(Standard Speer ATGM)
The 'Speer' (Spear) ATGM System is a multivariate anti-tank guided missile family used by ground and air forces to target and destroy armored vehicles, defenses, and enemy troop formations. Its development began in the early 1980's in order to perfect a guided missile system to combat armored foes more efficiently, and to allow smaller unit formations to eliminate heavy armored threats. The missile system has since been adapted to be fired from helicopters (Speer-ASGM), vehicle systems (Speer-VLATGM), tank cannons (Speer-GLATGM), and a shoulder mounted launcher (Speer-SMATGM); the evolution of the Speer progressed, evolving with each new variant the system was adapted for.
The missile itself is a smart munition that utilizes state of the art technology to accurately land on target. It is equipped with an imaging infrared seeker (homing), a "Fire, Observe and Update" operating mode (which can be used in direct firing mode to guide the missile as well), Dual CCD/IIR guidance, and two sets of deploying fins for stabilization and maneuvering. This means that the Speer, once fed information by the operators targeting computer, can accurately track and engage active targets using a direct pathing method, or, engage targets from a top-attack method by climbing in altitude and landing on target from above. The seeker is able to follow its target using a boxing system that watches and learns, corrects itself, and uses pattern recognition algorithms to follow active targets. There are three stages in the flight managed by the tracker: 1) an initial phase just after launch; 2) a mid-flight phase that lasts for most of the flight; and 3) a terminal phase in which the tracker selects the sweet spot for the point of impact. With guidance algorithms, the autopilot uses data from the seeker and tracker to determine when to transition the missile from one phase of flight to another. Depending on whether the missile is in top attack or direct attack mode, the profile of the flight can change significantly. The top attack mode requires the missile to climb sharply after launch and cruise at high altitude then dive on the top of the target (curveball). In direct attack mode (fastball), the missile cruises at a lower altitude directly at target. The exact flight path which takes into account the range to the target is calculated by the guidance unit. Although Speer's weight and size will vary according to each variant and its launcher, Speers will still have a range of eight-hundred meters to twenty-five thousand meters generally, a length around sixteen-hundred millimeters, and a diameter of resembling its launch unit (eighty millimeters to about one-hundred and seventy). The warhead is a Tandem-charge HEAT warhead, which uses two stages of explosions to combat reactive armor; its first charge is designed to detonate before setting off ERA armor - the HEAT based warhead digs a path through ERA blocks for the main warhead to make contact with the tank's armor. To ensure the first explosion does not damage the second charge, a blast shield is located between the two warheads; this shield is made of composite material and features a small hole in the center for the second charge's molten warhead to pass through easily. For effective multipurpose uses, Speer features a steel lining around its warhead for to purpose of creating additional fragmentation damage. Speer also has safety features including multi-step electronic arming and self-checking electrical systems. The Speer's HEAT tandem charge warhead is capable of penetrating over eight-hundred millimeters of rolled homogeneous armor.
For propulsion the Speer uses a solid fuel rocket with two motors, a launch and flight motor; the launch motor is separated by a burn disk, which is designed to tolerate the pressure of the launch motor from one side but to easily rupture from the other when the flight motor ignites. This feature is intended for the Speer to 'soft-launch', which is when the missile is propelled out of the launch tube by a motor, stops before leaving the tube, and once again reignites after a delay for crew protection. Both motors share the same nozzle but different igniters; the flight motor uses an unusual annular (ring-shaped) igniter because it would otherwise shoot out the back of the launch device, possibly harming the user or anyone around. Deployment is dependent on the launching platform. The original Speer was intended for vehicle and infantry uses, a vehicle launcher used universally fit box launchers while infantry carried a disposable launching tube and targeting computer. Since then vehicle based launchers have become universally smaller and more compact - box launchers have especially became more uniform for mounting points, airborne models feature a better handle for mounting on aircraft, and the cannon launched version has a set of unique modifications for its use.
Speer-SMATGM: The Shoulder Mounted Anti-Tank Guided Missile variant of the Speer is an infantry portable missile system based around an advanced compact targeting device and launch tube. Operated by two operators, the missile is launched either as a direct fire-and-forget system or can have a complex arc flight path to attack from a top-attack angle. The operator will target optically an enemy vehicle and lock onto it using the targeting device attached to the firing tube; using guidance systems in multiple optical settings (night, heat, or HD) and zoom settings, the operator can then set a targeting format using a method of closing a box onto the target, feeding the information to the missile. The missile will launch with a soft launch approach – the flight motor firing after the missile has left the launcher - and will track its set target until impact. Firing and forgetting is a keystone of the Speer, which pushes all the tracking onto the missile rather then the operator. It is capable of firing inside enclosures and the tube is disposable (operators keep the targeting computer).
Speer-VLATGM: The Vehicle Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile System variant of the Speer is a vehicle mounted ATGM system for the use on armored vehicles. It will usually come in small launcher boxes/tubes of two or one missile designed to fit comfortably on paired vehicle system mounts. A direct wiring system is used to keep connected with the missile system instead of an attached firing computer, avoiding the need of a crew member to target and fire the system outside the confines of the vehicle, rather all said systems are connected to the gunner's station. This variant is made in standard and extended long range firing models, which can engage targets from ten to twenty-five kilometers away (length of the system varies depending on model). Similar to its shoulder mounted variant, the VLATGM can fire in a direct-fire format or fire from a top-attack format, soft-launching still from the system it is stationed on.
Speer-ASGM: The Air-to-Ground Guided Missile variant of the Speer is designed from the VLATGM variant and was designed for use on-board of helicopters and unmanned air drones. It is very similar to the VLATGM variant in its range and capabilities but has very unique differences. For starters, the weight of the system is reduced and instead of using launchers uses fixed handles that mount onto aircraft weapons stations. This variant has replaced the VLATGM for use on aircraft, which before was handled by the VLATGM. Limited tests aboard multirole aircraft and CAS aircraft have also proven to be successful.
Speer-GLATGM: The Speer GLATGM is a Gun Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile variant of the Speer ATGM. The GLATGM is designed to be fired from cannon barrels of either smoothbore or rifled (a version of this model uses slip rings for rifled cannons); it is manufactured for tank bores between one-hundred and five millimeters and one-hundred and forty millimeters. GLATGM is designed specifically to engaging targets within the operator's line of sight as well as targets beyond the operator's line of sight - this ability has made the GLATGM one of the TECT Armed Forces' primary tank rounds. For targets in the operator's line of sight, the GLATGM would operate using the tanks targeting computers to gather data for a firing solution and fire, all of which takes seconds. GLATGM have subsequently also been able to pick up the reflected radiation from the target and guide itself onto targets using a laser homing feature. The GLATGM, if firing onto targets not in firing sight use the missile's targeting and seeking features to acquire targets on its own. Once a target is designated by the missile's guidance computer, it makes the necessary course corrections with its impulse attitude thrusters and vectorable stabilizing fins, maneuvering itself to the target. In this way, the GLATGM can act autonomously, able to independently engage targets with relative safety due to its IFF (identification friend or foe) system. Initially, the missile is fired from the tank's cannon utilizing the propellant from a standard cartridge, and engages its rocket motor after leaving the muzzle several meters out; this replaces the need for a soft-launch approach. GLATGMs can still perform top-down attacks using the same propulsion method of climbing altitudes; this trajectory is especially dangerous for engaging enemy tanks which have softer armor on the top and sensitive areas to target from as well. Depending on the model the GLATGM can be smaller and engage standard enemies at around four kilometers, or can be extended ranged with a little length added for engagements out to twenty-five kilometers.
Export
The 'Speer' ATGM can be purchased on the Wolf Armaments storefront page.
Speer-SMATGM: $52,000 NSD per unit.
Speer-VLATGM: $89,000 NSD per unit.
Speer-ASGM: $101,000 NSD per unit.
Speer-GLATGM: $45,000 per unit.
DPR: $25 Billion NSD.