The DDS' medium-range missile, the MRM-1, has passed it's latest Milestone (Milestone 2) test and the DDS are hoping it will be ready to deploy by around 2109. This is slightly later than expected due to issues with the software. The MRM is the bigger brother of the TPM and like the TPM is a cloaked missile however unlike the TPM the MRM can travel faster than light and hit targets several light years away, though the initial version will have a range of 1 lightyear.
In it's test the MRM-1 successfully hit a target 0.5 lightyears away after being launched by a Pulsar near Solaris some 30 hours previously. The MRM-1 ran without a cloak which will be integrated into Milestone 3 next year. The MRM-1 was unarmed and made a kinetic hit on a target. It is understood targeting information was successfully sent to the missile via datalink from a nearby ship (reported to be the Solaris test ship) to make final course alterations a few seconds before the hit. Its thought no mid-flight course adjustments needed to be made. The missile travelled at 150c and was shadowed throughout it's test by the Pulsar.
There were some anomalies in the flight and the course needed to be corrected more than expected by DDS Research said these problems are not insurmountable and are now working to another test early next year with Milestone 2 later on.
The long-range version of MRM, LRM, has also reached a next stage in development with specifications finalised. The LRM will have a range of up to 20 light years (MRM is planned to be up to 5) and will be a true strategic weapon. LRM Milestone 0 is expected early in the next decade.
