DRAKON

Introduction
Large aircraft capable of equipping a multitude of heavy weapons, at the cost of performance and high upgrade expenses.

Usage
Despite being a fighter, the DRAKON works much more like a standoff fire-support aircraft. Its high Payload and avionics capacity allows the DRAKON to carry several high-damage weapons for either air-to-air or air-to-surface combat.

It also packs the most durability of any fighter without upgrades and rivals the KONDOR at base value, making it a superb tank for enemy fire.

To offset its supreme versatility, however, the DRAKON is expensive to upgrade and rather large, making it easier for enemy fire to score a hit. It also has a higher tendency to stall; new pilots may find the typical strategy of cranking a low-speed turn — especially while climbing — to be unusually punishing.

Finally, its micromissile launchers are set very widely apart, making it difficult for TWIN-GUN users to properly land a hit on a target. Despite its flaws, with the right investment it can function as a viable single-aero run platform.

Standard variant
The Drakon flies in a fairly typical fighter pattern, switching between lazy offensive manoeuvring and longer periods of straight flying, usually after firing a volley at the player. Its increased armor makes it harder to kill, but its lower speed easier to hit. They appear in days 8-12 of the campaign, and in the first four days of Endless mode.

DRAKON-ACE
Enemy DRAKON Mk. 2s. Like the ROGUE-ACE, DRAKON-ACEs alternate between firing a non-upgraded FLAIL missile and GUN, favoring the first option. It tries considerably harder to fly evasively, but is still the easiest ACE fighter to land hits on due to its reduced speed and large profile.

Pilot's advice

 * Keep your speed up. The DRAKON's slow 8000 base speed and punishingly high stall speed do not do it any favors in combatting swarms of fighters, its massive size notwithstanding. Utilize the 160/160 payload/avionics spread to deal maximum damage, and don't be afraid to run if the situation is particularly unsuitable.
 * Try to use the aero's wide micromissile mounts to try hitting multiple targets at once.