Rockets and Missiles (Ultra-Tech)

Rockets and Missiles

These are missile launchers larger than the gyroc weapons. The standard weapons are solid propellant rockets, but superscience reactionless-drive missiles are also possible.

Infantry Missile Launcher (IML) (TL9-10)

This is a single-shot launch tube with a pistol grip and an electronics system. It holds one mini-missile, but can be reloaded after each shot if extra missiles are carried. It is light enough (six pounds loaded) that every soldier could carry one.

The launcher fires a supersonic missile with a 64mm warhead. It produces a dangerous backblast when fired, doing 2d burning damage to everyone within a cone up to two yards behind the launcher.

Each missile costs $100 without a warhead; homing missiles (below) cost more. The usual warhead is a solid "kinetic kill" projectile inflicting the listed piercing damage. The warhead costs $10; multiply this figure for the more expensive warheads listed under Warheads and Ammunition.

Multiple Light Anti-Armor Weapon System (MLAWS), 64mm (TL9-10)

The MLAWS is a six-tube launcher with a loaded weight of 35 pounds. It is quite hefty, but its lack of recoil allows an ordinary person to fire it. The MLAWS is used as a squad support weapon, although it's not uncommon to see them attached to post mounts on vehicles or hung under the pylons of attack aircraft. The MLAWS fires the same missile as an IML (see above), with the same options and backblast hazard.

Tactical Missile Launcher (TML), 100mm (TL9)

This bulky launch tube holds a single pre-packaged missile. An unguided rocket costs $400; missiles with guidance systems cost more. The basic warhead is a 100mm solid “kinetic kill” projectile that inflicts the listed piercing damage. This costs $40; multiply this figure for the more expensive warheads listed under Warheads and Ammunition. It has a potentially lethal backblast when fired, doing 4d burning damage to everyone within a cone up to three yards behind the launcher.

Multiple Tactical Missile Launcher (MTML)

This is a four-round missile launcher for 100mm tactical missiles. It is suitable for vehicles, helicopters, or mecha (shoulder pods are considered particularly stylish). A helicopter equipped with four of these pods can carry 16 missiles. A light armored vehicle equipped with a single MTML can serve as an effective mobile surface-to-airmissile platform. The TL10 version is identical to the TL9 version, but fires the TL10 missiles described in Ultra-Tech.

Modular Launch System

This heavy modular launch system can carrying 20 100mm missiles. It is mostly employed as an air-defense system for ships and ground installations. The TL10 version is identical to the TL9 version, but fires the TL10 missiles described in Ultra-Tech.

160mm Strike Missile

This is a medium-sized tactical missile for use against heavy targets. While slower than the 100mm Tactical Missile, it has a larger warhead and much greater range.

A TL10 version of the missile is identical except that damage with an inert solid warhead is now 6d×30 pi++ and range is now 1,500/75,000. As is the case with all guided missiles, the figure listed before the slash in the range statistic is the velocity of the missile in yards per second.

Backblast is usually not a problem as these are not shoulder-launched weapons (except possibly for mecha). However, in case it ever matters, the missile produces a potentially lethal backblast, doing 8d burning damage to anything in a cone up to four yards behind the launcher.

Multiple Strike Missile Launcher (MSML)

This is a four-round pod for the 160mm missile. It is suitable for helicopters, large vehicles, and heavy mecha. A helicopter equipped with four of these pods can carry 16 air-to-air and/or air-to-groundmissiles. A truck carrying an MSML can serve as a mobile surface-to-air or surface-to-surface missile platform. The TL10 version is identical to the TL9 version, but fires TL10 missiles.

Heavy Modular Launch System

This is a heavy modular launch system carrying 20 160mm missiles. It is mostly employed as an air-defense system for ships and ground installations. The TL10 version is identical to the TL9 version, but fires TL10 missiles.

400mm Cruise Missile

A highly capable autonomous heavy missile, able to cruise at treetop altitudes for two hours and hit a target the size of a dinner plate at a range of 1,000 miles when fitted with a proper guidance system, this is an apex predator of precision munitions. Its gigantic 400mm warhead can deliver a huge amount of explosive death to a target. It can bust bunkers, sink battleships, or carry a nuclear warhead big enough to a kill a city. Different versions can be launched from aircraft, ground installations, surface vessels, or submarines. A heavy bomber or a warship carrying a dozen of these missiles can inflict almost unspeakable damage on an enemy. The standard HE warhead does 6d×15(0.5) pi++ with a 6d×20 cr ex [20d] follow-up blast. A TL10 version of the missile is identical except that damage with an inert solid warhead is 6d×25 pi++ and range is 500/5,000,000.

Backblast is usually not a problem as these are not shoulder-launched weapons. However , in the event that it ever matters, the missile produces a potentially lethal backblast, doing 16d burning damage to anything in a cone up to six yards behind the launcher.

Reactionless Missiles (TL11^)

Any of the above missiles can have superscience reactionless drives. The missiles have no backblast and get five times the normal max range (1/2D range and speed don't increase). The missiles are twice as expensive; the costs of the launchers and warheads are unchanged.

Missile Launcher Table

ARTILLERY (GUIDED MISSILE) (IQ-5, or other Artillery at -4)

TL	Weapon	Damage	Acc	Range	Weight	RoF	Shots	ST	Bulk	Rcl	Cost	LC
9	IML, 64mm	6d×3 pi++	3	500/4,000	4/2	1	1(5)	7†	-4	1	$2K	1
9	MLAWS, 64mm	6d×3 pi++	3	500/4,000	35/12	1	6(5)	11B†	-8	1	$23K	1
9	TML, 100mm	6d×30 pi++	3	2,000/10,000	35/25	1	1(20)	11B†	-8	1	$10K	1
10	IML, 64mm	6d×5 pi++	3	750/6,000	4/2	1	1(5)	7†	-4	1	$2K	1
10	MLAWS, 64mm	6d×5 pi++	3	750/6,000	35/12	1	6(5)	11B†	-8	1	$23K	1
10	TML, 100mm	6d×50 pi++	3	3,000/15,000	35/25	1	1(20)	11B†	-8	1	$10K	1
9	MTML, 100mm	6d×30 pi++	3	2,000/10,000	150/100	1	4(20i)	25M	-10	1	$25K	1
9	Modular Launch System, 100mm	6d×30 pi++	3	2,000/10,000	1,500/500	1	20(20i)	140M	-15	1	$300K	1
9	Strike Missile, 160mm	6d×20 pi++	3	1,000/50,000	200	1	1(20i)	23M	-11	1	$2K	1
9	MSML, 160mm	6d×20 pi++	3	1,000/50,000	1,200/800	1	4(20i)	140M	-15	1	$200K	1
9	Heavy Modular Launch System, 160mm	6d×20 pi++	3	1,000/50,000	16,000/4,000	1	20(20i)	300M	-19	1	$2M	1
9	Cruise Missile, 400mm	6d×15 pi++	3	300/3,000,000	2,500	1	1(20i)	150M	-15	1	$25K	1

All statistics are for "baseline" high-velocity rockets with solid warhead. Most weapons will fire homing projectiles (below) with a more specialized warhead!

Homing Projectiles

Ultra-tech projectile weapons may contain sensors and steering systems that enable the projectile to home in on a target by itself.

Gyroc, missile, and rocket launchers often fire homing projectiles. Guns may fire homing projectiles if the homing system can fit in the bullet or shell – this requires high TLs for small caliber rounds. Homing projectiles use the Homing Weapon rules. The firer rolls against Artillery (Guided Missile) to aim. On a success, the missile gets its Acc bonus. The weapon's "1/2D" range is its speed in yards/second. The missile’s skill and type of homing attack depends on the type of homing systems installed:

Infrared Homing ("Viper") (TL9)

These inexpensive systems are available for 15mm or larger projectiles at TL9, 10mm or larger at TL10, 7mm or larger at TL11, and all projectile sizes at TL12. They make a Homing (Infravision) attack. They have a skill of 13, +1 per TL after introduction. Add 300% to the base projectile cost (i.e., a projectile costs four times as much).

Multi-Spectral Homing (TL9-12)

These sophisticated guidance systems are available for 40mm or larger projectiles at TL9, 25mm or larger at TL10, 15mm or larger at TL11, and 10mm or larger at TL12. They can be set for "passive" homing, making a Homing (Hyperspectral Vision) attack. They can be set for "anti-radiation" to track any radio or radar signals the target emits, making a Homing (Detect Radar and Radio) attack. Finally, they may be set for "active" homing, making a Homing (Imaging Radar) attack.

They have a skill of 14, +1 per TL after introduction. Add 900% to the base projectile cost (i.e., a projectile costs 10 times as much).

Multiscanner Homing (TL11-12^)

These superscience guidance systems are available for 15mm or larger projectiles at TL11, and 10mm or larger at TL12. They make a Homing (Penetrating Para-Radar) attack, guided by the same technology as the ultrascanner. They can even home in on targets behind thin walls, and will attack targets behind cover if their sensors suggest they have a chance of penetrating. They have a skill of 12, +1 per TL after introduction. Add 900% to the base projectile cost.

Brilliant Weapons (TL9-12)

These are robotic missiles capable of autonomous flight and target selection. Unlike a normal homing weapon, which the user locks onto a target he can see or otherwise detect, a brilliant weapon is simply released to look for targets on its own. See Robot Weapons for examples of various brilliant weapons.