Mikoto Systems Ra LDS

Missile launch alert, nine bogeys, heading straight for us. Impact in fifty seconds. LDS engaging new bogeys... three down, make that six... aaannnd scopes are cleared.

— Commander Laffitte, 383

The Mikoto Systems Ra Laser Defense System is a Vestan 50MW infrared phased-array laser designed and manufactured by Mikoto Systems. It is tailored for anti-missile and anti-asteroid purposes, although it can be used against aircrafts and other spacecrafts with moderate effects. Due to its somewhat high rate of fire, extreme range and pinpoint accuracy, the Ra LDS has earned its place as the go-to point defense system against asteroids and ordonnance alike.

The Ra LDS is manufactured in all corners of the Federation thanks to its use of readily available materials and its role as a defensive system. It is also one of the few weapon systems used by the Aerospace Defense Force that is also available and widely used by civilian institutions. The Ra LDS is so popular, in fact, that it is also commonly found on Vagari vessels and on Unity assets.

Design

The Ra LDS is a phased-array laser system capable of sending laser pulses once every twenty seconds at full power, or faster at lower power settings. This allows it to engage a multitude of targets sequentially, although the targeting system tends to be overwhelmed against swarms of potential targets. Due to its nature as a phased array system, the whole weapon can fire without the need for a turreted mount, making it easy to install in a wide variety of emplacements.

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General Characteristics

Type

Infrared phased-array laser

Place of origin

Vesta

In service

356-present

Used by

Vestan Defense Forces

Specifications

Mass

2 650 kg

Length

3.1 m

Caliber

50MW Infrared

Muzzle velocity

Speed of light

Effective range

14 500m (atmo)
75 000 km (void)

History

The Ra LDS was initially designed as a private project to better protect the various Mikoto Systems refineries and other space facilities under the threat of asteroids. As the first systems were announced in 354, many grew concerned about the company's motives and the weapon quickly grew in popularity. The ADF officially selected the LDS for trials to complement its OGR-5s for long-range missile defenses, and subsequently adopted it in 356.

Operators

There are many operators of the Ra LDS, from the military to civilian companies and even cities. As an affordable, easy to maintain and highly effective system, even foreign companies and other users have purchased the LDS for their own use. Due to the system's ineffectiveness against spaceship armor, there are few regulations applied to it.