Orca (Tiberium Wars)

The A-15 Orca Gunship is the third major variant of the Orca Aircraft.

Background
The SAAB/Lancaster Lifting Body, Inc. designed the new variant basing on the "make the tech visible" doctrine of GDI's design. The resulting A-15 Orca is the most advanced attack aircraft in GDI's engineering history.

Technical specifications
The new model of the Orca features two ducted VTOL aerodynes, providing a maximum speed of 400 knots, with a combat range of 300 miles, or 1,180 miles when stripped of combat gear. Its maximum flight altitude is 42,000 feet, with a climb rate of up to 2,500 feet per minute, with a power to mass ratio of 0.19 lbs/hp.

It is 58.3 ft long, 48 ft wide, and 12.7 ft high, the Orca also utilizes wing warping for enhanced agility inflight. It features a NOTAR (NO TAil Rotor) tail assembly, with a retractable carriage for landing.

The aircraft is crewed by a pilot and a copilot/gunner.

Armament
Its armament varies, but is in every way superior to its predecessors, and can be composed of an M230 30mm autocannon with 1200 rounds, Hellfire V rockets, AIM-500 Stinger air to air missiles, AGM-240 Sidearm air-to-ground missiles, AIM-18 Sidewinder air intercept missiles and Hydra 70 unguided air-to-ground rockets. Missiles and rockets are mounted on pylons just below the cockpit. Unfortunately, the standard Orca used by most GDI commanders do not have the autocannon OR the air-to-air missiles: only 6 air-to-ground Sidearm guided misiles. As a result, they are only effective against vehicles and structures and are sitting ducks for any aircraft with air to air capability (Venoms, Stormriders, Firehawks, etc.). The missiles cannot track moving infantry, but will kill most with a single hit.

In addition, the Orca is equipped with HMRD (High Frequency Massive Radiant Disruptor) scanners, allowing it to discharge a pulse, forcing all stealthed units to decloak within a radius for a short period of time.

Upgrades

 * Sensor pods - this upgrade enables the aircraft launch sensor pods that will reveal everything within a certain radius. The pods may also be attached to units: useful for revealing where the enemy's bases and units are.
 * Hardpoints - adds another 2 missiles to the Orca's payload (Kane's Wrath only).
 * Ceramic armour - increases survivability (ZOCOM only)

Unused
In the concept art, several other upgrades appear, including:
 * Nominal Extended Range Fuel (NERF) tanks - extended flight time and range
 * Linebacker Lifting Body Combat Thrust Retrofit (LBCR) engine upgrade
 * Hammerhead High Frequency Massive Radiant Disruptor (HMRD) EMP- unused, replaced with the Orca scan ability

In-game
"Return to Base! RETURN TO BASE!"

- Orca

This aircraft follows the legacy of the old Orca Assault Aircraft, as it is still equipped with air to ground missiles. The difference between the Venom's stealth detection and its stealth detection capabilities is that the Orca will only activate its scanners when ordered to do so, whereas the Venom will automatically detect any stealthed units that are nearby. It's missiles are effective against vehicles and buildings, however, the Firehawk has proven itself to be far more effective at taking out structures.

Development
The Orca Gunship went through many iterations during development (some can be seen below). When the final look was nailed down, the developers had to decide on what weapons should it use. Early versions included a machinegun and rockets, but before release, the machinegun was axed.

The Orca was featured in the E3 C&C3 Trailer alongside other weapons in the GDI arsenal, including the iconic Mammoth 27 tank. It was different in that it had only a single crewman inside and had the aforementioned machine gun.

Trivia

 * It's appearance is similar in appearance to the SparrowHawk from the later-made game Halo Wars.
 * Orcas have no ejection seats and often pilots are heard screaming in transmissions when they are shot down.

Other versions

 * ZOCOM Orca