ACM-5 Hydra

ACM-5 Hydra
File:ACM-5 hydra 2.png
Place of origin	Arthurista
Service history
In service	1989-present
Production history
Manufacturer	Arthuristan Dynamics
Specifications
Weight	4,500kg
Length	9.8m
Diameter	1m
Warhead	1,000kg DU shaped charge or 4 x 250kg submunitions
Engine	turbojet, solid rocket booster
Operational range	800km
Speed	Mach 1.2 cruising, Mach 3 terminal attack
Guidance system	Mid-course: Inertial/SATNAV, jam-resistant rapid frequency-hopping datalink Terminal: active or passive radar
Launch platform	Ships, submarines

The ACM-5 Hydra is a heavy supersonic anti-ship missile, designed to destroy or cripple heavy capital warships. Its launch platforms are surface ships equipped with the V95 large-cell VLS or cruise-missile submarines.

Design

The Hydra was developed from an example of the P-1000_Vulkan, surreptitiously acquired by the Strategic Intelligence Bureau from communist Anikatia in 1988. Arthuristan Dynamics improved upon the original design in a number of ways. Conformal fuel tanks were attached to the chassis of the missile and its casing is further lightened with the extensive use of titanium, carbon fibre and other composites. The range of the missile is extended to approximately 800km despite retaining the original’s warhead weight. At the same time, the fuselage is slightly shortened to fit the dimensions of Arthuristan heavy-VLS. It is also covered in a layer of radar-absorbent materiel to reduce its signature.

The flight profile of the ACM-5 can be summarised as “lo-hi-lo”. When making its attack run, the missile drops from cruising height to sea-skimming altitude and at mach 1.2. The missile would then pop up to initiate its terminal dive approximately 800-1,500m from the target, depending on its programming by the fire-control officer before its launch, and attack the target at mach 3, aided by a pair of auxiliary solid-fuel rocket engines. The main motor has a thrust-vectoring nozzle, with which the missile is able to perform erratic maneouvres to avoid counter-missile fire at the terminal stage.

Guidance and ECM

The avionics suite of the original is completely replaced by an upgraded version of that fitted to the ACM-1 Cerberus cruise missiles. After being launched from a ship or submarine, the basic guidance package directs the missile towards the target area using satellite navigation systems. Where operating under a satellite-jammed environment, or where such systems are for some reason unavailable, inertial guidance is used as a backup. Once in the target area, the missile switches to dual active/passive radar guidance during the terminal phase. The ACM-5 can operate in swarms of 40. One missile in each swarm would have its warhead swapped for a PUPPETEER-2 package, featuring a powerful datalink which allows AWAC aircrafts or other over the horizon sensor and targeting platform to provide course correction for the entire swarm. Another missile in each swarm can have its warhead substituted with a FIREWORKS package, transforming it into a powerful EW platform which degrades enemy missile defence through jamming, as well as releasing large quantities of chaff and flares. Due to the substantial weight of the their airframes, as well as their flight speed and the large quantiites of jet fuel they carry, even these warhead-less missiles can cause substantial damage when they hit a hostile ship. Where AWAC aircrafts are not present, PUPETEER missiles can do course correction for its swarm by popping up occasionally to a higher altitude and, if it is destroyed, other missiles in the swarm may take over, though they are less optimal for the role due to their reduced sensor capability, an ability similar to the Hydra’s P-1000 ancestor. Where there is range to spare, due to its use of satellite guidance, enterprising fire-control officers can order swarms of missiles to take a more circuitous route than others and attack an enemy fleet from multiple directions.

Payload

The standard warhead of the Hydra is a 1,000kg shaped charge lined with a depleted uranium shell for maximum effect against armour. Alternatively, the missile may carry release four inertially guided 250kg sub-impactors at the start of its terminal dive. Together with the body of the missile, still a highly lethal kinetic energy ordnance due to its weight, speed and fuel, this presents five times as many targets to the defenders in an instant, helping to overwhelm their missile defences.