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Development began on the Lightning soon after the Valkyrie entered production.
Originally designated the VF-2X, lessons learned from the war led to continual redesign changes
which effectively ended both the VF-2 and the VF-3 in the prototype stage. The design finally moved
from the prototype stage to mass production with the VF-4 Lightning, which entered service in 2014
The Lightning improved upon the Valkyrie in almost every respect, utilising a pair of hard-hitting
beam cannons as its primary armament, along with increased speed and additional storage for missiles.
The fighter served during the reconstruction in the RDF, and many later left with the REF diplomatic
mission to Tirol. More VF-4s also stayed behind and served in the Naval Arm of the ASC during the Second
Robotech War.
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