Orbital Relay Cannon Array

The Orbital Relay Cannon Array or ORCA is a space-based defensive system under construction by the East Asian Federation. The ORCA system is designed to protect nations, particularly the Federation, from external threats, such Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Because of the ground-based nature of the Orbital Relay Cannon, it is scalable, able to engage targets ranging from as small as a mechanized hang-glider to as large as a Leviathan-class Aerial Platform. It is currently in the mid stages of production.

History

The ORCA in its current form was designed as a complement to the pre-existing Planetary Defense System. It posesses similar capability with a markedly different technology. It exists to destroy wartime threats outside of Federation territory, as the Constitution of the Federation prohibits the deployment of an army or navy outside of Federation territory. First proposed by CEO Lee Kun-hee in 1992 as a defense mechanism against a possible hostile China, designs for a revamped system were formally completed in 2009. Construction of the system began in December of the same year. Most of the materials were assembled beforehand, and construction was mostly complete by February 2010. Tests began on February 18, 2010.

Technology

Rather than using plasma bolts fired from space-based satellites, the ORCA system consists of the Terminal Station, the planet-side particle emitter, located at FAF Station Kadena in Okinawa, the Redirection Stations, the 24 ConSat2 satellites with redirectable mirrors, and the Test Station, ConSat1A, a first generation ConSat equipped especially for tests of the system. A charged particle beam is emitted from the Terminal Station, directed by magnets and intensified by electrostatic mirrors inside of the terminal station until it is capable of withstanding exit and re-entry of the atmosphere. Upon exiting the atmosphere, it is redirected to the ConSat assigned to geosynchronous orbit above Okinawa. The mirror at the first redirection station is aligned to the desired angle for redirection to either another redirection station for increased range, or the desired target. Each redirection station has a range of 3,000 kilometers without adverse effects to accuracy.

ARC

The Auxiliary Relay Cannon platform, designed to relieve the load on the primary Terminal Station in Okinawa, consists of several mobile particle emitters mounted on lightly armored, half-tracked trucks, deployable to locations around the planet. Power limitations prevent ARC trucks from firing particle beams for extended periods of time, with an average maximum of 90 seconds of constant firing before its capacitors are drained. ARC trucks are also equipped with an extensive sensor and communications package, and can serve as front-line electronic warfare units, assisting Federation troops abroad.