AHS-1 heavy assault airspeeder

The AHS-1 heavy assault airspeeder from Slayn & Korpil, also known as the "Walker Buster", came into being shortly after the Battle of Hoth. The Rebel Alliance needed a countermeasure against the Empire's AT-AT walkers, and this vehicle was their answer.

Characteristics

During testing, the vehicle earned the moniker "Walker Buster" because of its intended purpose. The original prototype was fashioned from a damaged B-wing starfighter, a design principle that was maintained in later models. The AHS-1 incorporated two B-wing airfoils, connected to the B-wing's command pod. Repulsorlift engines, enhanced with ion afterburners, were positioned on the command pod's underside, toward the rear. An additional airfoil, acting as a stabilizer, was placed above and behind the command pod, linked to the main airfoils by two vertical stabilizers.

Armaments

The Walker Buster was armed with two Taim & Bak KL5 laser cannons, each situated on a wingtip within the same housing as the landing gear. It also had an Arakyd proton torpedo launcher at the rear of the command pod, firing through a tube extending to the pod's "chin". A Thunderbolt 595 quad blaster cannon was mounted on the nose, providing firepower against less armored targets. However, its primary weaponry consisted of four GX-15 "Starbolt" concussion missiles, a newly developed advanced weapon system specifically designed for the AHS-1.

Despite its impressive weaponry, the Walker Buster suffered from a significant limitation: its substantial size and weight. The vehicle relied heavily on its airfoils for lift and stability, in addition to its repulsorlifts, and required a short run to build up sufficient lift for takeoff. Furthermore, its maneuverability was notably poor. While the ion afterburners provided enough speed to outpace the AT-AT and AT-ST walkers it was designed to destroy, this lack of agility made it susceptible to attacks from TIE fighter or concentrated laser fire.

History

Despite these shortcomings, the Walker Buster was anticipated to play a significant role in the war effort against the Empire, with deployment expected shortly after the completion of its flight tests.

Sources