Avionics

The computer systems found on fighters and support aircraft of a capital ship are generally described by the term avionics (AVIation electrONICS). In the world of Battlestar Galactica, aircraft terminology is intermixed with spacecraft terminology--note the use of "CAG" and Commander Adama's use of the word "planes" to Chief Galen Tyrol to describe the Viper space fighter ^{(TRS: "Litmus")}. As the term "avionics" is used in the episode "Flesh and Bone" to describe the flight electronics on the captured Raider, despite its aeronautical connotation, it will be used here.

Colonial Avionics

The Colonial Fleet relied initially on primitive, hard-wired avionics in its early fighters, but later reverted to more "fly-by-wire" technologies, one of which sealed the doom of billions of citizens.

Vipers and Raptors

A view of the manual "8-ball" landing software on a Viper Mk. II.

A view of a Mk. II secondary display below the primary display, currently using DRADIS.

The avionics found on modern Vipers and Raptors are complex systems that combine fly-by-wire technology with computer systems.

In the case of Raptors, datacord is used for networking subsystems. This wiring makes Raptors more radiation-hardened and thus useful in high-radiation conditions .

Viper Mk. II cockpit avionics, resistant to Cylon infiltration.

The older and generally-obsolete Viper Mark II fighters have a more primitive avionics package, but unlike CNP-equipped Viper Mark VIIs and Raptors, these old-style Viper systems (a design similar to that used in the Cylon War) appear to combine hydraulics with a basic computer and DRADIS subsystem that is effectively immune from Cylon electronic counterattack.

Both Vipers are equipped with a multi-functional display that can can be set to various modes, such as DRADIS, navigation, engines, system status and weapons.
The flight systems of these systems also likely include these components, which vary in availability or degrees of complexity depending on the craft's age or purpose:

• A non-directional medium-range wireless communications for ship-to-ship and ship-to-planet contact
• DRADIS hardware for enemy targeting, squadron formation flight maneuvers, etc.
• A Colonial transponder for IFF "friend or foe" identification
• Stellar positioning system for proper sublight or FTL navigation
  • Larger craft such as Raptors can manage FTL jumps and so come equipped with more advanced avionics to handle jump computations
• Instrument Landing Systems (ILS), an automatic ("hands-off") landing system guidance package

Viper Mk. VII cockpit avionics, vulnerable if the CNP is installed.

Vulnerabilities

In the case of modern (pre-holocaust) spacecraft, many of these systems were likely tied into (either as a software or firmware component) the tainted Command Navigation Program. Evidence for this is strong as Jackson Spencer's Mark VII Viper loses power, communications, flight control, DRADIS, and apparently ejection control after Cylon fighters "rooted," or counter-commanded his Viper to shut down, thanks to the backdoors installed in these modern avionics packages ^{(TRS: "Miniseries")}.

Galactica prohibits computerized landings, so all pilots perform manual approach and landings in non-combat situations. No information has been given in the series if Mark II Vipers are capable of auto-landings in the manner that Mark VIIs demonstrate ^{(TRS: "Miniseries")}.

Cylon Avionics

Cylon avionics contain biological elements, some of which include or are interfaced with quasi-sentient elements.

Raiders

Cylon Raiders contain some level of avionics that co-exist amidst the biological components that form the "pilot" within the fuselage of the fighter. Kara Thrace identifies the mechanical linkage within a captured fighter, and Galen Tyrol's team identifies the fire control, navigation, and FTL drive components in addition to an actual avionics package ^{(TRS: "Flesh and Bone")}. Galactica flight crews later rigged a flight control console that mated with the Raider's avionics for human readability.

The Cylons moved to biomechanical pilots rather than using Centurions or other robotic pilot for three probable reasons:

1. The Cylons' monotheistic belief in God and their belief in procreation (machines cannot procreate, but living organisms can) suggest that they believe a biological pilot would be more effective. A Raider pilot is programmed with a basic personality akin to a predatory animal. Unlike the logic of a Centurion, a Raider pilot is capable of improvements in its programming--it can learn and anticipate changes in battle ("Six Degrees of Separation," "Scar").
2. Colonial forces may attempt to use electronic countermeasures that could affect the performance or operation of a fully-mechanical Cylon Raider or a craft piloted by autonomous Cylon Centurions. Biological pilots cannot be easily disabled by ECM.
3. A Raider's personality, like a humanoid Cylon, is downloadable and transferable should the fighter be destroyed. This provides the Cylons a dramatic tactical advantage over the Colonials since the knowledge of a Raider isn't lost in death, allowing it to improve its fighting as well as allowing riskier tactics (such as ramming) without permanent loss of self, provided a Resurrection Ship or the Cylon homeworld is sufficiently close to retrieve a signal ^{(TRS: "Scar")}.

Raiders are capable of independent thought, which is demonstrated during the Battle of the Ionian Nebula, where one identifies Samuel Anders as a humanoid Cylon. This causes all other Raiders to break off the attack and forces the Cylon fleet to retreat ^{(TRS: "He That Believeth in Me")}.

Heavy Raider

The interior of a Heavy Raider, or its cockpit, have not been revealed. While no information is available as to the nature of their avionics and piloting requirements, events suggest that the Heavy Raider is not an autonomous or quasi-autonomous vehicle (Fragged," "The Farm," "Home, Part I") .

Vulnerabilities

Cylon spacecraft avionics can be affected by infiltration with the right methods. The cooperative Cylon infiltrator copy of Sharon Valerii used herself as a backdoor to send a version of a Cylon virus to shut down power to a massive Cylon fleet en route to attack Galactica ^{(TRS: "Flight of the Phoenix")}. It was not shown whether the biologics of the Cylon Raiders are themselves affected by this unexpected infiltration from Valerii.

The organic nature of most Cylon cybernetics is also susceptible to classic human pathogens, which can cause massive and catastrophic system failure. The infection that caused a basestar to succumb ^{(TRS: "Torn")}, according to other Cylons investigating the incident, has a bioelectric nature that could cause it to behave more like programming, allowing the downloaded personalities of infected agents to infect the entire Cylon race via the Resurrection Ship.