D I R E C T O R
M 1 3
D R A K E
"The kind of wingman you do not want to see."
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create an anti-starfighter missile for the closed market.
- Image Source: x
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Roble Manufacturing
- Affiliation: Roble Manufacturing
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: M13 Drake Advanced Concussion Missile
- Modularity:
- Launcher System
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material:
- Impervium Exterior Coating
- Duranium Plating
- Dallorian Alloy Heat Resistant Reinforcement Plating
- Ion Field Generator
- Advanced Concussion Warhead
- Baradium-357 Explosive Fill
- RM-TAR8 Astraea Integrated Targeting Package
- Electrorangefinder Sensor Systems
- Agrinium-based Radiation Insulation
- MRS-04D Omvendt Ablative Inertial Damper
- RX-D13X Precision Drives
- Classification: Concussion Missile
- Size: Large
- Weight: Very Heavy
- Explosive Type:
- Ion Pulse
- Concussive Blast
- Delivery Method: Self-Propelled
- Effective Range: Long-Range
- Area Of Effect: Average
- Damage Output: Very High
- Comprehensive ship sensor integration
- Dual-phase detonation system
- Phase I: Ion Pulse, occurs before impact
- Phase II: Concussive blast, on impact
- ‘Sidewinder’ proportional pursuit vector
- Approaches target at an angle, tracking change in target position/vector rather than actual target
- Approach vector effectively leads target by margin of 5-45 degrees
- Attempts to maintain constant angle with target up to impact
- Multi-Spectrum Target Lock-On Redundancy
- Infrared, Thermal, Electromagnetic, Comm-Signature Locks
- Automatic switch to redundant lock if one method is overwhelmed, i.e. thermal by flares
- RX-D13X Precision Drive delivery system
- Onboard sensor systems and targeting package
- Calculate optimal trajectories to avoid point-defense weaponry
- Optimized for quick maneuvers and long-range engagement
- Duranium exterior plating reinforced by impervium coating and ablative inertial damper.
- Sidewinder: The M13 does not track a target directly behind, but rather at a constant angle to the side of a target. This proportional pursuit system makes it extremely effective against conventional anti-missile maneuvering, and its side approach limits the effectiveness of chaff.
- Dual-Pulse Detonation: The ion pulse of the Drake is meant to disable a ship's systems, including defenses and propulsion, allowing the missile better penetration and overall damage potential.
- Target Redundancy: The multi-spectrum targeting lock of the Drake allows it to switch what sensor system it uses if a countermeasure overloads one particular sensor system.
- Anti-Starfighter: The M13 is meant to be an anti-starfighter weapon. While its effectiveness can be translated into marginally larger ships, it is not high-powered enough to deal significant damage to large capital ships on its own.
- Friendly Fire: The ion pulse emitted by the M13 is large enough to catch multiple starships and disable them, given they are all in close proximity. This means that a starfighter closely tailing its target can risk harming itself or friendly craft with the pulse.
A long-overdue addition to Roble Manufacturing's catalogue of starship ordnance, the M13 Drake Advanced Concussion Missile is described as a both a starpilots best friend and worst enemy. The M13 is a powerful and unconventional design meant to revolutionize fighter-to-fighter combat, and lend an advantage to the arsenal of starfighter pilots across the galaxy.
At the core of the M13's design is its unique 'Sidewinder' proportional pursuit vector. Instead of directly following behind a target, the M13's targeting system approaches it at a vector proportioned to the tracked change in direction of the target. In layman's terms, the Drake continuously leads its target from the side until impact. This makes the M13 much harder to counter with traditional missile countermeasures, such as chaff or quick maneuvers. Most chaff thrown behind a starship the M13 will avoid merely by convention of its approach vector, and maneuvers are ineffective at shaking off the missile like they are with conventional munitions.
Another anti-countermeasure feature that the Drake boasts is its target-lock redundancy system. Anti-targeting countermeasures such as flares, designed to confused thermal and infrared targeting systems, are often the bane of many anti-starfighter munitions. With this in mind, the M13 features a multi-spectrum targeting lock across multiple sensor wavelengths. If one of these wavelengths are compromised, say thermal by flares, the M13 will simply switch what spectrum its targeting system is giving priority to continue pursuing its target. While not a foolproof solution, this still greatly increases the Drakes potency in spite of countermeasure systems present.
Lastly, and most importantly, is the warhead that the Drake missile delivers, and the deadly aspect of the weapon. It is a two-phase weapon, dealing first ion damage before the missile itself impacts. The ion pulse emitted by the missile is roughly fifty meters in diameter, spherical. This ion pulse is meant to shut down as many systems of the target as possible, if not the entire craft, both weakening defenses as well as potentially eliminating propulsion so that the missile's hit success is guaranteed. This pulse is activated only seconds before impact, long enough for the ion damage to take effect. The second phase of damage is the concussion warhead, which drives into its target before its volatile Baradium-357 warhead detonates.
Altogether, the Drake is an extremely lethal piece of technology that will be an asset to anyone who needs to shoot down a starfighter. Both a capable point-defense deterrent and dogfighting weapon, the Drake will shake up the starfighting scene.
