Previous to the NAM Terratech ELEMENTAL series of powered armorsuits, small point defense on armor was a common occurrence from high-end Yamataian Star Army models to even the lowest of discount security armors demon_m1_infantry_power_armor. So, when the design of the ELEMENTAL, or E series came into being, the addition of the PLA Pulse Laser Array system was felt to be a necessary step in the design philosophy.
The first actual PLA system was not, in fact, a laser array but a simple automated mounted chaingun, known as the VUA system. Breakthroughs in laser technology eventually led to the switch to the PLA system, however, but it was the VUA system that first preceded the newer models.
Historically, PLA systems on SMoDIN powered armor has a purpose of light point defense, whereas heavier attack was left to other, more capable weapon systems present on the armorsuit. the PLA's specific purpose was intended to be precision take-down of incoming missile systems, and on occasion use against unarmored opponents as a matter of efficiency. Future iterations have not deviated much from the original design purpose, and remain largely the same as a staple component on SMoDIN powered infantry.
The distant predecessor of the PLA, the VUA-01a Vulcan Array was a set of four small linked chainguns, installed over the left shoulder. The weapon was belt-fed from an ammunition storage present on the back of the armorsuit.
The VUA-01a was the first Nepleslian armor-grade point defense system, and as such was mounted with several small problems. Ammunition for the chaingun had to be carried with the armorsuit, and the amount to be useful in multiple situations was paired with a detrimental increase in overall armorsuit mass. The nature of the chemically-fired chainguns also gave rise to a myriad of targeting problems as well as weight and maintenance issues.
Location: Above the left chest
Purpose: Point Defense
Secondary: Anti-Infantry
Damage: PDR 2
Range: ~1,000m
Rate of Fire: 40 rpm
Area of Effect: Single Effect
Muzzle Velocity: 3,000 m/s
Ammunition: 6,000 rounds
The original PLA-01a was a simple, high-precision laser mounted on the area between the neck and shoulder of the powered armorsuit. PLA-01a systems usually came in pairs, mounted on both the left and right side by a simple axis mechanism, and were able to fire in a 180 degree cone in front of the armorsuit itself. The PLA-01a system was semi-automatic in that targeting was usually handled by the armorsuit's systems rather than the user, however the user's input was still required to use the laser arrays.
The PLA-01a system showed a great increase in potential over the VUA units as the lack of ammunition storage gave more room for other, more useful utilities while the nature of laser technology gave it more of an edge over the archaic simple chaingun system.
Location: In the area between the neck and shoulder of armor
Purpose: Point Defense
Secondary: Anti-Infantry
Damage: PDR 3
Range: ~1,000m
Rate of Fire: Continuous Rate of Fire
Area of Effect: Single Effect
Muzzle Velocity: 1c
Ammunition: Effectively unlimited
While the original PLA-01a was fairly flawless in its intended design, NAM Terratech was able to slightly improve on it for new designs. The Hostile and NAM VOID Advanced Tactical Power Armor were the first to receive the new PLA-02a model, which was basically a slightly larger version of its predecessor. Terratech was able to give the PLA-02a a slight upgrade due to the increased weight tolerance and new design philosophy of multiple generators present on a single armor to increase the power threshold.
Location: In the area between the neck and shoulder of armor
Purpose: Point Defense
Secondary: Anti-Infantry
Damage: PDR 4
Range: ~1,000m
Rate of Fire: Continuous Rate of Fire
Area of Effect: Single Effect
Muzzle Velocity: 1c
Ammunition: Effectively unlimited \