Johaunna, at first I thought the ship you marked was too small for the Vulture, as I imagined it to be more in the size of the Asp. After I checked the ship's stats, I think you are right!
This is, what the wiki tells us about the three ships:
| Cobra MkIII | Vulture | Asp |
Hard points | 2 med./2 small | 2 large | 2 med./4 small |
Utility | 2 | 4 | 4 |
Reactor | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Power dist. | 3 | 5 | 4 |
Sensors | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Thruster | 4 | 5 | 5 |
FSD | 4 | 4 | 5 |
Fuel | 4 | 3 | 5 |
Internal | 4 (shield) | 5 (shield) | 6 (usually cargo) |
| 4 | 4 (SCB ?) | 5 (usually shield) |
| 4 | 2 (Fuel scoop ?) | 3 |
| 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | - | 2 |
| - | - | 2 |
What does this tell us, regarding the Vulture?
1.) Size/mass
Even if many specs are settled in-between the Cobra and the Asp (thruster, reactor, FSD and so on) the real difference leis in the internal compartments! Here, the Vulture falls short even in comparison to the Cobra!
While this will make it hard to fit shield cell banks into the vessel, and keep some interesting equipment at the same time (FS-interdictor, Fuel scoop, more SCBs), it will minimize the ship's size dramatically.
2.) Power
The ships reactor is smaller than the Asp's reactor, which might be an issue regarding the large weapons. However, due to the lack of internal compartments (and hence less stuff to equip), it might be more than enough to sustain two fixed class 3 beam lasers and a class 4 SCB.
3.) Fighting
Where the Vulture
really shines, is the
power distribution! Its class 5 power distributor will allow way longer weapon-fire / more power distributed to system or thrusters than even the Asp can afford!
The limited size will keep the profile low as well as strengthen the shield efficiency, which is based on the ship's mass.
With the same thruster size as the Asp but less mass to move, the Vulture will probably be quite nimble and fast!
4.) Traveling
With proximately the same ship mass as the Cobra, the class 4 FSD will allow comparable jump ranges. The small fuel tank, however, will make pit-stops necessary on longer trips. Using the class 2 internal compartment for a fuel scoop might be recommended.
5.) Trading
Forget it... as expected.
Conclusion:
The Vulture is indeed a fighter!
The lack of internal compartments (SCB vs. decent FS-interdictor) and possible power shortage (decent KWS and FSW-scanner, which are both power hungry) will make it difficult to use it as a bounty hunter. The upcoming Fer-de-Lance will probably be better suited for this task.
At conflict zones, however, they will own the field! Enough utility slots for counter measures, descend shields (due to sip size and available pips) and of course massive weapons (which will have enough power without all the other stuff mentioned above and which will be recharged lightning fast due to the large energy distributor) will make it a power to be reckoned with!
Personal verdict:
I am looking forward to it!
