Non Aligned States
26-11-2004, 05:47
In recent news today, the Commonwealth of Non Aligned States has announced that they are now equipping their armed forces with the newly developed AH-34 fire support gunship. This helicopter, developed by the state owned Maxwell Munitions Industries is yet another example of unorthodox weapons systems that its designers are known to build. When asked for the reason behind this unusual concept, lead engineer, Clayton Trellis, had the following to say, “When you design long range artillery, there are two options. You either use projectiles or you use missiles. The former usually has a slow carrier platform while the latter is easily detected and destroyed with the latest AMS systems now on the market. So we took our proprietary hypervelocity technology…and gave it wings.”
AH-34 Firestorm Gunship
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/12/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/13/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/14/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/15/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/17/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/20/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/16/1.jpg
The SH-34 Gunship inspects a kill during the live fire tests.
Specifications
Nation: Commonwealth of Non-Aligned States
Manufacturer: Maxwell Munitions Industries Air Systems
Type: Long Range Anti-Armor/Anti-Ship and Battlefield Support Helicopter
Engine: x2 2200-shp Dynamic Systems T-900-DS-701 turboshafts
Rotor Diameter: 15.6m
Length: 18.96m
Height: 5.8m
Empty Weight: 4,977kg
Max Weight: 10,850kg
Max Speed: 160 knots
Range: 612 km
Crew: 2 – Pilot, Gunner
Cost: $19,500,000
Armament
Primary
Type: McKinsey Model 12 75mm gauss gun
Location: Belly Mount
Munitions type: 75mm fin stabilized solid tungsten dart with discarding sabot shell.
Effective Range: +60,000m
Ammunition: 120 rounds
Rate of fire: 10.2 seconds per round
Secondary
Type: x2 20mm Welby-Simms HePex-932 machinegun
Location: Wing Pylon Mounts
Munitions type: 20mm FMJ, DU
Effective Range: 2,100m
Ammunition: 1800 rounds
Rate of fire: 550 rounds per minute
Development
The SH-34 Gunboat grew from the need for a mobile long range artillery platform capable of providing precise fire while retaining a high level of mobility in all types of terrain. Originally, conventional artillery platforms and rocket batteries could provide the range while cruise missiles had the precision required. But the inherent problem with the former was that they were typically limited in terms of mobility and the latter could be intercepted by the newer line of laser based anti-missile systems. A new approach was needed. Project leader Clayton Trellis was the one who originally proposed the idea of combining the newly developed hypervelocity weapons systems with VTOL craft. The idea was approved by the military board shortly thereafter.
Rather than design a new airframe to carry the proposed weapon, engineers chose instead to utilize the proven AH-64 chassis and began the task of modifying it for their purposes. The process began by stripping the weapons systems from the craft, including the M230 30mm nose mounted Chain Gun to make room for the gauss gun that was installed on a rotating belly mount. However, even with the weapons stripped, the overall weight of the gun meant that it would be straining the engines when fully loaded. A problem that was later rectified when designers replaced the General Electric T700-GE-701 engine with Dynamic Systems T-900-DS-701 turboshafts that produced an improvement in output of 25% without a significant increase in weight. The front landing gear was shifted away from the fuselage and now lies in a pair of pods on either sides of the raised weapons pylon.
The McKinsey Model 12 gauss gun itself uses the augmented rail construction principal where the magnetic field between the rails can be augmented by supplementary current which does not flow through the sliding brushes but is carried by separate conductors flanking the rails. This particular construction method eliminates the Lorentz force expression by a factor of ½ and halves the rail bursting force, an important factor for lightweight railguns. With its muzzle energy of 3MJ, the power requirements of this weapon are met via the improved turboshaft engines and electron energy storage cells. As with all magnetic accelerator systems, a significant cool down period is required before the rails are ready for the next discharge.
During the trial runs however, it was found that while the Firestorm was more than capable of engaging and destroying targets at extreme ranges, the lack of close range weaponry meant that it was completely vulnerable to short range surprise attacks. This particular flaw was particularly glaring during trials where the test units came under simulated fire from infantry carried SAMs. Acknowledging this flaw, design teams installed a pair of Welby-Simms 20mm machineguns on either side of the now-defunct weapons pylons and installed the Airguard 3000 tracking software. The new additions allowed the gunner to rapidly sight, track and intercept hostile missiles with the machineguns as well as engage soft targets in their effective range in a full 360 degree coverage area.
Capabilities
With the McKinsey Model 12 gauss gun the Firestorm is a fearsome weapon. The gauss gun, which constitutes the bulk of the craft’s weight, can hurl 75mm fin stabilized solid tungsten rounds at excess speeds of 6km/s or Mach 17.66 at sea level up to ranges exceeding 60 kilometers, a range previously reachable by only large caliber artillery or missiles. The immense speed and energy propelling the round ensures that its penetrator head is guaranteed to punch through most armor compositions of up to 700mm and beyond, more than enough to core a tank at its thickest and seriously damage any warship.
Additionally, the speed of the shell and its utter lack of thermal signature (beyond that generated during the acceleration process), means that by the time it is detected, an interception would be far too late and counter artillery fire would be definitely ineffective as the VTOL would long since have departed the area. The terror effect of this weapons platform should not be underestimated.
The gauss gun is capable of firing two types of munitions. For ranges lower than 30 kilometers, the gun is aimed via target acquisition lasers and a solid tungsten shell is used. At ranges exceeding that, where the earth’s curvature prevents direct line of sight, sub-caliber munitions can be utilized for indirect fire where the shell is guided either via satellite targeting systems or laser guidance from nearby ground/air units with line of sight to the target. Soft obstructions such as trees, light vehicles and other similar objects are typically cored without a significant loss in shell velocity or flight path deviation.
Like most VTOLs, the primary defense of the Firestorm lies in its impressive speed for a vehicle of its bulk. This is in addition to its anti missile/personnel machineguns mounted on the weapons pylons. The gauss gun’s long range and killing power combined with the Firestorms respectable speed keep it relatively safe from aggressors as does its heavy armor.
Variants
Although there are no variants to date, Maxwell Industries is considering designing a completely new improved airframe to house the gauss gun. This however, remains mostly speculation.
Manufacturers Note: With the successful sales of the M102 Dominance MBT, Maxwell Industries has expanded its production capabilities with state of the art automated facilities and can now produce several thousand AH-34 units per year.
AH-34 Firestorm Gunship
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/12/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/13/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/14/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/15/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/17/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/20/1.jpg
http://www.freepichosting.com/Thumbs/421548787/16/1.jpg
The SH-34 Gunship inspects a kill during the live fire tests.
Specifications
Nation: Commonwealth of Non-Aligned States
Manufacturer: Maxwell Munitions Industries Air Systems
Type: Long Range Anti-Armor/Anti-Ship and Battlefield Support Helicopter
Engine: x2 2200-shp Dynamic Systems T-900-DS-701 turboshafts
Rotor Diameter: 15.6m
Length: 18.96m
Height: 5.8m
Empty Weight: 4,977kg
Max Weight: 10,850kg
Max Speed: 160 knots
Range: 612 km
Crew: 2 – Pilot, Gunner
Cost: $19,500,000
Armament
Primary
Type: McKinsey Model 12 75mm gauss gun
Location: Belly Mount
Munitions type: 75mm fin stabilized solid tungsten dart with discarding sabot shell.
Effective Range: +60,000m
Ammunition: 120 rounds
Rate of fire: 10.2 seconds per round
Secondary
Type: x2 20mm Welby-Simms HePex-932 machinegun
Location: Wing Pylon Mounts
Munitions type: 20mm FMJ, DU
Effective Range: 2,100m
Ammunition: 1800 rounds
Rate of fire: 550 rounds per minute
Development
The SH-34 Gunboat grew from the need for a mobile long range artillery platform capable of providing precise fire while retaining a high level of mobility in all types of terrain. Originally, conventional artillery platforms and rocket batteries could provide the range while cruise missiles had the precision required. But the inherent problem with the former was that they were typically limited in terms of mobility and the latter could be intercepted by the newer line of laser based anti-missile systems. A new approach was needed. Project leader Clayton Trellis was the one who originally proposed the idea of combining the newly developed hypervelocity weapons systems with VTOL craft. The idea was approved by the military board shortly thereafter.
Rather than design a new airframe to carry the proposed weapon, engineers chose instead to utilize the proven AH-64 chassis and began the task of modifying it for their purposes. The process began by stripping the weapons systems from the craft, including the M230 30mm nose mounted Chain Gun to make room for the gauss gun that was installed on a rotating belly mount. However, even with the weapons stripped, the overall weight of the gun meant that it would be straining the engines when fully loaded. A problem that was later rectified when designers replaced the General Electric T700-GE-701 engine with Dynamic Systems T-900-DS-701 turboshafts that produced an improvement in output of 25% without a significant increase in weight. The front landing gear was shifted away from the fuselage and now lies in a pair of pods on either sides of the raised weapons pylon.
The McKinsey Model 12 gauss gun itself uses the augmented rail construction principal where the magnetic field between the rails can be augmented by supplementary current which does not flow through the sliding brushes but is carried by separate conductors flanking the rails. This particular construction method eliminates the Lorentz force expression by a factor of ½ and halves the rail bursting force, an important factor for lightweight railguns. With its muzzle energy of 3MJ, the power requirements of this weapon are met via the improved turboshaft engines and electron energy storage cells. As with all magnetic accelerator systems, a significant cool down period is required before the rails are ready for the next discharge.
During the trial runs however, it was found that while the Firestorm was more than capable of engaging and destroying targets at extreme ranges, the lack of close range weaponry meant that it was completely vulnerable to short range surprise attacks. This particular flaw was particularly glaring during trials where the test units came under simulated fire from infantry carried SAMs. Acknowledging this flaw, design teams installed a pair of Welby-Simms 20mm machineguns on either side of the now-defunct weapons pylons and installed the Airguard 3000 tracking software. The new additions allowed the gunner to rapidly sight, track and intercept hostile missiles with the machineguns as well as engage soft targets in their effective range in a full 360 degree coverage area.
Capabilities
With the McKinsey Model 12 gauss gun the Firestorm is a fearsome weapon. The gauss gun, which constitutes the bulk of the craft’s weight, can hurl 75mm fin stabilized solid tungsten rounds at excess speeds of 6km/s or Mach 17.66 at sea level up to ranges exceeding 60 kilometers, a range previously reachable by only large caliber artillery or missiles. The immense speed and energy propelling the round ensures that its penetrator head is guaranteed to punch through most armor compositions of up to 700mm and beyond, more than enough to core a tank at its thickest and seriously damage any warship.
Additionally, the speed of the shell and its utter lack of thermal signature (beyond that generated during the acceleration process), means that by the time it is detected, an interception would be far too late and counter artillery fire would be definitely ineffective as the VTOL would long since have departed the area. The terror effect of this weapons platform should not be underestimated.
The gauss gun is capable of firing two types of munitions. For ranges lower than 30 kilometers, the gun is aimed via target acquisition lasers and a solid tungsten shell is used. At ranges exceeding that, where the earth’s curvature prevents direct line of sight, sub-caliber munitions can be utilized for indirect fire where the shell is guided either via satellite targeting systems or laser guidance from nearby ground/air units with line of sight to the target. Soft obstructions such as trees, light vehicles and other similar objects are typically cored without a significant loss in shell velocity or flight path deviation.
Like most VTOLs, the primary defense of the Firestorm lies in its impressive speed for a vehicle of its bulk. This is in addition to its anti missile/personnel machineguns mounted on the weapons pylons. The gauss gun’s long range and killing power combined with the Firestorms respectable speed keep it relatively safe from aggressors as does its heavy armor.
Variants
Although there are no variants to date, Maxwell Industries is considering designing a completely new improved airframe to house the gauss gun. This however, remains mostly speculation.
Manufacturers Note: With the successful sales of the M102 Dominance MBT, Maxwell Industries has expanded its production capabilities with state of the art automated facilities and can now produce several thousand AH-34 units per year.