Thinking about defensive weapons systems

One of the things to keep in mind about independent weapons platforms is the thing everyone except actual designers usually forgets about: sensors. Warships have MUCH better sensors (longer baseline, more size, vastly more computer power) than missiles or remote platforms are going to have. Even if you got a PDC cluster on a drone, how is the drone going to find and analyze its targets?

(Keyhole platforms operate in close conjunction with the warship so this doesn't really apply to them. Notice that they're VERY large and use beamed power from the warship as well, so they can have PD clusters on board.)

dreamrider wrote:

SWM wrote:I don't recall any evidence that they are that big. Yes, they had to be carried externally, but the Sharks couldn't have carried capital missiles internally either. The Detweilers carry the graser torpedoes internally. I know graser missiles are bigger than capital missiles, but bigger than a pod? Do you have any evidence that they are bigger than a pod?

Why do you think that the Sharks could not have carried capital class missiles internally? I don't think there is textev for that. They DID certainly carry a number of oversized missile PODS loaded with Cataphract C, each accompanied by a bulldozer lead pod of the same size, internally. Recall that the Sharks are described as "battleship-sized".

Ah, yes, I had forgotten that the Sharks carried Cataphract-B pods internally. Thanks.

tonyz wrote:One of the things to keep in mind about independent weapons platforms is the thing everyone except actual designers usually forgets about: sensors. Warships have MUCH better sensors (longer baseline, more size, vastly more computer power) than missiles or remote platforms are going to have. Even if you got a PDC cluster on a drone, how is the drone going to find and analyze its targets?

(Keyhole platforms operate in close conjunction with the warship so this doesn't really apply to them. Notice that they're VERY large and use beamed power from the warship as well, so they can have PD clusters on board.)

Maybe you modify the idea used with Apollo and send out a control missile with a powerful AI with each missile pod. You wouldn't need FTL to dramatically improve the performance of your missiles at extreme range.

Don

n7axw wrote:Maybe you modify the idea used with Apollo and send out a control missile with a powerful AI with each missile pod. You wouldn't need FTL to dramatically improve the performance of your missiles at extreme range.

Don

--------------

Don --

I like that idea -- or possibly using Apollo / Lorelei platforms with a packaged bank (or 10) of Viper / Mk31 Counter-missiles.

-- Stewart