Skanderan Laser Weapon Developments
The Skanderian Union has long placed heavy importance on the development of new defense technologies for the purpose of defense of its member states and interests. Throughout most of the 20th century, the Skanderian Union, and later OSEN placed significant interest in development of over the horizon means of destruction of incoming threats ad rapidly as possible. This development was spurred with the increased prevalence of nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, development of Stealth Bombers, and the decreased effectiveness of existing defense measures to destroy these incoming threats rapidly due to decreased reaction time.
Throughout the majority of the Cold War era, Skandera relied mostly on the concept of nuclear deterrence and an impressive Anti-Aircraft defense grid to keep the continent secured from external threats. However, as technology advanced, these means have started to become less sufficient in guaranteeing the defense of member states. The development of Stealth Cruise Missiles and newer, stealthier ships, aircraft and submarines had long been a concern of many national defense ministers, and Skandera is no acceptation.
Skandera, as a result, has been a major source of advanced weapons developments, inducing advanced modern laser systems. Such advanced Aerospace and Defense companies like Skavb, Erkson, and Thales Group have long worked jointly to develop a number of laser defense systems for military use.
Laser weapons prove highly desirable to national defense for many nations, due greatly to the weapons theoretical near-instant engagement and destruction time, low probability of error, and almost complete invulnerability to modern defenses. These systems would allow for strategic defense of the operation nation, as opposed to the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction which merely relies upon states unwillingness to engage in nuclear warfare under threat of destruction of both attacker and defender.
Since the beginning of major laser projects in the 1980s, Skandera has produced a number of successful prototypical laser weapon system design.
Infantry Laser Weapon
| Infantry Laser Weapon | |
|---|---|
| File:ILWS.PNG The Infantry Laser system in testing at a testing range. | |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2015 |
| Used by | Template:Country data SU |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Skavb Erkson |
| Designed | Project stated in mid 1990s |
| Unit cost | $48,000,000 per unit |
| No. built | On order |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 265kg (585lb) |
| Length | 45cm (1 foot 6 inches) |
| Width | 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) |
| Height | 2.5 meters (8 feet 3 inches) |
| Crew | Team of 8-12, 4 technicians |
| Cartridge | 10 Kilowatt laser |
| Effective firing range | 42 kilometers |
The Infantry Laser Weapon (Sometimes called the Infantry Laser Weapon System) is an infantry portable, laser-based area denial weapon system capable of engaging and destroying incoming Artillery, Mortars, missiles, low-flying aircraft and UAVs. Developed by a joint venture between large aerospace and defense companies since the 1990s, the Infantry Laser Weapon was first unveiled in 2014 and entered prototyping stages in 2015 in Dniegua, Temuair, Sieuxerr, Prestonia, Estovnia, Gratislavia and Austrasien. The system is able to reliably engage and destroy targets as far away as 45 kilometers.
With a weight of about 250 kilograms, the system is transportable by an infantry unit or light vehicle with relative ease. Firing a 10 Kilowat beam of energy at 9.6 micrometers, the beam delivers enough heat energy to destroy incoming cruse missiles in .2 seconds. The first test firing detonated an unexploded 155mm Artillery shell at a rage of 22,000 meters on the ground.
Orders for prototyping were placed sometime in 2010, and delivery first took place in 2014. The first type classifications took place in 2015; the official designation is currently XLAM-1 (Ex-Lamb). Currently, several states are in the process of testing the XLAM for official type classification and adoption, fewer than 200 units are thought to be in testing. 12 units are known to be in Prestonian ownership, and twelve units are known to be under testing at Rostervaam Airforce Range in Dniegua.
Design
The 250 kilogram system is split into six different components that are easily broken into and transported in specialized cases. The system are:
- Battery
- Water cooling system
- Fiber Laser
- Laser mount system
- Beam Director
- Targeting System
The heaviest component, the battery system, weighs 72 kilograms. The unit can be broken down and set up for firing in 15 minutes by trained operators, and is easily transportable by light vehicles, infantry teams, AFVs or helicopters.
With a lens radii of .42 meters, the beam has a bloom radius of .65 meters at maximum effective range. At 100 meters, the laser is able to vaporize 1.2 meters of Rolled Homogeneous Armor.