15mm AVX-5B Zia

Following Vertol's development of its Model 110 heavylift aircraft, the UCSA Army immediately ordered several dozen examples to support light armored units. The design's configuration permitted semiconformal carriage of light utility and attack vehicles, while its improved power-to-weight ratio over the Model 107/Cheyenne facilitated sling-loading tank destroyers and other similar AFVs.

After the success of the militarized Model 110, designated CVX-5A Ute, a requirement for a super-heavy attack fanjet was issued. Vertol's response, which beat out Sikorsky and Kaman-AgustaWestland's designs, was based off the Ute. Featuring two of the same 35mm caseless rotary autocannon as the ARVX-1C, massive stub wings with numerous weapons hardpoints, and a cargo drop computer reprogrammed for dumb bombs, the ACVX-5B Zia was immediately ordered in quantity. The underfuselage attachment points, originally used to transport vehicles and equipment, are most often utilized to carry a pair of fuel-air explosive bombs or roughly a dozen cluster or laser-guided bombs. The loadmaster's station has been repurposed into a weapons systems operator's position, while the front seat is occupied by a gunner/tactical coordinator. Remaining space in the forward fuselage is given over to ammunition bins for the twin cannons as well as an observer or battalion commander.

In service, the Zia is most commonly seen in the artillery battalions of Cavalry RCTs, alongside airmobile batteries equipped with M605 105mm Lightweight Guns. Because of the type's great expense, most Cavalry RCTs only have fewer than a half-dozen airframes on hand. Zias are, however, not unheard of as battalion or regiment commander's personal craft depending on the origin and funding of a particular RCT. Operationally, they are used for heavy fire support, usually with offboard targeting supplied by Arapaho or Blackfoot crews. This mode of employment has led to the Zia's allocation to Aerial Artillery batteries.