NRI Integrated Air Defense System (Scutum)
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The Integrated Air Defense System (called Scutum) is the New Roman Imperium Ministry of Defense system designed to connect all aspects of the Roman military's air defense capabilities. This program was created in an attempt to make the New Roman Imperium an impenetrable shield. The Roman military was inspired by air defense systems such as Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense System and Iron Dome. The Scutum system is operated by the Air Denial Unified Command, which is a unified combat command, and aggregates all data taken from air defense radars. Each radar system can talk to all missiles and provide updated tracking information, if required.
History and Technical Development
Origins
Program History and Development
Deployment
Army
The Republic Army operates a sizable air defense, dedicating an entire command to it. Their air defense capabilities range from close-in weapons systems (CIWS) to basic ballistic missile defense.
Close-in Weapons System
The Republic Army operates three CIWS systems: Terra Testudo, SPAD Mk. 2, and SPAAG Mk. 3. These systems provide short-range air defense capability.
Terra Testudo is the land based version of the Republic Navy's Testuso CIWS, which uses a 20mm rotary cannon system and short range surface to air missile. These systems are placed around sensitive areas and installations. The capital of Rome has an undisclosed number around the city. Additionally, all military bases have at least one of these systems. Being a close-in weapons system, Terra Testudo is considered the last line of defense, and is only effective against cruise missiles, helicopters, low flying fixed-wing aircraft, and unmanned aerial vehicless. Many political circles think that if a nation relies on its CIWS, it has already lost.
The SPAD Mk. 2 is a self-propelled air defense system. This system provides mobile, short-range aair defense protection for ground units against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters. The system is an armored tracked vehicle designed to operate alongside armored units. Units where designed with two pods, each containing four missiles.
The SPAAG Mk. 3 is a self-propelled air defense system. This system provides mobile, short-range aair defense protection for ground units against cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, low-flying fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters. The system is an armored tracked vehicle designed to operate alongside armored units. Units have two 25mm rotary machine guns, one on each side of the turret.
Surface to Air Missiles
The Republic Army operates three surface-to-air missile platforms, which cover medium to long range air defense. The third platform also has capability to defend against short-range ballistic missiles. The platforms are MRAD Mk. 3, LRAD Mk. 2, and A/BMD Mk. 1.
The MRAD Mk. 3 is a self propelled tracked medium-range surface-to-air missile platform. It was designed with mobility in mind so attacking aircraft to quickly move after attacking an enemy aircraft. This also makes it easier for SAM locations to move and evade SEAD attacks. The MRAD Mk. 3 is primarily used against fixed-wing aircraft and cruise missiles. This system also requires a second vehicle to provide radar tracking.
The LRAD Mk. 2 is a semi-mobile long-range surface-to-air missile platform. This system is a transporter erector launcher (TEL) style platform. This platform is self-contained, meaning the guidance radar is built into the TEL itself. Though slower to breakdown and move, the LRAD Mk. 2 is also considered a "shoot-n-scoot" platform. This system is primarily used against fixed-wing aircraft and cruise missiles.
The A/BMD Mk. 1 is a semi-mobile long-range surface-to-air missile platform with ballistic missile defense capability. The missile system is carried on a trailer that the radar vehicle must tow and set up, making this system unable to "shoot-n-scoot". This system is primarily used against fixed-wing aircraft, cruise missiles, and short-range ballistic missiles.
Ballistic Missile Defense
The Republic Army operates one dedicated ballistic missile defense system. The BMD Mk. 1 is a heavy, long-range ballistic missile defense platform that is designed to intercept short-range, medium-range, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles. It is unable to intercept intercontinental ballistic missiles. These platforms are not very mobile, however, they have their locations changed occasionally. This system is considered "semi-mobile", and has an ease of mobility between the LRAD Mk. 2 and A/BMD Mk. 1.
Missiles Testudo
CIWS; counters missiles, helicopters, low flying fixed wing aircraft, UAVs
20mm rotary cannon system/RAM Fixed location
NADM Missile Type 2 – ESSM (Navy)
Medium range SAM; aircraft, cruise missiles
On a naval ship
Naval BMD Missile 3 type I – Equiv SM-3 IA (Navy) BMD; SRBM, MRBM On a naval ship
Naval BMD Missile 3 type II – Equiv SM-3 IB (Navy) BMD; MRBM, IRBM On a naval ship
Naval BMD Missile 3 type III – Equiv SM-3 IIA (Navy) BMD; IRBM, ICBM On a naval ship
Terra SCUTUM – AEGIS ashore (Navy) BMD; SRBM, MRBM, ICBM Ground stations
Radars SCUTUM (Aegis) on naval ships (Navy) Sea Based X-Band (Navy) Terra SCUTUM (AERGIS ashore) (Navy)
Air Force
Radars and Communications AWACS (Air Force) E-7 (command and control/BACN) (Air Force) EC-1 (radar jamming/PSYOP) (Air Force) EC-3 (TACAMO) (Air Force) E-8 (ISTAR) (Air Force)
Space Force
Land based Phased array radar stations (Space Force – also used for tracking space objects) Missile launch detection satellites (Space Force) Communications satellites (Space Force)
GBMD – equiv GBMD (Space Force) BMD; ICBM Stationed in silos
Cyber Corps
cyber defense - hardening systems, preventing breaches, ensuring cybersecurity ground bases connected via fiber in faraday-conduit
Political Debate
Scutum has created a lot of debate in political circles. Proponents of the system say that it is necessary to ensuring that the |NRI can survive any exterior threat from the air or space. Detractors say it is a lot of money being spent on a system that will most likely never need to be used. No nation has attacked Terra Nostrum, and most likely, the |NRI mainland will never be directly attacked. Despite that, the current thinking in the New Roman Armed Forces is that it is better to have this system and not need it, then need it and not have it.