Ship Profile: The Kestrel

The Kestrel is a heavy missile boat with a fairly large cargo space and one of the most sophisticated sensor arrays around. Interestingly enough, it has been used by both the Caldari Navy and several wealthy trade corporations as a cargo-hauling vessel. It is one of few trading vessels with good punching power, making it ideal for solo trade-runs in dangerous areas. The Kestrel was designed so that it could take up to four missile launchers but instead it can not be equipped with turret weapons nor mining lasers.

Special Ability: 10% bonus to Kinetic missile damage and 5% bonus to EM, Explosive, and Thermal missile damage per level.

Fittings:
CPU: 150
Powergrid: 30
Calibration: 400
Low Slots: 2
Med Slots: 3
High Slots: 4
Launcher Slots: 4
Upgrade Slots: 3

The Kestrel is the frigate icon of all that the caldari aspire to be, its a tough little missile spamming ship with impressive shielding for a ship of its size, its strengths lay in being able to keep at a distance that suits its fit while sending wave after way of death through the air. The Kestrel can be fitted with one of two general fits, the first is a long range light missile fitting which is handy for dealing damage while staying out of webber range, the second fit is typically a little more suicidal and that is the close range rocket fit.

The Kestrel makes and excellent frigate for new players due to its ability to stay at range and can easily take level 1 missions without having any problems, its also a good ship for young caldari traders to use thanks to its generous cargo bay which is one of the biggest for any frigate.

The negative features of the Kestral are its fairly limited fitting choices and its low speed over other frigates which make it unsuited to tackling larger ships in a fleet engagement, if used correctly the Ketrel can be a mini powerhouse of damage especially against other frigates.