Designation: MLSAMS Armored Mobile Surface-to-Air Missile Launcher System

Rough Draft

I. Dimensions.

• Length: 6.5 meters
• Width: 3.0 meters
• Height: 3.7 meters
• Weight: 16.2 metric tons.

II. Type.

• Two-Four crew lightly-armored six-wheeled mobile surface-to-air missile battery.
  • MLSAM-8 Eight missile battery
    or
  • MLSAM-1 Large erectable, steerable missile launcher

III. Service History

• Used by the UNDF since 2000, this general missile launcher was also adopted by the ASC and in limited quantities by the REF.

IV. Propulsion.

• Engine: 1 turbocharged 6 cylinder multi-fuel engine providing 720 hp
• Transmission: Automatic shifting for six forward and one reverse gears
• Power-source: 1 x alternator with backup auxiliary power unit
• Fuel Capacity: 600 liter diesel.

V. Performance.

• Maximum speed : 120 kph
• Maximum water speed : 10 kph
• Maximum range : 800 km

VI. Electronics Suite.

Radar tracking:

• Hughes APG-198 short range (45 km) X band pulse Doppler phased array UWB radar.

Optical tracking:

• Thomson DOS-2500 multi-band motion-stabilized digital spherical camera system, for medium range 360 degree, elevation traversable infra-red imaging, optical and ultra-violet band detection and tracking.
• Thomson LT-3 multi-frequency laser ranger and designator.

Tactical Electronic Warfare System (TEWS):

• Elettronica Radar Warning Receiver (RWR)
• OlDelft Infra-red Warning Receiver (IRWR)
• Westinghouse ALQ-198(V) active radar jammer
• Chaff/smoke/flare dispensers

VII. Armament.

• 1 x 8 tube missile launcher contained within a rotating turret capable of 360 degree rotation and up to 45 degree elevation. Various warhead and guidance options for surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missions.
  The surface-to-air missile used is the Swordfish.
  or
• 1 x erectable Bloodhound missile launcher capable of up to 55 degree elevation. Various warhead and guidance options for surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missions.

VIII. Armor.

The armor of the MLSAMS is composed of a metal composite for maximal resistance to penetration and thermic explosive damage. The armor stops all small arms fire, provides fair protection against heavier infantry weapons, such as a 12.7mm machinegun round, and poor resistance to light mecha-mounted weaponry, such as the Zentraedi 22.3mm HE autocannon round. Armor is slightly weaker than the standard high speed aircraft skin.

The MLSAMS provides full protection from nuclear, biological, and chemical hazards, using an overpressure crew compartment environment activated by radiation and hazardous chemical sensors, or manually when biological warfare conditions are anticipated. The internal consumables supplies can provide atmosphere for one week maximum.

IX. Development.

The design of the MLSAMS predates the crash of the ASS-1 Macross. This vehicle's strength was its flexibility of payload. It could be equipped for ground artillery by loading a payload of rockets in the launchers, or it could be used for air defense with surface-to-air missiles, or it could be used for intercontinental or orbital bombardment with the erectable launcher. After the introduction of the destroid series of robots, this vehicle was relegated to secondary role for battlefield rocket artillery and surface-to-air missile defense. These vehicles were popular with the early Army of the Southern Cross due to their low cost and ease of maintenance. The Army of the Southern Cross's rapid rise to power was helped by this vehicle as it helped them suppress enemy troops on the battlefield before they even engaged during the minor conflicts that surrounded their ascendance.

This mobile rocket artillery piece is capable of launching an array of rockets/missiles that can be a rude surprise for a flotilla of mecha, especially when a number of MLSAMSs are coordinated in the attack as is usually the case. This provided the Southern Cross with sufficient offensive capabilities without relying upon the high-tech advances of robotechnology.

The Bloodhound variant is capable of local fire control, but most often is remotely controlled by an M-9 Inca ACC or remote fire control base. Generally, the MLSAM-1 is deployed in fire batteries of five launchers supported by a platoon of soldiers.

Unfortunately, the Bioroid Skysleds were far more maneuverable than these missile platforms and their ion cannons could easily penetrate the armor of the MLSAMS. As such, not many of these vehicles survived the Second Robotech War.

The Southern Cross command experimented with an unmanned AI variant of the MLSAMS that was centrally controlled by an M-9 Inca ACC. This provided the command staff with significant combat resources without sacrificing troops in the moderately protected mobile launcher.

The REF Army used a number of these vehicles to supplement their destroids in lower priority areas. Most of these vehicles saw little combat and were retired due to the cost of maintaining the logistics supply line.

See additional design notes.

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