VF-17 Nightmare

The VF-17 Nightmare is a variable fighter from the anime television series "Macross 7" and "Macross Frontier". It was designed by General Galaxy for the U.N. Spacy special forces to support space colonization fleets. The VF-17 is equipped with stealth technology much like the real-life F-117 Nighthawk used by the USAF. It does not require Fuel And Sensor Tactical (FAST) Packs for space combat, although it can be equipped with FAST Packs depending on its mission requirements. The reconnaissance version of the craft is equipped with a rotary advanced sensor radome.

The VF-17 Nightmare has better performance in space than most variable fighters. With two 55,000 kg main engines and over 30 vernier thrusters, the mecha can reach speeds and maneuvering levels far superior to those possible by VF-11 Thunderbolts equipped with space boosters. However, the performance of the mecha greatly decreases in an Earth-type atmosphere.

Using its internal engines, the VF-17 can reach satellite orbit without FAST packs or extra booster rockets, much like later VFs including the VF-19 Excalibur and VF-22 Sturmvogel II.

The VF-17's gunpod is mounted in the starboard wing in Fighter mode, in the section which becomes the right leg in Battroid mode. From here it can be ejected into the Battroid's hands and used as a handgun. An gunpod beam adaptor similarly stored within the left leg can be fitted into the gunpod to transform it from a machine gun into a powerful beam gun.

In the most recent "Macross" television show, "Macross Frontier", an updated version of the VF-17 Nightmare named the "VF-171" was introduced. The fighter's name is currently unknown. This is the latest version of the VF-17 which has become now the main fighter of the New U.N. Spacy (N.U.N.S.) and the "Macross Frontier" fleet. The design is clearly based upon the VF-17 Nightmare, but it also has design lines that resemble those of the VF-19 and the VF-22. The VF-171 was originally developed as a multipurpose heavy space fighter. Highly versatile and easy to pilot, the VF-171 is the most popular manned variable space fighter/bomber as of 2059.

As the new series progresses the fighter is upgraded even more to a VF-171"EX" variant. This version is faster, more maneuverable and is equipped with "anti-Vajra" weaponry, such as a powerful beam cannon as well as "MDE" ("Mini-Dimension Eater") missiles in its packs/boosters. It is unclear if these new crafts are refitted/updated standard fighters or newly constructed ones. The VF-171"EX" was introduced in episode 23 of "Macross Frontier".