Striker Weapons Systems

As a follow-on from yesterday's article on Striker ACIVs, I'll be talking about weapons and electrical systems for said craft.

In GALAXIA, kinetic-energy weapons are accepted to be the most powerful system for their weight, power, and general support requirements. Missiles, then, require only a mounting hardpoint, databus, and targeting equipment on their launch platform. This enables a striker to carry massive numbers of missiles, especially smaller missiles optimized for anti-small-craft work.

Three rough classes of missiles will emerge: primary-combat, defensive, and surface-attack. Primary-combat missiles would be the equivalent of an AIM-120 AMRAAM or an R-77 'ADDER'. These would be targeted against strikers and other orbital targets. Assuming a weight similar to an AIM-120, and a propellant fraction of 75%, a PCM would have a maximum kinetic energy at impact of roughly 5.5 gigajoules, equal to ~1.3 tons of TNT. The precise value would depend on the closing speed between the missile and its target, but would almost guarantee a kill. Alternately, a submunition warhead could be used, whereby numerous small projectiles (such as hardened tungsten cubes) would reduce the missile's vulnerability to interceptor rounds. In effect, it would fire a very-large-bore shotgun directly at the target.

Defensive 'interceptor' missiles would serve to counter PCMs through either hit-to-kill or proximity detonation/submunition warheads. These could take a form similar to the GBU-44 Viper Strike, whereby it would use 'fins' to set RCS thrusters far from its center of mass and maximize agility.
Interceptor rounds would, ideally, be very small, permitting a favorable interceptor-to-PCM ratio. Considering that interceptors are never 100% effective, this is necessary to give the striker as high a survival chance as possible.

GBU-44 Viper Strike demonstrating large wingspan. RCS thrusters could be placed on each wingtip to  maximize lever arm and agility

The final common type of missile is the surface-attack missile, designed to be fired into a planet's atmosphere and strike stationary targets. (Sensor-fuzed-warheads for antiarmor missions are also a possibility). This type of missile would either be encapsulated in a sabot-like heat shield, jettisoned once reentry has been accomplished, or fitted with ablative shielding. Once the atmosphere has been entered and any shielding jettisoned, the round will function almost exactly like a conventional guided bomb.

In consideration of the rarity of capital ships, dedicated anti-shipping missiles are rare outside of the prototype or design study stage. Theoretically, a thousand-pound surface-attack warhead with modified targeting algorithms could be used against the target.

Strikers could also carry 'mines'; with at least two different possible variants. The first would basically be cold-fired missiles that remain dormant until an unfriendly transponder is located. They would generate little to no radiated heat, and would be almost impossible to detect in an operational time frame. The second variant would be a slick of tungsten shrapnel designed to inflict minor damage to a spacecraft operating in a particular orbit. This latter system also offers potential as a close-in defensive system.

Strikers would also have the option of carrying a variety of modules in their internal weapons bays. These would range from transport modules, fuel cells, and landing capsules to electronic warfare payloads, reconnaissance systems, and directed-energy weapons. For example, in addition to its external hardpoints, a UCSA Excalibur-class heavy striker has three weapons bays , each capable of carrying sixteen PCMs, thirty-two interceptors, or eight surface-attack rounds. Each bay can also carry a mission module, allowing the striker to be configured for long-duration operations, electronic warfare, surface-attack, commando insertion, direct combat, missile defense, long-range recon, or almost any other conceivable role. In actual operations, units will specialize, usually taking on two or three different roles.

Here's an artist's impression of an Excalibur-class, armed with fourteen surface-attack missiles.