Kanabia
09-09-2004, 15:01
Field tests are beginning into a new form of cruise missile.
The missile will be able to be fired from railcar and vehicular transports as well as fixed locations.
At a set time after launch, the missile will enter stage two and jettison four smaller missiles loaded with a variety of ordinance, from standard high explosive to cluster-bomb minelets and possibly napalm (technically in this function, these 'missiles' will act as unmanned close support aircraft).
The main body of the missile will continue, carrying a slightly larger warhead of it's own. The missiles can be configured to bombard a widespread area with cluster munitions or target separate key buildings in a single facility.
The weapon would also be effective against ships, however the large size of the missile itself (in order to carry such a large payload), makes it's use in its present incarnation confined to land launch sites. A smaller version, with up to 50 armor penetrating rockets (acting as a shotgun like anti-ship weapon), may come into being in the near future.
The main advantage of such a weapon is that it decreases overall launch times, potentially doing more damage in a short period of time than weapons such as the Tomahawk. It will also confuse enemy air defences as what was originally one target becomes five.
OOC: Comments on the feasibilty of this system welcome.
The missile will be able to be fired from railcar and vehicular transports as well as fixed locations.
At a set time after launch, the missile will enter stage two and jettison four smaller missiles loaded with a variety of ordinance, from standard high explosive to cluster-bomb minelets and possibly napalm (technically in this function, these 'missiles' will act as unmanned close support aircraft).
The main body of the missile will continue, carrying a slightly larger warhead of it's own. The missiles can be configured to bombard a widespread area with cluster munitions or target separate key buildings in a single facility.
The weapon would also be effective against ships, however the large size of the missile itself (in order to carry such a large payload), makes it's use in its present incarnation confined to land launch sites. A smaller version, with up to 50 armor penetrating rockets (acting as a shotgun like anti-ship weapon), may come into being in the near future.
The main advantage of such a weapon is that it decreases overall launch times, potentially doing more damage in a short period of time than weapons such as the Tomahawk. It will also confuse enemy air defences as what was originally one target becomes five.
OOC: Comments on the feasibilty of this system welcome.