A variant of the Avenger II Expeditionary Tank, it is designed for close-mid air defense. It's primary wepaon is the Ground Interceptor Missile (press 1-3 to fire), designed to shoot down enemy warplanes at distances up to 9 miles away with a fire-and-forget system. If they get closer, then it can engage them with a Mk 6 20mm cannon. This cannon is also useful against light ground forces. All is directed with the Mk 11 direcitonal radar system, mounted atop. During the Battle for Olympus, they proved valuable for close support, as Olympian forces often attacked from cliffs and ledges, too high up for the main guns of heavier tanks to engage. This was not the case with the Lightning and the accomanying Guardian APCs. Their guns were able to aim sufficiently high enough to engage these opponents, due to their anti-aircraft nature. Their high rate of fire, useful against aircraft, was also useful to clear abmushes.