E.C.M. System

Coluber HUD ECM icon

New ECM effect (Oolite v.1.92 - does not look great in a static image, best viewed animated in-game).
This is the effect you see whenever an ECM blast is triggered, be it originating from the player or from an NPC. If you don't want it, it can be disabled by setting the key "ecm-visual-fx" to NO

Vimana HUD ECM icon

Overview

An ECM system, or Electronic Counter Measures system, is one of the first upgrade items any starship owner should buy. (Unless he/she is planning to stick to milkruns. And even then ...) ECM will cause all primed missiles in range to auto-detonate. As with all arms-races, the military has developed ECM-hardened missiles (spacer-slang: hardheads), which are impervious to the current generation of ECM-systems, but it is only a matter of time until new ECM systems find a way to destroy them.

Use

Press the ecm button on your console, and all non-hardened missiles will explode. It may or may not destroy hardened missiles, depending on the range. Be advised: activating ECM will cause a drain on your Energy banks, so be careful not to use it too much.

Availability

Price to fit: 600.0 ₢
At techlevel: 3

Comments

Inexperienced pilots will sometimes in panic activate their ECM many times in rapid succession. This creates a 'fuzzball', and is not recommended.

OXPs

• AutoECM by Switech automatically engages your ECM when missiles are detected
• Missile Combat Reimagined by Redspear rebalances the relationship between missiles and ECM - and makes the ECM more fragile
• Automatic Chaff System by Wyvern provides a dated version of a supplement to the ECM system
• Armoury by Thargoid provides more recent alternatives

Links

• ECM for the Classic Elite version
• See Ahruman's comments here
• Oolite 1.91 - New ECM Effect (Another commander, 2024)

Oolite Equipment Standard Equipment Astrogation Console • Cargo Hold • Compass • Energy banks • Engine/Main Drive • HUD • IFF Scanner • Life Support Systems • Missile • Pulse Laser • Shields • Ship's Hull • Torus Jump Drive • View Screen • Witchspace/Hyperspace Drive Optional Equipment Advanced Navigational Array • Advanced Space Compass • Cargo Bay Expansion • Docking Computers • E.C.M. System • Escape Pod • Extra Energy Unit • External Heat Shielding • Fuel Scoops • Galactic Hyperdrive • Integrated Targeting System • Military Shield Enhancement • Multi-Targeting System • Naval Energy Unit • Passenger Berth • Scanner Targeting Enhancement • Shield Boosters • Target System Memory Expansion • Witchdrive Fuel Injectors • Wormhole Scanner Weapons Beam Laser • ECM Hardened Missile • Energy Bomb • Military Laser • Mining Laser • Missile • Pulse Laser • Quirium Cascade Mine • Twin Plasma Cannon