Roth Likonis
Industrialist
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To create a laser cannon for use by LIKON starships
- Image Source: Link
- Canon Link: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Primary Source: LIKON L-01x precision targeting laser / Trilaser cannon
- Manufacturer: LIKON, Ltd.
- Affiliation: LIKON, Ltd.
- Market Status: Closed-Market
- Model: L51
- Modularity: No
- Production: Mass-Produced
- Material: duralloy casing and barrels, matte dallorian alloy coated lasing tips and galven coils, gas feeds, energy couplers, power cyclers, capacitor banks, laser actuators, superconducting coils.
- Classification: starfighter to transport grade laser cannon
- Size: Large
- Weight: Heavy
- Ammunition Type: starship-grade gas canisters
- Ammunition Capacity: Average
- Effective Range: Long Range
- Rate of Fire: High
- Damage Output: High
- Recoil: High
- LIKON scalability: like many LIKON products, the core concepts of this product consist of basic principles in a simple package. The L51 can be scaled from starfighter grade, up to freighter and transport grade cannons.
- LIKON universality: LIKON specifically designs weapon systems with a minimum of moving parts, and with as many universal parts and access ports as possible to allow for a seamless and pain-free maintenance cycle. It is exceptionally easy to install, repair, maintain, and replace this weapon.
- + Precision targeting: the L51 is designed to be paired with a wide selection of targeting arrays, but works best with the LIKON L-01x precision targeting laser; when paired, the L51 is exceptionally accurate and deadly (but subject to the limitations of its targeting laser). For this reason, the L51 is meant to be fired in pulses, bursts, or grouped salvos.
- + Variable fire modes: the L51 has variable fire control, able to be fired in several different modes and settings. Modes include; rapid (firing one barrel after another in rapid rotating sequence); paired (firing two out of three barrels simultaneously, which then rotate in sequence to allow one previously fired barrel to cool); linked (fires all three barrels simultaneously). Fire settings include stutter (semi-automatic fire); burst (three firings in rapid sequence); automatic (fully automatic fire for up to five seconds)
- - Pick your shots: the L51 was designed to work directly in concert with the LIKON L-01x precision targeting laser, and is subject to the laser's limitations. It is best not to fire the L51 for more than three seconds continuously, with semi-automatic, pulse, and salvo fire being optimal.
- - Size & weight: the L51 isn't the largest weapon system conceived for a starfighter or transport, but it is still large and heavy. The L51 is typically meant to be deployed as primary wingtip armament for medium to heavy craft (think X-wing or ARC-170) or as turreted or pylon mounted transport/freighter weaponry. The L51 is not suitable for ultralight craft (such as an A-wing), possessing too much recoil, weight, and energy requirement.
- - Power management: the L51 requires a capacitor to charge and fill in order to make full use of all three barrels - an inherent limitation is that it cannot be fired for more than five seconds continuously (regardless of mode) before needing to cycle power back into itself for a minimum of three seconds. Should an absent-minded pilot deplete his capacitors, he could find himself in a situation where he has no weapons as he waits for his capacitors to cycle.
Designed to take full advantage of the LIKON L-01x precision targeting laser and other similar forthcoming LIKON arrays, the emergent philosophy by LIKON in mounted weapon design is to make use of multi-barreled weaponry that can emit heavy sustained bursts in as short amount of time as possible. This allows weaponry to take full advantage of its precision abilities and long-range fire control, while simultaneously achieving a heavy output capable of dealing with the toughest threats.
Initially toying with a rotating rotary style cannon, LIKON decided to eliminate all movings parts in order to make the maintenance cycle as easy as possible. The resulting L51 trilaser cannon is simplistic yet powerful and reliable, fitting LIKON's corporate philosophy.
In operation, the L51 utilizes an armored gas feed leading to a high-capacity laser actuator; this actuator stores and amplifies energy to be distributed to each of the three galven coils for release. Simultaneously, an energy coupler feeds power from the ship's power core to a power cycler, where a large charge is built and maintained in the cannon's capacitor bank to be diverted to the laser actuator on firing.
On firing, plasma is diverted from the actuator, through the galven coils, and released as a laser blast. Because of the multi-barreled design and intention for large amounts of concentrated fire across a relatively short period, the galven coils and lasing tips of the cannons are reinforced with a matte dallorian alloy coating; combined with a superconducting coil system built into the duralloy casing and barrels, heat generation is moderated within acceptable parameters.
