Changes

The '''Lightning''' fighter craft is mainly used by the [[Imperial Navy]] for establishing air superiority due to its increased maneuverability over the [[Thunderbolt]]. It is often seen and heard plummeting from orbit or being scrambled from naval bases.{{Fn|1a}} The Lightning is also used by the forces of [[Chaos]].{{Fn|12}}

The Lightning uses a swept-wing design and twin F100-XB afterburning turbofans to give it superior speed and better rate of climb and dive compared to the [[Thunderbolt]], although it is lighter, less rugged and more demanding on maintenance crews. Like the Thunderbolt, it also features a rocket booster engine which allows for quick take-offs when using a "fast-launch" ramp and for limited operational capability in space, although it is not a true "starfighter" like the [[Fury Interceptor]].{{Fn|1a}} Otherwise, the Lightning can use its rocket engine to perform a conventional fast take-off using runways, reaching an altitude of thousands of feet in less than five seconds.{{Fn|12}} Additionally, the Lightning is vector thrusted, allowing it to 'jink', 'twist' and 'dance' through the air{{Fn|11b}} and perform vertical take-off and landing.{{Fn|11c}}

Standard armament for the Lightning is a long-barrelled, ventral-mounted [[Autocannon]] and [[twin-linked]] [[Lascannons]] on the wing tips. Four wing hardpoints allows it to carry up to four [[Hellstrike Missile]]s, [[Hellfury Missile]]s, [[Bomb]]s or six [[Skystrike Missile]]s. Other standard systems includes a pair of Parallax tracking augers located in the nose section, while many will mount [[Imperial Aircraft Upgrades|additional equipment]].{{Fn|2}} The autocannon fires 127 high-velocity armour piercings rounds per second.{{Fn|12}} The Lightning is also equipped with a missile-lock warning system, chaff and flare launchers, a multi-frequency [[vox]], a [[cogitator|navigational cogitator]] for route plotting and a heads-up display linked to the weapons systems allowing for target lock-on.{{Fn|12}}