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SA8M1 Altai

The SA8M1 Altai is a self-propelled short ranged surface-to-air missile system in service with the Khertland army. The SA8 Altai uses an 8x8 wheeled chassis originally developed for the canceled SA6 SPAAG. The chassis was also used as a platform for the Iron Guardian C-RAM system. The SA8 Altai is armed with ten 5m long surface to air missiles with a maximum range of 3000m and is designed to be able to engage fast and agile aircrafts with moderate resistance to electronic interference.

Development History:
The SA6 was originally envisioned to be a 90mm (180mm actual) Self propelled gun system for long range air defense complementing the SA5 Trigon system with a shorter ranged 57mm (114mm actual) autocannon. However both systems suffered from a series of problems including inadequate firepower, and survivability.

During this time, the army decided to refocus efforts on its planned C-RAM system. Due to the delays with the SPAAG program, it was thought procuring the C-RAM system may help address criticism of the SPAAG's survivability. In order to shorten the development time of the C-RAM, as the SPAAG program was also pinned on its success; a common chassis was picked. Due to the size of the 8x8 chassis used by the SA6 SPAAG, it was decided it could be used to mount the Iron Guardian C-RAM system. This proved to be a success and the C-RAM was accepted in to service.

The survivability of the SPAAGs was greatly enhanced when operating in conjunction with the new SA7 Iron Guardian. However, the SA5 Trigon and SA6 SPAAG were found to fulfill almost identical roles and the army decided only one was needed. Originally the SA6 was favored due to having better sustained fire. The Trigon had very long downtime that was seen as unacceptable. Ultiamtely, the SA5 Trigon won the competition due to the downtime being brought down to only 30 seconds, and unresolved issues with low rate of fire and problems with the elevation mechanisms on the SA6. The SA5 Trigon was accepted in to service shortly after the SA7 Iron Guardian.

Despite the cancellation of the SA6, its chassis was once again repurposed for yet another weapon system. This turned out to be the SA8M1 Altai. The Altai SAM system was originally going to be a medium range weapon system, but was later redesigned for shorter range action to maintain maneuverability of the missile. The primary goal of the SA8 Altai was to fill the gap left behind by the SA5 Trigon and SA7 Iron Guardian. The latter two were vulnerable to gun runs as they were relatively unarmored and small caliber gunfire could not be readily intercepted by the C-RAM system. The Altai had the vehicle dramatically uparmored and an added bonus with missiles being better able to track maneuvering targets than gunfire.The increased protection made the vehicle heavier and slower. Smoke dischargers was also added unlike the Iron Guardian despite using the same chassis.

The Khertland Airforce has adopted the Altai along with the Trigon and Iron Guardian for use by its Air Defense Force tasked to providing direct security and ground-based air defense for its key infrastructure like radar sites and airfields.

Blocks: 395
Volume: 414 cubic meter
Cost: 23.8k
Weight: 34,304
Length: 22m
Width: 7m
Height: 7.5m (roof of turret), 12m (Radar)
Speed: 20 m/s
Main armament: 10x 5m long missiles (Radar, fin, 2x frag, signal processor, APN, one-turn, 2x fin, thruster)
Designed: 5/13/2022
Produced: 5/16/2022 to Present

Update Compatibility: 3.5.5
-Mesh fix