(new) Stallion Transport
EDF Stallion Transport:
Cost: 1200
Armor: Helicopter
Speed: Fast
War Factory Tech, Tier-1 Infantry Transport
The Sikorsky S-65B/CH-56 Stallion represents the mainstay aerial transport of the EDF. Designed during the Second Red War, it saw minimal use alongside the widespread Sikorsky Nighthawk and Boeing Chinook helicopters. When the Nighthawk was withdrawn in the 1990s, Sikorsky felt the need to get a new entry into the US military's arsenal. Taking the old S-65 design, Sikorsky engineers lightened the aircraft while improving its protection and mobility.
The new S-65B Stallion was quickly adopted when it was shown to have most of the Chinook's capabilities, while in a more modern and well protected package, at a comparable price. Entering service in 1997, the Stallion made its impact known with a massive number of purpose-modified variants being designed, ranging from search-and-rescue to gunships. It came to represent the US military wherever it went- from the hostile terrain of Korea to humanitarian aid efforts in natural disaster afflicted areas.
When the EDF was formed, it was almost immediately -- almost suspiciously quickly chosen for the role of Transport/Utility Helicopter- with most European and Russian designs being glanced over entirely, much to the disappointment of their respective companies and governments.
The basic transport model is the most widely manufactured, and is the only model used in significant numbers in the EDF- a few gunships and other variants remain allocated to special forces variants, but that's it. The Stallion's massive hold allows it to transport 12 infantry, 4 light vehicles or 6 drones across the battlefield, thus greatly improving the EDF's tactical and strategic mobility.
Variants:
-AH56: Gunship variant, never used in combat. Armed with Hydra rockets and 12 machine guns.
-CH53/S-65: Initial design, introduced in 1962; manufactured and used in small numbers in the Allied armies.
-A large number of uncatalogued variants exist with differing engines, equipment packages, so on
Voxel by Yurisarmy
