Airbursting Fragmentation Projector

]] The Airbursting Fragmentation Projector is an experimental weapon developed by the Tau Empire and is special issue due to its experimental nature, meaning that it has only been entrusted to a number of senior Fire Caste Commanders. The Airbursting Fragmentation Projector has undergone numerous improvements throughout its development and fires scatterings of fragmentation bomblets over a wide area. These bomblets are fired at a height calculated by a simple AI within each warhead to cause optimum damage and have a proximity fuse to detonate the explosive projectiles at the right moment. It functions in a similar way to traditional artillery in that the munitions are fired at a high angle and explode directly above the target. Line-of-sight to the target is not needed due to the indirect fire trajectory of the munitions. This also means that the warheads will bypass and negate the effects of any cover the foe might be using. However, the Airbursting Fragmentation Projector has a far shorter range than normal artillery but is able to be used on the move far more effectively. A Airbursting Fragmentation projector has a significant area of effect on par with far larger weapons of many other races, furthering its usefulness as Battlesuit-mounted weapon. This weapon is especially effective against hordes of lightly armoured troops such as Tyranid Gaunts, Ork Boyz and Imperial Guardsmen, as proven by Commander Flamewing who is operating in the Zurcon system during the Achilus Crusade within the Jericho Reach. In Flamewing's hands, the weapon has proved extremely effective against Tyranid swarms when the munitions are programmed detonate over the centre of hordes where the enemies are most densely packed, causing maximum damage to a large number of foes. Airbursting Fragmentation Projectors have also proven useful against stealthy foes which make intelligent use of cover, and those gifted with chameleonic abilities; whether this be through equipment such as camo-cloaks or simply natural ability like that of Tyranid Lictors. In this application, a Airbursting Fragmentation Projector will bypass any cover used and also saturate the area with bomblets, meaning that a hit is almost guaranteed against the enemy even they may not be clearly seen.