*Burst fire; burst time 1.2 s, burst wait time 1.0 s.

Because of its high maneuverability, the Scout is excellent for creating diversions and light harassment while avoiding enemy fire.

The Kushan Arrow Scout was the first armed strike craft to be designed and built by Kushan Tactical Analysts on Kharak for the Mothership's journey to Hiigara. There was initially some debate, especially among the more pacifistic kiiths, on whether such a military craft would even be necessary on what was intended as a peaceful colony mission. However, the cautionary arguments of the warrior kiiths were able to sway the majority, and production went ahead. Even so, the Arrow would be the only armed craft accompanying the Mothership during its first hyperspace trial, and would therefore be the Mothership's only viable instrument of defense in the event of the unthinkable. The design was extensively tested before the launch of the Mothership in the Kharakian orbital proving grounds and just after launch in mock combat trials.

Unfortunately, the real combat test came all too soon after the Mothership's first hyperspace jump, against attacking Turanic Raider fighters and corvettes. In this unexpected crisis, the Arrow performed above all expectations, with its superior speed and maneuverability overmatching the clumsy and weakly-armed pirate ships. Although it would be quickly supplemented by the heavier Blade Mk.5 Interceptors, the Arrow would continue in both the space superiority and the tactical reconnaissance role, where its speed allowed it to scout enemy positions and report back to the Mothership with valuable data without incurring significant losses.

When used in the scouting role, Arrows were usually deployed in pairs, with one ship serving as wingman, backing up the primary craft should they run into trouble. On occasion, scouting teams acted as decoys, buzzing through enemy emplacements and tempting over-zealous commanders to give chase, leaving the primary target open to attacks from the main Kushan force.

However, from a historical point of view, the Arrow was more than just an early, cheap scout. Several notable Kushan aces, including the legendary Suo Nabaal, actually preferred the Arrow to the heavier Blade, mainly because of its superior speed and maneuverability. It was frequently a subject of jokes from flight-line personnel that veteran Arrow pilots routinely insisted that their craft be referred to as 'Light Interceptors' rather than 'Scouts.'

The Arrow scout continued to serve with distinction until the end of the Homeworld War, at which time it was formally retired in favor of the high-efficiency-engine version of the Blade interceptor.

Early versions of the "Light Interceptor" had an armored fairing on the starboard side of the engine (seen in the bottom image at right), discarded in the production version.