Mitsuhishi Mi-90 (FT)

Characteristics
The Mi-90 is a medium-lift VTOL-capable aerospacecraft equipped with four vectoring-capable ion thrusters. It is deep space-capable with a pressurised cockpit, but is designed primarily for short-range orbital and in-atmosphere operations. The Mi-90 is intended to be used to transport cargo from orbital vessels to planetary surfaces and vice versa, as well as for in-atmosphere airlifting.

Two medium-duty cargo lifter arms flank the cockpit module, and are equipped with electromagnetic clamps as well as carbon nanotube-reinforced lifting cables. The Mi-90 is capable of carrying 100 tonnes of cargo between these arms, usually Imperial-standard Proclamation 233-compliant cargo containers. Pallets are used to carry Small-Type and Medium-Type containers, and the largest cargo containers that the Mi-90 can safely carry are the Standard Large-Type Cargo Containers. Besides cargo transportation, the Mi-90 is also designed for in-atmosphere tactical airlift operations, and is capable of airlifting most small-to-medium sized Imperial ground vehicles. Multiple Mi-90s can also work in tandem to carry larger vehicles, such as the Type-87 Kitagawa-class walker, providing the Imperial Army with flexible strategic mobility.

When landing, the Mi-90's lifter arms rotate upwards. This is to save space in hangar bays and landing fields. Mi-90s are fully armoured for battlefield protection, and feature layered composite titanium armour capable of deflecting ground fire during tactical airlift operations. Mi-90s are also equipped with countermeasures against enemy missiles and often fly with anti-laser polymer coating applied.

A crew of three operates the Mi-90, with a pilot and copilot to operate the craft and a loadmaster to manage cargo-lifting operations. Though the cockpit module is pressurised, like most Imperial pilots the crew don vacuum-rated suits to protect themselves in case of a hull breach while in space.

Variants

 * Mitsuhishi Medium-Lift Utility Aerospacecraft Testbed 242
 * Preproduction aircraft, six built.


 * Mi-90
 * First production model, produced between 244 and 265. Powered by the Kakurega Utakata Miniaturized Fusion Reactor (Second Revision)


 * Mi-91-Mi
 * Variant for civilian and export sales with armour plating and military hardware removed.


 * Mi-90 Kai
 * Second production model, produced between 260 and 283. Upgraded sensors and avionics, as well as improved reentry heat shielding.


 * Mi-90 Kai Nii
 * Third production model, produced from 280 to present. Powered by the Kakurega Utakata Miniaturized Fusion Reactor (Third Revision), as well as featuring further mid-life upgrades to hardware and avionics systems.


 * Mi-91-Mi Nii ("Mini")
 * Second civilian variant produced since 292, including several upgrades introduced with the Mi-90 Kai Nii.

Specifications
General characteristics


 * Crew: 2 - 3 (Pilot, Copilot, Loadmaster)
 * Length: 20.1 m
 * Height: 6.5 m
 * Powerplant: 1 × Kakurega Utakata Miniaturized Fusion Reactor (Third Revision)
 * Propulsion: 4 × Kawazaki Yoru-733 Ion Engine (thrust vectoring)
 * Cruising speed: 240 km/h
 * Intended Aerospace Range: Orbit-to-Surface