MK-3M FUBUKI
Cost (UNIT): N$D 60 000 per UAV
Contact the government of New Aeyariss for eventual license.
MK-3M Fubuki ("Snowstorm") is an unmanned aerial vehicle and a loitering munition designed for both reconnaissance and strike tasks (via a kamikadze attack). Fubuki has been born out of experiences of the Imperial Nifonese Army in the Red Moonsoon, where constant movement and large scale use of decoys prevented successful completion of SEAD missions against the communist forces fielding them. Willing to solve the issue, engineers from Murakami zaibatsu developed a reconnaissance - strike drone that could provide extreme level of precision during the strike and allow it's operators to distinguish between the decoys and real targets. As a base of the new design served Ku-19 UAV designed earlier by the same company. The final product has been positively evaluated by the Rikugun and entered service in 2009, being used in almost every major conflict the Empire of Greater Nifon has been engaged in since it's introduction into service.
-The operating system is composed of 4 LTSC (Transport and Storage Containers) housing four UAVs ready for deployment (16 vehicles in total) in addition to service assets and a ground control station. Light weight of the system allows it to be easily moved by air transport, such as planes, and remain mobile in the heat of battle, avoiding hostile counter fire.
- The main vehicle has 230 centimeters of length, wingspan of 260 centimeters and launch weight of 170 kilograms. It follows a bank - to - turn design, with two vertical stabilizers (one at the top, one at the bottom) and two cropped delta wings generating enormous amounts of lift. Such configuration gives it maneuverability akin to conventional aircraft, especially during the dive. At the same time low size and incorporation of top quality multi spectral anti-stealth materials effectively reduce RCS, making it invisible to majority of radars. A large bulb at the front houses the synthetic aperture radar (SAR), followed by warhead and the engine, while an electro-optical sensor has been located below the SAR. UHF datalink and GPS antennas have been mounted at the top of the UAV. Both wings have been fitted with anti-icing systems allowing it to operate in extremely low temperatures.
- MK-3M is powered by a single Kojima K0-18191 opposed two cylinder two stroke boxer engine, generating 26 horsepower, characterized by an extremely low fuel consumption and high power output, allowing the "Fubuki" to stay in the air for a long periods of time and maximum loitering speed of 180 kilometers per hour, giving the UAV capability to reach up to 500 kilometers of range and loiter time of five hours, which is however limited to 200 kilometers under line of sight data link conditions. After the launch, MK-3M is propelled into the air by a rocket motor, which is then discarded and the UAS continues on it's own via seven bladed propeller providing low level of noise. In terms of armament, MK-3M carries multiple payload options of between 20 to 30 kilograms, including HEAT, shaped charge, HE-Fragmentation or thermobaric warheads depending on mission's requirements. Each of them is detonated using a radio proximity fuse.
- "Fubuki" has two options in terms of target detection. The first is Washi W1/A2 synthetic aperture radar capable of all weather operations as well as producing images through smoke, fog, clouds and manmade screens in real time. The SAR system weights 32 kilograms, consumes 700W power and operates on K-band frequency of approximately 35GHz with resolution of about 0,7 meter. It can operate in strip mode, quickly covering and assessing large swaths of terrain or in spot mode to provide a detailed high - resolution examination of a specified small area. In addition to that, W1/A2 possesses Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) allowing it to detect and classify moving targets over long distances with a high revisit rate. At the ground control station, UAV's operator is fitted with a large amount of tools for analysis & processing of the data. The second option is WS-7 electro - optical (EO) sensor turret mounted below the UAV's SAR on two gimbals. On a 204mm diameter ball is mounted day TV camera, IR camera coupled with a system permitting an automatic video tracker. The turret can be rotated 360 degrees around and elevated between +25° to -100, providing excellent quality images regardless of mode. Depending on mission's requirements, additional ELINT equipment to home on the sources of jamming or radio emissions may be installed.
- Onboard communications incorporate 225MHz to 400MHz UHF datalink to communicate with the Ground Control Station (GCS). In addition to that, Fubuki is fully equipped with a AXISAT and inertial laser ring navigation systems, which are coupled with the target data and the command datalink by the mission computer when executing the mission. UAV vehicles are controlled by four operators sitting in a truck, manning four stations each controlling four drones. Usual fire mission begins by receiving an order through the Nifonese "Hayabusa" artillery control network by the unit's CO. The operator formulates a mission plan, which is then converted to program and transmitted via a fiber optic cable to the launcher. Within 5 minutes all four vehicles are capable of ascending into the air and carrying out the given task. Once the UAV reaches the mission area, it enters into "search" mode where an autonomous man in the loop system notifies the operator of all visible targets. The operator then classifies the targets according to their importance, and the system enters into attack mode, diving on the target with speed of 500 kilometers per hour. During the dive it is fully possible to abort the attack, and the operator can re-engage at any time before the UAV detonates.
- Unlike conventional missiles, which require to have their target identified before the launch, MK-3M does not have such a requirement. Instead, the target can be found, identified and engaged after the launch, which, when coupled with long loitering times, creates a deadly threat to mobile assets of the enemy.
MK-3M UAV / Loitering Munition
[*] UAV length: 230 centimeters
[*] UAV wingspan: 260 centimeters
[*] UAV weight: 180 kilograms
[*] UAV control options: Line of sight (200 kilometers) / satellite relay (500 kilometers).
[*] Loitering time: 5 hours.
[*] Speed: 180 kilometers per hour (loiter) / 500 kilometers per hour (dive)
[*] Warhead: 20 to 30 kilograms, HEAT, HE - Fragmentation, Thermobaric.
[*] Number of vehicles per system: 16
[*] Systems:
- W1/A2 Synthetic aperture radar
- WS-7 EO turret.