Axis Nova
05-07-2008, 06:36
Spectre ER
Length: 19m
Diameter: 1.42m
Wingspan: 3m
Launch Mass: 15421kg
Propulsion: 2 x Zimmad Industries high output turbojets (primary stage), SP liquid bipropellant rocket (terminal stage)
Speed (average): mach 0.99
Speed (terminal): mach 2.93
Range (surface-launched): 927km
Range (air-launched): 1079km
Payload: 2400 kg blast fragmentation warhead with armor-piercing penetrator nose, average penetration of 800mm (though it must be noted that even partial penetrations will cause severe damage due to the size and power of the warhead)
Electronics:
-Passive IR
-INS
-LIDAR/LADAR
-Satellite guidance
-Passive radar w/home on jam capability
Stealth features:
-Extensive use of RAM
-High-efficiency active radar canceller
-Dampened exhaust systems to reduce IR signature
Flight profile:
Subsonic sea-skimmer for most of it's course, then rapid acceleration for the attack run
Unit price: $28.9 million per missile, production rights unavailable
Design notes
The Spectre is a long range heavy antiship missile, capable of being launched from ships, aircraft, or land-based positions. It incorporates extensive stealth features into it's design, including multiple layers of advanced RAM and an active radar canceller similar in concept to that used by the obsolete F-22 Raptor, analyzing incoming radar pulses and sending out counter-pulses to neutralize them.
The intent of these stealth features, combined with it's sea-skimming flight profile, combine to make it extremely difficult to detect, track, and lock onto for the vast majority of radar systems deployed on naval vessels, which means that in turn, while the missile is generally somewhat more expensive than an equivalent weight antiship missile without stealth features, many fewer need to be fired to penetrate an enemy fleet's defenses
The flight profile is fairly simple: the Spectre will launch, activate it's radar canceller, and proceed on it's programmed course (recieving updates as neccesary from satellites if needed), then, once it reaches the area, lock onto it's target via either it's emission seeking capabilities, passive IR, or it's onboard LIDAR/LADAR system, then approach the target. Once it is within a short distance of the enemy vessel, the first stage is ejected and the secondary rocket booster fires, accelerating the missile to almost Mach 3 for the terminal run. At the same time, the active jamming suite powers up (if the missile detects itself being targeted), intended to disrupt the targeting systems of CIWS and RAM installations on board enemy vessels for those last, critical seconds.
The armor piercing cap allows enough penetration to bypass the armor of virtually all non-SD class vessels afloat; against tougher targets, the home on emissions mode is often used, striking the vessel in the superstructure and bypassing it's primary armor, achieving a mission kill via destruction of the electronics. The warhead consists of either a high explosive blast fragmentation warhead or, potentially, a nuclear warhead.
Though primarily intended for antiship use, the Spectre is equally effective against hardened land targets, such as land battleships or bunker complexes, or runways; all that need be done is switch the missile's software to the appropriate mission profile. It can be submarine launched as well, though substantial modification may need to be made to incorporate it due to it's size.
Length: 19m
Diameter: 1.42m
Wingspan: 3m
Launch Mass: 15421kg
Propulsion: 2 x Zimmad Industries high output turbojets (primary stage), SP liquid bipropellant rocket (terminal stage)
Speed (average): mach 0.99
Speed (terminal): mach 2.93
Range (surface-launched): 927km
Range (air-launched): 1079km
Payload: 2400 kg blast fragmentation warhead with armor-piercing penetrator nose, average penetration of 800mm (though it must be noted that even partial penetrations will cause severe damage due to the size and power of the warhead)
Electronics:
-Passive IR
-INS
-LIDAR/LADAR
-Satellite guidance
-Passive radar w/home on jam capability
Stealth features:
-Extensive use of RAM
-High-efficiency active radar canceller
-Dampened exhaust systems to reduce IR signature
Flight profile:
Subsonic sea-skimmer for most of it's course, then rapid acceleration for the attack run
Unit price: $28.9 million per missile, production rights unavailable
Design notes
The Spectre is a long range heavy antiship missile, capable of being launched from ships, aircraft, or land-based positions. It incorporates extensive stealth features into it's design, including multiple layers of advanced RAM and an active radar canceller similar in concept to that used by the obsolete F-22 Raptor, analyzing incoming radar pulses and sending out counter-pulses to neutralize them.
The intent of these stealth features, combined with it's sea-skimming flight profile, combine to make it extremely difficult to detect, track, and lock onto for the vast majority of radar systems deployed on naval vessels, which means that in turn, while the missile is generally somewhat more expensive than an equivalent weight antiship missile without stealth features, many fewer need to be fired to penetrate an enemy fleet's defenses
The flight profile is fairly simple: the Spectre will launch, activate it's radar canceller, and proceed on it's programmed course (recieving updates as neccesary from satellites if needed), then, once it reaches the area, lock onto it's target via either it's emission seeking capabilities, passive IR, or it's onboard LIDAR/LADAR system, then approach the target. Once it is within a short distance of the enemy vessel, the first stage is ejected and the secondary rocket booster fires, accelerating the missile to almost Mach 3 for the terminal run. At the same time, the active jamming suite powers up (if the missile detects itself being targeted), intended to disrupt the targeting systems of CIWS and RAM installations on board enemy vessels for those last, critical seconds.
The armor piercing cap allows enough penetration to bypass the armor of virtually all non-SD class vessels afloat; against tougher targets, the home on emissions mode is often used, striking the vessel in the superstructure and bypassing it's primary armor, achieving a mission kill via destruction of the electronics. The warhead consists of either a high explosive blast fragmentation warhead or, potentially, a nuclear warhead.
Though primarily intended for antiship use, the Spectre is equally effective against hardened land targets, such as land battleships or bunker complexes, or runways; all that need be done is switch the missile's software to the appropriate mission profile. It can be submarine launched as well, though substantial modification may need to be made to incorporate it due to it's size.