Vantage missile
| Vantage ATGM | |
|---|---|
| File:Polyphem.jpg Vantage ATGM | |
| Type | Non-line of sight anti-tank missile |
| Place of origin | Arthurista |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2001-present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Arthuristan Dynamics |
| Variants | see text |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 130kg |
| Warhead | 15 kg tandem HEAT warhead |
| Engine | Micro-turbojet |
Operational range | 60km |
Guidance system | Fibre-optics, imaging infra-red terminal homing |
The Vantage missile is an Arthuristan non-line of sight anti-tank guided weapon, currently in service with the Commonwealth Army and Commonwealth Marines. Developed in the late-90s, it uses a solid-rocket booster to boost the munition out of its launch canister, before a micro-turbojet engine and extendable cruciform wings deploy for sustained cruising flight. An imaging infrared seeker allows it to autonomously engage targets without operator intervention, although it may also transmit thermal images back to the launch vehicle via a 200 megabit-per-second datalink via optical fibre to allow for 'man-in-the-loop' operation. It uses a top-attack flight profile to attack the thin roof armour of main battle tanks, employing a tandem warhead to destroy the target. It is in substance a further development of the Vesper missile.
The missile is primarily mounted on the rear of flatbed medium-lorry chassis. One to two pods of sixteen vertical-launch missiles is carried on the rear of each vehicle. A battery consists of six vehicles and three constitute a regiment. It is considered a divisional asset, administratively part of the Division Artillery Group, and individual batteries are parcelled out to brigade groups as needed.