided the Striker with its own brand of ferro-fibrous armor, giving the tank a fair chance of survival on the modern battlefield.

         The only known Striker variant replaces the Artemis FCS with a Narc beacon and reduces the size of the LRM launcher. Adherents claim that this change allows other units to use the Striker’s targeting information. Critics, however, maintain that the variant Striker would have to get too close to the enemy in order to function well.

         Though Valiant Vehicles usually offers its products exclusively to the AFFC, an undisclosed number of Strikers have been sold to the DCMS. As yet the refitted Striker has seen no action, though this may soon change. The AFFC has reinforced garrisons along the Capellan border with large numbers of Strikers.