Shildonia
14-07-2004, 00:40
The People's Republic has noted with great concern the growing proliferation of missile defence systems amongst the nations of the world. For this reason, we have chosen to accelerate our planned replacement program for our existing nuclear weapons platforms.
Our new SLBM, codenamed RAGNAROK, is nearing the test phase and we expect to enter full production within four years. The RAGNAROK will be equipped with up to eight thermonuclear warheads, with yields of up to 485kt. Each warhead will be enclosed within a Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV), which allows the warhead to take evasive manouvers during the descent phase. Examples of the types of manouvers include spinning the warhead, to prevent lasers being able to hit the same spot on the warhead for long enough to cause any damage, and changes of direction and velocity to help thwart intercepter missiles. These evasive manouvers cause a slight degredation of the warheads accuracy when compared with TRIDENT, the RAGNAROK's predecessor, but this was deemed an acceptable trade-off for the greater chance of penetrating the enemy defences.
Of course, having a new missile is only part of the new strategic weapons systems in development for the Shildonian Navy. They will also be aquiring a new SSBN, the TITAN-class. Traditionally, submarines have been constructed using metals such as steel or titanium, which can easily be detected using Magnetic Anomaly Detectors. The TITAN, on the other hand, is to be constructed out of a glass\epoxy composite, allowing it to hide from MADs with ease, with almost no degradation in operational ability.
Funding has been allocated for 36 TITAN-class SSBNs, which will be phased into service over the next ten years, replacing the existing POSEIDEN-class SSBNs, with the oldest POSEIDENs being phased out first. However, funds have been allocated for eight of the newest POSEIDENs to undergo a refit to allow them to carry the RAGNAROK missile.
A new weapons system is also under development for the Shildonian Flying Corps (SFC): the B-38 Viracocha. The Viracocha is a militarised variant of the A-380 airframe. Its 73 metre long fuselage has been divided into 8 seperate bomb-bays, allowing up to 80 cruise missiles of varying types to be carried, as well as up to 12 carried on pylons beneath the wings.
The Viracocha will be phased into service over the next seven years, replacing the aging Vulcan in the stand-off attack role. Like it's predecessor, the Viracocha also has the ability to carry cruise missiles with conventional warheads for use in limited conflicts.
With a top speed of almost 0.9 times the speed of sound, the Viracocha has sufficient speed to outrun almost any fighter currently in service, given that the long range of its cruise missiles allows it a headstart of up to 1000km.
For defence, the Viracocha is capable of carrying up to 12 Cobra BVRAAMs on its external pylons, and there is also room for a 20mm cannon to be installed in the tail, though the initial batch of Vitacochas will not be equipped in this way. The aircraft also carries a sophisticated broadband ECM system, further enhancing its survivability, as well as up to five towed decoys. Defence against heatseeking missiles is provided through the LAIRCM, which uses low powered lasers to blind the incoming missile.
Another feature which will enhance its survivability is the relatively short runway length needed for take-off - less than three kilometers. This allows for easy dispersal against enemy attack should the need arise.
These new weapons systems will surely give the People's Republic a credible deterrent against enemy aggression for many years to come, and can only serve to protect our people against those hostile powers who wish harm upon them.
We hasten to add that this does not represent an increase in the number of warheads, merely a change in the delivery systems.
Our new SLBM, codenamed RAGNAROK, is nearing the test phase and we expect to enter full production within four years. The RAGNAROK will be equipped with up to eight thermonuclear warheads, with yields of up to 485kt. Each warhead will be enclosed within a Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle (MaRV), which allows the warhead to take evasive manouvers during the descent phase. Examples of the types of manouvers include spinning the warhead, to prevent lasers being able to hit the same spot on the warhead for long enough to cause any damage, and changes of direction and velocity to help thwart intercepter missiles. These evasive manouvers cause a slight degredation of the warheads accuracy when compared with TRIDENT, the RAGNAROK's predecessor, but this was deemed an acceptable trade-off for the greater chance of penetrating the enemy defences.
Of course, having a new missile is only part of the new strategic weapons systems in development for the Shildonian Navy. They will also be aquiring a new SSBN, the TITAN-class. Traditionally, submarines have been constructed using metals such as steel or titanium, which can easily be detected using Magnetic Anomaly Detectors. The TITAN, on the other hand, is to be constructed out of a glass\epoxy composite, allowing it to hide from MADs with ease, with almost no degradation in operational ability.
Funding has been allocated for 36 TITAN-class SSBNs, which will be phased into service over the next ten years, replacing the existing POSEIDEN-class SSBNs, with the oldest POSEIDENs being phased out first. However, funds have been allocated for eight of the newest POSEIDENs to undergo a refit to allow them to carry the RAGNAROK missile.
A new weapons system is also under development for the Shildonian Flying Corps (SFC): the B-38 Viracocha. The Viracocha is a militarised variant of the A-380 airframe. Its 73 metre long fuselage has been divided into 8 seperate bomb-bays, allowing up to 80 cruise missiles of varying types to be carried, as well as up to 12 carried on pylons beneath the wings.
The Viracocha will be phased into service over the next seven years, replacing the aging Vulcan in the stand-off attack role. Like it's predecessor, the Viracocha also has the ability to carry cruise missiles with conventional warheads for use in limited conflicts.
With a top speed of almost 0.9 times the speed of sound, the Viracocha has sufficient speed to outrun almost any fighter currently in service, given that the long range of its cruise missiles allows it a headstart of up to 1000km.
For defence, the Viracocha is capable of carrying up to 12 Cobra BVRAAMs on its external pylons, and there is also room for a 20mm cannon to be installed in the tail, though the initial batch of Vitacochas will not be equipped in this way. The aircraft also carries a sophisticated broadband ECM system, further enhancing its survivability, as well as up to five towed decoys. Defence against heatseeking missiles is provided through the LAIRCM, which uses low powered lasers to blind the incoming missile.
Another feature which will enhance its survivability is the relatively short runway length needed for take-off - less than three kilometers. This allows for easy dispersal against enemy attack should the need arise.
These new weapons systems will surely give the People's Republic a credible deterrent against enemy aggression for many years to come, and can only serve to protect our people against those hostile powers who wish harm upon them.
We hasten to add that this does not represent an increase in the number of warheads, merely a change in the delivery systems.