The AC-491 Combat Cranefly is notable as it is the first major combat aircraft type to be produced only for Benito's half of the Clone Star Empire. It is a gunship version of the C-491 STOL transport and will be used for COIN operations on Austini 55 and other planets in CSE-E. It will also be fitted out as a UCAV control ship at a later stage.
Over time it is expected there will be further divergance between the armed forces of the two halves of the empire though the core of the HCS is expected to remain the same. A committee that includes HCS officers from both sides co-ordinates the specifications of new types. The forthcoming F-47 LLFX for example for the CSE-E will have a modified avionics fit to the CSE-W example.
