In 2028 large scale nuclear war was made temporarily impossible by the European Conglomerate. A decision was made by this alliance, to place anti-missile satelites in orbit to destroy any ballistic missiles that would climb to over 60,000'. At the time the EC did not realize that this very move would cause a backlash of violence.

      Scarcely a year later - the United League of Arab Nations, decided to forcibly expel the Israelis from not only the occupied territories, but from Israel itself. In prior engagements, nuclear war was a threat that prevented the ULAN from forcing their points with Israel - this was no longer a factor.

      A bloody six month long war soon took place, during which the USAF was called upon to assist her traditional ally in the Middle East. Although the war was eventually called a draw by both sides, and the occupied territories returned to the ULAN, everyone involved took a beating. It became apparent in this conflict that the JSF and F-22s simply were not going to be able to serve the role of ground attack, sufficiently - as formerly believed. A record number of jet fighter pilots were lost attempting to fight in this role - 209.

      These losses were completely unacceptable, and by the winter of 2032 a new ground attack aircraft design was sought by the USAF. This aircraft had to be heavily armored with new ultralight composite armor for survivability. It had to be heavily armed with an armor piercing integral cannon, and with 30 or more pod spaces of weaponry. Furthermore, it had to be powered by nuclear power rather than by jet fuel. In 2037, four designs were presented for demonstration. Although the other three were impressive - when the Fairchild-Dornier XA-100 Super Warthog was unvieled, it became an instant sensation. Capable of a speed of 535 mph she was swift. Armored with the most modern composite armor, she was more heavily armored than the new US-M7A1 Forward Scout Tank. True to her lineage, being armed with a 30 mm Gatling Cannon, and FORTY pod spaces of weaponry - she had more bite than any previously constructed Close Support Aircraft.

      In total 1,260 examples of the Super Warthog were purchased from Fairchild-Dornier by the USAF, the first ones beginning operational service in 2041. An additional 218 were purchased by the European Conglomerate, and 56 were purchased by Israel along with a license to produce it. An additional 186 were constructed by IAI, of Israel.

      The Fairchild-Dornier A-100 Super Warthog's service life was long and glorified in all of it's forms. By the time of the cataclysm the USAF itself had introduced several different variations of the aircraft. The original A-100A, the A-100B with a boosted avionics suite, the A-100C introduced new Electro-Magnetic driven air jet thrusters capable of 560 mph, along with infra-red dampening, and the EA-100D Weasel-Hog, that introduced sophisticated radar sensory equipment, that could lock a selection of ordinance onto virtually any radar active in a combat zone.

      Almost all of these impressive aircraft were destroyed during the duration of the cataclysm, but a few have survived. The CS uncovered a dozen such aircraft in Missouri in 76PA, and have since begun using them as advanced trainers. A small cache of 4 A-100Cs were uncovered in armored hangar in Arizona, and were subsequently fitted with eight conventional mini-missile launchers, and a quartet of medium range missiles, before being sold to the Clarkdale Confederacy. Additionally, a handful of hardened bunkers in Israel which contained the A-100As of the IAF may still buried in the shifting sands of the expanded Sahara Desert. No more than a dozen would exist there, but would be an ideal archeological expedition for characters.

      Despite so many of these aircraft having been lost amidst the sands of time, the records and construction details kept by the US Archives in Salt Lake City did however, survive. In early 114PA construction of the A-100 began again, this time, in Desert Star under the name S-Mart Assassin. As it was in the 21st century, so too has it become the master of battlefields in the 25th century.

      It's first manifestation in the Post Apoclyptic Air Forces, the Assassin-A, is commonly used by the NOMAD Air Force of Desert Star with 89 examples, Kyatashiro with 77 examples, and Tolkeen with 33 examples. Tolkeen intends to add an additional 25 in a contract extention scheduled to take place in September of 119PA. The newest type, the Assassin-B, has been produced for service aboard the ANF Dalmir and Yellow Submarine - totaling out to 104 aircraft of this type having been produced. Plans have also been made for the Assassin-A aircraft of the NOMAD Air Force, to be upgraded, including some equipment introduced in the Assassin-B. These modified aircraft will be known by the designation of Assassin-C. Note: These numbers represent the total number produced for each force mentioned, and not the number in active service. It is inevitable that some have, and will be lost in action, and others have, and will be lost in accidents.

      The image above is reprinted, with permission, from R. Talsorian Games Inc. Cyberpunk 2020®'s Sourcebook Maximum Metal. In the sourcebook it is seen as the A-01 Blitz, a ground attack aircraft based on the A-10 Thunderbolt II, developed for the US Army. All rights remain reserved by R. Talsorian Games Inc., and SirTenzan's RIFTS Gallery acknowledges and respects these rights. This image is reprinted as a means of creating a wonderful new vehicle for RIFTS, using the spectacular artistry of R. Talsorian Games Inc. illustrators.