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A World Turned Upside Down - A Military R&D Quest

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[X] Plan The last 4th of July

[X] Plan: Counter-Nuke Shield

I'd actually love to have a variant where we have both nuclear capable and regular High-ex payloads because we could sell the nuclear ones to important governments based and cities, and us, while spamming our high-ex interceptors to try and pick off as much chaff and protect the rest of the country
 
Pyro Hawk said:
Okay, so if the government would love a 1200km, 72 Hour ECM Drone but don't believe it would be viable... Would they prefer a guaranteed 200km, 24 Hour ECM Drone or an attempt at the 1200km, 72 Hour ECM Drone which downgrades that maximum altitude and range as needed to ensure it's reliable? Basically, how accepting are they of dropping Complexity coming in Altitude and Endurance reductions?

Also, mind saying why they sound in love with ECM Drones with those capabilities? Is it basically because of how useful having an ECM Drone like that would be for all sorts of things other than just strategic missile interceptions, including boosting the effect of interceptor drones? Or is it something more?
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That's a more difficult question to answer. For that, the government would prefer the guaranteed option as that's easier to plan around. As it is, they're going to treat attempts at a 1200km, 72 hour drone as an attempt to get funding for a space program rather than anything else.

As for the ECM drone with those capabilities, it's mainly because ECM coverage on that large of a scale allows them to massively augment their EWAR capabilities, which is a boost across the board for the full military.

Gavian Novsa Cor said:
How many nukes are there?
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You don't really know. Public estimates are 120 thousand strategic devices and 400 thousand tactical devices.
 
Alright, vote is now called for Plan Multi-Spectrum Coverage
Scheduled vote count started by Daemon Hunter on Apr 12, 2023 at 3:30 AM, finished with 37 posts and 24 votes.
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2037 Part 5 - Other Military Development and Drone Development
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Plan Multi-Spectrum Coverage
    -[X] ECM Coverage - While this alone would not allow for intercept, a dedicated ECM drone would ensure additional backups and flexibility during operation. *+2 Complexity*
    -[X] 200km - A less extreme option capable of intercepting in space, and intercepting SRBMs at midcourse. This would still be highly expensive, but less so. *+8 Complexity*
    -[X] 24 hours - Extending the operational timeline of the drones would allow for a 300km operational range. This would make the drone capable of hovering at 80km for extended periods of time as well. *+4 Complexity*

    2037 External Report - United American Military Development

    The biggest news is the UA nuclear forces have finally been entirely modernized and updated. We had a long and expensive road to get here, looking at a budget of 8 trillion over the lifetime, probably closer to 2 trillion the way things are going though … The biochem warfare division is also finally at a level the UA is happy with, with around five thousand researchers dedicated to figuring out the most horrific ways to kill people.

    We've also got some very good news in armored warfare. The old infantry transport was made just after World War 2, and the light tank before World War 3. Now we actually have 21st-century vehicles able to operate in hazardous conditions. The transport is fairly barebones, although it does have its own dedicated battlespace systems. The military is slapping those on everything it can now. The light tank is interesting, it uses some EAC tech in the design and has a fair bit of high-end automation in the design. Most importantly, however, the thing is damn hard to see with thermal optics. The MLRS though, that's what the military is happiest about. Apparently, its been tested and is able to have a 0.1m CEP while stationary, and a 1m CEP when moving.

    There's some interesting work happening with NODS and the new fuel generations, but it's a bit too early to really report on them.

    2037 External Report - Italian Military Development

    You know it's bad when the intelligence reports force an entire redevelopment of post-nuclear doctrine. Looks like the Italians made a breakthrough in their recent nuclear tests in Turkey. We're looking at nuclear-pumped radium devices, currently expected to saturate a wide area in radiation for 50 years. Current expectations are that unprotected humans will develop lethal radiation sickness within 30 seconds of exposure, with protected humans developing lethal symptoms over the course of three hours.

    2037 External Report - Soviet Military Development

    Good news from and for the Soviets, but we'll be cooperating on securing orbital capabilities for ourselves when the nukes start flying. We've got a group in Quito that's been conducting classified launches for a bit, and we can take on 70% of hostile satellites in orbit ourselves. The Soviets can take on 50% themselves, so we've got a bit of wiggle room as well. Beyond that, they've agreed to start drip-feeding us some of their biochemical developments starting in 2038. Apparently, their security for this is pretty damn absurd.

    2037 External Report - EAC Military Development

    The EAC is fairly boring this year. They've just continued their current projects with fleet modernizations and air force expansions. Looks like they've been doing some good work with fleet automation, some intelligence personnel are a bit worried that might indicate cooperation between them and Britain, but there are enough differences that it looks like it was just parallel development.

    2037 External Report - African Union Military Development

    Ah, exactly what we didn't want to fucking happen. Rather than calming things down, looks like the AU instead decided to start working in parallel on another ABM net. The Italians are practically frothing at the mouth at this. Well, hopefully sacrificing Denmark placates them a bit. The UA knows appeasement did jack shit against Hitler, but right now we really need those Goliaths up in the air before we start World War 4.

    2037 External Report - Summary of Goliath Drone Inventory

    The setup for drones in the Goliath has been chosen. In total, there are 8 different drones planned for the Goliath. First is an ECM drone capable of operating at up to 200km. Designed by Innovation Institute, a flight of 100 will be utilized to ensure round-the-clock coverage. Second is 200 terminal interceptors created by [REDACTED] which are meant to be rapidly deployed to intercept ICBMs during their terminal phase. Thirdly there are 400 LEO impactors meant to serve as a hybrid system capable of assisting with LEO engagements. Fourth is 100 anti-ICBM ICBMs meant to conduct midcourse intercepts. Fifthly there are 100 nuclear-tipped terminal interceptors meant to serve as a final flak wall. The other three designs are being chosen from a pool of 14 variants and are intended to round out some of the holes in the Goliath's defensive capabilities.

    2037 Internal Report - Drone Design

    Now that the United American government has settled on the Goliath's payload, we are able to make more concrete designs for the individual drones. Innovation Institute has been allocated the ECM drone following our initial proposals, and the requirements are as follows. The system must be capable of operating in hazardous environments for extended periods. The system must be capable of high throughput datalink. The system must be able to create ghosts of cities or other targets. These individually are achievable, however together it serves to create a much more complex system than initially theorized. As a result, it is rather clear that some drawbacks will be needed. However, if we decide to be rather ambitious, we could attempt to create a more advanced system. It will however likely cause delays or perhaps create a drone that performs worse.

    Current Drone Design:
    ECM Coverage - While this alone would not allow for intercept, a dedicated ECM drone would ensure additional backups and flexibility during operation. *+2 Complexity*

    200km - A less extreme option capable of intercepting in space, and intercepting SRBMs at midcourse. This would still be highly expensive, but less so. *+8 Complexity*

    24 hours - Extending the operational timeline of the drones would allow for a 300km operational range. This would make the drone capable of hovering at 80km for extended periods of time as well. *+4 Complexity*

    Advanced NBC Protection - Introducing anti-bacterial coatings, heavy radiation shielding, and specifically designing it to facilitate operations in hazardous environments many modern NBC protections can be included. *+4 Complexity*

    Improved EMP Shielding - Utilizing redundant power sources, hardened electronics, and Faraday cages, advancements in EMP Shielding can be included. *+1 Complexity*

    Battlefield Datalink - A relatively recent tool for the coordination of assets using digital means, the datalink is now a UA requirement on almost all military vehicles. It allows for rather substantial levels of battlespace awareness and coordination of disparate assets. *+4 Complexity*

    Current Complexity: +23

    GM Note: Note that the drone design was always going to be rather problematic no matter what you did. It's less complex than the Goliath, but you also can't just increase the size to get it to work.

    [] Slow - By utilizing smaller propulsion systems, additional mass and volume can be allocated to the other systems. Additionally, due to its use as an ECM platform, it does not need to move quickly. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 2 times. Reduces speed by ~30%.*
    [] Maintenance Heavy - By accepting lower tolerance standards, the drone's design can be simplified to an extent. However, this will mean more drones will require depot-level maintenance, but this can be resolved by simply buying more drones and cycling the Goliath's inventory. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 4 times. Each time this option is taken doubles maintenance requirements.*
    [] Reduced range - Reducing operational range by removing fuel tanks can allow for additional mass and volume for other subsystems. However, it is also most problematic for operations. *-1 Complexity. Reduces range by 20%.*
    [] Unintuitive - Making the system require higher levels of training to operate can allow designers to remove some of the idiot-proofing features. But increasing the time needed to train operators on an already complex system may be problematic. *-1 Complexity. Increasing training time by 50%*
    [] None - While the drone is complex, it is not too complex. By accepting unknown minor issues we can create a more useful drone than if we accept known issues.
     
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    • [X] None - While the drone is complex, it is not too complex. By accepting unknown minor issues we can create a more useful drone than if we accept known issues.
     
    Things just keep looking grimmer and grimmer that we're somehow in agreeance with the Soviets of all people, oh well just means we'll have to get these drones up and running stat. My suggestions for dumbing down the drones would be speed and intuitiveness, if we can have a good chunk of drones in the air and in position then we shouldn't need to cycle them into position quickly but that would require the drones to be reliable. As for personnel training, well the military can afford a new training center to get these new recruits up and running, I'm sure we have that much time... hopefully...

    [X] Slow - By utilizing smaller propulsion systems, additional mass and volume can be allocated to the other systems. Additionally, due to its use as an ECM platform, it does not need to move quickly. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 2 times. Reduces speed by ~30%.*
    [X] Unintuitive - Making the system require higher levels of training to operate can allow designers to remove some of the idiot-proofing features. But increasing the time needed to train operators on an already complex system may be problematic. *-1 Complexity. Increasing training time by 50%*
     
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    CounterGuard said:
    Things just keep looking grimmer and grimmer that we're somehow in agreeance with the Soviets of all people, oh well just means we'll have to get these drones up and running stat. My suggestions for dumbing down the drones would be speed and intuitiveness, if we can have a good chunk of drones in the air and in position then we shouldn't need to cycle them into position quickly but that would require the drones to be reliable. As for personnel training, well the military can afford a new training center to get these new recruits up and running, I'm sure we have that much time... hopefully...

    [X] Slow - By utilizing smaller propulsion systems, additional mass and volume can be allocated to the other systems. Additionally, due to its use as an ECM platform, it does not need to move quickly. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 2 times. Reduces speed by ~30%.*
    [X] Unintuitive - Making the system require higher levels of training to operate can allow designers to remove some of the idiot-proofing features. But increasing the time needed to train operators on an already complex system may be problematic. *-1 Complexity. Increasing training time by 50%*
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    Ah, if you're going to want multiple options in the winning vote, I recommend making a plan for it. As it is the vote tally would treat this as two approval votes.
     
    [X] plan 20 points
    -[X] Slow - By utilizing smaller propulsion systems, additional mass and volume can be allocated to the other systems. Additionally, due to its use as an ECM platform, it does not need to move quickly. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 2 times. Reduces speed by ~30%.*
    -[X] Slow - By utilizing smaller propulsion systems, additional mass and volume can be allocated to the other systems. Additionally, due to its use as an ECM platform, it does not need to move quickly. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 2 times. Reduces speed by ~30%.*
    -[X] Unintuitive - Making the system require higher levels of training to operate can allow designers to remove some of the idiot-proofing features. But increasing the time needed to train operators on an already complex system may be problematic. *-1 Complexity. Increasing training time by 50%*
     
    The complexity is too high already. I don't think a fix can be made by dropping it to 20 complexity because it might be too slow in production and just never see use at all.

    [X] None - While the drone is complex, it is not too complex. By accepting unknown minor issues we can create a more useful drone than if we accept known issues.

    Might as well hope for the best and pray the base design can hold up on it's own.
     
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    [X] None - While the drone is complex, it is not too complex. By accepting unknown minor issues we can create a more useful drone than if we accept known issues.
     
    [X] slow maintenance
    -[X] Slow - By utilizing smaller propulsion systems, additional mass and volume can be allocated to the other systems. Additionally, due to its use as an ECM platform, it does not need to move quickly. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 2 times. Reduces speed by ~30%.*
    -[X] Maintenance Heavy - By accepting lower tolerance standards, the drone's design can be simplified to an extent. However, this will mean more drones will require depot-level maintenance, but this can be resolved by simply buying more drones and cycling the Goliath's inventory. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 4
    -[X] Maintenance Heavy - By accepting lower tolerance standards, the drone's design can be simplified to an extent. However, this will mean more drones will require depot-level maintenance, but this can be resolved by simply buying more drones and cycling the Goliath's inventory. *-1 Complexity. Can be taken up to 4
     
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