LRM/SRM/Arrow Micro-Drones?

[Giovanni Blasini]

So, as we know in the Real World^(tm), battlefield drones can get rather small, easily down into the 8-10 kg range of an LRM or SRM, or the 200 kg of an Arrow IV round.

With that in mind, has anyone tried coming up with a set of rules for LRM/SRM-launched drones or, failing that, an Arrow-launched drone?

[AlphaMirage]

I believe Swarm LRMs are probably loitering munitions, SRM doesn't seem like it'd have enough range, and delivering a drone via an Arrow seems like an odd choice although a loitering variant would be nice instead of having it disappear if it misses.

[Giovanni Blasini]

I believe Swarm LRMs are probably loitering munitions,

Damn, you're absolutely right, they probably are.

SRM doesn't seem like it'd have enough range,

I was figuring a spotting drone with the warhead removed, and the rocket engine swapped out for some other powerplant, maybe acting like a loitering version of the sensors from a remote sensor dispenser.

and delivering a drone via an Arrow seems like an odd choice although a loitering variant would be nice instead of having it disappear if it misses.

I kind of envision this as a loitering artillery-spotting drone.

[DevianID]

What's the smallest (in kg) support vehicle small drone we can make?

A 100kg drone is the smallest, at least that I can see fiddling in megamek lab.  With a 1kg battery (which is crazy small) it can travel 47 km at 13/20 speed, where it delivers its 10kg booby trap.  This is with a smart robotic control and pillion seat at 25kg.  A fuel cell goes faster and farther then the battery, but I thought the battery made more sense.  This is also all tech d, tech C to match standard LRM munitions would slow it down to 11/17 with the battery.

So at 100kg, its bigger then an LRM, but able to be Thunderbolt-10 or Arrow launched perhaps.  How do you transport small 100kg support vehicles?

Since the damage is only 1.3, for moving 13 at .1 tons (or 11 with the tech C engine), and it says to round fractions up, it looks like 1.3 rounds up to 2 AE damage to the target hex, and 1 AE damage to all units within 3 hexes at 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8th damage.  Thats not bad honestly--you wont do too much, but will kill with the AE damage multiplier a lot of infantry from a LOT of hexes, as well as getting those sweet motive and through armor crit rolls on tanks.

Now, megameklab shows that the SRCS doesnt take up any weight on this 100kg small support vtol, and costs 100k.  Feels about right as this robot is bigger and more complex then a simple and tiny single LRM.

[Red Pins]

Ahh, perfect timing!  Tagged!

[Daryk]

TM, page 119:

For Small vehicles, designers may choose any weight under 5 tons, up to a maximum of 4,999 kilograms (in 1-kilogram increments).

[Giovanni Blasini]

My design app won't let me go below 100 kg, but since an Arrow missile is around 200 kg anyway....

Code: [Select]

Arrow Drone

Mass: 0.2 tons
Frame: Unknown
Power Plant:  Solar
Armor: BAR 2
Armament:
     1 Machine Gun (Light)
     1 SRM Launcher (Light) - Inferno
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3145
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-X-X-X
Cost: 107,871 C-bills

Type: Arrow Drone
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Tonnage: 0.2
Battle Value: 6

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         Solar              0.023
Safe Thrust: 1
Max Thrust: 2
Structural Integrity:         1                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         0                     0.0
Cockpit                                               0
Armor Factor (BAR 2)          4                    0.18

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    1     
     Wings                  1/1   
     Aft                     1     


Weapons
and Ammo                       Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
Booby Trap                       NOS       0.02     -      -    -    -    - 
Machine Gun                      NOS      0.007     0      0    0    0    0 
SRM Launcher - Inferno           NOS       0.01     0      0    0    0    0 
SV Chassis Mod                   BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
SV Chassis Mod                   BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
Smart Robotic Control System     BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 



[Daryk]

You've both hit on why I only use Excel for my SV designs... ;)

[beachhead1985]

Rules? Not so much.

But I love the *idea*

Instead of LRM/SRM, however; think about a NARC-based drone? particular for reconnaissance?

[DevianID]

You've both hit on why I only use Excel for my SV designs... ;)

So I suppose you can go smaller then 100kg then, thats a program limitation?

Is the pillion seat at 25kg the smallest 'control' system Darky?  I know turning the seat into a SRCS is 'free' on 10 ton or smaller units outside of normal control systems.

[Maingunnery]

Rules? Not so much.

But I love the *idea*

Instead of LRM/SRM, however; think about a NARC-based drone? particular for reconnaissance?

That would be more practical and 166 kg per drone is plenty of weight.

[Daryk]

TM, page 131 is unclear:

Technically speaking, the chassis of a Support Vehicle contains its basic control systems as well, but some Support Vehicles must still allocate additional mass to crew accommodations and fire-control systems (if installed).

Page 132 could certainly be read to require a pillion seat.