Narc Missile Beacon
Sarna News
| |
| Narc Missile Beacon | |
| Production information | |
| Type | Utility (missile) |
| Tech Base | Clan / Inner Sphere (IS) |
| Year Availability | Clan = 2587
IS = 3035 |
| Technical specifications | |
| Heat | 0 |
| Damage | * |
| Minimum Range | 0 |
| Short Range | Clan = 1-4
IS = 1-3 |
| Medium Range | Clan = 5-8
IS = 4-6 |
| Long Range | Clan = 9-12
IS = 7-9 |
| Tons | Clan = 2
IS = 3 |
| Critical Slots | Clan = 1
IS = 2 |
| Ammo Per Ton | 6 |
| Cost (unloaded) | 100,000 |
| Ammo Cost (per ton) | 6,000 (homing) |
| BV (1.0) | Clan = ???
IS = ??? |
| BV (2.0) | Clan = ???
IS = ??? |
The Narc Missile Beacon is a missile homing utility that can be planted on enemy targets, causing friendly SRMs and LRM missiles (even those that do not traditionally have homing capabilities) to lock on to them. They are particularly useful when used in tandem with LRMs.
Description
Causing quite a stir when it was introduced in 2587, the Narc system offered a radically different way of improve missile target acquisition. The Narc launcher fires special missiles called pods, which have a powerful homing beacon behind a magnetic head.
The Narc system superior to the similar Artemis IV FCS is that the target lock is never broken because the homing beacon is attached to the target, and that other friendly 'Mechs can fire missiles equipped to follow the signal without carrying their own Narc beacons.
However the Narc system is not without flaws, the main one being its short range. Narc equipped LRMs have double the range of a Narc pod, requiring either a dedicated spotter to close and tag enemies with Narc pods or for the launching 'Mech to close, tag and pull back to fire, a less than ideal arrangement. Also SRMs and LRMs equipped to track the Narc homing signal cost twice as much as standard munitions. These disadvantages led to the creation of alternate Narc ammunition such as the Explosive Pod to give the launcher more tactical flexibility and the Improved Narc Missile Beacon offering increased the range.
Models
Narc Missile Beacons are manufactured on the following planets:
| Brand | Planet | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Churchill Guiding Light | Capella | Ceres Metals Industries |
| Doering Electronics Glowworm | Hesperus II | Doering Electronics |
| Octagon Missile Magnet | Macintosh | Apple Computers Interstellar |
| Octagon Missile Magnet | Carbonis | IMB Systems |
| Octagon Missile Magnet | Irian | Irian BattleMechs Unlimited |
| Octagon Missile Magnet | Kalidasa | Kali Yama Weapons Industries Incorporated |