UFAF-A-44 ‘Manta’(1): Lightforger
UFN-BB-43 'Victorious' (4): Madman, Kashyyk, Zanzetkuken, helmacon
UFN-ASM-44 'Saltseeker' (2): Jilladilla, Taricus
UFN-ASM-44 Saltseeker V2:(1) Wizgrot
UFN-ASM-44 Saltseeker V2
As a prerrequisite for the development of the Saltseeker, we shall decomplex radar and Piracy Warning so we can integrate both in this design.
Based on the Piracy Warning, the United Forenian Anti-Shipping Missile 1944 "Saltseeker" is a naval missile designed to seek and destroy enemy ships from a great distance away.
The Saltseeker is a 5 meter-long missile with short, stubby wings and turbojet engine. A short solid-propellant rocket booster launches the missile before dropping off to engage the turbojet, giving the Saltseeker a near-instantaneous launch speed. The sensor suite uses our Deadliest Ray cavity radar to gain signatures, and a small set of vacuum tubes filter the signatures by size (ship-sized targets) and distance (selecting the closest one only). Another set of tubes guide the servos controlling the rear fins in order to point the missile towards the closest target, allowing it to home in. Lastly, a proximity sensor in the belly of the missile (either borrowed from the Piracy Warning or using a radar altimeter, whichever is easiest) allows the missile to dictate its altitude over the ocean surface. When within a set distance of its target (100 meters or so) the missile will descend in order to meet the target at sea level. Sensors can be substituted by additional payload and a simple guidance system when trying to hit stationary targets or commit strategic bombardment.
The Saltseeker is designed to be fired from an angle off the deck of a ship before leveling out in flight. A Saltseeker mount can take the place of a turret on a destroyer or cruiser, with a goal of two missiles per mounting. The nose of the missile is designed to be hardened in order to allow it to punch through side armor before detonating, similar to an inertia-fuse artillery shell. Range is expected to be approximately 40 kilometers. It can also be launched from the ground as a trailer platform or as some kind of self propelled artillery in a modified Artemis.
Modified Piracy Warnings might be equipped with the hardened nose and the guidance system to allow planes to hit enemy ships from beyond flak screen range.