D I R E C T O R
M - 2 0
D R A G O N F L Y
"A rain of hellfire in a compact delivery package."
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create an assault concussion missile for the closed market.
- Image Source: N/A
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: N/A
- Manufacturer: Roble Manufacturing
- Affiliation: Roble Manufacturing
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: M-20 Dragonfly Assault Concussion Missile
- Modularity:
- Launcher System
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material:
- Impervium Exterior Coating
- Duranium Plating
- Dallorian Alloy Heat Resistant Reinforcement Plating
- Ion Field Generator
- Assault Concussion Warheads
- 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: Assault Concussion Missile
- Size: Extremely Large
- Weight: Extremely Heavy
- Explosive Type:
- Ion Pulse
- Concussive Blast
- Delivery Method: Self-Propelled
- Effective Range: Battlefield
- Area Of Effect: Extreme
- Damage Output: High
- Comprehensive ship sensor integration
- Tri-phase detonation system
- Phase I: Ion Pulse, occurs before impact
- Phase II: Warheads are launched from delivery vehicle
- Phase III: Delivery vehicle emits multi-spectrum [Thermal, Infrared, EM, Comm] sensor blast, warheads strike target
- Delivery Vehicle Destruction Redundancy
- If vehicle is destroyed, warheads are launched by destruction
- 50-80% of warheads survive typical destruction
- Redundancy limited by range of warheads
- 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.
- Hellfire: The M20 is more than just a missile; it is a vehicle that delivers twenty assault-concussion warheads to a target from which they launch, fan out and deal large amounts of destruction across a large radius.
- Ion-Pulse Detonation: The ion pulse of the Dragonfly is meant to disable a ship's systems, including defenses and propulsion, allowing the missile better penetration and overall damage potential.
- Point-Defense Redundancy: The missile delivery vehicle is almost designed to be shot down by point defense systems. Once warheads are launched, the vehicle emits loud comm and thermal signatures to purposely draw targeting systems towards it. Even if the vehicle system is destroyed before warhead launch, this effectively launches the warheads although at a casualty rate of around a quarter to half of the intended payload.
- Capital Only: The M20 is designed for anti-capital warfare, or ground bombardment on large scales. It is unable to target small craft effectively and its warheads do not have in-built trackers, making it incapable of precision bombing.
- Dumb-Bomb Warheads: The warheads themselves do not have in-built tracking systems or any meaningful propulsion, meaning they are much less precise and better suited for blanket bombardment rather than precise strikes.
- Redundancy Range: Although at least half of the warheads survive the destruction of a missile delivery vehicle, this means they may 'launch' prematurely and altogether miss their target depending on how close to said target the delivery vehicle was shot down.
The M19 Firefly Assault Concussion Missile has long been a part of Roble Manufacturing's foundation when it comes to starship ordnance. One of the corporation's most reliable and successful products, the Firefly has proved itself extremely useful with its innovative flare countermeasure system that reduces the capabilities of a target's point-defense systems.
And now, after many years of development, Roble Manufacturing is proud to introduce the Firefly's design sibling: the M20 Dragonfly Assault Concussion Missile. The two missiles share the basic concept of safety in numbers, launching multiple smaller projectiles form the main payload. But while the Firefly is designed for precision strike capabilities with its projectiles serving as countermeasures, the Dragonfly is the inverse. It is designed for blanket bombardment, launching twenty assault concussion warheads instead of flares while the delivery vehicle serves as the decoy to draw point defense fire.
The Dragonfly features quite the ingenious design. It is built around a tri-phase detonation system. In phase one, an ion pulse is emitted from the delivery vehicle designed to weaken or disable any countermeasure and defensive systems of a target. In phase two, the warheads are launched from the delivery vehicle. In phase three, the delivery vehicle having served its purpose emits a multi-spectrum sensor blast while the warheads strike the target. Essentially, the delivery vehicle is designed to draw as much possible fire towards itself and away from the warheads, almost as if it is taunting an enemy's point defense to respond. During this third phase the delivery vehicle still continues towards the intended target on an impact velocity, and although it is not equipped with a warhead for impact this is not broadcasted. Its much larger profile gives it the ability to be perceived as a larger threat, and fool both automatic and manually-operated point-defense systems alike. To this end the warheads launched are designed to emit as little signature as possible, with no thrusters or electronics that could be detected by a sensor system.
Since the warheads launched are essentially dumb bombs, this removes precision-strike capabilities from the Dragonfly, both removing its ability to be used against small craft and in other certain situations where carpet bombing may not be the call. As the warheads are smaller than a traditional assault concussion missile warhead, each individual warhead has slightly less impact potential than a typical ACM, though it must be noted that their impact and damage potential is still a great deal beyond a traditional concussion missile or other similar ordnance.
Another important feature of the Dragonfly is its point-defense redundancy. Simply, the delivery vehicle is built so that even if it is destroyed before it can launch warheads, it has the potential to still launch its warheads via its destruction, though payload casualities can vary greatly. Much of it can depend on the type of point defense system used, and this redundancy is also limited by the warheads themselves; although they may be launched, they still have no in-built targeting or propulsion capabilities of their own. Destruction too far from a target will result in the warheads often missing the intended target altogether despite them being launched.
Altogether, the M20 Dragonfly carries the same spirit as the Firefly, but finds itself with a vastly different niche while still being extremely deadly and useful. With potent point-defense countermeasure capabilities, it is a very deadly weapon and a very useful tool for Roble Manufacturing customers everywhere.
