Motoca UAV-27 ASSD (Airborne Surveillance Stealth Drone)

  The Motoca UAV-27 is a new drone that is developed to be launched from an airplane. The frame is similar to the 20th century BGM-109 "Tomahawk" cruise missile, or the CIS Kh-305 "Kelter" missile. The frame was used because of the ability to be launched from most aircraft. The only difference is that the UAV-25 is slightly larger than it’s progenitor, due to the added systems of installed in the airframe. For example, the Su-56/58 can carry four/six respectively. If the same aircraft were to carry the UAV-25, it would be reduced to two/four respectively.
  The main part of the body features a modular bay capable of carrying low-light, thermographic, ultraviolet, and direct visual optics. Included in this is a satellite uplink system to upload data real-time to an orbiting satellite or to the unit’s HQ on demand. All data is stored in the pods data storage facility, able to store up to 5000 Mp of data or send it through an encrypted datalink, which also is the main control link for the drone. The camera package consists of two cameras mounted on a pannable mount, on each side, facing outward, allowing the drone to scan to the sides as well as the bottom. The operator can lock on to an acquired target, and the stabilizers mounted inside will track the target until it is out of the panning limit (90 degrees left and right, and can maintain a cone of 70 degrees, as well as down). The nosecone incorporates an LPIR system, to acquire targets and for terrain following as well. This system can track up to 12 targets, with 17 on a shared basis. The operator usually uses the LPIR system to acquire a target, then he uses the cameras to provide the other information. Use the LPIR rules in the M56A3 and 54c files. This system can last up to the life of the drone, allowing better coverage of an area. As mentioned before, the drone can send the information real-time to the destination specified by the operator. This however will send to a nearby satellite in case the drone is shot down.
  To prevent the drone from becoming an expensive target, the fuselage was heavily modified from a Kh-305 airframe, with the main warhead removed to accommodate the sensor system. The drone still has the TERCOM system that was originally installed in the Kh-305. It is linked to an expert system, able to make rudimentary decisions on the path to go. This can be preset before launch by the carrier plane, allowing the drone to recon an area specified by the pilot or rigger operating the drone. This allowed the missile to accept more fuel and the engine was kept to keep down costs. Also the size of the missile has been increased, allowing more fuel to be added to the frame, increasing range dramatically. The air intake for the engine was modified, being more flat and incorporating RAM to prevent the duct from being a radar trap. The engine incorporates a thermal absorption system to reduce it’s thermal signature, as well as sound absorption plates to reduce it’s aural signature. Despite these modifications, the drone still has a low RCS (Radar Cross Section), reportedly the size of a small bird, seagull is probably comparable. The tail was modified, being arranged in an "x" pattern, allowing the drone to be carried without needing to have folding wings, simplifying the system. The main wings do fold however, allowing it to be stored more efficiently on an aircraft pylon, much like the Lappland ASSD, which reportedly is carried by their Air Force F-B Eagles. Electronic defense is limited, as the drone was designed not to carry ECM/ECCM gear, though a package is being designed for it. This can be launched from a variety of aircraft, offering commonality with existing launch rails, without the airplane never have to be modified, or a special launch rail can be mounted on the pylon, allowing the drone to be launched from rails that it normally can’t. The mounting point for the drone includes a specialized system for retrieving the drone. The system is a simple clamshell that has some magnets on each side that holds the drone. The magnets are powered by the aircraft, which does not seriously drain the resources. The magnets are only switched on when the drone is in the clamshell. To successfully "land" the drone, it requires the aircraft to stay perfectly level, and the plane must match the drone’s speed in order for them to connect. The hardpoint has a transponder that hooks up to the aircraft’s HUD, which shows the relative position of the aircraft in relation to degrees, speed, etc. It requires a Complex Action with an Aircraft (8) Test to accomplish. Note that standard modifiers apply as well. The clamshell system automatically activates and closes when it senses the drone on the hardpoint.
  In the works is a small module containing target acquisition gear and a small weapons bay for weaponry. Currently the project is using a modified Ballista missile (known as the Mk IV, and Mk V) as the main munition for the UAV-27, which allows the drone secondary attack capability. This missile is reportedly an "off-axis" missile, enhancing the capability dramatically. The weapons pod contains four missiles. The door is designed to slide upward, allowing the missile to launch without the bay doors obstructing the launch. The missile can turn up to 20G’s, making a Ballista equipped UAV-27 a very potent drone. Other munitions in design are hyper kinetic missiles, with the ability to be fired 45 degrees off axis forward, further adding to it’s capability against armor.. However, the smaller size allows the UAV-25 to carry eight in the bay. Other designs are a small guided bombs ("Mini-Paveways"), cluster munitions, or other systems, allowing the UAV-27 excellent pinpoint strike capability. To handle the immense targeting data, the module incorporates a Level 2 Tactical Computer, to assist the rigger in acquisition of targets. However, with the amount of sensors, the Tactical Computer’s effective range is the maximum range of the weapon being used, effectively becoming a Vehicle Tactical Computer, with the modified rating being 9.

  Handling | Speed | B/A | Sig | APilot | Store | Cost
  3 | 650/975 | 2/6 | 10 | 7 | 10CF | 200,000¥

  Economy: 3 km per liter
  Fuel: MultiF/100 liters
  Cargo: None
  Operational Duration: Fuel-limited
  Set-up/Breakdown Time: 5 minutes
  Sensor Package: Military I (6)
  Landing/Takeoff profile: See above
  Additional Features: See above.
  Saeder-Krupp Mk IV and Mk V Ballista Missiles
  The Mk IV and V are modified versions of the Mk II and Mk III Ballista missiles. The main changes are the adoption of a vectored thrust engine, able to allow the missile to be launched "off-axis" from the launching vehicle, generally aircraft or helicopters, as the speeds are greater and a faster reaction time is needed to engage targets in a combat situation. The first application was developed for the UAV-27, allowing a better strike capability. The intention was to provide a better capability in attacking targets "off aspect" while the drone was moving forward and could not acquire a target due to terrain, etc. While mounted in the weapons bay, the sensors continually feed information to the missile, allowing the missile better response time when in combat. The missiles are arranged in twos on either side, with the center portion incorporating the targeting electronics.
  Game Notes: The Mk IV and V only differ in cost, and availability. Add 50% to both costs for the Mk II and the III variants. Add 4 to the availability of the missiles as well.
  GBU-34 "Mini Paveway" Guided Smart Bomb
  The GBU-34 is a small guided smart bomb designed for precision strikes. This is more or less a miniaturized system, with micro electronics guiding the bombs control fins. Guidance is provided by a multi spectral sensor head, incorporating a laser seeker, and a radar homing sensor. The explosive is an EFP (Explosively Formed Penetrator) warhead, with the sensor head able to form the explosive upon receiving data from the main targeting computer. The EFP will then form itself accordingly, with a cone shaped warhead against MBT armor, or a HEAT style warhead against soft armor, able to mold into two charges for attacks against reactive armor equipped vehicles, or a fragmentation warhead against troops or soft targets. Then the bomb is launched, and follows the laser beam or launch data from the UAV-27’s LPIR system. This allows the GBU-34 to attack targets in any weather at any altitude. The weapons pod contains two GBU-34 bombs, with a ball mounted laser designator. The designator has a 360 degree field of view (FOV) and a range of 2km. The intake for the UAV-27 only limits the view slightly, to the point of non importance, as most of the targets are forward, or below the drone. However, the small size of the bombs enable other platforms to utilize this weapon.

  | Intelligence | Damage | Cost
  GBU-34 | 8 | see below | 30,000¥

  Game Notes: Damage against various target types:

  Against hard targets (runways, MBT’s, concrete): | Against medium targets (APC’s, MPUV, armored cars): | Against soft targets (infantry, unarmored cars, run down buildings):
  16D armor piercing (-4/meter) | 2D (strips away reactive armor if present), 14D HE | 16D HE (-1/meter)

  AGM-89 OBLOSAT (Off Boresight Line Of Sight Anti Tank)
  The OBLOSAT is a hyper-velocity missile designed to use kinetic energy to destroy a target. The system uses a solid fuel booster, giving the AGM-89 tremendous velocity, giving the missile a range of five kilometers (use Ballista range tables). The system is linked with the UAV-27’s targeting computer, which provided instantaneous information on selected targets. After the weapon is selected, and fired, the missile drops down and fires a sustainer motor to orient itself, using a camera to acquire the target (with low light and thermographic imaging as well), then the main engine ignites, and the missile attacks the target. And the weapon uses a penetrating rod to achieve it’s kills. A total of four may be carried. To improve the capability of the system, a vectoring engine is used to allow the weapon to be fired 45 degrees off the side of the drone.

  Intelligence | Damage | Cost
  7 | 18D* | 10,000¥

  *Use APDS rules, but there is no reduction in the Damage Level against armor.
  Eric Johnson, 1997
  With thanks to angel, for speculation, and Daniel Casquilho for help on the launch recovery system.