Difference between revisions of "Guardian ECM Suite"

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{{InfoBoxWeapon
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| name =
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Clan = ECM Suite
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'''IS = Guardian ECM Suite'''
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| Type = Equipment (Electronics)
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| Tech Base =
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[[Clan]]
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[[Inner Sphere|IS]]
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| Year Availability =
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Clan = [[2832]]
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IS = [[3045]]
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| Year Introduced = 
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Clan = [[2832]] [[Clan Smoke Jaguar|CSJ]]
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IS = [[2597]] [[Terran Hegemony|TH]]
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| Year Extinction = 
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IS = [[2845]]
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| Year Reintroduced = 
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IS = [[3045]] [[Capellan Confederation|CC]]
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| Tech Rating = [[Technology Rating#E|E]]
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| Availability Rating =
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| Age of War–Star League = [[Availability Rating#E|E]]
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| Succession Wars = [[Availability Rating#F|F]]
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| Clan Invasion – Present = [[Availability Rating#D|D]]
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| Heat = 0
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| Minimum Range = 0
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| Short Range = 0
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| Medium Range = 0
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| Long Range = 6
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| Tons =
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Clan = 1
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IS = 1,5
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| Critical Slots =
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Clan = 1
 +
IS = 2
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| Cost (unloaded) = 200,000
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| BV (1.0) = 61
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| BV (2.0) = 61
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}}
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{{otheruses|the [[ECM Suite]]|other uses|Guardian (disambiguation)}}
 
{{otheruses|the [[ECM Suite]]|other uses|Guardian (disambiguation)}}
 
==Description==
 
==Description==
The '''Guardian ECM Suite''' was introduced in [[2597]] by the [[Terran Hegemony]]<ref>''TechManual'', p. 213</ref>. Designed to interfere with guided weaponry, targeting computers, and communication systems, the Guardian is typically used to shield allied units from such equipment by emitting a broad-band signal meant to confuse radar, infrared, ultraviolet, magscan and sonar sensors.<ref>''Technical Readout: 3050 Revised'', p. 197-198</ref> Affected systems include [[Artemis IV]],  [[C3]] and [[C3i Computer]] networks, and [[Narc Missile Beacon|Narc Missile Beacons]]. A Guardian can jam a [[Beagle Active Probe]] (or its Clan [[Active Probe|equivalent]]), but the probe-equipped unit will be aware of the jamming. The [[Capellan Confederation]] expanded the utility of the Guardian even more with the introduction of [[Stealth Armor]].<ref>''TechManual'', p. 213</ref>
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The '''Guardian ECM Suite''' was introduced in [[2597]] by [[Johnston Industries]] of the [[Terran Hegemony]] for the new ''[[Nightshade]]'' [[VTOL]].<ref name=TM213>''TechManual'', p. 213</ref> Designed to interfere with guided weaponry, targeting computers, and communication systems, the Guardian was typically used to shield allied units from such equipment by emitting a broad-band signal meant to confuse radar, infrared, ultraviolet, magscan and sonar sensors.<ref name=TRO3050>''Technical Readout: 3050'', p. 197</ref>  The Terran Hegemony built the Guardian for fear that their own [[Beagle Active Probe]], constructed as a counter to [[ECM]] suites in use at the time, might fall into the hands of the other [[Great Houses]] and be used against them.<ref name=ER2750>''Era Report: 2750'', p. 102-103</ref>
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The Guardian was notable for its discriminatory nature, able to scramble all hostile electronics within range while not affecting friendly communications and targeting enhancers.<ref name=TM213/> The suite itself consisted of a dedicated countermeasures computer tied to electromagnetic sensors positioned around the operating unit.  When these sensors detected an electromagnetic wave within range, such as that given off by an active radar, this data was sent to the computer which identified the threat, adapted to it, and fired a focused electromagnetic pulse at the source.  This intense burst of EM radiation could confuse and misdirect the sensor or even force the entire targeting system to reboot.<ref name=ER2750/>  The system was also very adaptable and could be updated to deal with new advances in electronic warfare.<ref name=TM213/>
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Affected systems include [[Artemis IV]],  [[C3]] and [[C3i Computer]] networks, and [[Narc Missile Beacon|Narc Missile Beacons]]. A Guardian can jam a Beagle Active Probe (or its Clan [[Active Probe|equivalent]]), but the probe-equipped unit will be aware of the jamming. The [[Capellan Confederation]] expanded the utility of the Guardian even more with the introduction of [[Stealth Armor]].<ref name=TM213/ Contemporary guided missiles such as standard [[Long Range Missile|LRM]] or [[Streak Missile Launcher|Streak SRMs]] are not affected by the Guardian suite and will be able to achieve hard lock as normal.<ref>''[http://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php/topic,27035.0.html Battletech.com]''</ref>
  
The greatest drawback to the Guardian is its limited range. Any unit outside the 180 meter bubble remains unaffected.
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The greatest drawback to the Guardian is its limited range, which extends out to only 180 meters.  Sensors can sometimes override this jamming, though by that point the enemy unit is already within visual range and can track the opposition with their own eyes.<ref name=TRO3050/>  Another is the fact that the Guardian's highly-adaptable operating software requires constant patching and custom recoding for each unit model on which it's mounted.  While this was no problem for the [[Star League]], for the Great Houses it proved to be a time-consuming process.<ref name=ER2750/>
  
The Clans used the Guardian as the basis for their own [[ECM Suite]], which is lighter and more compact than the Inner Sphere model but functions identically. The [[Draconis Combine]] used the Guardian as the basis for their [[Experimental Technology|experimental]] [[Angel ECM Suite]].<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 279</ref>
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The Clans used the Guardian as the basis for their own [[ECM Suite]], which was lighter and more compact than the Inner Sphere model but functioned identically. In the honor-bound fighting style of the Clans, the system did not see much use, but following their [[Operation Revival|return to the Inner Sphere]] the Clans had since begun to outfit more machines with ECM systems.<ref name=TM213/>  The [[Draconis Combine]] also used the Guardian as the basis for their [[Experimental Technology|experimental]] [[Angel ECM Suite]].<ref>''Tactical Operations'', p. 279</ref>
  
==Manufactuing==
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==Models==
 
Guardian ECM Suite is manufactured on the following planets:
 
Guardian ECM Suite is manufactured on the following planets:
  
{| width='600'
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{| class="wikitable"
 
! Brand
 
! Brand
 
! Planet
 
! Planet
! Company
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! Company/Used by
 
|-
 
|-
 
| Apple Churchill Golden Shield
 
| Apple Churchill Golden Shield
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<references/>
 
<references/>
 
==Bibliography==
 
==Bibliography==
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*''[[Era Report: 2750]]''
 
*''[[TechManual]]''
 
*''[[TechManual]]''
 
*''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]''
 
*''[[Technical Readout: 2750]]''
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[[Category:Technology]]
 
[[Category:Technology]]
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[[Category:Defensive System]]

Revision as of 18:02, 31 January 2016

Clan = ECM Suite

IS = Guardian ECM Suite

Production information
Type Equipment (Electronics)
Tech Base Clan

IS

Year Availability Clan = 2832

IS = 3045

Year Introduced Clan = 2832 CSJ

IS = 2597 TH

Year Extinction IS = 2845
Year Reintroduced IS = 3045 CC
Technology Rating E
Availability Ratings E/F/D
Technical specifications
Heat 0
Minimum Range 0
Short Range 0
Medium Range 0
Long Range 6
Tons Clan = 1

IS = 1,5

Critical Slots Clan = 1

IS = 2

Cost (unloaded) 200,000
BV (1.0) 61
BV (2.0) 61



This article is about the ECM Suite. For other uses, see Guardian (disambiguation).

Description

The Guardian ECM Suite was introduced in 2597 by Johnston Industries of the Terran Hegemony for the new Nightshade VTOL.[1] Designed to interfere with guided weaponry, targeting computers, and communication systems, the Guardian was typically used to shield allied units from such equipment by emitting a broad-band signal meant to confuse radar, infrared, ultraviolet, magscan and sonar sensors.[2] The Terran Hegemony built the Guardian for fear that their own Beagle Active Probe, constructed as a counter to ECM suites in use at the time, might fall into the hands of the other Great Houses and be used against them.[3]

The Guardian was notable for its discriminatory nature, able to scramble all hostile electronics within range while not affecting friendly communications and targeting enhancers.[1] The suite itself consisted of a dedicated countermeasures computer tied to electromagnetic sensors positioned around the operating unit. When these sensors detected an electromagnetic wave within range, such as that given off by an active radar, this data was sent to the computer which identified the threat, adapted to it, and fired a focused electromagnetic pulse at the source. This intense burst of EM radiation could confuse and misdirect the sensor or even force the entire targeting system to reboot.[3] The system was also very adaptable and could be updated to deal with new advances in electronic warfare.[1]

Affected systems include Artemis IV, C3 and C3i Computer networks, and Narc Missile Beacons. A Guardian can jam a Beagle Active Probe (or its Clan equivalent), but the probe-equipped unit will be aware of the jamming. The Capellan Confederation expanded the utility of the Guardian even more with the introduction of Stealth Armor.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many

The greatest drawback to the Guardian is its limited range, which extends out to only 180 meters. Sensors can sometimes override this jamming, though by that point the enemy unit is already within visual range and can track the opposition with their own eyes.[2] Another is the fact that the Guardian's highly-adaptable operating software requires constant patching and custom recoding for each unit model on which it's mounted. While this was no problem for the Star League, for the Great Houses it proved to be a time-consuming process.[3]

The Clans used the Guardian as the basis for their own ECM Suite, which was lighter and more compact than the Inner Sphere model but functioned identically. In the honor-bound fighting style of the Clans, the system did not see much use, but following their return to the Inner Sphere the Clans had since begun to outfit more machines with ECM systems.[1] The Draconis Combine also used the Guardian as the basis for their experimental Angel ECM Suite.[4]

Models

Guardian ECM Suite is manufactured on the following planets:

Brand Planet Company/Used by
Apple Churchill Golden Shield Capella Ceres Metals Industries
CherrySeed Cloak Arc-Royal Winston-CherrySeed Consolidated
Garret-Guardian Interface 2B Mendham Mendham Electronics
Garret-Guardian Interface 2B Dalton Garret SatComm
New Samarkand Nimbus New Samarkand New Samarkand Metals
Norse Guardian ECM Loxley Norse-Storm Technologies Incorporated

Rules

Game Rules

The Inner Sphere Guardian ECM weighs 1.5 tons and takes up 2 critical spaces. It has an operational range of six hexes.[5][6] The Guardian ECM Suite has a defensive Battle Value of 61.[7]

The Clan ECM Suite system weighs 1 ton and occupies a single critical space. In every other way it's identical to the Inner Sphere version.[8][9]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 TechManual, p. 213
  2. 2.0 2.1 Technical Readout: 3050, p. 197
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Era Report: 2750, p. 102-103
  4. Tactical Operations, p. 279
  5. Technical Readout: 3050, p. 220
  6. TechManual, p. 342
  7. TechManual, p. 317
  8. TechManual, p. 342
  9. TechManual, p. 317

Bibliography