Rifts Up Close: PR-476 Plasma Cannon

By Tim Willard

In 2095 Pontiac and Regal Arms put forth a design to NEMA Future Warfighter Program officials, showcasing a new plasma "cannon" that had been turned down by the US military, which was using the GM version. The new design has several advancements in compression, including the ability to rapidfire and carry missiles without concern of heat migration along the frame.

For the next year, NEMA Future Warfighter field tested the weapon, and was delighted with its performance. While front heavy and somewhat unwieldy, the weapon performed stellarly when used by armor pilots, as well as making an excellent vehicle mounted weapon or static defense weapon.

In addition to improvements in power usage, compression times (brought down from 1 second per compression to less than 1/10th of a second), range, and the inclusion of a "minimum range" for the use of the weapon, the weapon also featured less moving parts, lack of "compression/launching" rings (a major improvement), and more accurate targeting. To top it off, the weapon was cheaper than the PR-470 by 15%, a savings that would allow more of these weapons to be placed into the NEMA table of organization and equipment.

The weapon was approved for distribution for fiscal year 2098, with the first weapons being delivered November 2097 with the intention of retiring the venerable but problematic PR-470 plasma rifle, or at least supplementing units firepower with the new weapon.

The PR-476 is manufactured by Regal Arms and Pontiac Security Technologies (Best known to NEMA and the public for the MX-366 and MX-422 combat vehicles). Factories that previously produced the PR-470 were retooled in less than 30 days by Pontiac and Regal Arms after running off several million batches of space parts for the old PR-470 and delivering them to NEMA for stockpiling. The compression and magnetic components are produced by Regal Arms at three factories, one in northern Mexico, one in Alberta, Canada, and one in South Carolina, America. The frame and electronic components are produced by Pontiac at their factory in Detroit, while the missile launching and targeting system was produced by Pontiac in their eastern Washington facility. The weapon is assembled in Florida and Ciduad Juarez.

The weapon creates plasma as per the PR-470, but creates lighter "plasma packets" that are compressed further. While this lowers the damage capacity of the weapon, this process allows faster plasma "bolt" generation, as well as reducing wear on the electromagnetic systems of the weapon.

Next generation synthetic plastics and neo-carbide construction minimizes heat migration, something that the PR-470 suffered from, as well as decreasing launcher cool down times by eliminating the barrel. The electronic components are well insulated and do not suffer from errors due to excessive heat transfer. This allowed the range to be increased beyond that of the PR-470, both the maximum range and the maximum effective range.

The casing consists of three pieces. The left half of the weapon, the right half of the weapon, and the boxy scope that extends from the side. The sight can be locked into position on either side, or above the weapon, as chosen by the wielder. This minimizes the amount of debris or dust that can enter the weapon (another problem with the old PR-470) and affect the components are reduce accuracy.

The mini-missile launcher incorporates the MISTLETOE guidance system, allowing the user of the weapon to lock onto a vehicle and track it, guiding the weapon into the vehicle. With the inclusion of the laser targeting system, the operator can make pinpoint strikes with the missile or the plasma bolt to enemy vehicles, structures, and armors.

The lower shoulder brace can be swung to either side, allowing the user to shoot from the hip, often looking down onto the targeting screen. The sensors for the targeting system are located at the front of the weapon, allowing the user to move the targeting system output screen to any needed angle without losing sight of the target.

In addition the system can be remote fired, the missile homing in on a secondary beam locked into the targeting system by the controller, and the plasma "bolts" firing by a simple order, allowing the system to be used as a remote ambush weapon, or hooked into a smartframe to provide automated ambushes.

The scope utilizes IR/VIR/UV/Passive nightvision, as well as telescopic, a thermo imager, and a rangerfinder. The "scope" is a boxy looking attachment that actually contains advanced computer support. A vehicle or area can be "locked on" via profile, thermal signature, or "lazed" to provide a missile lock. In addition, the scope can sight other variable laser targeters in order to allow the operator to fire over an obstacle with the missiles launcher, and the missile will lock onto the designated beam and follow it to the target. In addition the combat programs will pinpoint known weaknesses in identified power armors and robot power armors, so that the operator can lock in that section, or a gunner's assistant can "laze" and the weapon will strike at that area. Additionally, the weapon will not fire plasma bursts or missiles at targets below the minimum range.

The read section has both a data flange, as well as the ammunition port (top) and the power lead (bottom). However, there have been reports that copper was substituted for gold on the power connector leads, resulting in corrosion that may prevent the weapon from behind connected to an outside power source due to corrosion debris or pitting on the connecting ring. Most units have replaced the copper or gold rings with superconductor rings, and Regal Arms is looking into where the "error" is occurring. (Rumor states that Regal Arms intends on prosecuting whoever is replacing the rings with substandard parts)

The weapon can handle heavy G shocks, surviving repeated 8.5G shocks, as well as being unaffected by weather or airborne debris. Additionally the weilder can add in a energy canister by removing either side (there are 2 energy canister cradles, one per side) and placing the canister inside. If the weapon contains one or more energy canisters, it can be hooked to an external power supply and the canisters charged at the rate of 4 hours per canister.

While the missile launcher can handle any type of missile, manufacturer recommendation is for Regal Arms smart missiles only, and plasma missiles at that.

Weight: 12 lbs
Length: 38"
Caliber: 4.5 cm/5" (rockets)
Minimum Range: 25m/50m (75 ft/150 ft)
Maximum Range: 625 m/2 miles (1875 ft/2 miles)
Maximum Effective Range: 550m/1mile (1650 ft/1 mile)
Typical Combat Range: 400m/1 mile (1200 ft/1 mile)
Magazine Capacity: 10 shots/3 bursts per eclip, 13 shots/4 bursts per extended eclip, 21 single shots/7 bursts per canister, 65 single shots/21 bursts per power pack. (The original datasheet was in error)