The main problem with BF2 jets, is that the fighters/bombers are all carbon copies of one another. If you can fly one, you can fly all of them with ease. All have bombs, missiles and MGs. In my opinion, First Strike needs to avoid that as much as possible. Flying either side's ships needs to be a different experience, with different tactics. The Battlefront 2 "tie fighter=x-wing" should be well stayed away from. Anyway, heres my general suggestions. Feel free to comment, but without flaming please.

Notes:

-Speeds are relative, with A-Wing and T/I being 100 (fastest).
-Manouverability is also relative, with the best being 100.
-Same with armour (this includes shields for now, so rebel values will be higher).
-In the films, rebel (red) lasers fire about twice as fast as imperial (green) lasers. While they didn' do this in the X-Wing series, it would add realism.
-Torpedoes are slightly guided, enough to fire and forget against a capship or shuttle, but useless against fighters.
-Missiles should be dodgeable in fighters with good manouvering (eg sudden sharp turns as its about to hit), but not in bombers.  They also shouldnt do as much damage as bf2 missiles they should be softening up kills with lasers.
-In the X-Wing series, each laser had its own charge, so ships with more lasers could fire on single shot for longer. In BF2142, you can only have one charge, but if ships with 4 lasers have twice as much as ships with 2 lasers, you get the same effect.

Imperial Ships

TIE Fighter

Speed: 75
Armament: 2 Laser cannons. Primary fire is single, secondary is linked.
Manouverability: 100
Armour: 30

Comments: The most manouverable fighter in the game, it should be able to run rings around enemies. But its very weak, a few shots and it will die. Generally the reserve of skilled pilots.

TIE Bomber (space)

Speed: 50
Armament: 2 laser cannons (primary fire, linked). 12 Torpedoes (secondary fire, weapon switch determines single or dual fire).
Manouverability: 30
Armour: 50

Comments: Should lose against any fighter. Torpedoes should have a long range, enough to attack without getting too close to enemy capships. Needs escort against defending fighters.

TIE Bomber (planetary)

Speed: 30
Armament: 2 laser cannons (primary fire, linked). 8 Bombs (secondary fire, weapon switch determines single or dual.)
Manouverability: 30
Armour: 60

Comments: Slow speed stops it from being the uber bomber that Bf2 jets are. Very danagerous in groups.

TIE Interceptor

Speed: 100
Armament: 10 laser cannons (primary fire is single shot; secondary fire, dual shot, five linked or all linked)
Manouverability: 70
Armour: 40

Comments: Insane speed can get it to danger spots in a hurry. Its 10 lasers means it almost never runs out of charge, enabling it to fire continuously for long periods.

Rebel Ships

X-Wing

Speed: 70
Armament: 4 laser cannons (primary fire. weapon select for dual or quad linked.) 6 torpedoes (secondary fire, linked)
Manouverability: 60
Armour: 60

Comments: An all rounder, its tough, can damage capships, and is very good at taking out light/shuttles transports. In groups, can do serious damage to capships.

A-Wing

Speed: 100
Armament: 2 laser cannons (primary fire, single shot). 6 Missiles (secondary, weapon select for single or dual)
Manouverability: 70
Armour: 50

Comments: Almost identical to the TIE interceptor. Sacrifices some manouverability for armour.

Y-Wing (Space)

Speed: 50
Armament: 2 laser cannons (primary fire, linked). 10 torpedoes (seondary, weapon select for dual or single).
Gunner: dual ion cannon turret, 360 rotation. Seondary fire is a zoom.
Manouverability: 15
Armour: 75

Comments: Like flying a truck. But the turret should make up for that.

Y-Wing (Planetary)

Speed: 30
Armament: 2 laser cannons (primary fire, linked). 6 bombs (secondary, weapon select for dual or single).
No gunner.
Manouverability: 15
Armour: 60

B-Wing

Speed: 40
Armament: 2 laser cannons, 3 ion cannons. (primary fire, all linked). 6 heavy rockets (secondary, unguided, do massive damage. fired single or dual)
Manouverability: 20
Armour: 100

Comments: Very tough, but its pathetic speed and manouverability means it'll take ages to get anywhere. A target for interceptors.

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Anyway, hope you like it. In my view, its balanced yet interesting.