Dassault Sirrocco-SSG

Dassault Sirrocco-SSG Dassault "SIROCCO-SSG"

Special Operations Helicopter

Sirocco : hot wind coming in from the south, mainly at night.

Early 2055, Aztlán/Aztechnology military forces operating in the Yucatán peninsula expressed the need for an helicopter designed for special operations in hostile territory. Aztechnology forwarded the contract to its french subsidiary Dassault, in part due to Dassault expertise in aeronautics, and also because Aztechnology didn't want to divert to many resources for such a small-scale project. Two years later, the resulting aircraft entered operations in Yucatán, and proved even more successful than expected. Aztechnology then engaged them in Desert Wars �58, where they showed superior survivability and firepower.

To date, the aircraft equip Aztechnology Jaguar Guard, and a few selected elite units from the Aztlán and Aztechnology military. The Dassault export version as been sold to various country and mercenary organizations, including Israel.

In an unexpected move, Saeder-Krupp has just ordered Dassault a specific variant to equip its Special Security Group (SSG). The number of aircraft ordered was not disclosed, and neither was the future role they may be tasked for. Unsubstantiated rumors points to Panama Canal Zone operations, but other sources mention the Russian theatre of operations.

The design of Dassault Sirocco helicopter is similar to the late XXth century Mi-24 "Hind" soviet helicopter. The flight crew sit in tandem in a dedicated compartment in front, accessed by armored hatches, and the special operation team is carried in the rear compartment, which has two sliding doors and a rear loading ramp. The cargo area is large enough to carry ten or so SF soldiers and their assorted gear, or to receive a Scorpio special operation vehicle and its crew, though other vehicles can be carried.

The engineers who designed it expected the Sirocco to be fired upon; the helicopter is thus heavily armored, and is able to survive all but the most serious damage. Its extra-light alloy composite armor reaches levels previously reserved to T-birds, and its multiplexed Contingency Maneuver Control systems allow it to fly back home when many other of its kind would crash. Some helicopters operating in Yucatán reportedly came back to their base after receiving three or four direct SAM hits.

Survival of the helicopter and the Special Operation team it carries is also achieved by way of quite a massive firepower. The helicopter sports a small chin turret, usually mounting a rotary assault cannon (some helicopters were reported equipped with a heavy vehicle laser), and one mini turret (usually sporting miniguns) on each side at the rear. Each door and the rear loading ramp are equipped with firing positions, and usually sport a HMG or AGL. Each gun position is smartlink-II compatible. These weapons have to be operated by the Spec-Ops team or gunners, though.

An underbelly drone rack provides storage for one or two small drones, used for scouting, electronic reconnaissance or target designation. A video monitor and intercom speaker in the rear area allows the Spec-Ops team to be up-to-date with target recon.

Stubby wings situated each side of the fuselage offer a total of six 300-kg hardpoints for gun pods, bombs, rockets, missiles or droppable fuel tanks, and two 150-kg hardpoints, mounting generally small AAMs or ARMs. Saeder-Krupp specifically asked for fast-removal stub wings and quick-folding rotor blades, thus hinting that the helicopter may be used as a force projection helicopter. Dassault happily complied with SK requirements. The stub wings can be removed or put back in flight condition under 10 minutes by a competent crew, thanks to special fast-connecting circuitry. The rotor blade itself has been fitted with small actuators, which enable the aircraft to automatically fold the rotor (when the latter is NOT turning, of course). Full deployment of the rotor took less than five minutes.

The helicopter is equipped with a telescopic air refueling boom, allowing a nearly unlimited range or idle time over the operational area.

Defensive electronics consist of Thomson-CSF ECM and ECCM. Additionally, the aircraft mounts ED and ECD for further electronic spoofing. Additional EW protection is gained by the use of the ALE-50 expendable jammer decoys designed to spoof AARMs.

SSG models are equipped with French-made Sagem SARA ("Système Automatique de Recherche et d�Acquisition") tactical computer, Sagem ORIENT ("Orientation et Recherche Inertielle Et Navigation Tactique") combat and navigation system, Matra DEMETER ("Détection de MEnaces Tactiques par Energie ayonnée") threat warning system, Matra VAMPIRE ("Veille d�Alerte Missile Pour Immédiate REaction") missile approach detectors, and Esprit Industries AM-56 decoy launcher (level 4). A Philips Tacticom communication suite with satellite uplink capability was fitted, as well as a Philips IBIS battlefield identification system.

The Sirocco low signature is achieved by an overall stealth design, a RAM coating, and a short-term electric drive, derived from the infamous Aguilar combat helicopter. On top of that is a ruthenium polymer skin assuring a near-perfect camouflage in the visible spectrum.

SSG models will have only a standard two-rigger crew (a pilot and a system operator) where both riggers can operate the aircraft weapons or drones, depending on the other rigger's workload, and incorporates a third, magically active, crewman. In this configuration, the magician lies in a special anti-G compartment, without windows and accessed by the rear cargo area. This compartment replaces a fuel tank. A fiber-optic network and special optical goggles gives him full 360° vision in all three dimensions around the aircraft, allowing him to cast spells, direct elementals or give spell defense. It is known that Aztlán SOP includes casting illusion spells to protect and hide the helicopter (Improved Invisibility, Silence, Chaff, and even Vehicle Masking to disguise the Spec-Ops rotorcraft into an ordinary chopper).

However, SSG variants include protection against Sixth World threats. And the very structure of the aircraft includes a network of pipes used to circulate astrally active bacteria, making an efficient while costly astral protection. However, due to the heavy logistical constraints induced by the use of such bacteria, the helicopter sometimes operates without its astral safety net in low magical threat areas.

The Sirocco is deployed only by Section SIX as a fast response helicopter for their use in the PCZ.

Dassault Sirocco-SSG Special Operations Helicopter

Handling	Speed	Accel	Body	Armor	Sig	Autonav	Pilot	Load	Cost
3	350 75	35 27	5/18	7(4)* 15/12*	4	4	9	**	**

Second line value is when running on short-term electric drive

Chassis : Assault helicopter
Power plant : Attack helicopter / Helicopter electric drive
DP : 14,285; Mark-up factor : 5.0 x 2.5
Total CF capacity : 200; load capacity : 5,500 kg

Seating : 2 bucket seats, folding bench seats (for 10)
Access : 2 top front hatches, 2 side sliding doors, 1 rear loading ramp
Fuel : 2,500 ( liters) / 500 (pF)
Economy : .1km per liter / .1 km per pF

* First Signature value is when no outer armament is carried. Second value is when all external hardpoints are used.

** Cargo : 40 CF available for up to 10 Spec-Ops troopers.
** Load : 2,685 kg available for troops (100 kg per trooper/gunner), drones, external armament or system upgrades.

Sensors : Military II (9)
ECM/ECCM : Miitary II (9)/Military II (9)
ED/ECD: Military II (5)/Military II (5)

Combat Electronics : Matra DEMETER threat warning system, Matra VAMPIRE missile approach detector (level 6), Esprit Industries AM-56 decoy launcher (level 4), Sagem ORIENT orientation system, Sagem SARA tactical computer, Philips Tacticom Communication master unit (Level 14) with satellite uplink. Hardwired Remote Control Deck (level 3) with IVIS and FDDM BattleTac modules (use Communication unit ratings for all EW ratings). Electronic ports (x4). Philips IBIS combat IFF systems. Tubes for 20 ALE-50 expendable jammer decoys.

Other Features : Datajack Port (x2), Rigger "Black Box" Adaptation, Secondary Controls, APPS (x3), Crash cage (rear cargo area), EnviroSeal (gas), EnviroSeal (overpressurization) with life support generator. Telescopic in-flight refuelling boom.

Fast-removable stub wings and quick-folding rotor blades.

Structural agility (2) �adds +2 to pilot Reaction rating� , Fly-By-Light systems (2) ***. Contingency Manoeuver Controls (9)

Improved Speed (turbine engine) ***, Improved Speed (electric drive) ***, Improved Acceleration (turbine engine) ***, Improved Acceleration (electric drive) ***, Improved Economy (electric drive) ***. Improved Cargo Space ***, Improved Load Capacity (turbine engine) ***, Improved Load Capacity (electric drive) ***, Reduced Fuel Capacity (turbine engine) ***. Improved Signature (Stealth Design) level 3 ***, RAM level 3 ***, Composite Armor level 12 (giving armor value of 18) ***.
*** Already Factored In

Ruthenium polymer skin (+8 to spot the helicopter �normal vision only; reduce modifier to +4 when flying low, due to dust, debris, etc�)

Armament : 1 chin small remote turret (full azimuth "AA" capable) with 5-tube Victory rotary assault cannon
2 rear remote mini�turret (full azimuth "AA" capable) with 6-tube Vindicator miniguns.
6 hardpoints under stubby wings for gun pods, bombs, rockets, missiles or drop tanks (300-kg max), and 4 wingtip hardpoints for missiles, ECM or chaff (150-kg max).
3 (smartlink-II compatible) door gun positions (2 side, 1 rear) with Ares M400 heavy machine guns.
Underbelly Drone Rack (can receive a single Body 2 drone, or up to two Body 1 mini-drones)

Optional features

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