[Kosh]

Why do FS1 era Terran warships have radar dishes, but FS2 era doesn't? Does it even make a difference?

[terran_emperor]

___Eyes Only___
___The Following Is CLASSIFIED LEVEL SPECULATION___
___Unauthorised Quoting As Canon Is Punishable By A Slap In The Face___
___Sol Convention - 06-12-08___
FS2 era craft have near shivan-level sensors.
Craft prior to the Great War, required a Radar Dish to assist their sensors.
Following the Capture of Shivan sensors during the Great War, Sensors were upgraded fleetwide.
The upgraded sensors, eliminated the need for Radar dishes in future designs like the Hecate.
However, The Radar dish was built heavily in to existing craft that used it, meaning that to remove it would compromise ship opporations.
___Eyes Only___

Actually i have no idea on what the Radar Dish does.

[Droid803]

Its just for looks.
The FS1 shipsh ad it because it looked cool, then they took them off in FS2 to make the ships look more sleek.
terran emperor's explanation that sensor technology improved and they could house the equipment internally makes for a good in-universe explanation.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

A move toward dedicated AWACS ships?

Each GTVA battle group has a squadron of Charybdis-class ships assigned to it. These ships double the range of the group's standard detection arrays.

[Mars]

Honestly what would be amazing is Leviathans (or even a Fenris) modified with an AWACs dish, as a way of having dedicated AWACS ships without the fragile crap ship.

[FUBAR-BDHR]

You would figure a flak/anti-fighter heavy version would be a logical progression.  Either that or the development of technology that prevents the locking of enemy bombs and missiles in a range around the craft. 

Then again if you build something the size of the Colossus you think they would have plenty of room to include AWACS capabilities. 

[eliex]

Why do FS1 era Terran warships have radar dishes, but FS2 era doesn't?

The FS2 GTM Hippocrates has a radar dish IIRC. Still, it is technically a civilian ship.

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Doesn't the Colossus have Radar Dishes too?

[eliex]

It does. 

[Androgeos Exeunt]

And the Fenris and Leviathan?

[eliex]

But they're FS1 era right? 

[terran_emperor]

And the Fenris and Leviathan?

Well the Fenris and Leviathan are FS1 era ships - refer to my first post above for why they have radar dishes in-universe

Doesn't the Colossus have Radar Dishes too?

To be fair, the colossus did take 2 decades to complete. Its going to be a mix of the best tech available for something at the time, various other doo-hickies that seemed like a good idea at the time but now have a new compact hight tech macguffin to replace it, and sudden inspirations...

I'll be perfectly honest, i dont think the Colossus was ready during FS2. I think she was rushed into service due to the  shivan presence in/beyond G-Draconis and the tide of the NTF war turning against the GTVA. Once completed, she would require a shakedown cruise, then a Refit to bring her completly up to modern standards, followed by another shakedown to ensure that she works properly.
-I dub this problem of launching a ship before its ready "Enterprise Refit Syndrome" (ERS) after the problems that the USS Enterprise and Enterprise-A suffered from when they were rushed into service - See ST:TMP and STV:TFF to see what i Mean

[Colonol Dekker]

Never listen to punk on a bus. . . .

[Kosh]

___Eyes Only___
___The Following Is CLASSIFIED LEVEL SPECULATION___
___Unauthorised Quoting As Canon Is Punishable By A Slap In The Face___
___Sol Convention - 06-12-08___
FS2 era craft have near shivan-level sensors.
Craft prior to the Great War, required a Radar Dish to assist their sensors.
Following the Capture of Shivan sensors during the Great War, Sensors were upgraded fleetwide.
The upgraded sensors, eliminated the need for Radar dishes in future designs like the Hecate.
However, The Radar dish was built heavily in to existing craft that used it, meaning that to remove it would compromise ship opporations.
___Eyes Only___

Actually i have no idea on what the Radar Dish does.

But then again Vasudans never used them, so maybe the Vasudans just had better sensor technology?

[terran_emperor]

Never listen to punk on a bus. . . .

Thats STIV:TVH not STV:TFF...here's proof

[Colonol Dekker]

I know its TVH. But it's still the best moment from any film. 

[terran_emperor]

so, did i get you?

[Colonol Dekker]

Eh? I'm on wap, can't see links

[Androgeos Exeunt]

Oh yeah, that handphone icon...

[BengalTiger]

___Eyes Only___
___The Following Is CLASSIFIED LEVEL SPECULATION___
___Unauthorised Quoting As Canon Is Punishable By A Slap In The Face___
___Sol Convention - 06-12-08___
FS2 era craft have near shivan-level sensors.
Craft prior to the Great War, required a Radar Dish to assist their sensors.
Following the Capture of Shivan sensors during the Great War, Sensors were upgraded fleetwide.
The upgraded sensors, eliminated the need for Radar dishes in future designs like the Hecate.
However, The Radar dish was built heavily in to existing craft that used it, meaning that to remove it would compromise ship opporations.
___Eyes Only___

Actually i have no idea on what the Radar Dish does.

I'd say that the GTVA had better sensors than the Shivans- we were able to find cruisers and colonies of gas miners before they found our capships in the Nebula...