GA-TL1 Longsword

The GA-TL1 Interceptor/Strike Fighter, commonly known as the Longsword, is the main starfighter in service with the UNSC Defense Force's 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, though some are considerably smaller. 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. 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 and possibly other variants, instead fitting flush with the fuselage. Furthermore, the C709 possesses a traditional non-polarized glass 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. In the two corridors, there are several equipment lockers, along with two secondary crew stations. The cockpit contains the pilot's and copilot's stations, which include control interfaces and information readouts, as well as an AI holotank if present.

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 of 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 throughout the Insurrection, such as during the nuclear bombing of Far Isle. Later, Longswords were deployed on the front lines of nearly every major engagement of the Human-Covenant War under both the Navy and the Air Force. Longsword Squadron Delta, assigned to the UNSC frigate Commonwealth, engaged Covenant forces during the Battle of Chi Ceti, the first space battle of the war.

During the Fall of Reach, the launched a remote-piloted Longsword equiped with a Shiva-class nuclear missile during its battle with an unidentified Covenant warship. After the ship's shields were taken down, Cortana crash-landed the Longsword on the ship and armed its nuke. The nuke detonated, destroying the Longsword and the enemy ship.

During the Battle of Installation 04, a number of Longswords escorted the. Later, the Master Chief and Cortana used a Longsword to escape from the Installation before it was destroyed. They later linked up with a Pelican and launched an attack on a Covenant flagship, the Ascendant Justice, managing to use the Longsword to board it and destroying its Seraphs with the Longsword's Moray space mines. During the Battle of Voi, several Longswords attacked the Prophet of Truth's ship to no effect along with a few frigates.

On July 26, 2557, Blue Team used a Longsword to reach Installation 03. On March 11th, 2558 several Longswords defended the when it was attacked by AC-220 Vultures and AV-22 Sparrowhawks after the Pilgrims Pride was pulled into the Infinity's docking bay.

During the mission to Ven III, three Longswords were deployed by the Infinity to escort two D77H-TCI Pelicans to rescue Naiya Ray and Gabriel Thorne from the pirates inhabiting Ven III. One of the fighters deployed Havok nuclear missiles and destroyed the backup fleet stationed on the planet and the pirate's base. At least one Longsword was deployed during the battle of Oban and destroyed two Phantoms. Three Longswords from Infinity escorted two D79-TC Pelicans to the surface of Aktis IV during the Battle of Aktis IV.

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 and 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 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

Trivia

 * Like the YSS-1000 Sabre, the F-41 Broadsword and the B-65 Shortsword, the Longsword is named after a type of blade.
 * 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 level Tempest is, like the crashed Pelican on Highlands, too small to accommodate a single Spartan.

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