NationStates Jolt Archive


Secret IC: PIW developing longer-ranged SAM

Sarzonia
04-04-2005, 20:56
The 'Yellow Jacket' mini-SAM was originally conceived as a portable missile launcher capable of being added to Ossippee-class special operations boats with its primary advantage being its ease in mobility. However, the 'Yellow Jacket' has far surpassed its original intents and has served as a general purpose SAM launcher for several Portland Iron Works-built warships. While it has performed its tasks admirably, even when it has been used as somewhat of a supplemental CIWS system, the limited range and small size of the warhead prompted Windham and Green Defence Industries and the PIW to examine the construction of a SAM launcher with a much greater range.

Extensive conceptualising, testing, and evaluation have resulted in the unveiling of the new 'Hornet' SAM launcher. Designed to provide a much longer operating distance than the 'Yellow Jacket,' the 'Hornet' is constructed to include some of the utilisation of the 'Yellow Jacket'. The launcher will be designed to allow for it to elevate from 10 degress to 70 degrees and move laterally by as much as 914.4 mm.

The 'Hornet' is designed to serve as a medium-short range SAM to complement the shorter range of the 'Yellow Jacket'. To retain some of the mobility of the 'Yellow Jacket,' the effective range of the 'Hornet' had to be shortened considerably to allow for its ability to adjust its position laterally on surface warships.

Function: Surface to air missile launcher.
Length: 4.6 m;
Weight: 110 pounds;
Diameter: 580 mm
Speed: Mach 6.4
Range: 15 to 125 km
Ceiling: 11,500 feet.
Sensors: Passive infrared sensors; Active laser radar system.
Cost: $1.25 million per unit