"Gavial" heavy fighter intelligence report.
Update: In 2374, Starfleet engineers were permitted to examine several Gorn vessels including several "Gavial" heavy fighters, as part of a technology exchange program. The engineers found that this type of vessel is called "Shusch'ach", (translation: "Small multilegged parasite with big teeth"). Star Fleet Intelligence (SFI) has given this report a 70% reliability rating.

General Specifications:

Length: 21m (Estimated)
Width: 9.4m (Estimated)
Height: 4m (Estimated)
Max Warp: 9.5 (Observed)
Cruise: 8.85 (Estimated)
Max. Impulse: .85 lightspeed (Estimated)
Crew: 2

Armaments: 1 heavy disruptor (fwd); Four hardpoints (1 dorsal/centerline, one ventral/centerline, 2 underwing) allow the Gavial to carry up to four antimatter missiles with a range of ~1,000,000 km.

Type: Heavy Fighter

About Ship: The Gavial has been in service with the Gorn for well over 100 years. It is a fast, well-armed, maneuverable vessel. Continuous upgrades of the basic design have kept it in service well beyond any known Federation fighter type. The Gavial is still in production, however there have been many upgrades since it first entered service.

The original vessel had a monocoque hull of synthetic sapphire covered with monocrystalline metallic alloy armor. The current spaceframe uses a duranium subframe, and a more advanced composite ablative armor.

The sensors suite used to include a dorsal sensors/countermeasures pod, but advancements in technology have reduced the size and increased the capability of the sensors, allowing them to be mounted internally. The pod is no longer required, and sensors use the multifunction phased array as their antenna.

The Gavial has three ventral hardpoints, one under each wing, and one along the centerline. These used to carry short-ranged missiles (~10,000 km) but now may carry more advanced long-ranged antimatter missiles, with a range 100 times greater than the older missiles. The dorsal hardpoint, formerly used for a sensors and countermeasures pod, may also be used to carry armaments.

The Gavial's main armament was originally a high-powered laser. This weapon was first upgraded to an X-ray laser, then to an ever-more powerful disruptor. The latest modification eliminated the emitter within the nose, using the phased array as an emitter instead.

Propulsion has likewise been continually improved. The impulse drives provide nearly eight times the delta-vee that the original possessed, and improvements in power generation and nacelle design have increased maximum warp from (estimated) 7 to 9.5

Sapint sources indicate that the Gorn plan to retire the Gavial in the near future. The replacement design is still a closely-guarded secret.