Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[10ebbor10]

Radiation homing is big and easily fooled.

Rather, calibrate the missile for the expected spectrum, or simply deplete their defenses.

[notquitethere]

We could revise the infared targeting on our ASAT so it tracks a more specific heat signature. However that'd only affect one missile. Better to make a design that gives us infared imaging technology. A more expansive solution for now might be to revise our Type 20 jets so they have more hardpoints for firing missiles, or else a larger missile store. That way if the first barrage of missiles misses, we can fire again. The benefit of this kind of fix is that it isn't a fix for any specific missile's problem, but a broader improvement that increases the effectiveness of all three of our jet-based missiles.

[10ebbor10]

So, in general, just upgrade our jet?

Though I'm quite anxious to do something espionage based actually

[notquitethere]

Its missile launching capability, sure. We rely on the Type 20 for three different functions right now: launching missiles at satellites, launching missiles at ground bases, launching missiles and autoturreting enemy jets and it currently has a very small payload. It's unclear (maybe GUNIN can clarify) how many ARM and ASATs the Type 20 can carry, but I'm guessing it's only one each. If each of our numerous jets could carry twice as many missiles then they'd be more effective. If we took a slight hit to speed to achieve this it wouldn't be the end of the world as they're already very fast.

I'm guessing the current limitation isn't actually the number hardpoints (missile launching points) on the jet, but that it's so flimsy that it falls apart if you look at it funny. So thinking about it even more, we could solve both the disintegration problem and the low payload problem by reinforcing the airframe of the Type 200. In the revision phases, longerons and reinforced ribs could be added to the plane to improve its structural integrity, allowing it to carry more missiles and fly faster before disintegrating.

[Sheb]

It's weird, our plane is described as sturdy in one sentence, and as spontaneously exploding in the next. :p

[10ebbor10]

Yeah, that leads me to believe that the problem isn't actually structural integrity, but an aerodynamic effect. Maybe the plane suddenly becomes unstable, causing it to flip out, experience vastly increased drag, then tear itself apart.

The blackbird had something similar happening once. It was making a turn, when one of the engine experienced an unstart. The unbalanced thrust caused the aircraft to tip, dramatically increasing drag, and the frame tore itself apart. One of the 2 crewmembers survived. The other was pretty much unharmed, except from the fact that the spontaneous disassembly and multi Mach deceleration snapped his nick.

[notquitethere]

It's sturdy up until it explodes.

It would be an easy and reliable revision to stick our high-powered cameras on the jets for spying missions. However, as we're already dealing effectively with their anti-sat capabilities, we could just give our current spy satellites time to shine.

*CHECKS*

Trial runs for the specialized reentry vehicle that the film rides in are promising. Canisters can theoretically survive reentry, and the automatic parachutes being tested have all worked as advertised. Unfortunately, there's no way to control where the canister goes. While command and control can always know for certain where the film will be when its chute deploys, there's no way to predict where the canister will float, making it difficult to recover. Because of this, the Type B is still not considered ready for deployment.

Hold on, our satellites are still useless because we can't reliably recover the film. We should really fix this. Revision suggestion: use our automated guidance technology (or a more precise suggestion from one of you) to guide the canisters safely back to the USSA.

[Sheb]

Ok, so we need to add a radio beacon to the canisters?

[notquitethere]

Ooh, could we add our new type AA to the radio cannister which will send out a radio signal (we should be able to do that for free, right?), allowing our jets to recover the parachute in midair, or let our ground forces pick it up if it falls within USSA territory (which is presumably what we're aiming for). That way, we won't even have to waste a revision phase on this. Hopefully.

[10ebbor10]

How about this, as an, admittedly quite crazy, revision.

Spoiler: Type Z, Model C Manned Capsule (click to show/hide)

One of our capsules, modified for durability and combat. The armor and heatshield have been strengthened, while 6 modified Type 700 (modification being the removal of the first 2 stages) have been arranged around it. This means that the entire capsule needs to be aimed at the target, however. In order to allow for all this, crew capacity has been reduced to two. Includes a grabber allowing the recovery of one of our spysats.

[notquitethere]

Other than recovering spy photos, what else would we use that for?

[10ebbor10]

Barrage fire at enemy capsules?

Mostly, it's to make our astronauts feel less useless.

But nah, my vote is radio jammer and then jet revision.

[notquitethere]

Lets get the jammer through and see where the tech improvement leaves us.

[Parsely]

Also, as a note to GUNINANRUNIN? The Type 700 doesn't seem to be on our weapons list for this turn's turn post.

It's been fixed. Luckily the French spies are bad at their job.

Does the game go on until one side has complete superiority in all zones?

Something like that.

Also if we make some reconnaissance improvements we'll get more espionage credits and can start spying in earnest.

Take photos of enemy territory and get them home safe, and you will get espionage credits. That's just one way of getting credits. Put your people in a position where they can obtain intel. That's all I'm going to say.

It's unclear (maybe GUNIN can clarify) how many ARM and ASATs the Type 20 can carry, but I'm guessing it's only one each.

Correct.

[Happerry]

Honestly even if the other side does get flares, as long as we can jam or chaff counter their missiles too we should still win airfights on the grounds of 'our plane has a gun and theirs doesn't.'