Hitchhiker-AR (A1-0)
| Production Information | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Akane Aerospace Group |
| Designer | Design Team 41 |
| Model | SGM-FS-243 |
| Class | Faster than Light Sprint Missile |
| Cost | 2.7 Million Union Credits |
| Technical specifications | |
| FTL-drive | MN-299 'Throw Away' Silverspace Drive |
| Range | 500 LY |
| Shielding | Class IV Light Shield Generator |
| Targeting systems | Primary - Extended Range Two-way Command Receiver Backup - Extended Range Active Radar Seeker with Electro-optical 'Reject' Validation |
| Navigation system | Data link, Cruise Guidance |
| Countermeasure systems | Corkscrew Maneuver while in Sprint stage
Forward Facing Self Screening Jammer Bubble Self Screening Jammer |
| Armament | Programmable Anti-Matter Burst with Kinetic Penetrator |
| Usage | |
| Availability | Military |
| Role | Anti-Ship Missile |
| Year introduced | 4 BBT / 1269 PSY |
| Affiliation | Union Naval Defense Forces
Union Ground Defense Forces Compact Navy Compact Celestial Defense Force FUTURE OPERATORS Celestial Forces of the Confederacy |
The SGM-FS-243 'Hitchhiker-AR' is a Faster than Light Sprint Missile designed by Akane Aerospace Group's Design Team 41. It is Akane Aerospace's flagship product, serving as a culmination of research and technology. It is designed to be part of the Union's 'Stand in, Stand off' system for celestial based bombers. Once launched, the missile creates its own Silverspace pool, and cruises to target for up to 500 light years. Upon reaching the target, the missile exits Silverspace, jettisons the booster stage, and arms the payload. Around [number] are produced with a scheduled [number] have been ordered. The Hitchhiker is under export restriction, with a sector wide exportable version expected soon.
Development and Design History
The development of Faster than Light Sprint Missiles dates back to a Union need for a safer force multiplier due to a population crisis that was due to worsen over time due to The Sundering. While this would eventually be solved, the Seraphim Senate approved provision 209A, which granted additional discretionary funds to seek a bid for a 'weapon system with extreme or extended range using existing technology.' Bids opened up in 450 BBT / 823 PSY, with Akane Aerospace Group leading and eventually winning the contract with the 'Wayfarer,' an Anti-Ship Missile utilizing a silverspace drive and associated technology. It was favored due to being able to be fit inside a Wren's Internal Weapons Bay, and could be mounted on a Typhon's Spinning Rack. Around 3.8 Billion were produced in its initial production, with secondary and tertiary accounting 7.2 Billion models.
The Wayfarer Anti-Ship Missile gained its notoriety through Miraline Forces during the Battle at Reference Point Query where a request for deployment saw 250,000 units engage against a fleet of roughly 5,000 ships to great effect. The Wayfarer served through the entirety of The Miraline War, with Union Celestial based Bombers participating with the munition safely from their home bases inside Union Territory. The great use against the Miraline led to the Seraphim Senate approving the creation of more Faster than Light Sprint Missiles, the Drifter, the Nomad, the Rover and the Hitchhiker specifically.
The Hitchhiker is a specialist in its role with a Two-way Command Reciever and datalink, allowing it to switch targets while in flight and a backup Active Radar Seeker with an Electro-optical 'Reject' Validator. The AR 'Augmented Range' Model has a range of 500 Light Years, not including the range given to by the bomber. The Hitchhiker is the second design after the Rover to use a Programmable Anti-Matter Burst with Kinetic Penetrator (PAMB-KP) warhead, giving it extended lethality and allowing the warhead to be configured to do the most possible damage without over penetrating the target. As part of an anti-hardkill package, when the missile stages, it begins a corkscrew maneuver that prevents kinetic based PD from having effect. The missile additionally has two Active Radar Jammers, a Forward Facing Self Screening Jammer to degrade the PD coverage by out jamming the ship's radar, and a Bubble self screening jammer to prevent Point Defense Missiles from acquiring onto the missile during its sprint.
Usage in Conflict
Operation Assertive Control (10 BBT / 1263 PSY) - Atleast twenty have been confirmed to have been used against Syndicate Vessels and Sword Guard Vessels operating in the Restricted Space No-Use Zone.
Operators
Active Operators
Union Naval Defense Forces - [number] Units dispersed across the First and Second Home Defense Fleets
Union Ground Defense Forces - [number] Units dispersed across the Union Aerospace Corps and Prefecture Defense Forces.
Compact Navy - [number] Units dispersed across the First, Second, and Fifth Fleets.
Compact Celestial Defense Forces - [number] Units dispersed across the Compact Aerospace Corps, eventually distributing to Cluster Defense Forces and eventually System Defense Forces.
Future Operators
Celestial Defense Forces of the Confederacy - [number] Ordered, approval pending from the Seraphim Senate, expected delivery in 2 ABT / 1275 PSY.
See Also
Add Union Defense Force Navbox, Compact Armed Forces Navbox, Armed Forces of the Confederacy Navbox