Banshee

The Banshee helicopter served as a heavy attack aircraft for the Brotherhood of Nod during the Second Tiberium War

History
Other than the fact that it was developed at a secret Nod facility that was protected by Stealth Generators all the time, and that it was first used to help defend Nod's Chemical Missile Facility, little is known about the origins of its deployment. It is known, however, that it was developed through technology made available through the use of the Tacitus.

Description
The Banshee attack helicopter was very thin, the pilot probably had to lean back to fit in it, but in spite of this, was armored very heavily and mounted powerful rapid fire plasma cannons. The plasma had to be recharged at the Helipad, however, so the Banshee was not capable of independant operation. Its speed and armor meant that it could be counted upon to return after an operation, except against very determined GDI anti-aircraft fire. Its weapons were optimized for use against vehicles, especially lighter vehicles. However, a group of them could destroy even the Mammoth Mk. II. Although very effective against GDI armor, these weapons were less effective against GDI structures, and the SAM towers at these bases made such operations more risky.

Usage
Nod commanders often used these to strike GDI vehicles, and destroyed at least Mammoth Mk. II prototype with these weapons. Furthermore, due to the fact that they were considered advanced technology (and they were), they were often used around high-tech installations such as the prototype weapons facility where they were developed. Beyond that, Nod commanders generally used them against GDI armored forces, particularly those that lacked anti-armor protection.

Having also acquired a fleet of Banshees, Cabal also used this weapon, but he decided to target it against GDI buildings rather than vehicles, despite the Banshee's greater ability to destroy vehicles.

Nod retained the Banshee technology after the conclusion of the Firestorm crisis.