Viking

"Ladies, gentlemen, I give you the latest weapon in the Dominion's arsenal, a force both for pacification and protection as we forge further into the unknown. It is my pleasure to unveil the Viking ground/air combat facilitation system!"

- Terran Dominion spokesman

The A2 Viking Armored Mechanical Hybrid is a terran unit with the ability to transform between a ground unit ("Assault mode") and an air unit ("Fighter mode").

Overview
"We start thinking of it as pretty or decorative, we risk forgetting its purpose is just downright ugly."

- Captain Jon Dyre (quoted by Wes Carter)

Based heavily on the transformation design of the siege tank, the Viking was designed to be the ultimate anti-air and ground-support weapon system, armed with MT50 Lanzer Torpedoes and twin gatling guns for both respective tasks. A targeting system exists for both, along with displaying height and location. The ability to self-destruct is also present. The arm and leg servos are interchangeable, easing repairs. Bellerephon further expanded the Viking's options through the Phobos-class weapon system&mdash;an improved loadout that adds a longer-range anti-air missile and an improved gatling cannon increased range in ground assaults. Enlightened Dynamics also developed Ripwave missiles for the hybrid.

In its aerial mode, Vikings are classified as air superiority fighters. The walker mode was considered more important. They can be paired with AH/G-24 Banshees for operations as air cavalry.

While the Viking's versatility is its greatest asset, it is also one of its drawbacks. Few pilots are able to handle both combat modes and the majority of Viking pilots are killed in their first battle (the term "cherry" is used for Viking pilots who have yet to carry out a transformation). Those who survive however, become amongst the most skilled pilots. The elite few who make it through training are so deadly that their names are well-known by both allies and enemies across the Koprulu Sector.

Viking pilots are equipped with helmets with visors that lower when they take their vehicles into the air. However, regardless of whatever advantages the visor might bring, it is still possible to fly a Viking without one.

History
The revealed weaknesses in terran anti-air capability. Wraith combat fighters and valkyrie missile frigates proved to be an unwieldy combination against agile zerg airborne organisms. In addition, ground-based anti-air support from goliath assault walkers was too limited in its mobility: all too often airborne attackers would simply move out of the goliath's range. In the aftermath of the war, terran weapon technicians proposed a radical new concept to resolve both of these problems; an armored vehicle with the ability to change its combat role from an assault walker to an air-superiority fighter, enabling it to switch smoothly to fulfill tactical needs in a developing battle.

The Wyrm was an early design. It was quickly succeeded by the Viking, which had more armor, more options and a faster response time. A Viking was showcased at Ursa in 2502, where one single-handedly destroyed a military base.

Final field testing of the Viking was carried out at.

Game Unit
The Viking is one of the starport's basic production options, and may benefit from the reactor add-on.

In air mode, the Viking is a light flyer with a very long range anti-air attack. It is good for hit-and-run attacks against slower, higher value air targets. The Viking is less suitable against other light flyers, the phoenix and the ; the former's long range does not fully compensate for the latter two's higher movement speed.

On the ground, the Viking behaves much like a more capable, but much more expensive,.

The Viking is useful for raiding worker lines, and supporting marines and marauders against colossi.

The Viking may be fired on during its transformation sequence.

Wings of Liberty
Vikings are unlocked by playing either "Safe Haven" or "Haven's Fall", available after Rory Swann called in some favors to get their schematics.

Quotations

 * See: StarCraft II Viking Quotations

Development
Karune stated that its ground mode could attack both ground and air units in February 2008 but that ability underwent balance testing and has since been removed.

At earlier builds the Viking was built on the factory at ground mode, but needed a Fighter Tech upgrade to enable transforming to air mode.

Concept art of the Viking is identical to that of the Wyrm, the Viking's in-universe predecessor effectively being lifted from concepts of its in-universe successor. The icon for this old form can still be found in the map editor.

Known Viking Pilots



 * Captain Jon Dyre
 * Lieutenant Chet Ward

Known Viking Units

 * Hel's Angels
 * Sky Fury Squadron

Known Viking Variants

 * Archangel
 * Sky Fury Squadron