GA-TL1 Longsword

The GA-TL1 Interceptor/Strike Fighter, commonly known as the Longsword, is the main starfighter in service with the United Nations Space Command Navy and Air Force. It is capable of filling a variety roles, exclusively or simultaneously.

Design details
The GA-TL1 Longsword is designed primarily as a fighter, though it can also be used for interception, suppression, bombing, or direct attack. There are a number of variants of the craft, with some variants measuring 64 meters (210 feet) long and 75 meters (246 feet) wide. All Longswords feature a crew of four: a pilot, a copilot, a navigator, and a systems operator; the crew may be assisted by an onboard artificial intelligence.

While there are several noticeable external and presumably internal differences among variants, all Longswords share a common overall architecture. The craft features a wide, manta ray-like design with a rear-facing boom apparatus protruding from the center of the fuselage, similar to that of the B-65 Shortsword bomber. The exhaust ports for the Longsword's twin fusion engines are also visible at the rear of the fuselage. The C709 variant features a large, diamond-shaped air intake underneath each wing, though these are much smaller on the C712, instead fitting flush with the fuselage. Furthermore, the C709 possesses a non-polarized canopy, though other variants feature a much larger, black-polarized canopy.

Inside the Longsword is a small corridor leading to the rear, along with stairs and a higher corridor that lead to the cockpit. Several equipment lockers are installed in the corridors, along with two secondary crew stations. The cockpit contains the pilot's and copilot's stations, which include control interfaces and information readouts, and may incorporate an AI holotank.

The Longsword can be remotely piloted, as was performed during the Battle of Chi Ceti in 2525. The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Aviator helmet is recommended for use by Spartans acting as Longsword crew members.



Armament
The standard armament of the GA-TL1 is the M9109 50mm cannon. Some variants are armed with 110mm rotary cannons or a turreted 120mm ventral gun that can be retracted into the hull, though the latter is likely a secondary weapon. The Longsword can also accommodate any of several supplementary weapon systems, including four ASGM-10 missiles, a variety of bombs, Moray space mines, or even a single ; when remotely piloted, the Longsword itself can be used as a delivery system for the Shiva warhead.

Development and service history
The Longsword, manufactured by Misriah Armory, was designed during the 25th century by Gov Aukland and Thomas Levesque, whose names inspired the GA-TL1 designation. Longswords saw service during the Insurrection. Later, Longswords were deployed on the front lines of nearly every major engagement of the Human-Covenant War under both the UNSC Navy and the Air Force. Longsword Squadron Delta, assigned to the frigate, engaged Covenant forces during the Battle of Chi Ceti, the first space battle of the war. The Longswords were destroyed when the Commonwealth was forced to sacrifice them to get a shot on the Unrelenting with a Shiva-class nuclear missile. The Longswords that survived the firefight were destroyed when the nuclear weapon detonated.

During the Fall of Reach, two Longswords were launched against a Covenant to protect Sword Base. The Longswords pushed the corvette away from the base far enough for a Super MAC round fired from orbit to take it out. Longswords also participated in the Battle at Szurdok Ridge after SPARTAN-B312 took out two Covenant anti-aircraft emplacements, clearing the way for air support. The Longswords were able to destroy three Scarabs, opening the path for the UNSC's ground assault force. Later, the  launched a remotely piloted Longsword equipped with a Shiva-class nuclear missile during a battle with an unidentified Covenant warship. After the ship's shields were taken down, the "smart" AI Cortana crash-landed the Longsword on the ship. The nuke's detonation destroyed the Covenant vessel.

During the Battle of Installation 04, a number of Longswords escorted the Pillar of Autumn. They destroyed the Covenant's initial recon picket which Cortana described as being "nothing serious," however Cortana detected multiple CCS-class battlegroups approaching. Later, Spartan John-117 and Cortana used a Longsword to escape from Alpha Halo before it was destroyed. They later linked up with a Pelican dropship and launched an attack on a nearby Covenant flagship, Ascendant Justice, using the Longsword to board it and destroying its Type-31 Seraph fighters with the Longsword's Moray space mines.

During the Battle of Voi, several Longswords aided a trio of frigates in attacking the Prophet of Truth's ship, once John-117 cleared the way by destroying an anti-aircraft battery. However, the attack proved unsuccessful and Truth's fleet was able to evacuate through the Portal at Voi which they opened moments after the failed attack.

On July 26, 2557, Spartan Blue Team used a Longsword to reach Halo Installation 03. On March 11, 2558, several Longswords defended when she was attacked by insurgent aerospace craft after the freighter Pilgrims' Pride was pulled into Infinity's primary docking bay.

During a mission to Ven III on May 8, 2558, Infinity deployed three Longswords to escort two D77H-TCI Pelicans to rescue Spartans Naiya Ray and Gabriel Thorne from the pirates inhabiting the planet. One of the fighters deployed Havok nuclear missiles, destroying the pirate base. At least one Longsword was deployed during the Battle of Oban on July 16, where it destroyed two Covenant Phantom dropships. A few days later, three Longswords from Infinity escorted two D79-TC Pelicans to the surface of Aktis IV during a battle on the planet.

Variants
There are multiple variants of the GA-TL1 Longsword that are designed to perform specific functions, such as the C708, the C709, and the C712. However, these variations are not static; Longswords can be modified on a craft-by-craft basis to fit the needs of a given mission.

C709
The C709 variant is designed to apply force in exoatmospheric engagements. It is armed with a 110mm rotary cannon. Despite its focus on exoatmospheric combat, the C709 features large air intakes and a non-polarized canopy.

C712
The C712 variant (designated SS-110 by the UNSC Air Force), specializes in short-range atmospheric/exoatmospheric (A/X) strike runs. It can carry an assortment of missile and mine delivery systems. The C712 features a large, polarized canopy and integrated air intakes.

Known Longswords

 * Knife 26
 * Longsword 91-002

UNSC Longsword Bomber Flights

 * Flight slots: 1
 * Movement: 16"
 * Damage track: 2
 * Systems loadout: None
 * Weapons: vs. wing targets
 * Range: Contact
 * Dice: 1
 * Weapons: vs. element targets
 * Range: Contact
 * Dice: 2

Trivia

 * Like the YSS-1000 Sabre, the S-14 Baselard, the F-41 Broadsword, and the B-65 Shortsword, the Longsword is named after a bladed weapon.
 * The Longsword's cabin is nearly as wide as that of an Airbus A320, a commercial airliner.
 * The Longswords in Halo: Reach are only half as large as their original Halo: Combat Evolved appearance, likely because they are meant to be seen only from a great distance and for a short period of time. The craft seen on the multiplayer map "Tempest" is, like the crashed Pelican on the map "Highlands", too small to accommodate a single Spartan.
 * The Longsword superficially resembles the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber.

List of appearances

 * Halo: The Fall of Reach
 * Halo: Combat Evolved
 * Halo: The Flood
 * Halo: First Strike
 * Halo 2
 * Halo 3
 * Halo Legends
 * Origins
 * Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe
 * Pariah
 * Halo: Reach


 * Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo 2: Anniversary
 * ''Terminals
 * Halo: Fleet Battles
 * Halo: Last Light
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series
 * Halo: Shadow of Intent
 * Halo: Ground Command
 * Halo Mythos
 * Halo: Retribution
 * Halo: Collateral Damage
 * Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual