Vesper missile
| Vesper ATGM | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Anti-tank missile |
| Place of origin | Arthurista |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1997-present |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Arthuristan Dynamics |
| Variants | see text |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | Vesper-L: 24kg (Sealed missile launch tube round + thermal command-launch unit) plus 3kg (optional tripod), Vesper-NLOS: 70kg |
| Diameter | 130mm |
| Warhead | Tandem shaped charge |
Detonation mechanism | impact |
| Engine | solid fuel rocket |
Operational range | 4.5km (Vesper-L), 25km (Vesper-NLOS) |
| Speed | Subsonic |
Guidance system | Thermal imaging |
Launch platform | Infantry, vehicles, helicopter, fixed-wing aircrafts |
The Vesper missile is an Arthuristan top-attack anti-tank weapon. It was first introduced in 1996.
Vesper-L
The Vesper-L is an infantry man-portable anti-tank missile, designed to replace the Vanguard missile. Unlike its predecessor, which was a wire-guided weapon, the Vesper is a fire-and-forget top-attack ordnance which utilises thermal-imaging guidance. The missile, together with its launch-tube, is issued as a water-proof sealed round. The launch tube is attached to a Command-Launch Unit ('CLU') prior to launch, and is discarded after launch. The CLU, which contains a CO2-cooled thermal-imaging system, is then re-used.
In typical Arthuristan armoured infantry deployment, two Vesper missile tubes are attached to a Sharpshooter Remote Weapon System of each Claymore Infantry Fighting Vehicle. These missiles may be fired while the vehicle is on the move. A CLU is carried in the cabin and a missile may be detached from the RWS, attached to the CLU and be deployed with the dismounted infantry section.
Vesper-NLOS
The Vesper-NLOS is a variant designed for beyond-the-horizon precision engagement of armoured vehicles and other point targets up to a range of 25km. Compared to the Vesper-L, it features longer, cruciform wings and an enlarged airframe. Equipped with a fibre-optic datalink, the launch unit may provide real-time mid-course guidance to the missile in-flight. In the alternative, it may autonomously seek and engage targets using its on-board seeker. The main launch platform for these munitions is the Battleaxe-MCV.