Deimos Missile
| Deimos | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | ICBM |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1989 - Present |
| Used by | Belfras |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Federal Institute of Nuclear Research |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 84,000 kg (185,000 lb) |
| Length | 20.2 m (66 ft) (Total length) |
| Diameter | 2 m (6.6 ft) (Total diameter) |
| Blast yield | Warhead dependent |
| Engine | First Stage: 1× Majestic MRP-423 engine |
Operational range | >13,500 km (8,400 mi). Exact range classified. |
| Speed | Mach 22+ |
Guidance system | Inertial, GPS & SATLINK |
The Deimos is a intercontinental ballistic missile in service with the Belfrasian Armed Forces through the Belfrasian Strategic Command. Designed by the Federal Institute of Nuclear Research to replace the much larger Phobos Missile, the replacement program was intended to begin fully in 2010 after the lighter Deimos had finished limited deployments.
The Deimos missile has been deployed via a mobile missile system, with the missiles being stored in highly classified locations with access to the national rail grid. The idea behind this was that an enemy nation intending to conduct a first strike against the country would have an exceptionally hard time to locate and destroy the Deimos missiles, which would be deployed onto the rail grid at times of heightened nuclear alert. Ministers have repeatedly refused to comment on the method of deployment and rejected theories that some systems are constantly deployed on the rail network as "nonsense".
In 2011 a conspiracy theorist reported getting a radioactive reading from a passing train car through his township, citing that the train - that did not stop at the station - was in fact a launch vehicle for a Deimos missile. The theory was rejected by the Ministry of Defence who promised to look into the readings, but was refused access to the findings by the theorist and stated that refusal as their own evidence of the fabrication. As of 2015 the findings have not been published by the theorist, but a larger conspiracy theory has been forming known as "Railcar theory".
Design
The design of the Deimos missile was centered around a significantly lighter, cheaper, and more mobile nuclear weapon than the Phobos that weighed well over 100 tonnes. The weapon was initially meant to replace the Phobos as a mobile missile system capable of evading an enemy nation's first strike which would serve in tandem with the stealth of the submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) in service with the Federation Navy. Development began in 1976 in conjunction with both the Space Technologies and Aeronautical Research Administration (STAR) and Mercer Aeronautical which would become a part of BAU Systems in 2004.
The missile design comes from the BSA's Apollo II launch vehicle, with a single-engine first stage powerful enough to penetrate through the thicker layers of the atmosphere prior to the ignition of the second stage. The first stage utilizes the powerful Majestic MRP-423, also seen on the Apollo II and on boosters for heavier vehicles. The staging system would include a series of small retrograde thrusters that would assist the separation with the second stage igniting immediately after staging had concluded. The second stage is powered by a weaker single MRP-025 engine with three MRP-025C vector engines for greater control of the missile as it exits the atmosphere and is no longer bound by aerodynamics. The usage of retrograde thrusters during the separation phase prior to the ignition of the third stage is crucial as their is no more aerodynamic drag that would assist in separation. The third sage, powered by a MRP-029C engine would propel the final stage of the missile into target position prior to maneuverability vehicle release, at which point the third stage would utilize long-burn retrograde thrusters to steer completely clear of the weapon. A forth stage has sometimes been seen in service, powered by a single MRP-025C vector engine earlier seen on the second stage and would be needed for heavier weapon payloads or for extended range missions.
A multitude of mobile systems was considered for the Deimos, such as a purpose-built tracked launcher that would be able to relocate from a nearby bunker before firing or an air mobile system. In the air mobile approach, the missile would be dropped from the back of an aircraft by parachute and would ignite it's first stage once it was both clear of the plane and in a launch-capable position. This was field tested in 1986 and, whilst it proved to be capable of doing so, was ultimately rejected as a result of a significant price tag for maintaining the missiles whilst stored on a airplane. Protest groups within Parliament also formed against the idea of such a launch system, and offered stiff resistance to several other forms of launch.
When the rail system was chosen in the spring of 1991 a highly classified operation led to the creation of several 'black sites' along the rail grid that lead off into large underground installations that are capable of storing and maintaining the launcher vehicles and their missiles. The launcher vehicle would be a part of a 'Missile Train', with each car having it's own purpose. The vehicle itself would have the ability to deploy stabilizing pylons into the ground prior to the roof opening and the launcher itself erecting into a vertical position for launch. Testing concluded that the carriage wouldn't need to be any longer than the extended freight series which is in heavy civilian usage. This has allowed the Missile Train to be successfully camouflaged as a civilian freight train to better elude detection.
The Missile Train itself would be comprised of several parts: The locomotive, which would require a minimum of two for successfully pull the weight of the train and would in deployment need to run with minimal stops, which resulted in the inclusion of fast-switch points to rapidly replace any part of the train that suffered damage from the elements. A fuel car that would hold the fuel for the missile which could be easily transferred between carriages. Because of the volatility of this car, it is usually stationed on the opposite end to the launch platform itself. A maintenance car would hold spare parts for the entire train and for the missile itself. A security car would hold special forces personnel assigned to guard the train during it's deployment and a second car that would go along with the security car would hold the launch crew's living area. A launch control car would be adjacent to the launcher that would have the command and control center, communications, launch processing, and monitoring for the weapon itself. Finally, the missile launch car itself would have the aforementioned stabilization technology and the erection mechanism to prepare for final launch. This would lead to a minimum of eight carriages, although additional would be added for appearances and each car is known to be camouflaged to look like a civilian carriage.
Alert facilities do not only include the aforementioned underground shelters. Hidden and remote areas also possess 'Missile Alert Centers'. These places, known simply as MAC, are usually located within quick reaction distance from nearby military bases, primarily RAF bases. These facilities would simply have a railway connection that would lead to four shelters for the trains and an off-shoot maintenance hangar. Barracks would be common along with an independent power station and communications hub. Trains would rotate between the armoured, hidden underground bases and MAC facilities to maintain an alert posture at all times. With information released to the public in 2010, it has been suggested that sixteen missile trains are on stand-by at any given time, leading the number of MAC facilities to four.
The missile has also seen usage in other roles, as expanded below. These roles have often required it to instead be stationed at a fixed silo similar to the heavier Phobos missile.
Variants
Air Launch Test Bed
During the initial development of the missile, tests were made to see the practicality of having the missile be jettisoned from a large aircraft by parachute and then launched whilst in mid-air. Whilst the test was successful, the proposal was rejected on financial and safety grounds. Despite this, the government have kept the remaining two missiles modified for this role in storage for reasons classified.
Emergency Communication Missile System (ECMS)
The Emergency Communication Missile System, or ECMS for short, is an emergency communication relay system mounted onto specially modified Deimos missiles designed to relay messages to units within line-of-sight both during launch and following final stage cut-off. The mission of these missiles was to carry a specialized communications payload high above mainland Belfras which would then relay pre-programmed messages giving launch orders to alert units in the event of a nuclear attack. The missiles themselves would be stored in locations even more classified than the main ICBM bases and have been tested at publicly known testing sites along the west coast.
The payload itself was placed under the direct command of Strategic Command, which maintained a highly encrypted communications system which, in the event of an attack would connect to the Prime Minister. This method of communication would serve no purpose, but in the event of it being cut off and confirmation that nuclear strikes had killed or rendered incapacitated the leadership, the final 'snap count' would begin in accordance with nuclear rules of engagement. The ECMS is one of a series of methods of communication along with military satellites but continues to operate in the event that the satellites are additional eliminated during an enemy nuclear attack. In order of precedence, the local garrison have control over the missile itself and the payload whilst the leader of the country and the head of the military exercises control over the voice recording it would deliver, which would be up to 120 seconds in length. Finally, the Airborne Alert Command Post (AACP) would maintain communication with the launch facilities to withhold the launch unless all other means of communication have been wiped out. It has been suggested that direct hard links exist between the launch facilities and nearby military bases to ensure communication.
In the event of a launch, the missile would - rather than execute a bended trajectory - launch on a vertical course intended to gain the most altitude in as little time possible. Angles are included for the missile to gain a direct line-of-sight (LOS) over specific silo and alert stations in order to issue the message as soon as possible in the event of a nuclear attack. Whilst discussing the introduction of this system, military experts stated that the missiles usage would indicate a 'total failure of communication at all levels as a result of nuclear detonations eliminating the entire military and political hierarchy.' The verbal message, which would be included with an Emergency Action Message (EAM), would usually be final words to the missile crews. The message is deleted upon the leaving of a Prime Minister and recorded by the arriving prime minister, and is meant to be a highly personal message. Former Prime Minister Ian Davies stated that his message was for the missile crews to do what they thought was best, either to execute the launch as authorized by the EAM or to evacuate and attempt to locate their loved ones. His announcement of his message, which he did after leaving office in 2014, brought stiff criticism that such a message would possible spark revolts and mutinies in missile crews and could render the country defenceless.
In 2001 training scenarios concluded that it was possible for enemy forces to infiltrate the base and kill the crew ahead of a nuclear strike. As a result of this, the Airborne Alert Command Post (AACP) and the Headquarters for Strategic Command have direct abilities to make inputs directly into the missile, from altering the EAM to conducting missile launch.
Orbital Capable Satellite Launcher
Ground and Air Target Launcher
The Federation Air Force utilizes heavily modified first and second stages of the Deimos to launch test vehicles that would mimic the flight of an enemy ballistic missile for interception by Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) weapon systems in service with the Armed Forces.