AD-16 Adder: Difference between revisions

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AD-16 Adder
<imgur w="300">K7qhGze.png</imgur>
Top: Adder Baseline
Bottom: Adder-ER
Typeshort-range surface-to-air missile
Place of originArthurista
Service history
In service2004-present
Production history
ManufacturerArthuristan Dynamics
Specifications
Weight270kg (baseline), 420kg (extended range)
Length4.2m (baseline), 7.2m (extended range)
Diameter251mm
Warhead10kg continuous rod HE

EngineSolid rocket booster
Operational
range
45km+ (baseline), 80km (extended-range)
SpeedMach 4+
Guidance
system
Common: Datalink

Block 1: semi-active radar

Block 2:imaging infra-red or active radar

The AD-16 Adder is the primary short-medium range air and missile defence weapon of the Arthuristan Commonwealth Defence Forces, typically quadpacked into its standard V90 Vertical Launch System in naval service. It complements the short-ranged RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile in the Commonwealth Navy, the Starstreak in the Commonwealth Army, as well as the AD-12 Area Defence Missile in both services, creating a three-layered air and missile defence package against any incoming threat.

The AD-16 is based on a significantly enlarged airframe of the ACCM Taipan Mk 2 air to air missile. With a top speed of mach 4 and a thrust-vectoring nozzle, the AD-16 is capable of intercepting a wide variety of air threats, including aircraft and missiles.

The original Block 1 missile relies on semi-active radar guidance, i.e. it requires a fire control radar to illuminate its target during terminal flight.

The recently released Block 2 features two variants, which do not require intervention from the launch platform's fire control system and can track and engage targets autonomously:

  • The AD-16 IR features an imaging infra-red seeker, it can spot the difference in temperature between the skin of an aircraft or attacking missile and the surrounding air, which renders it virtually immune from conventional infra-red countermeasures. It is equipped with a thurst-vectoring nozzle to attack highly maneouverable targets performing evasive maneouvres, such as supersonic anti-ship missiles.
  • The AD-16 AR features an active radar guidance package, with an on-board radar receiver which allows it to track and engage targets autonomously.

Both varieties include a datalink system, allowing fire control personnel to perform mid-course corrections. As a networked weapon, they also allow for 'over-the-horizon' engagements, for example firing at a low-altitude target behind an obstacle, as long as an friendly surveillance asset is in position to provide targeting information through the missile's datalink. They may also operate in the command guidance mode in intensive electronic warfare environments.

The AD-16 was initially deployed by the Commonwealth Navy. A canister of four AD-16s may be 'quad-packed' into one self-defence length V90 VLS cell. The IR-variant of the missile also has anti-surface capabilities and has been mooted as an effective counter against swarming small boat attacks.

AD-16 Adder Extended-Range

The Adder-ER is designed to take advantage of the full dimensions of a strike-length V90 vertical-launch cell. It is essentially the baseline missile fitted with a 3-metre solid-fuel booster, extending its reach to 80km. As its diameter remains the same as the baseline variant, it retains the ability to be quad-packed into a vertical-launch cell.

Given their size, Adder-ER missiles are capable of being utilised by maritime forces.

Ground deployment

<imgur thumb="yes" w="300" comment="The Adder tracked-TELAR">aMlXS79.png</imgur>

The AD-16 also replaced the Rapier as the main division-level ground-based air defence system, designated as the 'Mobile Medium-range SAM System' ("MMSS"). Its two launch platforms are as follows:

MMSS Mod 1

This variant is deployed on a tracked TELAR vehicle, armed with an eight-round launch pod. The vehicles are modified from refurbished Endurance Main Battle Tank chassis and include a crane system for the automatic reloading of new launch pods. Before launch, the missile pods are erected to a vertical position. As a vertical launched weapon, line-of-sight to target is unnecessary.

Each TELAR can function autonomously for fire control purposes, as it is equipped with an X-band phased-array radar, which has a degree of air-search capability in the event that a battery search radar is unavailable, as well as a backup imaging-infra red passive targeting unit for use in heavy ECM/SEAD environments for 'emission-free' stealthy engagements. Optimally, AD-16 launchers are networked to the battery's GIRAFFE Radar, which is mounted on top of the battery HQ.

Each battery consists of a battery-HQ vehicle including a surveillance radar, six launch vehicles, and two reload vehicles, all tracked.

MMSS Mod 2

Intended for light infantry forces, the Mod 2 is mounted in wheeled, towed four-canister launchers which may be transported by helicopters or air-dropped. Its configuration is otherwise identical to Mod 1 batteries.