| “ | Travelling at supersonic speeds on its attack runs, the Aurora Bomber is invulnerable to enemy AA fire. After ordnance is released, the jet slows and regresses to base at subsonic speeds. On its return flight or in large groups, the Aurora can be hit by ground fire. - Generals manual(src) |
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The Aurora was an American supersonic bomber used during the GLA Conflict.
Upgrades[]
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Countermeasures | Grants the Aurora a 50% chance of negating missile-based attacks. | Purchasable at any American air field in Zero Hour for $1000 |
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Advanced Training | Doubles the chance of an Aurora gaining veterancy after a successful kill. | Purchasable at any Strategy Center for $1500 |
Game unit[]
Due to its extreme speed, the expensive Aurora is effectively immune to enemy anti-aircraft weapons during its supersonic attack run. This guarantees a hit against its ground target, but the bomber becomes vulnerable immediately after releasing its payload and during its return trip.
Variants[]
- Malcolm Granger's Auroras cost less ($2000->$2500) and come with point defense lasers to neutralize enemy missiles.
- Alexis Alexander's Auroras are replaced with Aurora Alphas.
Counters[]
Absolutely nothing can damage an Aurora on its bombing run, except very occasionally a detonating EMP missile or other detonating missile with a wide area of effect that happens to explode near it. However, once the Aurora finishes its bombing run, it slows down significantly and can be hit by all forms of anti-aircraft weapons. In this state, it is extremely vulnerable due to its thin armor.
Their reliance on air fields is an additional weak point, since they are defenseless while on the ground and require a free airfield slot to survive while in flight.
It is also the most expensive unit in the game; at the cost of $2500, it is even more expensive than a basic Overlord tank.
Game Use[]
The Aurora's powerful fuel-air bomb cannot be jammed or intercepted, and is among the most devastating single weapons in the game. It is best used against a fixed structure, a temporarily halted vehicle or cluster of vehicles, or very slow vehicles such as Overlords. While it has a wide area of effect, it will not track a moving target and cannot always catch a fast-moving vehicle in its blast radius.
Two Auroras attacking together can destroy most buildings. They can pick off isolated defense structures, but laser and multiple gunfire-based anti-air units should be avoided, as they will often destroy the Aurora after it releases its payload as it is turning around. Auroras are quite useful for fast follow-on strikes against a power-dependent faction whose electrical supply has been disrupted and perimeter defenses temporarily offline.
As a last resort, Aurora Bombers are sometimes sacrificed in one-way strikes against superweapons that are about to fire. This requires multiple Auroras or else the assistance of a General's Power or a superweapon of one's own if the target structure in question is at full strength.
Changelog[]
- Generals patch 1.03:
- speed increased from 90 to 120 after it drops its bomb
- damaged speed increased from 60 to 120.
- Zero Hour patch 1.03:
- bomb damage increased from 900 to 1000
- bomb damage radius increased from 70 to 100
Quotes[]
| “ | Hi-speed bomber ready for takeoff! - When emerging from the air field |
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| “ | Aurora in flight. - When selected |
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| “ | Avionics online. - When selected |
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| “ | Supersonic aircraft. - When selected |
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| “ | Radar won't pick us up! - When selected |
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| “ | Breaking the sound barrier. - When selected |
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| “ | Fasten your safe-belts! - When taking off |
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| “ | Ignition! - When taking off |
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| “ | Lining up for the approach! - When taking off |
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| “ | Hittin' the blowers! - When taking off |
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| “ | Booster engaged! - When taking off |
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| “ | Entering coordinates. - When moving |
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| “ | Roger that. - When moving |
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| “ | Designation set. - When moving |
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| “ | Flight path confirmed. - When moving |
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| “ | Stabilizers engaged. - When moving |
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| “ | Navigation systems check. - When moving |
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| “ | Target confirmed! - When ordered to attack |
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| “ | Discharging munitions! - When ordered to attack |
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| “ | Bombing bays cleared! - When ordered to attack |
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| “ | Delivering payload! - When ordered to attack |
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| “ | Passing overhead! - When ordered to attack |
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| “ | Eject to safety! - When being shot down |
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| “ | Huaaaaaaaaaa! - When being shot down |
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| “ | Aaaaaaaaaaah! - When being shot down |
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| “ | Fuel levels are critical! - When run out of fuel |
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| “ | Making a landing request! - When run out of fuel |
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| “ | Fuel gauges are in the red! - When run out of fuel |
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| “ | Going supersonic! - When using Supersonic Boost |
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| “ | Supersonic thruster powered up! - When using Supersonic Boost |
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| “ | Prepare for sonic boom! - When using Supersonic Boost |
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| “ | Bunker Buster bombs are ready, sir! - When the Bunker Buster upgrade is completed |
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| “ | The Bunker Buster bombs are now installed! - When the Bunker Buster upgrade is completed |
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| “ | Upgrading all bombs to Bunker Busters! - When the Bunker Buster upgrade is completed |
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Cut Hypersonic Aurora Quotes[]
| “ | Hypersonic Aurora. - When selected |
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| “ | Hypersonic aircraft. - When selected |
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| “ | Hypersonic ready for take-off! - When selected |
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| “ | Let's make this quick! - When ordered to attack |
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| “ | We won't slow down! - When ordered to attack |
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| “ | It'll be a clean delivery! - When ordered to attack |
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Trivia[]
- General Granger was originally meant to have his own variant of the Aurora that did not only include a point defense laser module. Dubbed the "Hypersonic Aurora", it would have been armed with a fuel air bomb that had an extreme amount of damage (1000). This would make it unbalanced, and is likely a reason for its removal. It has a model, voice sets and a selection picture, but for one reason or another it was not implemented in the game. One likely reason General Granger did not receive it was because it was given to General Alexander (without the Point Defense Laser) and renamed the Aurora Alpha, as evidenced by the extreme similarities between the Hypersonic Aurora and the Aurora Alpha. Only the cameo, soundset and model remain within the game files.
- The standard Aurora was supposed to have a Supersonic Boost mode allowing the Aurora to fly at the double the speed, but it was removed, possibly for balancing reasons.
- The Aurora was possibly based on a top-secret supersonic aircraft of the same name, build in the late 1980's as a possible replacement to the SR-71. The U.S. government has consistently denied such an aircraft ever being built.
- The in-game model appears to be based on the F-16XL, a proposed bomber variant of the F-16 fighter. While sporting the same cranked arrow delta wing, it differs in that it includes two vertical stabilizers, horizontal stabilizers/elevators, and a smaller cockpit.
Gallery[]
Concept art
Hypersonic Aurora version
Concept render
Beta Aurora texture 1
Beta Aurora texture 2
See also[]
- Aurora Alpha, Alexander only
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