"My experience tells me that it makes a snack for a Pummeler."
Lt. Aimee, Inspector

The Valiant Fighter was a private venture by the Bandit Aircraft Co., designed to develop a cheaper alternative than the state-owned Pilotmario Aircraft Corporation's Pummeler Fighter. As the Air Force did not receive as much funding as the Army and Navy, it was a serious contender to the Pummeler. In fact, Markus Long, the CEO of the Bandit Aircraft Co., decided to begin production before trials ended. However, during aircraft test trials, it was found to be vastly inferior to the Ascender or the Pummeler, and it subsequently lost. It turns out that while it was the toughest of the three, its heavy airframe meant that it was not particularly fast and maneuverable. In addition, the Pummeler, due to advances in development, was only marginally more expensive, while retaining much of its performance.

They then approached the Pilotmario Navy, who was more interested as they felt the smaller aircraft and slower speeds would make it more suitable for carrier use. However, tests proved the Pummeler was fairly suitable for carrier use, and was a far more capable warplane. By the end of the trials, Bandit Aircraft Co. had already produced 125 Valiants, and it seemed that this venture would not pay off.

However, they were able to find a buyer, in the form of the State of Sancta. A small country with little in the way of defense, it was desperate for any weapons it could obtain. As the Pilotmario Aircraft Corporation was at capacity making Pummelers for the Pilotmario Air Force, they approached Bandit Aircraft for fighters. They immediately purchased 100 of these machines, where they were immediately put into service. These aircraft were at the forefront of the conflict during the First Olympian War, when the League of Olympia invaded the State of Sancta. It was vastly outclassed by the lighter, faster and more maneuverable Athena, and most were shot down. Despite this, a Valiant was the first fighter to score an aerial kill; a formation of four Athenas were engaged by four Valiants, which the Valiants managed to shoot down two Athenas for no losses. This would not be repeated, as Athenas regularly employed speed and maneuverability to engage them with impunity. The Republic of Pilotmario, now engaged in a full-scale war, expanded its production capability, allowing them to supply Sancta with the more advanced Pummeler for a nominal unit price of a dollar. Survivors were relegated to secondary roles.

The 25 Valiants remaining in Pilotmario were sold to the Pilotmario Air Force as advanced trainers, and saw no combat. Eight of them remained by the Second Olympian War, where they served as decoys on remote airbases.