The first Windscorpion 18A monitor ship entered service a few days ago. At the moment it is only conventionally powered, using an engine developed from the Neptune powerplant used in the Quasar 15A. NS have revealed that the engine is only a stop-gap due to delays in developing a new engine based on the Hitachi HS-740 used in the Missileer 21B.
The new engine is expected to be fitted next year, it will include the more efficient Proton e-Core technology being developed by NS as well as provide more power. The Windscorpion 18A can reach higher speeds and the new engine will enable it.
The ship will also be fitted with worm drive. It had been expected to have been fitted already but low yields in producing the heavy duty Electron W1AA meant that the ship had to be released for service without it. NS said the geometry and testing of the power grid has been done. The worm drive will be fitted either later this year or early next.
