Light Heatseeker Missile

Last modified by Kajar on 2026/05/31 20:24

Light Heatseeker Missile

HeavyHeatseeker.jpg
TypeTracking Missile
Available FromEveryone
Fitted ToS/M Tracking Launchers
RoleAnti-Fighter
Required LicenceNone

In-game Description

The Light Heatseeker missile, known by many pilots as the Stormbolt, is the Paranid answer to the need for a missile system with minimal prelaunch lock-on time. Given the often tightly choreographed Paranid approach to combat manoeuvres, and the frantic nature of dogfights in general, where split-second decisions and actions can have severe consequences, this targeting logic was deemed in accordance with the Holy Three-Dimensionality. Funding for its development was allocated, and what they got in return was a weapon that has virtually no lock-on time requirement whatsoever. That advantage, however, comes at a significant cost to threat-identification and countermeasure burn-through capability. In practice, this means that the weapon is easily foiled by decoys and best used either in massed volleys, often from multiple ships, or in drawn-out engagements in which the enemy's supply of countermeasures is depleted. Naturally, this sort of approach does not sit too well with a military that prides itself on efficiency.

Exactly how the blueprints for the Stormbolt found their way to the open markets is unknown, but while the weapon failed to gain traction with the Paranid, other races with a less frugal view on munitions expenditure have since made good use of it.
 

Tactical Overview

Coming Soon

 

Advantages:

 

Disadvantages:

- Very vulnerable to flares

- Uses up limited ammo capacity quite quickly

Specifications

Damage Per Second348
Explosive Damage Per Shot940
  
Burst Size2
Burst Rate Of Fire1/s
Burst Reload Time4.4s
  
Projectile Speed1447 m/s
Maximum Flight Range11.6km
Flight Time8s
NPC Targeting Range7km
Explosion Radius128m
  
Turn Thrust2°/s
Strafe Thrust2 m/s
Flare Resistance68%
Hull Strength1

Construction Cost

Universal Build Method

Credits729 - 986
Energy Cells11
Missile Components3
Smart Chips1

Closed Loop Build Method

Credits729 - 986
Energy Cells16

Terran Build Method

Credits729 - 986
Energy Cells4
Metallic Microlattice5