Tactical Nuke MiG

Tactical Nuke MiG
Unit
Faction	Tsing Shi Tao
Base unit	MiG
Role	Multi-role fighter
Armament	2 Tactical-nuke missiles (standard configuration)
Properties
Hit points	160 (200 with MiG Armor)
Armor type	Plane
Production
Cost	$1000
Produced by	Chinese air field
Combat
Ground attack	100 (300 with Tactical Nuke)
Air attack	100 (300 with Tactical Nuke)
Air speed	160
Attack range	320 (minimum 80)
Sight range	200-300
Function
Upgrades	MiG Armor
Notes
Adds shockwave damage if Tactical Nuke upgrade is researched

The Tactical Nuke MiG is a modified Chinese MiG unique to General Tsing Shi Tao in Zero Hour.

Background

What some might call overkill, this nuclear-obsessed general calls a frontline fighter, whose missiles are tipped with small nuclear warheads. Despite their unique munitions, their overall design remains mostly unchanged from the mainline MiG fighter.

Upgrades

	MiG Armor	Upgraded MiGs' armour.	Developed at the Chinese air field for a cost of $1200.
	Tactical Nuke MiG	Equipped the MIG with a far more devastating nuclear payload.	Developed at the missile silo for a cost of $2000. Only available to General Tsing Shi Tao.

Game Unit

Serving as General Tao's replacement to the standard MiG fighter, this variation was equipped with more powerful nuclear warheads as opposed to incendiary missiles, once the "Tactical Nike MiG" upgrade is researched. These were quite effective against both enemy infantry and armor, and the residual radiation posed a threat to any infantry passing through the area. Like conventional missiles, they could be used against ground or air targets alike.

Vehicles struck with the warheads often were thrown into the air and flew a short distance, while infantry were blasted cleanly off the battlefield. Vehicles that land upside-down, on impassible terrain, or in water would be instantly destroyed, regardless of their armor.

Counters

Against aircraft however, the MiGs' explosive warheads become something of a liability - their increased blast radius sometimes meant that they become co-victims of their own weapon.

Much like the shells fired by the Nuke Cannon, the missiles will impact any obstructions and prematurely detonate. This can sometimes destroy the MiG if its target is too close to, for instance, a civilian building, in the flight path.

Additionally, the armor of the MiG did not see any improvements under General Tao, and they were as easy to down as the standard MiG. The MiG Armor upgrade somewhat mitigated this, but the aircraft were still relatively fragile. Their missiles could also be defeated by an American point-defense laser, and because each MiG carried only two warheads, they were unlikely to prevail unless used in great numbers.

Despite the overall superiority of the nuclear payload, the napalm of the original MiG is superior against targets like the Stinger Site because of napalm's ability to immediately incinerate infantry.

Changelog

• Zero Hour patch 1.03: removed upgrade cameo for black napalm, since it is not available

Trivia

• Though the Chinese arsenal possesses other nuclear weapons (Nuke Cannon, Nuclear Missile, etc.), only the blast of an upgraded Tactical Nuclear MiG will displace enemies.
  • Due to how MiGs can target both ground and airborne units, enemies (typically infantry) can be struck again in midair, sending them even further away from the ground.
• Though the PLA star emblems on the MiG's wings have been replaced by nuclear warning symbols on the model, their cameo remains unchanged and displays red stars on their wingtips.
• Although the Black Napalm upgrade is seen next to Tactical Nuke MiG's cameo, and highlighted when Black Napalm upgrade is complete, the upgrade does not make the Tactical Nuke MiG more powerful. This has been corrected in later patches.

See also

• MiG, standard Chinese fighter/bomber
• King Raptor, General Granger's counterpart