Hammer (missile)

Hammer
A Hammer Mk.3 IRBM test launch in 2012
Type	Short-Range Ballistic Missile (Mk.1, Mk.3, Mk.5C) Medium-Range Ballistic Missile (Mk.2, Mk.4. Mk.5D) Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (Mk.5A) Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile (Mk.5B)
Place of origin	Daobac
Service history
In service	Active
Used by	Daobac
Production history
Designer	Mach Aerospace
Manufacturer	Mach Aerospace United Defense Systems
Produced	1980 - Present
Variants	7
Specifications
Length	15 m (Mk.1) 21 m (Mk.2) 23 m (Mk.3A) 16 m (Mk.3B) 21 m (Mk.4A) 23 m (Mk.4B) 19 m (Mk.5)
Warhead	Thermobaric High-yield explosive Bunker buster Cluster munition Incendiary
Engine	Three-stage solid-fuel rocket engines
Propellant	NEPE-75
Operational range	Up to 5,500 km
Speed	Mach 24
Guidance system	Intertial GP20-B (SRBM, MRBM & IRBM) Astro-interntial guidance (SLBM)
Transport	Missile silo Ballistic missile submarine Mobile missile vehicle

The Hammer missile (Daoan: Búa) is a family of short to intermediate range ballistic missiles developed by Daobac and operated by Daoan Congressional Republic Air Force. The missie was designed and manufactured by Mach Aerospace with certain components sourced from United Defense Systems, a subsidiary of Tran International. The successful development and operation of the Dragon 1 small-lift launch vehicle in 1975 by the Daoan Aeronautical Institute sparked renewed interest among Daoan military planners to obtain a weapon platform with long-range strike capability as part of Daobac's strategy of deterrence. Research and development of Daobac's ballistic missile program took place from 1978 with the first successful test launch taking place in 1986. To date there are eight primary versions of the Hammer; the Mk.1, Mk.2, Mk.3, Mk.4, Mk.5A/B/C/D with each missile being an improvement from one another. The Mk.1 is the first short-range ballistic missile (SRBM), the Mk.2 classified as a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM), the Mk.4 being the first Daoan MRBM capable of carrying a multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) payload and the Mk.5 versions classified as a MIRV-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM). Current missiles in active use are the Mk.5A/B/C/D, with all Mk.1, Mk.2, Mk.3 and Mk.4 versions having been decommissioned in 2004, 2009, 2021 and 2022 respectively.

History

Origin

Daoan military planners have long envisioned to both have effective strategic & tactical first-strike and retaliatory attack options in a military conflict with Yunxia or other major powers in the Kayatman & Ozerosi region. The advent of ballistic missile technology in the mid 20th century provided nations with the ability to initiate mass-scale attacks against opponents through land, air and sea based platforms. However due to Daobac's limited budget it needed to prioritize in building up its conventional forces first before diverting funds towards a ballistic missile program. Advancements in rocketry and missile technologies through the Daoan Aeronautical Institute and eventually the Daobac Space Corporation, provided access to the Daobac Self-Defense Forces to explore and assess how to weaponize its domestically made missiles. Daoan ambitions for a submarine-launched ballistic missile program dates all the way back to 1965 when then Rear Admiral <INSERT NAME> first voiced his concern that with the rapid advancement in military technology Daobac's current conventional forces are not enough to deter a future attack from Yunxia or another potentially hostile state. The procurement of a ballistic missile platform would not only provide deterrence but it provides Daobac with the ability for a massive first or retaliatory strike against its adversaries. Due to Daobac's relatively small economy however priority was given to maturing Daobac's conventional forces.

Research & development

It was not until 1978 when the Ministry of National Security approved a budget for the research and development of a ballistic missile program. In 1986 the program resulted in the creation of the Hammer Mk.1 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) which could be adopted into land and sea-based launch platforms.

Versions

Overview

Below is a list of known versions of the Hammer and its variants.

Name	Type	In Service	Status	MIRV	Range
Hammer Mk.1	SRBM	1986 - 2004	Decomissioned		150 - 300 km
Hammer Mk.2	MRBM	1989 - 2009	Decomissioned		1,300 - 1,900 km
Hammer Mk.3	SRBM	2004 - 2021	Decomissioned		200 - 900 km
Hammer Mk.4	MRBM	2008 - 2022	Decomissioned		1,500 - 2,500 km
Hammer Mk.5A	IRBM	2012 - Present	Active		y3,200 - 4,800 km
Hammer Mk.5B	SLBM	2018 - Present	Active		3,200 - 4,800 km
Hammer Mk.5C	SRBM	2020 - Present	Active		400 - 1,100 km
Hammer Mk.5D	MRBM	2021 - Present	Active		1,800 - 2,700 km