B-65 Shortsword

Shortsword-class Bomber The Shortsword-class Bomber is an aircraft of the United Nations Space Command.

It is a ground-based atmospheric bomber that is used primarily for short range, heavy payload runs against ground targets, especially Covenant installations. It is unusual as it is incapable of space combat.

Shortswords are called in by the UNSC faction through the use of a "Carpet Bomb" power. The target zone is designated, and the direction the Shortswords fly in is adjusted, before the aircraft conducts its attack run.

It was once thought to be the Skyhawk in the Halo Wars trailer but has since been named in a desktop picture from the Official Halo Wars Website.

Trivia

 * Macolm Thomas-Gustave was the animator who worked on the Shortsword in the Halo Wars Announcement Trailer.
 * The Shortsword appears similar to the real-life B2 Stealth Bomber of the United States Air Force. Both aircraft fill a similar role, acting as bombers.
 * Despite Longswords being deployed in the Battle of Chi Ceti IV (2525), the Shortsword may indeed have been a predecessor of the Longsword, as Longswords would have to be phased in as Shortswords were phased out, lending credence to their contemporary uses.
 * On the contrary, while it can be presumed that the Longsword and Shortsword were developed by the same manufacturer, (having similar names and designs), the Shortsword seems unrelated to the Longsword in usage, thus suggesting that the Longsword was not derived from the Shortsword.