LMI-3 Rook

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The LMI-3 Rook (DRA.1 in United Kingdom of Isselmere-Nieland Defence Forces' service) is a multipurpose drone designed by Lyme and Martens Industries that may be launched from cruiser-sized helicopter landing platforms, aircraft carriers, or from ground stations. It is a very stealthy machine when flying clean on reconnaissance, missile guidance, or fire spotting duties, and carries such sensors and systems as synthetic aperture radar (SAR), enhanced electro-optical imaging, automatic target recognition (ATR), a secure global positioning system (GPS), inertial guidance (for those just-in-case situations), a Link 17G secure datalink relay. It can also play dirty by carrying up to four Hellfire or similarly sized missiles on four wing stations (six if two Stingers are carried for self-protection) and use its laser rangefinder-designator to perform light attack missions.

Cruisers or larger ships launch the Rook using a smaller version of the electromagnetic aircraft launching system (EMALS) used on the Royal Edmund-class carriers. This launching system produces an extremely small magnetic signature, less even than a colour television, so neither the launching vessel nor the Rook's systems damaged. The MSP.133 Tuesday helicopter landing system (HLS, which may be reconfigured to suit your navy's specifications) guides the Rook in for landing, facilitating recovery in conditions up to sea state 4. The Rook recovers with an electromagnetic aircraft recovery systems (EARS) using two high tensile strength cables strung across the deck. Thrust reversers act to brake the DRA.1 even quicker. In case of missed cable, a lightweight mesh barricade protects both the Rook and the ship from most damage. Alternatively, the Rook can land on a Walmsley-class or larger aircraft carrier.

The Rook may operate somewhat autonomously using a pre-configured flight plan should communication with the ground control station (GCS) be lost, or should the GCS have to release control of the Rook. The DRA.1 can react to the environment using its various sensors (terrain following radar (TFR, use of which increases the radar signature), a radar altimeter, radar warning receiver (RWR) system, automatic self-defence decoy (chaff/flare) dispenser, GPS and laser-digital inertial navigation system (INS) and other systems) to alter waypoints to avoid or otherwise counter enemy anti-air threats (i.e. navigating around active radar sites).

The system can be used as a semi-autonomous attack platform on a preset flight plan, which is reconfigurable in flight to account for anti-air threats, using its automatic target recognition system (ATR) and identification friend or foe interrogator system (IFFI) to acquire and attack targets on its own. The ATR can be, if necessary, be updated by the GCS through direct link or by secure satellite communication link. The Rook can also return to roost autonomously using its GPS and INS should connection with the GCS be lost.

The Rook also can perform limited signals intelligence functions. The DRA.1 can receive signals data through its sensors and transmit that data to the GCS via secure datalink for processing on a dedicated data management system. The processed information may then be fed back into the Rook by the GCS to improve its survivability.

The manufacturers are moving towards developing a version with greater autonomy (the DRA.2), but it is still in the development stage.

Up to four Rooks can be controlled by a ground control station (GCS) or a tactical control station (TCS). A GCS is the size of a standard frieght container, but its functions can be distributed in a TCS composed of two-HMMWVs (please note: trailers will be required to transport the Rooks to forward locations). Remote piloting of the Rook is assisted by a lightweight helmet-mounted head-up display and military-standard hands on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls. As both the GCS and TCS use the same secure datalink, the electronic handover is both very easy for one’s own units to achieve and extremely difficult for enemies to disrupt.

LMI-3.1

Functions: armed reconnaissance, artillery spotting, missile guidance, and target acquisition.
Dimensions: length: 5.5m; wingspan: 4.24m.
Mass: 901.4 kg (empty), 1724.3 kg (maximum take-off mass); weapons payload: 350 kg.
Propulsion: IMW F47-IMW turbofan.
Range: 750+ km
Ceiling: 7,620+ m
Speed: maximum: 785+ km/h
Price: $7.5 million per unit; $5 million per GCS/TCS and associated electronics (datalink components, satellite communications antennae).

LMI-3.2

Functions: Reconnaissance, over-the-horizon missile guidance, artillery spotting, light attack
Current model: LMI-3.2
Service designation: DRA.2
Cost: $7.5 million
Wings: Span: 4.24m
Fuselage: Length: 5.5m; height: 1.45m
Powerplant: Isselmere Motor Works F47 turbofan
Mass: Empty: 901.4kg; maximum take-off: 1724.3kg
Performance: Maximum speed: 785km/h+; service ceiling: 7620m+; range: 750km+
Hardpoints: 6, 3 each wing; 4 inboard (125kg ea.), 2 outboard (32kg ea.)
Payload: 350kg
Fuel fraction: (708 litres, 551.5kg JP5 or 566.5kg JP8)
Thrust loading:
Wing loading:
Electronics suite:
ECM/ESM:
Countermeasures: 12-cell ALE.209L chaff/flare ejector


Isselmere-Nieland Defence Industries
DAS | IMW | LMI | RINO | RSIN

Aircraft:
Angrboda | Cormorant | Gargantua | Garuda | Pantagruel | Scimitar | Sea Fury | Sparrow | Spectre | Swordfish | Tiger
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L15 LAV series | L21 HAV series | L25 Boar SPH | Lion | Mammoth OCV
Launchers:
GWLS.35 | GWLS.58 | GWLS.60
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L117 | L118 | L119 | L120
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Bullfinch | City (2003) | City (2007) | County (2003) | Crocodile | Europa | Flower (2005) | Furtive | Grand Duchy | King Henry V | King Robert VI
Kingdom (2005) | Lethe | Lord | Marquess | Province (2003) | River (2003) | Royal Edmund | Síanach | Town (2007) | Union | Wallace
Other Equipment:
AOSAM | ISOMS | KERI foam | MITRE | MUSE | NAIADS | ODIN | SELKIE | SPINTOP


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Products: Isselmere-Nieland Defence Industries