Meeting Notes-1

Project 49 Backstabber-Militia mech
Light Mech
Anti-infantry and anti-vehicle specialist.
Flamers, Machine Guns, SRMs.
Large laser may be useful against low-tech forces, R&D working on a prototype.

Project-54 Scout
Light Mech
Speed and sensors to be emphasized.
Should cover a large area quickly.
Combat role to be limited to skirmishing at long range.

Project-57 Trooper
Medium Mech-possibly a light Heavy.
Emphasis on firepower and survival.
Speed may be allowed to slip.  A 'Mech of the Line'.
Costs to be kept down as much as possible.
Use of purely domestic components is smiled upon.

Project 60 Hunter
Medium mech
High-speed Scout hunter.
Possible jump jets?  Would need to be developed for
Weapons: Anything that kills Lights good.
(They don't know what they're really looking for here, this one might be cut early unless we make a really good design)


Project-61 Support
Long-range fire-support.
LRM firepower for indirect bombardment required.
Direct-fire may also be useful .
Artillery missiles and tubes to be avoided.
Avoid directly cloning an existing design-lawsuits cost money, and mercenaries cost more.


Project-64 Assault
Linebreaker design, emphasis on maximized destructive power.
Range of weapons must avoid danger of 'kiting' or out-ranging.
Use of imported technology is to be allowed a freer hand if capabilities require.
Role is breaking open fortifications and dropships, or forcing them to surrender.
Atlas-styling a plus.

Special notes:
-Two projects will be cut after preliminary design concepts are ready.  All projects are open competitions.
-80 million Maravedí for a 'standard mech' is the 'target allocation.' That's about 4 million C-bills, going overbudget is frowned upon.
-AC/2/5 in production and used on tanks, AC/10 ready for production, no AC/20 available. (Thanks R&D for passing these notes on tech)
-Large laser still in prototype stage, might not be ready in time for production.  Medium and Small laser on standby.
-Don't ask about PPCs.  Will need to import unless Kami-sama smiles on us.
-Will need to subcontract for LRM launchers.  SRMs available from in-house plans.  Single-shot rockets also available, possibly useful?
-chief financial officer seems reluctant to release funds-just tight, or are we on a budget?
-Everyone is contemptuous of Mextica Martial-it seems they don't have any actual design staff or budget for even drafting tables.
-Shi-Sem may have an advantage on us in factory size and their supercomputer to assist their designs, but they've burned their bridges in the inner sphere and can't get any imports.  On the flipside, imports drive up costs :(
-Expected threats are to include pirates, the Marian Hegemony, possible inner-sphere aggression, and worst-case, Clanners seeking to re-establish the old order of extraction economics.