Although the Sagittaire saw production in mid-3063, Robinson's semi-isolationist policies with regard to the civil war kept the design out of the general militaries until much later. As the civil war progressed, however, the fighting took a nasty, personal turn for the worst. MechWarriors began to demand machines that were superior at point-blank range, whether for fighting in narrow city streets or for brawls on the open no-man's-land between cities. The Sagittaire was just such a design.

         A Pitban extralight engine powers the laser-heavy Sagittaire, giving it a top speed of 54 kph-which is directly in line with 'Mechs of similar weight. Of greater interest, however, are the HildCo lifters installed in the legs and centerline, making the Sagittaire one of the relatively few assault 'Mechs with jumping capability, giving it a great deal of tactical flexibility. That, of course, doesn't even take into account the psychological impact of watching a 95-ton BattleMech fly through the air upon untested warriors.
         If that wasn't enough, the Sagittaire mounts a heavy weapon configuration tied into one of the new Federated Suns targeting computers. A single ER PPC gives this 'Mech striking power from a distance. As ranges close, the Sagittaire ties in two large pulse lasers, a trio of medium pulse and even a single small pulse laser. Two more medium pulse lasers are provided with rear-firing arcs for extra protection, though with eighteen tons of armor the need for such a stratagem is debatable. The Sagittaire's pulse-technology lasers combined with the targeting computer allow a MechWarrior to maintain a high rate of mobility and still hold an edge against most other BattleMechs. When keeping the Sagittaire's feet firmly planted on the ground, the design is simply devastating.

         Deployed from Robinson BattleWorks in 3063, the machine first saw heavy action against House Kurita as Duke James Sandoval committed heavy resources toward taking and holding a half-dozen Combine worlds. The Sagittaire was instrumental in the assault on Proserpina, where one lance of these machines destroyed a company of samurai from the Ninth Benjamin Regulars in a series of ill-fated one-on-one duels. Later, during House Kurita's successful counter-assault, the Dragon made a concerted effort to capture or salvage several 'Mechs of the Sagittaire design for its own use.
         As Katherine Steiner-Davion later tightened her reigns on the Draconis March, Duke Sandoval allowed more of these machines to be sold into her loyalist army. This was short-lived, however, as Tancred Sandoval deposed his father not long after as the March Lord. He then shifted the entire Sagittaire line into bolstering his own forces and those regiments supporting Victor Steiner-Davion.
         As an example of the wide appeal of the Sagittaire, an allied company and a loyalist company were deployed on New Avalon, each with a lance of Sagittaires. They clashed during battle for the continental capital of Flensburg, and only three allied machines walked away under their own power. All three were Sagittaires. Between them, they accounted for eight "kills" out of twelve enemy 'Mechs.