Stealth Dropship Concept: Mirai Samegawa

https://robertsspaceindustries.com/spectrum/community/SC/forum/61894/thread/stealth-dropship-mirai-samegawa

A Samegawa is the rayskin that binds and reinforces the Tsuka (handle) of a Katana. Metaphorically this holds together the vangard and ensures that an attack comes from a point of strength and speed. The ship can carry two Nova, Storm, or Spartan chassis vehicles, or the spatial equivalent in Furies, (8?) and has gun racks and hand refueling containers, repair tools, and a 4 jumpseats for pit crew. there are no guns but it is heavily stealth focused and armored.

The crossection and EM/IR signatures are artificially small due to the profile and exterior coating, and all of the thrusters fold away when not actively in use. This results in scanning spikes if you're looking at it while one of them is open, as it breaks the profile and leaks heat and EM.

Tthe top profile is inspired by traditional japanese broadheads

the ship is powered by 2 medium and one large Xian gimballed engine.

The smaller engines are able to redirect their power to side vents which open for maneuvering, or straight down for hover and small adjustments. When the maneuvering ducts are in use, the signatures will spike as the stealth crossection is broken and heat and EM radiation are directed out from the ports, but these close rapidly once the maneuver is complete.

While the ship is quite large, the stealth profile makes this irrelevent for scanning purposes. it's 47M x 80Mx 6.5M which is the lowest possible size to house the necessary components and still fit the vehicles it was designed to carry. the air intake is designed based on similar ones used on the AGM-129 cruise missile. it also is reminiscent of a manta ray mouth.

Above SCM speeds, the rear hatch opens to allow the full power of the main thruster to be directed backward. This breaks the profile but allows for a rapid escape once the cargo is deployed.