Hardened Armor:
Development of Hardened Armor began in 3045 with the Federated Commonwealth.[1] Though prototype armors entered service in 3047,[1] the multiple drawbacks of the armor prevented widespread adoption. The Clan Invasion increased pressure on manufacturers to create viable Hardened Armor but despite their best efforts creating armor that provides increased protection without compromising performance remains impossible. The final drawback to Hardened Armor is its cost: 15,000 C-Bills per ton.[3] This has restricted its use to prototype vehicles and 'Mechs
Originally an Experimental Technology, the Laser Reflective Armor was first created by the Lyran Alliance in 3058, and used in 3061 by Clan Jade Falcon.[1] Also known as Glazed or Reflec armor, the first batch of Laser Reflective Armor was created by accident on a Ferro-Fibrous armor production line. Laser Reflective Armor dissipates energy weapon attacks 50% more efficiently than other armor types, reducing the amount of damage taken by the 'Mech mounting it. Despite the name, Laser Reflective Armor is effective against all energy weapons, not just lasers. PPCs, Flamers, and Plasma Rifles and Cannons are all less effective against it. The armor's status as Experimental item end at close of the Jihad era. It would enter regular production and become standard Inner Sphere Technology in 3080.
Stealth Armor:
The finest achievement in stealth systems developed by the original Star League, the Null Signature System was capable of shielding a BattleMech from electronic detection. Unfortunately like many pieces of advanced technology, the system and the 'Mechs that carried it became LosTech during the maelstrom of the early Succession Wars. All Successor States attempted to recover and rediscover the technology, but the Capellan Confederation is the closest to recreating the system.
Discovering detailed information on the system in the archives of the reactivated Star League era Shengli Arms factory, while not yet able to produce a bolt for bolt, circuit for circuit replication, with typical Capellan ingenuity House Liao developed a stop-gap solution suitable for mass-production. Integrating the heat baffles and required components directly into specially designed armor plating, when linked with a Guardian ECM Suite Stealth Armor replicates the benefits (and disadvantages) of the Null Signature System. [2] Though bulkier than the Null Signature System that inspired it, Stealth Armor is still less bulky than Ferro-Fibrous Armor.[3]
By 3071, schematics for the armor had been stolen by the Federated Suns. [4] By 3075, the armor was also being manufactured by the Lyran Alliance, and possibly other powers as well. [5]
The Guardian ECM Suite mounted on the unit functions normally regardless of the Stealth Armor's activation status
In 3051,[1] the Federated Commonwealth started development of the Blue Shield Particle Field Damper, a defensive system that would reduce damage from PPCs. The New Avalon Institute of Science produced its prototype in 3053. While the field damper did shield the equipped unit from PPC fire, it was also notoriously unreliable in ground units. After roughly a minute of operation, the dust and other miscellaneous debris it sucked in began to adversely affect the operation of the damper, eventually resulting in shutdown of the system.[2] To delay this problem, MechWarriors are known to shut down the Blue Shield if there are no enemy units wielding PPCs, reactivating it if a PPC-equipped foe arrives.
None of these systems are out of experimental production phases. Blue Shield maybe since it is a 3051 item.
Edited by Corbon Zackery, 24 January 2014 - 07:46 AM.
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Ryokens leap, on 23 January 2014 - 06:05 PM, said:
