B-65 Shortsword

The B-65 Suborbital Long-Range Bomber, more commonly known as the Shortsword, is a UNSC atmospheric bomber.

Design
The Shortsword shares a similar design to the GA-TL1 Longsword interceptor, though it is less angular than the latter. It features elongated primary wings as well as smaller wings attached to a large boom apparatus at the rear of the fuselage. A large air intake is mounted on the dorsal surface of each wing; pronged structures, possibly ailerons, are located at the rear tip of each wing. Though the B-65 is designed to provide suborbital air support, it is capable of at least rudimentary space flight; Shortswords are often deployed from parent vessels in low orbit.

The Shortsword is typically armed with conventional bombs for performing carpet bombing runs, though it sometimes carries less conventional munitions such as a single cryo bomb. Bombers equipped with the M/RODAS delivery system can release an XGBU-302 disruption bomb. When releasing its payload, the Shortsword "punches" its munitions into the ground; the munitions then explode a short time later. As the bombs detonate in the order in which they are dropped, carpet bombing runs carried out by the Shortsword resemble twentieth-century napalm strikes.

Gameplay
The use of the Shortsword differs depending on which leader character the player uses. Professor Ellen Anders uses it to drop a cryo bomb, a simple point-and-click power. Sergeant John Forge uses it to perform carpet bombing runs, where the beginning of the bombing run must be selected. An arrow appears, and can be rotated around the start point, setting the angle of the bombing run, useful for hitting a number of enemies in different formations. All UNSC leaders can call on a Shortsword to deliver a disruption bomb.

The Shortsword cannot be destroyed in-game.

Trivia

 * A Shortsword is a reference to a number of weapons intermediate between the sword and the dagger, in keeping with the UNSC's tradition of naming exoatmospheric vehicles, like The Longsword and the Sabre after bladed weapons. The atmospheric vehicles, which are named after real animals with the exceptions of the Cyclops and Gremlin, which are named after mythical creatures.
 * The Shortsword is similar in appearance to the United States Air Force's B2 "Spirit" stealth bomber, with the notable exception of the Shortsword's large boom apparatus. Both aircraft fill a similar role, acting as bombers, although it is unknown if the Shortsword has any stealth capabilities, or if conventional stealth capabilities would have any impact on Covenant tracking technology.
 * During the development of Halo Wars, the Shortsword was originally to be a usable unit, docked at the airpad. In the concept art, its tail is retracted and its wings are angled up to make it more compact and allow docking.

List of appearances

 * Halo Wars