Ship Name: Blazitron Industries F-563 Lightning fighter-bomber 
     (Lightning)
Cost: 940,000 credits

Speed: 350
Accel: Very Good
Turn: Very Good
Shields: 25
Armor: 5
Guns: Maximum of 5
Turrets: Maximum of 1
Space: 15 tons
Cargo: 5 tons
Fuel: 5 jumps
Length: 10 m
Mass: 12 tons
Crew: 1

Standard weapons:
     4 Laser Cannons
     2 Missile Racks + 4 Missiles
     1 Rocket Launcher + 2 Heavy Rockets
     1 Javelin Pod + 40 Javelin Rockets


My opinion:  The Lightning is the last ship that will set you back below one million credits, unfortunately it isn't much of a ship.  While the ship sports some heavy fire power, it can easily be destroyed because of its weak shields and even weaker armor.  If purchased, I recommending selling the Rocket Launcher and Heavy Rockets, freeing up 34 tons of weapons space.  Upgrade the laser cannons to five proton cannons, purchase a layer of Armaplast armor and use the remaining space to buy missles.  Unfortunately the lack of cargo room is a serious problem; five tons of cargo room will only enable to you complete some of the lower missions, and sacraficing twenty tons of weapon space for a cargo pod just isn't worth it.  Avoid flying in a lightning.

Computer controled:  Watch out for close encounters with Lightnings!  The computer enjoys sending them on suicide bombings where they fly right towards you and launch a heavy rocket.  If you have missiles, firing three in sucession will render the Lighting disabled.  The Lighting is the first ship to come after you if provoked.