Strategic Antenna

Strategic Antenna
Attributes
Health	250
Armour Class	15
Structural	No
Weight	20
Relative Buoyancy	+130.4
Size	4x1x1
Material Cost	40

“	Allows observation of enemy fleet movements on the map and removes the fog of war. Best placed high up. Connect dish segments onto the base of this antenna to increase the signal strength.	„
	~ In-game description

Summary

The Strategic Antenna is part of the game's Detection system, and functions similar to low-frequency RADAR, providing long-range detection of out-of-play units.

In exchange for being able to detect anything in range, it lacks the bearing and range accuracy needed to produce firing solutions for most weapons, with the possible and highly technical exception of nuke-armed cruise missiles. No, not actual missiles, but very small airplanes built to function as disposable carriers for the "tactical nuke" simple weapon.

Technical details

Default view range is

• Above sea level: ${\textstyle 6 + 0.006 y}$
• Below sea level: ${\textstyle \max \left( 6 + 0.06 y, 0.6 \right)}$

Antennae only function above sea level. The additional view range for ${\textstyle n}$ antenna pieces is

${\textstyle 0.06 n^{0.7} \sqrt{y}}$

View range cannot exceed 60 map units, or about 3 grid cells.

Altitude in metres	Pieces need to reach cap	Notes
1	16607
10	3202
150	453	Maximum height where balloons give full lift.
300	270	End of full atmosphere.
500	181	End of atmosphere.
900	111	End of gravity.
1800	58	Highest AI altitude setting.
5000	12
9000	0

Trivia

• Although one might expect this thing to require a power source, it doesn't. It could perhaps be an entirely passive device, but then it wouldn't be able to identify islands and mountains. If nothing else, it could be a case of "keep it simple, stupid".