Approved Starship Gypsy-Class Electronic Support Shuttle

[Saera Willamina Savan]

Image Credit: R-9E Midnight Eye :: R-Type Final
Intent: Ragnell Squadron needed a Hawk Eye-like craft, something that fits in a fighter hangar, so here it is.
Development Thread: None
Manufacturer: Ri'ess Regal Drives, Subach-Innes
Model:

• Gypsy-Class Electronic Support Shuttle (CIS - Ragnell Squadron)
• MMSX-700 ESS Prototype (RRDI - Skunkworks Labs)

Affiliation: The Shadow Empire, Crystalsong Commonwealth
Modularity: None (minor systems interchangeability)
Production:

• Gypsy-Class - Minor (replacements only)
• MMSX-700 - Unique (One)

Material: Alusteel Spaceframe, Ceramic Duraplast ESM Frames, Titanium-Desh Alloy Chassis
Description: The Gypsy-Class ESS craft was developed specifically for the CIS Navy's elite Ragnell Squadron. The starfighter sector required a vehicle capable of high-powered sensory, similar to the proposed Glaive E-Class Frigate, but light and compact enough to fit in hangar bays intended for starfighters. The result was an interceptor based almost entirely on its heavy frigate larger cousin's design concepts, less powerful and fit into a smaller package. It was built on an experimental Fighter-Interceptor frame which allows it an unprecedented speed and maneuverability, but a near total lack in firepower. Before final production, an R9 AstroMech Droid Brain was also included into the craft's systems to facilitate the high demand all the sensor systems placed on the standard computer systems; an experimental IBIS-F Droid Brain replica had been used in the former prototype model, but proved too expensive for production and too valuable to risk declassification. It is able to scan Optical Infra-Red, Standard Ionic, RADAR and Laser-Tracking - all at once, thanks to its dedicated AMD core. These vital pieces of equipment, including the inside of the RotoDome, are encased in Ceramic Duraplast which protects them from electromagnetic and ionic shock. The tradeoff is that the armor is thus weaker to direct fire over these devices.
Unlike the Glaive series, which is cost-effective to mass produce due to its capital size and high demand for electronic support vessels, the smaller and less diverse Gypsy fits a much more "exclusive" role, and thus is only produced in limited numbers for Ragnell Squadron alone where damaged or decommissioned units can be replaced but craft population remains at a generally set count. It is specifically designed to be a quick-deployable Space Early Warning And Control System aircraft and is frequently found escorting a flight of Ragnell Arrows and Languors.
Classification: Interceptor
Role: Support Craft
Height: 7.7 m.
Width: 11.0 m.
Length: 11.0 m.
Power Core Generator/Reactor:

• [ 1 ] Hydrogen Cryogenic Reactor
• [ 1 ] Ionic Sublight Engine
• [ 1 ] Repulsorlift Engine

Hyperdrive Rating: 1.0, No Backup
Minimum Crew: One, Pilot
Optimal Crew: One, Pilot
Armaments:

• [ 1 ] Z6E Rotary Blaster Cannon, Port Side

Hangar:

• None

Non-Combative Attachments:

• RRDI HoloSynthTM Canopy Technology
• Pre-Installed Algorithms for MMSHMD Connectivity
• Standard Communications Array
• Standard Encryption Network
• Standard HoloNet Transceiver
• Standard Shield Generators
• Standard Life Support Systems
• Standard Navigational Systems
• 200km SEWACS RotoDome
• IR/Ion/Radar/Laser Sensor Array
• Class II R9 AMD Brain for System Management
• Flares & Chaffs (4 uses)

Passenger Capacity: None
Cargo Capacity: 30 kg.
Consumables: 14 GSD rations (food/water), 5 GSD air (standard)
Sublight Speed and Maneuverability: 1.0

 

[Popo]

[member="Særa Ayña Savan"]
You seem to be missing the measurements of the craft itself.

Also, aside from the mention of one unique craft with a different name and production rating, there is nothing else in the submission detailing why this ship is unique or, in fact, anything about the unique ship at all from what I can find. If this is, in fact, a unique ship based off of this design, if there is anything major in deviation from the standard to the unique craft, you'll need a separate submission and potentially a dev thread. If this is just a simple issue of a differently named ship for whoever's use and does not deviate from the baseline submission, there's no need for a name or limit, the individual in question could literally just change the name and set it in their bio.

 

[Saera Willamina Savan]

[member="Popo"]
My bad, dimensions added.
They are both virtually identical; one is just a factory-prototype. It's just for lore.

 

[Popo]

[member="Særa Ayña Savan"]
Okay, just a few things to start with.

First, why do you have three separate power sources? Most interceptors carry one and that's all due to size/weight constraints. I get that they're probably to power the E-War stuff on board, but honestly, you could do that with a single standard power source.

As for the weapons you've mounted, I don't think that matches up with your description that much. I'm gonna talk with the other starship judges to nail down the "count as" on the rotating blaster, but I can already tell you that it looks like a repeating modifier at least, which is all of the direct fire (lasercannon, not warhead) that an interceptor can carry (not saying anyone's sneaking anything, I'm still quasi-new-ish-kinda and want to make sure I'm doin' it right).

 

[Saera Willamina Savan]

First, why do you have three separate power sources? Most interceptors carry one and that's all due to size/weight constraints. I get that they're probably to power the E-War stuff on board, but honestly, you could do that with a single standard power source.

Not true. There is one power supply (Hydrogen Cryogenic Reactor). There is one propulsion system (Ionic). There is one atmospheric engine (Repulsorlift). This is common canon fighter setup. I've just listed them all in detail because... well, that's what I've done for my other two dozen or so starship submissions. I always put the engines and reactors in the same spot because there's nowhere else in the template to put it.

I'm gonna talk with the other starship judges to nail down the "count as" on the rotating blaster, but I can already tell you that it looks like a repeating modifier at least, which is all of the direct fire (lasercannon, not warhead) that an interceptor can carry (not saying anyone's sneaking anything, I'm still quasi-new-ish-kinda and want to make sure I'm doin' it right).

The rotary blaster has been counted as one in previous approvals (due to its small (man-portable) size) and as two in previous approvals (because of the repeating aspect) so it's iffy and usually depends on the judge, but I know for certain it's never more than two, and I've double-checked.

 

[Popo]

[member="Særa Ayña Savan"]
First off, my apologies for the delay on judging this. Between RL, the Republic situation, and discussing this submission with the other Starship Judges.

The general consensus is this: This ship is trying to act as a complete E-War and ECM system on an interceptor chassis. To expand on this, you have a huge amount of systems designed for electronic warfare or electronic countermeasures on a ship that is far too small to support all of these systems both in physical space and power source.

The smallest size conceivable for a system like this would be a Gunship/Shuttle, as this submission is named. Even at this point, however, most, if not all, of the E-War/ECM systems on board would be at a severely reduced strength, half strength at best. Reason being is two fold.

First off - and correct me if I'm wrong - this ship is designed to escort other ships to provide an E-War/ECM/ECCM cloud around the escorting fighters. Therefore, you wouldn't need the ability to project for scores or hundreds of kilometers in all directions. Second, the power source on a Gunship/Shuttle wouldn't allow for that much power drain all at once through multiple systems. Sure, you could have a Gunship/Shuttle that does radar, comm, or target jamming for a long ways at full strength, but with so many systems sucking power whether at once or in sections, you'd have too much power drain to sustain mid-long range E-War/ECM/ECCM. Therefore, a short-mid range E-War/ECM/ECCM ability is probably the only possible way to get all these complex systems on board.

Please edit the submission to a Gunship/Shuttle size and speed as well as editing the description to reflect this required change. Once done, @ me and we can proceed.

 

[Saera Willamina Savan]

[member="Popo"] - Size is an absolute priority constraint. I can start peeling away parts and reducing powers until it's feasible, but I cannot make it too much larger - it would defeat its purpose and we would just be using, like you said, actual e-war ships (problem being they don't fit in small craft hangars). We need something that is both compact and at least mildly capable of some kind of sensory coverage, even if it's shorter ranged than that.

So I'm gonna go ahead and figure that out and then let you know and we'll keep trying, stripping it down and go from there until it works out, aye?

 

[Popo]

[member="Særa Ayña Savan"]
I can agree to this methodology, though my stamp of approval will be determined on the finalized submission, per standard.

 

[Saera Willamina Savan]

[member="Popo"]

Changelog:

• 500km SEWACs RotoDome -> 200 km SEWACs RotoDome (60% reduction, 4% of heavy frigate version)
• IR/Ion/Radar/Particle/Elint/Laser Sensor Array -> IR/Ion/Radar/Laser Sensor Array (Ion/Radar are standard, IR and Laser are realistically compact)
• Hi-Power Communications Array -> Boosted Communications Array (is now signal-boosted rather than broadcasted)
• Flares & Chaffs (6 uses) -> Flares & Chaffs (4 uses) (33% reduction in ammunition)
• Added Light Proximity Jamming due to Signal "Waste" as it requires a replacement defense against modern missiles (non-ECCM)
• Description edited to reflect further changes

Notes:

• Comparative Scale: The rotodome on a 40 meter (4:1 scale) Boeing AWACS has an approximate range of 400-650 (Apx. 1:1 original output) kilometers depending on target and operational altitude, and is only approximately 9 (1:0.65 original scale) meters across and less than two meters deep, with about three tons of full equipment. An F-16 Fighting Falcon is 15 meters long (3:2 scale) and weighs about 8,500 kilograms empty weight, 12,000 kilograms full load.
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-3_Sentry#Specifications_.28USAF.2FNATO.29
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_E-767
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon#Specifications_(F-16C_Block_50)

[*]Infrared Laser Targeting Systems are incredibly compact (small enough to fit on the nose of a real fighter or gunship, or by large under the wings; single track models being handheld or mechanically mounted)
[*]FLIR/IRNV is an incredibly compact photo-optical system by comparison; predominant common system in target identification and tracking.
[*]Flares and Chaff can be overridden, either by superior targeting systems or manual guidance input, hence the addition of the lighter proximity jamming effect. May use PSIS-M system if this remains an issue.
[*]Space-age technological advances notwithstanding

 

[Popo]

[member="Særa Ayña Savan"]
My apologies for taking so long to get back to you. OOC issues kept popping up and are finally settling down. Let me speak with the other Starship FJs tomorrow (well, today really, but when it's not dark out lol) when they're both up and awake and I'll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible tomorrow.

 

[Popo]

[member="Særa Ayña Savan"]
After speaking extensively with the other Starship FJs, here's what we're going to go off of.

Keeping in mind that you're dead set on an interceptor chassis for this submission and that two of the three links you placed are for a dedicated E-War plane that is easily twice the size or larger of the ship you're subbing, making it roughly gunship size or larger, here's our verdict.

Select one E-War role for this submission to perform. Select the gear for that role only and lose the gear that is not in direct relation to the ship performing that role and you can keep an interceptor chassis. ie, enemy detection, sensor masking cloak, hi-powered comms, long range targeting, etc.

As for FLIR, IR, and flares/chaff, I'm not worried about those. So long as you don't have dozens of chaff/flares or some ridiculous going on with the FLIR or IR, you're good. I completely forgot I had handled those systems IRL before back in 2012 before getting reamed by some Navy guy nearby about "messing" with Navy equipment. Never was sure what it was, but from the football size and the lenses, I'm assuming it was FLIR or IR or something similar. Anyways...

If you want to do more than the one role aspect, you'll have to use a gunship chassis.

@ me when ready and we'll move right along.

 

[Saera Willamina Savan]

[member="Popo"] - Done deal. It is now Standard with exception of the SEWACS RotoDome (radar/sensor), the FLIR and the cockpit; I do the "Falken" cockpit on all of RRDI's craft though and it's just a better HUD.

 

[Popo]

[member="Særa Ayña Savan"]
Awesome. Looks fine and was edited to what was discussed. Approved pending secondary

 

[Fabula Caromed]

This thing has been edited all to hell.

Approved.