GCC SAAB Skydragon — The First Terran Space Superiority Fighter

File Reference: Terran Spacefleet Archives / GCC Industrial History Log #SD-35

Origins and Development (1971–1973)

Following Major Perry Rhodan’s historic Mun landing in June 1971 and the discovery of the Arkonide cruiser AETRON, humankind took its first steps toward becoming a spacefaring civilization. To ensure political independence and financial stability, Homer G. Adams founded the General Cosmic Company (GCC), tasked with adapting and commercializing Arkonide technology for use on Earth.

Although Arkonide gravity-field propulsion and energy weapons were far superior to terrestrial designs, full implementation was technically and economically impractical in the early 1970s. Thus, the GCC pursued a hybrid approach, combining simplified Arkonide systems with proven terrestrial aerospace engineering.

Discovery of the Venusian Arkonide Base

During the first Terran expedition to Venus in 1972, led by Rhodan and Reginald Bull, an abandoned Arkonide outpost dating back 10,000 years was found beneath the Venusian cloud cover. Stored in its vaults were several single-seat Arkonide interceptor craft, heavily damaged but technologically invaluable.

While full replication was impossible, the concept inspired the idea of a Terran-built planetary and orbital interceptor—cheap, mass-producible, and capable of defending Earth and planets or asteroids.

Industrial Partnership with Sweden

Seeking a neutral and technologically advanced partner, the GCC entered a covert development agreement with Saab in Sweden. Based loosely on the airframe of the Saab 35 Draken, the new spacecraft fused:

• Terran aerodynamics

• Arkonide impulse sublight engines

• Twin light disintegrator cannons

• Independent life-support systems for up to 48 hours in space

Official designation: GCC-SAAB SD-1 “Skydragon”

Operational History

First Deployment:
By autumn 1973, the first Skydragons were stationed at Terrania Spaceport and the Venus Base Gar hive, performing atmospheric interceptions, orbital patrols, and convoy overwatch.

The Vega Campaign (1975):
Two Skydragons—SD-07 “Fenrir” and SD-12 “Njord”—were assigned to the GOOD HOPE during Perry Rhodan’s first interstellar mission to the Vega System in May 1975.

They participated in:

• Atmospheric recon over Ferrol

• Interdiction raids against Topside troop landers

• Close escort during the evacuation of indigenous Ferronians

Both Skydragons were destroyed in combat during the Battle of Golghoor Plains, marking the first loss of Terran-built space superiority fighters in interstellar warfare.

Later Service:
Although technologically outdated by the late 1970s due to the introduction of pure anti-grav Arkonide-Terran fusion craft (e.g. the Crest II interceptor series), the Skydragon remained in limited service until 1982, mainly:

• Patrol duty in the inner Solar System

• Training missions at Terrania Flight Academy

• Service on smaller bases like Ceres.

Decommissioning and Legacy

By 2017, all Skydragons had been retired. Most were scrapped, but nine surviving units remain in museums and GCC collections—one fully restored unit is on static display in Terrania Space Museum Hall IV, still bearing the faded insignia of GOOD HOPE’s Space Wing.

Though primitive compared to later Terran or Arkonide designs, the GCC Skydragon represents the first indigenous human attempt to build a true space-combat vehicle—a symbolic bridge between atmospheric flight and interstellar warfare.

The model shows a Spacedragon stationed on Ceres in March 1977.