TerrainView UCAV

[Wereling]

TerrainView UCAV

Mass: 10 tons
Frame: ScolTek TerrainView
Power Plant: Rotax Deadalus
Armor: Scoltek 7 Commercial
Armament:
Manufacturer: ScolTek
     Primary Factory: Inarcs
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: ScolTek ATG-7
Introduction Year: 3138
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-X-X-X
Cost: 83,513 C-bills

Overview

The TerrainView UCAV was an expansion of the capabilities of the Hi-Scout drone carrier introduced by ScolTek during the Dark Age. The Hi Scout drone carrier had become a popular choice for reconnaissance among mercenaries and other cost-sensitive military units early in the 31st century. By the dawn of the 32nd century however the advance of technology had somewhat left them behind, to the point where the company was not even considered a high value target for the Word of Blake during the Jihad.

ScolTek had attempted to address this with the “Cunningham” model of the Hi-scout in 3077, only to have the plan badly backfire. While the deign did address many of the original model’s shortcomings, the immense increase in cost brought on by the advanced technologies used priced the unit out of the range of ScolTek’s existing customer base, while failing to secure a contract with any of the House militaries.

The implementation of Fortress Republic and subsequent Dark Age was a disaster for most, but the sudden decline in the availability of high technology throughout known space was an opportunity for ScolTek. Their drones allowed for inexpensive surveillance of the battlefield without risking hard to replace battlemechs, and even harder to replace trained recon pilots.

While the PathTrack and NapFind drones proved popular however, ScolTek decided to expand their production to include other drone platforms. The first of these that they introduced would be a fixed wing medium altitude platform known as TerrainView.

Capabilities

As a scout platform ScolTek focused on making the TerrainView capable and cheap. To ensure the former they equipped the drone with good flight endurance and a high resolution camera. To ensure the second it was built around an extremely cheap turboprop power plant and carries a minimal amount of commercial grade armor.

TerrainView was larger than either the NapFind or PathTrack drones at a full 10 tons.. Unlike those models it was not intended to be transported by the Hi-Scout drone control vehicle. It was intended instead to merely be controlled by it.

Also unlike the PathTrack and NapFind drones, the TerrainView drone was intended to be armed. While it contains no integral weapons, the TerrainView does have an external stores hardpoint. This was originally intended as a means by which to carry either an external fuel tank for extended operations, or a TAG designator pod to help the drone in its scout role.

Whatever may have been intended, however, hardpoint is fully functional, and the TerrainView has been used on more than one occasion to deliver ordnance. In fact, it has proved moderately popular with militaries all over the Inner Sphere and periphery as an inexpensive method to deliver laser-guided bombs.

History

The new drone, coupled with the introduction of a new, inexpensive control platform, rejuvenated ScolTek’s fortunes. The TerrainView became famous almost immediately, as a swarm of bomb-armed TerrainView drones were used in the defense of Wisconsin by the Pandora’s Box mercenary company.

In that conflict the mercenaries used this drone swarm as an ersatz air force. They used the scouting abilites of the TerrainView to monitor pirate movements. They used bomb-armed drones to strike pirate supply lines and threaten lighter armed forces. In once famous incident they even used a group of drones armed with light air-to-air missiles in an ambush to bring down a flight of pirate aerospace fighters.

Code: [Select]

Type: TerrainView
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Tonnage: 10
Battle Value: 18

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         ICE                  4.5
    Safe Thrust: 5
    Max Thrust: 8
Structural Integrity:         0                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         50                    1.0
Cockpit                                               1
Armor Factor (BAR 7)          11                    0.5

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    5     
     Wings                  2/2   
     Aft                     2     


Weapons
and Ammo                    Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
Drone Operating System        NOS       1.5      -      -    -    -    - 
SV Chassis Mod                BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
Recon Camera                  BOD       0.5      -      -    -    -    - 
Basic Fire Control            BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
External Stores Hardpoint     BOD       0.2      -      -    -    -    -

[Wereling]

TerrainView v2 UCAV

Mass: 10 tons
Frame: ScolTek TerrainView
Power Plant: Wright Lightning
Armor: ScolTek 7 Commercial
Armament:
Manufacturer: ScolTek
     Primary Factory: Inarcs
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: ScolTek ATG-7
Introduction Year: 3142
Tech Rating/Availability: E/X-X-X-X
Cost: 321,263 C-bills

Overview

After the introduction of the TerrainView fixed-wing recon drone in 3138 Proved to be a hit, ScolTek immediately began making improvements. While the Terrainview was immensely popular it did have some significant shortcomings. ScolTek’s relentless efforts to reduce cost had left the original model of the TerrainView vulnerable electronic countermeasures. In fact, merely being within line of sight of an ECM-equipped unit often caused the drone to lose contact with its control unit and cease functioning entirely.

Under many circumstances this didn’t matter much. ScolTek made many of its sales to militias and mercenaries that expected to face enemies not likely to possess ECM capability. Having secured the financial future of the company however, ScolTek looked to address this weakness to appeal to a whole new set of customers.

Capabilities

The V2 version of the TerrainView drone used the same chassis as the original model. Its greatest new feature was the inclusion of a Guardian-class electronic countermeasures suite, locked into ECCM mode. This equipment would allow the TerrainView to operate an environment with some hostile ECM nearby.

To make room for this equipment some changes needed to be made. The Rotax turboprop that had powered the original model simply massed too much for an additional ton and a half of equipment to be added. Instead, ScolTek would opt for a much lighter Write Lighting fuel-cell powered motor instead.

History

These changes would make the TerrainView massively more expensive. The original model of the TerrainView cost just over eighty thousand C-bills, less than three tons of long ranged missile ammo. The V2 model cost nearly quadruple that. While that was considerably more than ScolTek’s traditional clientele would be willing to spend, it was still incredibly inexpensive by the standards of the higher end military units of the Houses and upper-ranged mercenaries.

It took a few years, but eventually it did catch on, primarily with mercenaries operating near the Periphery. It proved much more resilient than its fore-bearer, though it would not supplant it. Both models would continue to be produced into the 3150s.

Code: [Select]

Type: TerrainView v2
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Tonnage: 10
Battle Value: 76

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         Fuel Cell              3
    Safe Thrust: 5
    Max Thrust: 8
Structural Integrity:         0                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         66                    1.0
Cockpit                                               1
Armor Factor (BAR 7)          11                    0.5

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    5     
     Wings                  2/2   
     Aft                     2     


Weapons
and Ammo                    Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
Recon Camera                  NOS       0.5      -      -    -    -    - 
Drone Operating System        BOD       1.5      -      -    -    -    - 
SV Chassis Mod                BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
Basic Fire Control            BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
ECM Suite                     BOD       1.5      -      -    -    -    - 
External Stores Hardpoint     BOD       0.2      -      -    -    -    -

[VhenRa]

Reminds me of this thing one of my friends did up for me.

Code: [Select]

Hugin Recon Drone Aircraft

Mass: 1.857 tons
Frame: Unknown
Power Plant:  Fusion
Armor: BAR 3
Armament:
Manufacturer: Unknown
     Primary Factory: Unknown
Communication System: Unknown
Targeting & Tracking System: Unknown
Introduction Year: 3040
Tech Rating/Availability: D/X-F-F-X
Cost: 29,448 C-bills

Type: Hugin
Technology Base: Inner Sphere (Advanced)
Tonnage: 1.857
Battle Value: 15

Equipment                                          Mass
Engine                         Fusion                 1
Safe Thrust: 6
Max Thrust: 9
Structural Integrity:         6                       
Heat Sinks:                   0                       0
Fuel:                         0                     0.0
Cockpit                                               0
Armor Factor (BAR 3)          5                   0.095

                           Armor   
                           Value   
     Nose                    2     
     Wings                  1/1   
     Aft                     1     


Weapons
and Ammo                 Location   Tonnage  Heat   SRV  MRV  LRV  ERV
Recon Camera               NOS       0.5      -      -    -    -    - 
Drone Operating System     BOD      0.6857    -      -    -    -    - 
SV Chassis Mod             BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
SV Chassis Mod             BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 
SV Chassis Mod             BOD       0.0      -      -    -    -    - 

Prop, Ultralight and VSTOL mods.

Assume it has 25 kilos of cargo because it has to have a 25 kilo control seat because MML...