Signature radius

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The signature radius of your ship represents how large the electronic footprint of your ship is. While the signature radius does not describe how big the ship appears visually, most other aspects are governed by the signature size of the ship.



General Information

The signature radius is, all intents and purposes how "big" on somebody else sensors. While ship size and signature radius general correspond (a frigate is smaller and has a smaller signature radius then a battleship), this is not necessarily true for all situations. In particular Tech II ships can have a very different signature size, even if they use the same hull size as their Tech I counterpart.

Example: Tech I, Osprey, size: 348m, signature radius: 125 Tech II, Basilisk, size: 348m, signature radius 90

Important effects of the signature radius are:

  • How much damage is taken from missiles, turrets and bombs (in oppose to smartbombs, which are not affected).
  • How fast your ship can be targeted
  • How easy your ship can be detected with combat probes.

Targeting Time Equation

Here is the equation for missile damage:

Targetingtime.png

Here are the terms in the equation:

Effective scan resolution of your ship Note: The bigger the faster
Signature radius of the target Note: The bigger the faster

Turret and Missile Damage

A smaller signature radius reduces incoming damage. From turrets, the damage is reduced because they have a smaller chance of hitting you. If you show info on any turret, you will notice a signature resolution. This number will be 40 for small turrets, 125 for medium turrets, and 400 for large turrets. When a turret shoots you, the ratio of your signature radius and the turret's signature resolution is factored in to the chance to hit. See Turret Damage for the exact numbers. Similarly, when a missile strikes you, the missile's explosion radius is compared to your signature radius to determine the damage dealt.


Skills and Modules

There are no skills that alter the signature radius of your ship. However, there are several modules that will increase either your or your opponent's signature radius:

  • Microwarpdrives: These propulsion modules increase your signature radius by 500% while active (less for faction modules) in exchange for a 500% increase in speed. Note that while you have this active, all turret-based ships have a much greater chance to hit you. This can be offset by your increased speed, as long as you do not fly directly at the target. Against missiles, the increase in signature radius has no real effect on incoming damage, as the increase in velocity counters it.
  • Target Painters: These EWAR modules increase the target's signature radius by 25-30%. This increase in signature radius can greatly boost damage if the target is smaller than the missile/turret type used against it, or if it's moving too quickly for the explosion radius of the missile/tracking of the turret. If your turrets hit often or the missile's explosion velocity is much larger than the target's velocity, target painters will have very little effect.
  • Shield Extenders: The small, medium, large, and x-large shield extenders add a flat 1, 2, 7, and 25 m to the ship's signature radius, respectively.
  • Shield Rigs: Each increases the ship's signature radius by 10%. Note this penalty can be reduced to 5% with the shield rigging skill.
  • Inertial Stabilizers: These increase your signature radius by 10-11%.


Halo implants, Skirmish Warfare Link - Evasive Maneuvers, and X-Instinct Boosters can all reduce the signature radius of your ship.

Signature Radii of Ships, by Hull Type

Ship Type Signature Radius (m)
Pod 25

Interceptors 30-36
Frigates 30-50
Assault Ships 33-39
Covert Ops 35-50
Electronic Attack Frigates 51-58

Destroyers 75-90
Interdictors 75-90

Cruisers 100-150
Heavy Assault Ships 115-160
Recon Ships 127-180
Heavy Interdictors 130-160
Strategic Cruisers 150

Battlecruisers 240-300
Command Ships 240-300

Black Ops 288-432
Marauders 425-500
Battleships 320-500

Dreadnoughts 2860-3100
Carriers 2865-3065
Supercarriers 11640-12470
Titans 15430-16590