The ground-attack version of the Z cannon the Z5g has had a successful combat debut when 2 Rome OPVs launched a bombardment of Utrek positions on Loeuss. The attack was not wholly successful though, one Z5g failed towards the end of the attack and other units has problems with accuracy though the units were a pre-production build with much work still to be done (indeed it is rumoured DDS Research was still working on software bugs half-an-hour before the attack!)
The Rome OPVs are returning to Solaris where they will have the next build of Z5g fitted, this is expected to be close to the final version and will have improved power management and accuracy. DDS Research say that once the Z5g has entered full service it will then begin working on the Z5i which will integrate space-space and space-ground modes into one unit (though space-ground will remain inferior to the Z5g). There will also be a Z5mi for smaller craft.
That is expected to be the end of the Z-cannon story as the DDS hopes to be able to migrate to the transphase Zip cannon from next year though delays with the technology could see the DDS keeping the Z-cannon team together to continue revisions into 2108.
