Raidar X Write Up (no stats)
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 2:43 pm
And now for my write up on the Raidar X
RAIDAR X DESTROID
ADR-PO4-MK. X
Raidar X
With the introduction of project Pioneer during Earth’s rebuilding after the Zentradi uprisings entirely new mecha designs were obviously needed to carry out the needs of the Expeditionary Force. For the needs of the ground forces designers returned to the proven and well known destroids for their inspirations. Two separate projects were put into play competing for the new destroid designs, Project Neo Excalibur and Project Colossus. While the Colossus team sought to place as much firepower as possible into their designs Project Neo Excalibur worked along the same lines that were being worked with on the new veritech fighters, smaller more flexible designs better suited to storage and use on and from spacecraft.
The first designs revisited by Neo Excalibur were those of the Modular Battlefield Robot Weapon System (MBRWS) seeking to follow up on the cost savings of interchangeable components like the original MBRWS designs. The second design to be updated was the Defender air defense robot. Well known for its massive, twin auto cannons supported by a powerful radar array, the Defender was the last word in anti-air capability for the UEDF and the Neo Excalibur team was looking to provide exactly that for UEEF. At the same time the team sought to address the limitations of the Defender, limited ammunition, light armor, lack of secondary weaponry and, though it was the second fastest of the first generation Destroids, low speed.
Naming their project Raidar X, a joking working name that somehow stuck for the production model, the team started by reducing the size of the mecha by about 30% and adding the newest armor plate available. Still meant to be a stand-off model the protection was less than the Excalibur’s but still 36% higher than the original design. With a major upgrade to the motive system added to its smaller size the Raidar X has a nearly 60% speed increase as well.
Looking at the main guns of the Defender the team had some tough decisions to deal with. The auto cannons had an incredible punch and range but used ammo far too quickly, especially for a mission that could be away from proper resupply for extended periods. The answer to the problem was a definite compromise, each auto cannon was replaced by a trio of powerful, long range laser cannons. While these cannons combined had less than one half the punch of the auto cannons their lack of recoil made up for the loss of firepower with an increase in accuracy as well as the eliminating the ammunition problem. The lack of recoil had another advantage as well, it allowed for much more flexible shoulders to be installed improving accuracy and flexibility even further.
When considering the addition of secondary weaponry the team started by borrowing from the Excalibur. The mini-missile launchers from the Excalibur would be added providing excellent punch if anything got too close to the Raidar X. As an afterthought a laser array was added to the lower torso of the mecha to provide protection against ground forces at short range.
Citing the vulnerability of the radar array mounted atop the Defender the team found a way to mount an improved radar array in the chest and the back/sides of the missile launchers for greater protection.
The advanced and ergonomic controls allow for a singe pilot to make full use of the mecha although a second set of controls is included to allow for a gunner to greatly increase the effectiveness of the combat unit.
Tactically the Raidar X is used in fire-support squadrons, sometimes called lances, where groups of 4 mecha provide anti-air fire and fire-support to ground units. Occasionally one of the rarer Gunslingers will be included in the lance to add massive firepower. Often operating with Longbows and occasionally with the rarer Catapults, the Raidar X’s ability to data-share it’s improved sensory information allows the Longbows and Catapults to use their long range missiles to much greater effect against air targets. On a number of occasions the Raidar X’s have data-linked with Koromons or Gojiras to improve the use of their artillery pieces against air targets as well. Often Gladiators and Condors will be assigned to defend the fire-support lances against close combat. With the advent of Cyclone and Silverback equipped infantry the Raidar X pilots have been quite happy to receive the additional close support, especially against the Invid swarm tactics.
RAIDAR X DESTROID
ADR-PO4-MK. X
Raidar X
With the introduction of project Pioneer during Earth’s rebuilding after the Zentradi uprisings entirely new mecha designs were obviously needed to carry out the needs of the Expeditionary Force. For the needs of the ground forces designers returned to the proven and well known destroids for their inspirations. Two separate projects were put into play competing for the new destroid designs, Project Neo Excalibur and Project Colossus. While the Colossus team sought to place as much firepower as possible into their designs Project Neo Excalibur worked along the same lines that were being worked with on the new veritech fighters, smaller more flexible designs better suited to storage and use on and from spacecraft.
The first designs revisited by Neo Excalibur were those of the Modular Battlefield Robot Weapon System (MBRWS) seeking to follow up on the cost savings of interchangeable components like the original MBRWS designs. The second design to be updated was the Defender air defense robot. Well known for its massive, twin auto cannons supported by a powerful radar array, the Defender was the last word in anti-air capability for the UEDF and the Neo Excalibur team was looking to provide exactly that for UEEF. At the same time the team sought to address the limitations of the Defender, limited ammunition, light armor, lack of secondary weaponry and, though it was the second fastest of the first generation Destroids, low speed.
Naming their project Raidar X, a joking working name that somehow stuck for the production model, the team started by reducing the size of the mecha by about 30% and adding the newest armor plate available. Still meant to be a stand-off model the protection was less than the Excalibur’s but still 36% higher than the original design. With a major upgrade to the motive system added to its smaller size the Raidar X has a nearly 60% speed increase as well.
Looking at the main guns of the Defender the team had some tough decisions to deal with. The auto cannons had an incredible punch and range but used ammo far too quickly, especially for a mission that could be away from proper resupply for extended periods. The answer to the problem was a definite compromise, each auto cannon was replaced by a trio of powerful, long range laser cannons. While these cannons combined had less than one half the punch of the auto cannons their lack of recoil made up for the loss of firepower with an increase in accuracy as well as the eliminating the ammunition problem. The lack of recoil had another advantage as well, it allowed for much more flexible shoulders to be installed improving accuracy and flexibility even further.
When considering the addition of secondary weaponry the team started by borrowing from the Excalibur. The mini-missile launchers from the Excalibur would be added providing excellent punch if anything got too close to the Raidar X. As an afterthought a laser array was added to the lower torso of the mecha to provide protection against ground forces at short range.
Citing the vulnerability of the radar array mounted atop the Defender the team found a way to mount an improved radar array in the chest and the back/sides of the missile launchers for greater protection.
The advanced and ergonomic controls allow for a singe pilot to make full use of the mecha although a second set of controls is included to allow for a gunner to greatly increase the effectiveness of the combat unit.
Tactically the Raidar X is used in fire-support squadrons, sometimes called lances, where groups of 4 mecha provide anti-air fire and fire-support to ground units. Occasionally one of the rarer Gunslingers will be included in the lance to add massive firepower. Often operating with Longbows and occasionally with the rarer Catapults, the Raidar X’s ability to data-share it’s improved sensory information allows the Longbows and Catapults to use their long range missiles to much greater effect against air targets. On a number of occasions the Raidar X’s have data-linked with Koromons or Gojiras to improve the use of their artillery pieces against air targets as well. Often Gladiators and Condors will be assigned to defend the fire-support lances against close combat. With the advent of Cyclone and Silverback equipped infantry the Raidar X pilots have been quite happy to receive the additional close support, especially against the Invid swarm tactics.