Over the past 20 years, there have been many advances in technology within the Inner Sphere. This list covers the various military technological advances. It tells what offensive or defensive system is being covered, when it first appeared, who introduced it, and when it appeared in other Successor Houses' arsenals. All of these items are still uncommon; all are expensive where they are available. As so many of these items are still house secrets, BattleTechnology has had to agree to publish them without pictures.
Projectile Weapons
Antimissile system: First appeared in the Federated Commonwealth in 3048; the Draconis Combine acquired it by capture.) The Rasalhaguians received it from the Lyrans the same year; both Marik and Liao, we conjecture, will have the system from Kurita by 3052 or'53.
Gauss Rifle: Prototypes appeared in both the Kuritan and Federated Commonwealth arsenals in 3048. This was the prototype version. The bugs seem to be out of this weapon, but it will take another year to see it in full production.
Ultra Autocannon/5: First prototype appeared in the Federated Commonwealth in 3046. It has spread throughout much of the Inner Sphere. By 3049 it has done so well in action that BattleTechnology predicts it willl replace the old autocannon/ 5 wherever finances allow. Not in full production by Liao yet.
LB 1OX Autocannon: This Mech 'shotgun'first appeared during raiding action in 3048 on the part of House Kurita. By 3049, Rasalhague had the design, which they promptly traded to the Federated Commonwealth. By 3050, Marik will have a working prototype. Marik intends to replace a large percentage of their older Mechs' autocannon/10s with this variant.
One Shot Missile Packs: These appeared all over at the same time, as they were an obvious next step from current technology. The first uses were recorded in 3049.
Streak SRM-2: This weapon made its first appearance in the '39 War. The prototypes had an unacceptable failure-to-fire rate, so it was back to the drawing board. By 3048, techs were attacking the problem in all the Succession House arsenals. In January, 3050, the Federated Commonwealth and Rasalhague's tiny Mjolnir Weapons announced a joint breakthrough. House Kurita had their own design by February.
Swarm LRM and Thunder LRM: Prototypes of these nasty missiles first appeared during the Fourth Succession War in the Davion portion of the Federated Commonwealth. Liao acquired them by capture, and passed them on to their allies, Kurita and Marik. After two decades of research they are to be found throughout the Inner Sphere in small quantities. Several factories have been retooled to produce them. No Successor House dares to be without them.
Artillery
Arrow IV Missile System: First seen in 3047 in the Lyran Commonwealth. It is believed that Rasalhague has a working prototype, so it seems likely that House Kurita will soon have it also. Frequency is still extremely rare.
Energy Weapons
Pulse Lasers: These new lasers were introduced to the Federated Commonwealth and to House Kurita in 3048. They are relatively uncommon. Many mechwarriors are unnerved by them because of their lessened range.
Extended Range Large Laser: This weapon was introduced in 3048 by the Federated Commonwealth. In 3049, the Rasalhaguians were given a copy. The Kuritans acquired it from Rasalhague, and then passed it on to House Marik. By the end of 3050, every Successor House will have one or two units armed with these new lasers.
Extended Range PPC: These PPCs were first seen in action on Draconis Combine worlds. They were first introduced in 3049; to date they have not been seen anywhere else.
Other Systems
Freezers (double strength heat sinks): The Banzai prototype was first used in 3022 in Davion space, still in the development stage. By 3046 the double-strength heat sinks were commonly specified in new Davion Mechs, though procluction could not supply even enough of them for prototypes. Between 3046 and 3048, the other Houses acquired and analysed these items; by 3049, they were the single most-used technological innovation in the Inner Sphere.
Triple Strength Myomers: Still under development by both Liao and Davion scientists. An imperfect form has existed since the Fourth Succession War in both House Davion and House Liao. Liao is reported to be close to breakthrough through sheer stubborn persistence.
Myomer Acceleration Signal Circuitry: (MASC) First appeared in the '39 War in the Star League Mechs used by the Kuritan forces, supplied by ComStar. From battlefield salvage, Davion and Kurita were able to field prototypes by 3048; both have been slowly upgrading and testing the new system.
Beagle Activeprobe: Surprisingly, this was developed by Marik scientists in 3048, from information "culled from special sources". They traded a prototype to House Kurita, which had i toperational by3049. The Kuritans gave a copy to Rasalhague. Even Scale policy demanded that Rasalhague trade it to the Lyrans. It is now being produced frantically for the Federated Commonwealth's front line armories.
Guardian ECM(Electronic Countermeasure) Suite:This device also first appeared on the Kuritan side of the 3049 Cold War. It has been extensively tested on the Kuritan battlefield, butshould shortly have its counterpart in the Federated Commonwealth's arsenal.
Cellular Ammunition Storage Equipment (CASE): First introduced in 3048 bythe Federated Commonwealth. By 3049, it is the object of frantic production in all Succession House units, whetherfront line or reserve. (Nobody likes an ammo explosion.)
Ferro-Fibrous Armor First developed by the Federated Commonwealth in 3049, and supplied to the Rasalhaguians in the same year. The Rasalhague BattleMech factories were unable to retool for this new item, so they traded it to the Kuritans for a different item (see below).
XL Technology Engines: While House Davion was completing the Ferro-Fibrous Armor, Kuritan scientists were putting the finishing touches on these new engines. Rasalhague traded the armor for the engine system, then felt obliged to give the new engine plans to the Federated Commonwealth. Marik and Liao are out in the cold still.
Endosteel Internal Structure: Developed in the same year (3048) independently by the Draconis Combine and the Federated Commonwealth. Only now being introduced in the BattleMech factories of both realms.
We would like to thank all of the groups who were so helpful in putting together this list of Lostech which, though centuries old, is still the wave of the future. The NAIS, Dr Tony Banzai, Miyako Yamashira of Kanrei Kurita's staff, Sixten Holmerson of the Rasalhaguian Procurement Board, and the dedicated Free Thinkers of the Free Worlds League. Last but not least, we'd like to thank the Grey Death Legion, which made so much of this development possible.
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