SCYLDA is a comprehensive counter-artillery system designed to provide infantry and cavalry forces with a shield against enemy artillery fire. The system is designed to operate in the harshest of environments and in environments washed by heavy electronical jamming and communications. The system operates on a very simple principle: detect incoming artillery fire and direct friendly artillery fire against the battery. It can be used to detect any type of artillery fire ranging from shells, mortars, rockets, and ballistic missiles. The bigger the target, the further it can be detected.
SCYLDA contains just two components, the radar system and the control system. Because mobility is crucial for this system, all components are highly mobile and are intended to operate on a mobile basis. Though inherently more accurate when not moving, SCYLDA can provide accurate detection while moving, albeit at a cost to its range.
The main component is the radar system, which is a pulse-doppler radar combined with a phased array subset. This allows for unprecenteded accuracy as well as all-weather and all-jamming environments. Based on the principle that all artillery fire is moving, the radar component can effectively wash out any targets not moving at a set velocity, allowing for crystal-clear imagry, which is enhanced by the phased array component. The SCYLDA radar operates simply by analyzing the trajectory of the incoming projectile, which can allow it to distinguish between artillery or mortar shells or rockets or missiles based on the curve of the trajectory, the speed, and the range. Once these parameters have been established, the SCYLDA system uses powerful computers to determine the precise firing location to within a few meters. Against artillery shells, the system has a maximum detection range of 12.50 miles (20.12 km); against mortar shells, the system has a maximum detection range of 15.50 miles (25.00 km); against rockets, the system has a maximum detection range of 25.00 miles (40.25 km); and against ballistic missiles, the system has a maximum detection range of 35.50 miles (57.14 km). In optimal conditions, these ranges can yield high accuracy. As weather conditions and other battlefield factors act upon the system, it undergoes a natural depreciation in its capabilities; however, it is an all-weather/all-environment system. It can accurately direct fire control against these launch sites to an additional 10 - 25% further than its detection range, based on environmental factors. The radar is capable of detecting over 85 firing positions per minute and simultaneously tracking 24 targets. With additional power fed to the unit, these values can increase significantly, as well as range. The radar system also features a jamming device, designed to act specifically against proximity-fused munitions. Most of these fuses use an electrical mechanism
to set the time, altitude or point of impact for the explosion to occur. The jamming component manages to prematurely burst these munitions by activating their fuses and is capable of covering an area as large as 100 hectacres (1 km²).
The last major component is the control section. The control section takes the data fed to it by the SCYLDA radar and plots the battery locations. From there, the system can feed the coordinates to friendly artillery guns, which can, in turn, train their fire on the system. It can also provide mid-course guidance updates to guided rounds and missiles with a datalink capability, as well as relay necessary data target to aerial systems as well. Linked into the main Layartebian Defense Network, the SCYLDA system can provide an even more robust 3D picture of the battlefield.
The SCYLDA system consists of a single SCYLDA radar mounted on top of an M2037A21 HEMTT, which is equipped with a single 12.7MM HMG for self-defense and a 250 kilowatt generator for power to the radar. The control unit is made up of a modified M2033A17 MTV, which consists of a crew of 9 in total. The HEMTT has a crew of 2 in total. Combined, these 11 men provide the basic crew of a SCYLDA system. However, running with just these two vehicles will not provide the best performance. This can be achieved with the inclusion of an M2037A2 HEMTT, coupled with an electrical power unit, to provide an additional 300 kilowatts of power. This adds an additional 2 men to the crew, bringing the total to 13. Most SCYLDA groups will travel with a single air-defense unit, an M2016A3 LAADS ADU, which can provide medium-range defense against airborne threats, several M2052 Cougar transports for additional crew support, and possibly an APC or IFV to provide additional armor support. |
