Plasma Cannon (EU2012)

Research Required	{{{requires}}}
Base Costs	{{{costs}}}
Hit Chance	85%
Range	Long
Firing Time	Medium
Damage	Medium
Armor Penetration	High

The trusty Plasma Cannon will quickly make itself at home as your go-to weapon for your Interceptors. Long range, good damage, good accuracy, and good rate of fire makes it an all around acceptable weapon. Once its fielded, most UFO interceptions will become easy for both types of Interceptor, and even the standard Ravens will be able to drop a Battleship with the help of modules and/or chain launching your planes. In fact, if you were to equip all 20 of your Interceptors with Plasma Cannons and call it a day, you wouldn't be hurting yourself.

However, Plasma Cannons are also the first weapon that will start to bore a decent hole in your wallet, so it may be advisable to begin airing on the side of caution and aborting your interceptions a little quicker than before and sending another plane to finish the job if things start to get too dicey.

The Plasma Cannon research tech requires you to first research the Light Plasma Rifle. By capturing a regular Muton when they first appear, and interrogating him first for the Plasma Weaponry Credit, it's possible to get Plasma Cannons by the third or fourth month.