Another new design to come from Switzerland, the MOWAG LARS is another artillery system being marketed for export.
Unlike the ALFAS, the LARS uses a 10 x 10 layout instead of an 8 x 8 layout. Additionally, the LARS uses the same chassis as the MLCV. The layout is similiar, with the driver on the right, and the commander/gunner on the left side when looking forward. Each person has Crash Cages as standard, providing superior crash protection. NBC protection is offered with the use of cabin overpressurization, with each crewmember having 10 hours life support. The vehicle is fully rigged, and features composites, combined with thermal baffles to reduce the overall signature of the vehicle. Mounted in between the front road wheels and before the rear wheels are hydraulic jacks that stabilize the vehicle when firing. It requires a Simple Action to deploy/retract the hydraulic jacks.
The main armament of the LARS are 15 Mk.16I rockets mounted in five-round ammunition clips. These operate the same as the MLRS system, with each five round clip able to be extended out to facilitate rapid reloading, which takes around ten minutes per clip. Unlike the MLRS however, each tube in the clip can be loaded with different rockets or missiles dependant on mission requirements. The turret can traverse a full 360º and can elevate up to 50º. The LARS can accept firing data from other units via the Battletac FDDM system installed. Additionally, if needed for self defense, the LARS has a radar designator mounted to designate targets for it's rockets.
In addition to the Mk.16I rockets, the LARS can also fire the LR-TMS (Long Range-Tactical Missile System). This is a large, 360 kilogram missile that can carry DPICM rounds or 14 self homing submunitions up to 300 kilometers away. Such a missile is designed for strategic targets, rather than tactical targets. Nevertheless, this gives the LARS impressive capability against targets.
Handling
Speed
Accel
Body
Armor
Sig
Autonav
Load
Cost
5/6
80
5
6
15*
6
4
800*
1,838,100¥
Seating: 2 bucket Access: 2 hatch Economy: 3 km per liter Fuel: Diesel (500 liters) Sensors: Military I (8) ECM/ECCM: Military I (8)/Military I (8) Cargo: 2 + 2 CF underseat storage. Other Features: Datajack Port, Rigger Adaptation, Cabin Overpressurization with 20 man hours life support, 2 x Crash Cages, Thermal Baffles (2), Signature Improvement (2, Composites), Ablative Armor Capability, Battletac FDDM. Armament: 15 Mk.16I missiles mounted on a medium remote turret, with also capability to fire 3 LR-TMS as well. Also has coaxial radar designator in turret as well. Weight (combat): 12,765 kilograms.
*reduce Load to 200 kilograms when using Ablative Armor.
For Mk.16I rocket ranges, see below:
Mk.16I 150mm rocket
The Mk. 16I "Banshee" 150mm rocket is the standard unguided rocket used on the Iroquois and the standard rocket system for the LARS. It features a high burn motor allowing it to achieve high speeds within a short time, allowing quick reaction times. The main lifting features are flip out fins upon clearance of the launcher. The main popularity is the number of warhead types the Banshee can carry, ranging from standard high explosive to a submunition carrying system, allowing effective firepower on the battlefield. This allows the Iroquois and LARS to carry a selectable load to counter any threats on the battlefield of the 2060s.
Damage
CF
Weight
Short
Medium
Long
Extreme
18D
2
72
5-6 km
6,001-10 km
10,001-15 km
15,001-20 km
Here are various useful warheads the Mk.16I can carry:
M18 (WP): rockets do 18D/15L damage, (-1/meter), and double the cost.
M214 (Smoke): versions produces an 18-meter cloud that lasts for 4 turns. Multi-spectral smoke is available, and increase cost by 50%.
M295 (Sensor Fuzed Weapon): Missile only. Missile body has three BLU-11 carrier dispensers that each have four sensing EFP warheads. Each has a Level 4 Intelligence, and roll the Intelligence against the Signature of the target. When successfully acquired, the munition will fire the EFP warhead against the target type. For vehicles with Ablative armored targets, damage will be reduced down to 8D armor piercing. For non ablative targets, damage is 10D armor piercing. "Soft" targets will be 10D HE. When launched, the missile will fly 50 meters above the flightpath of the aircraft. Then it will break apart and release the BLU-11 dispensers. The self sensing warheads will automatically be ejected from the BLU-11. The EFP warheads will float for 5 turns, before self destructing. Quadruple cost of missile.
M36 (HE): versions do normal damage (-1/meter), standard cost.
M323 (AV): warhead does 20D damage and is armor piercing (-5/meter), add 25% to the cost.
M598 (AP): warhead does flechette damage (-1/meter), add 25% to the cost.
Missile versions are available, and double the total cost of the rocket, and have an Intelligence of 4. They also have an Availability of +2/+1 week and a Street Index of 4.
LR-TMS (Long Range, Tactical Missile
The LR-TMS is a long range missile designed to attack strategic targets. It is fired from the MOWAG LARS system, and can range out to 300 kilometers using a high performance rocket. The weapon is guided by GPS, and uses a millimeter-wave radar for terminal homing, and is available in three configurations:
High-Explosive: The missile has a 50 kilogram explosive warhead that does 84D damage, and is reduced by 2 per meter.
DPICM: The missile contains 200 grenades in a 100 meter radius, inflicting 18D against targets. Vehicles do not stage down the Power per standard rules.
Sensor Fuzed Weapon: Carries 14 BLU-11 dispensers, see M295 above for description on effects.
The LR-TMS has an effective Body of 4 and Armor of 3. The missile travels a good 10,000 meters per turn, per the Extended Range Missiles rule in Rigger 2. If using CIWS against this system, the effective Target Number is 6.