FSS-1000 Sabre

''Sabre redirects here. For the SPARTAN-III team, see Team Saber.''

YSS-1000 "Sabre" The YSS-1000, simply referred to as the Sabre, is a space superiority starfighter used by the UNSC Defense Force during the Human-Covenant War. Its first known use was in Operation: UPPER CUT during the Fall of Reach.

Design details
The YSS-1000 is a space-based fighter, which can be launched vertically from a ground-based launch platforms using a system of detachable multi-stage rockets to propel itself out of a planet's atmosphere into low orbit. The Sabres speed is similar to the Seraphs, it also has an afterburner ability which increases speed. The Sabre is capable of performing complex aileron rolls, Split S maneuvers, and Immelmann turns.

Armaments
The fighter's armament includes twin 30mm autocannons as well as linked missile pods with locking abilities. The Sabre also possesses energy shielding technology. Its targeting computer can identify enemy contacts from a long distance, as well as show the distance to a target.

Operational history
The Sabre was developed as a result of the Sabre Program, a top-secret UNSC project in which SPARTAN-B312 was a pilot at some point. By 2552, the YSS-1000 served as the UNSCDF's primary planetary defense fighter for the Inner Colonies. Reach had multiple Sabre fighters stored in launch facilities on the planet's surface. In addition, the orbital platform Anchor 9 had several Sabres stored in its launch bays.

During the Covenant invasion of Reach, SPARTAN-B312 and Jorge-052 of Noble Team used one of these vehicles during Operation: UPPERCUT, in which multiple Sabres were used by Noble Team and a UNSC strike team to board the Covenant corvette Ardent Prayer in order to use it to deliver a makeshift slipspace bomb to the Covenant supercarrier, Long Night of Solace. Before assaulting the Corvette, the Sabres were used to defend Anchor 9 against Covenant Type-27 "Banshee" fliers, Type-31 "Seraph" starfighters and Phantom Gunboats. Noble Six and the other pilots were eventually able to land on the corvette after disabling its engines and destroying its fighter escorts in order to use it and the slipspace drive to destroy the supercarrier. The mission succeeded, but the Sabres were destroyed, as the strike team was unable to return to them due to damage to the corvette and was thus forced to abandon them.

Gameplay
The Sabre is only playable in the space combat segment of the Long Night of Solace campaign level.

Like other vehicles in the Halo games, the Sabre is piloted from third-person view. The Heads Up Display, located near the center of the screen, shows the weapon currently in use, thruster heat, as well as the hull and shield integrity of the Sabre. Enemy ships are identified by type and highlighted with a distance marker once the targeting reticle is moved on them. The HUD is slightly different depending on the weapon used at the time.

Pitch and direction change is controlled by the right thumbstick, while the left stick controls speed. However, if the player holds down the Right Bumper button, a few changes are made. The auto-level functionality is disabled and now left and right on the left thumbstick gives full control over roll. This was a function that was initially always enabled and cut during testing, only to be re-instated at the very last minute by holding the RB button down, and so is not mentioned in the manual, official guide or even within the game itself. The Sabre also has a boost function, which uses its wing-mounted thruster engines. This fills up the thruster heat bar,which needs to cool down after continuous usage. A variety of maneuvers such as Aileron rolls (often mislabeled as 'Barrel Rolls') and Immelmann turns can be performed by using the left bumper. The weapon in use can be switched between the machine guns and missiles with the Y button. The Autocannons have an additional reticle leading the target, and the missiles can lock-on to enemy ships.

Trivia

 * Like the UNSC's Longsword-class Interceptor and Shortsword-class Bomber, the Sabre is named after a type of sword.
 * Although Bungie experimented on implementing the Sabre into multiplayer, it only appears in the campaign due to balance issues.
 * The Sabre launch sequence in Halo: Reach appears to have been inspired by NASA's Space Shuttle program, in both components and angles used for the cinematic. Several angles of the Sabre's launch sequence use similar camera angles seen during Space Shuttle launch, and the on-board cameras are used to examine foam loss on the external tank. The design of the Sabre's own external tank is somewhat based on that on the Shuttle, especially its orange color.
 * Crucial aspects of astrodynamics are overlooked in the gameplay of the level the Sabre appears in, Long Night of Solace. For example, when thrust is cut, the Sabre no longer maintains a constant velocity. In reality, a spacecraft's momentum would propel it forward indefinitely as friction is not present.
 * The Sabre has a seven-stage initiation sequence.
 * The Sabre has a very similar overall shape to the F-99 Unmanned Combat Arial Vehicle, including the position and shape of the vertical stabilizers.
 * It is possible (though very difficult) to ram your Sabre into an enemy Seraph or Banshee and destroy it. This will award you the Splatter Medal.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach