Nightwing
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This article is about the Eldar Fighter. For other uses of Nightwing, see Nightwing (disambiguation). |
The Nightwing is the primary fighter craft of the Eldar, combining a speed and manoeuvrability that no Imperial or any other aircraft can match, along with considerable firepower and sophisticated energy field protection. An exceptional fighter-interceptor, Nightwings are expected to go into combat outnumbered by the enemy and still establish air superiority, performing maneuvers which would send lesser craft in an uncontrollable plummet and achieve speeds which would tear them apart.[2a][3][4a]
Contents
Overview
The Nightwing is first and foremost an interceptor[11] and dogfighter; while its weaponry is adequate for attacking ground targets, those types of missions generally go to other aircraft such as the Phoenix.[4a] A favourite tactic of Nightwing pilots is to descend upon an opponent without warning, destroying them, and then using their supernatural speed and agility to shake off any pursuit.[2a] It is not uncommon for Imperial Navy Wings operating in airspace contested by Nightwings to suffer losses of 75% in just a few days of combat.[1] During the Chagris Incusion an Eldar sky host known as Lileath's Blade, despite numbering only four Nightwings, accounted for sixty-six destroyed Hell Talons in just the first week without suffering a single loss.[3] While the Nightwing, like all Eldar aircraft, is capable of being deployed directly from orbit, it is more likely to make use of larger Wraithgates to directly get into battle.[2a]
The Nightwing has more than one aesthetic design as a result of differing consensus between Bonesinger Design Schools. Both have the same weapons and characteristics, but as dominant schools changed the older designs are seen less often but both are known as Nightwings to Imperial Scholars.[2b]
Nightwing Pilots
Nightwing pilots are almost always young Eldar who have yet to travel down the darker Aspect paths, though they often have experience piloting Jetbikes and Grav-tanks. Many of these pilots often go on to walk the Path of the Outcast, and Eldar Corsair bands are often well-equipped with Nightwings to support their raids.[4a][5]
Technical Information
Armament
The Nightwing's weaponry is geared towards engaging and destroying enemy aircraft. Twin-linked long-barrled Shuriken Cannons mounted in the nose of the craft, along with twin Bright Lances ventrally mounted beneath the fuselage, give it excellent firepower. The Bright Lances also give the Nightwing respectable anti-tank firepower should the opportunity present itself.[1][3][4a] Instead of Bright Lances, the Nightwing can also carry two Scatter Lasers, two Missile Launchers or two Starcannons.[9a][11]
Defensive Measures
As with other Eldar vehicles, the Nightwing relies on speed and agility to avoid damage rather than armour. Assisting it in this regard are banks of sophisticated systems which create a Holo-field designed to hide it from the enemy.[11] Not only does this holo-field make it virtually impossible for enemy scanners and other devices to track the craft, it also throws out distorting visual images to confuse enemy pilots.[3][4a]
Flight Performance
Simply put the Nightwing is capable of aerobatic feats which would be physically impossible in lesser craft thanks to the Eldar's mastery of anti-gravity technology, such as a gravity-dampened cockpit to protect the pilot. Its multi-geometric wings can shift in flight to improve the craft's performance: Nightwings have been recorded at speeds of 3,600 kph by Imperial forces with wings fully swept back, and though only capable of 2,300 kph when fully extended, this allows the craft to perform high speed, high-g turns and easily out-manoeuvre the enemy in a dogfight. Nightwing pilots will master this ability to switch between the two settings, suddenly breaking to throw off a pursuit and gain an edge during dogfighting.[1][3][4a] This performance is further enhanced by the fact that Nightwings, like all Eldar aircraft, are constructed of advanced psycho-plastics, including Wraithbone, which are attuned to the pilot's psychic abilities, improving response time.[4c]
Like other Eldar aircraft, the Nightwing foregoes landing gear by using an anti-grav field, that allows the aircraft to float just above the ground after landing.[8]
Ordo Xenos Classification
| Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Record[1][4b] | |||
| Origin | Void Dragons Cadre[4b] | Main Armament | Two nose-mounted |
| Designation | 'Nightwing'[4b] | ||
| Vehicle Codename | N/A[4b] | Secondary Armament | Two ventral-mounted |
| Vehicle Type | Fighter/interceptor[4b] | ||
| Crew | One - Pilot[4b] | Traverse & Elevation | N/A[4b] |
| Weight | Approx 5 tonnes[4b] | ||
| Length | 12m[4b] | Ammunition | Monomolecular projectiles
and laser based devices[4b] |
| Width | 15.4m[4b] | Armour Type | 8-10mm,[1] Bio-molecular
derivative material[4b] |
| Height | 4.37m[1] | ||
| Max Recorded Speed | 3,600kph[4b] at 5,000 feet[8] | ||
Images
Aeronautica Imperialis Nightwings[7]
Epic Scale Nightwing
Development History
 |
- The Nightwing was one of several Eldar vehicles with more than one model. Design Schools were introduced in Epic: Swordwind (2005) as an in-universe explanation for this difference in Eldar vehicle designs in Epic.
A Nightwing miniature from Titan Legions[6]
An Iyanden Nightwing Squadron from Doom of the Eldar[10]
A Nightwing flies beside Swooping Hawks
Sources
- 1: Imperial Armour II - Ork, Eldar and Dark Eldar Vehicles for Warhammer 40,000, pgs. 18–19
- 2: Epic: Swordwind:
- 3: Apocalypse, pg. 142
- 4: Imperial Armour Volume Eleven - The Doom of Mymeara:
- 5: Imperial Armour Aeronautica, pg. 50
- 6: Titan Legions (game), pg. 58
- 7: Warhammer Community: Warhammer Fest Online: Day 4 – Warhammer Underworlds, Necromunda, and Aeronautica Imperialis (posted 06/05/2021) (last accessed 06 May 2021)
- 8: Aeronautica Imperialis Game Rulebook, pg. 118
- 9: Aeronautica Imperialis: Companion:
- 10: Doom of the Eldar (Game)
- 11: Aeronautica Imperialis: Wrath of Angels, pg. 33
| Craftworld Eldar Vehicles | |
|---|---|
| Light Vehicles | Jetbike (Raptor Jetbike) • Hornet • Vyper |
| Walkers | War Walker • Wasp Assault Walker • Scout Walker |
| Wraith Constructs | Wraithblade • Wraithguard • Wraithknight • Wraithlord • Wraithseer |
| Artillery | Anti-Aircraft Platform • Support Weapon Batteries (D-Cannon • Vibro Cannon • Shadow Weaver) |
| Grav-Tanks | Falcon • Fire Prism • Firestorm • Night Spinner • Warp Hunter • Wave Serpent |
| Super-Heavy Grav-Tanks | Cobra • Lynx • Scorpion • Storm Serpent • Void Spinner |
| Super-Heavy Walkers | Eldar Knight • Eldar Titan (Revenant • Phantom • Warlock) |
| Aircraft | Hemlock • Nightwing • Nightshade (Crimson Hunter) • Phoenix • Vampire Raider • Vampire Hunter • Dawnsail • |
