Name:

Quantum torpedoes

Rationale for Design:

Need for an offensive weapon stronger tan the photon torpedo

How the System Works:

The quantum torpedo is a replacement for the photon torpedo among some of UFED's new "combat enhanced" Starships. It utilizes a Zero-Point Energy warhead, which is much more effective in penetrating a combat shield system than the traditional matter-antimatter reaction. Somewhat surprisingly, much of the hardware for the quantum torpedo originated with UFED's scientific research division; the reason behind this lies in the configuration of the quantum torpedo.

Designers had to find a power source for the warhead that was stable and powerful. Something that could be loaded into a torpedo when their made and remain stable throughout a mission. The designers found such a power source in the form of the Quantum Filament. You will recall that the Quantum Filament is a natural form of energy in space. It has no mass and if triggered just right can release almost astronomic amounts of energy. Using reading taken by science teams studying natural filaments, the designers created small artificial filaments. What makes a Quantum torpedo so powerful is that the warhead contains 50-100 small artificial filaments. These can be loaded into a torpedo before they are put on a Starship, and remain stable. The filaments can then be made active by a cascade reaction activated when the torpedo is launched from a Starship. Up on impact the filaments spread out and explode, ripping any Starship hull apart

Strengths:

Currently the most powerful weapon employed in UFED vessels

Torpedo Launchers:

Most quantum torpedo launchers are simple modifications of photon launchers. The first model introduced on the Defiant was a quantum version of the Pulse fire torpedo tube, which can fire an average of one torpedo per second. The Sovereign Class introduced a quantum burst fire tube - a variant on the type 4 photon burst fire model capable of launching a dozen torpedoes simultaneously.

Also introduced on the Sovereign class is the rapid fire turret; this allows torpedoes to be fired directly at a target, rather than having to maneuver toward it after launch - a measure which cuts down the torpedo flight time against targets at short range. The Sovereign turret is capable of firing four torpedoes per second, a rate of fire higher than any other model of torpedo tube in service