UAV Operator

Purpose

As a UAV operator, your tasking during any operation is to:

• Provide fast, accurate, and detailed intel on enemy movements and installations
• Update friendly units to possible hazards and opportunities
• Occasionally work with other support units (CAS/Mortar/Engineers/Ect) to more effectively leverage their abilities on the battlefield
• Act as a JTAC if the mission is set up for it to call in necessary support i.e. laser designation for an airstrike or giving reference for missile runs

Equipment

Gear Scripts can slightly vary from missions to mission, but the most common are:

• UAV Terminal (Located at the bottom of the equipment screen in the "communications" slot)
• Binoculars (Laser Des. can be in place but rarely is it needed with current gear loadouts and UAV's built in Des.)
• LR Radio (Commonly you will have two AN/PRC-148 or AN/PRC-152)
• Darter UAV backback (Mission dependent but almost always provided)

UAVs

The actual workhorse of the position you are using, the UAV can, depending on the type being used, offer you a valuable and almost unfair advantage to any mission it is active on. The most commonly used UAVs are the:

Air:

• Darter/Tayran AR-2: Backpack carried and launched, quad rotor, payload incapable
• MQ-12 Falcon: 5-blade rotary helicopter, payload capable
• MQ4A Greyhawk / K40 Abalil-3: Single prop, semi-stealth, payload capable
• Sentinel: Twin jet powered, wing-body airframe, payload capable

Ground:

• UGV Stomper / UGV Saif: 6-wheeled, 12.7mm HMG/40mm GMG armed, single seat

Operation

Movement

So you've mistakenly slotted UAV and now need to know what are you even doing with these multi-million crafts. No worries, its simple and easily manageable once you've looked over the screens you will be working with.

The first thing you will want to do it use your scroll wheel and select Open UAV Terminal

Following you will have a map with a list on the left side appear. You will navigate to the top left, Hit the drop-down, and select the UAV you are wanting to control

Once selected, the left panel will update with all information available about the UAV you are in control of. You can only have 1 UAV selected at a time.

You can now select one of the panels on the right side to manually control the drones movement or camera.

(For the following, "Autonomous" must be selected for inputs to work.)

Alternatively you can Shift + Left Click to set a nav point for the drone to do by itself. Be aware that drones can be sometimes be crazy and will need to be monitored if you set them to do their own pathing.

CTRL + Left Click will set additional waypoints

Right clicking on a waypoint will give you a set of options

• Type
  • The type of moment you drone will seek to follow. The most commonly used will be Move, Hold, Loiter. If loiter is selected, a dropbox will appear asking at what diameter the drone is to circle.
• Behavior
  • Gives the drone its ROE. Important: In almost all cases you will need to set the drone to "Never fire" if you have ordinance on it. They like to get aggressive sometimes.
• Altitude
  • Self explanatory. How high it flies.

Observation

Now that we know how to get the UAV moving and into position, lets discuss where to move to and how to begin relaying information.

AR-2

For most operations you will be using a backpack carried AR-2. It allows for quick and easy observation as well as a laser des. should the need arise for it.

If you are beginning a mission that has you withing 1-2 kilometers from the objective, your PL may have you launch from the deployment area and begin assessing the area that will be under contact. If you are farther than this, it would be advisable to wait until you get into this range as the darter has a very slow movement time (~30-60km/h)

Once you have deployed and connected you need to begin gathering intel for the PL and marking the map with important locations, emplacements, and positions of enemies, especially vehicles and high danger areas.

The closest distance to work from should be 500m from the objective area. DO NOT approach any closer than this. From multiple tests and calculations, it was found that ~250 meters will trigger enemies to begin engaging. This range is highly extended if the enemy possesses any radar equipped vehicles. Although these test were done in the best possible conditions, weather and time of day do affect how close you can get. Regardless, with a ~8x zoom camera, you should be more than able to stay out of engagement ranges and gain intel safely.

The only other thing to cover is the laser designator. You simply need to fire it on or off with you mouse. A symbol will appear showing if it is powered or off. Assets can then lock on to your point and deliver ordnance. Note: If you want to las a target and don't wish to have to hold it, you can disable Autonomous and the drone will not reset the camera. This will not make the drone crash. It would be advisable to set the drone to Auto Hover beforehand.

MQ-12 Falcon

This drone works similar to the AR-2. Only other changes is it carries payload and moves significantly faster. Also it is slightly louder and larger so safe operation distance should be extended to ~800m. Keeping this drone stationed a moderate distance away and calling it in when necessary is the safest option.

MQ4A/K40

Time to step it up. You are now using a UAV capable of delivering much more powerful payloads; Most common are 2x GBU-12s or 6x Scalpel ATGMs.

Using this drone will prove a more complicated but higher impact asset for the mission in which it is used. You will need to be fully aware of friendly positions and where the enemy is at so you can provide a significant multiplying force. Your PL should be the one calling in most of the strikes unless he clears you to remove contacts at will, usually only if you are equipped with the ATGMs. Other than this, you should always be on standby gathering intel. This craft isn't made to operate like CAS, but to provide a fast and accurate demolition to high threat targets that infantry cannot or should not handle on their own terms. Consider it an emergency call-in rather than a heavy armed war machine.

The easiest and safest way to operate this is to send the UAV on a Loiter movement outside of the zone, closer to the side of the objective you will be moving in from. You will almost NEVER want to have this circling directly overhead unless you are almost certain you will not have a risk of being shot down. Don't forget to set the altitude as well. You want to be high up, not mowing the lawn.

Sentinel

Now we are talking. You are currently in operation of a very fast and powerful UAV. If this is provided for you to use, you probably will have a secondary drone to use for intel, usually the AR-2. This UAV is the fastest clocking in at a max of around ~900km/h while having a slightly different payload. It has 2 pylons, commonly equipped with GBU-12s, CBU-85s, or BL778s. You can equip other payloads but these will be your go-to as you want to come in fast, drop your ordinance, and get out just as fast.

You should have the Sentinel stationed FAR away from the conflict zone. Remember that you need to have plenty of space to line up for a strike and get out. PLENTY of room. Running intel with this should almost always be in high need situations. If you need to gather intel, it would be advisable to do a flyover at mid altitude and speed. Don't sit around and get shot down.

Stomper/Saif

So you get to actually mess some stuff up now. Probably the most needy of the UVs you will use. You carry a 12.7mm HMG and a devastating 40mm GMG. You have the ability to wipe squads at the push of a button from 9km away.

You won't get to provide as much for intel with this as its at ground level, but what you lack in intel, you make up in firepower. You will need to work with PL for the positioning of where to have your UGV stationed but most likely you will need to be in communication with the SL's on where contact is and which squad to bolster. Keep in mind, you are still a fairly fragile machine, not a heavy armored tank so use it as such.

Lastly it carries 1 person. This may not seem like much but it could make the difference in some cases. A critically wounded soldier, getting a Medic to the field quickly, picking up a someone who had to eject from the air are all useful tasks you can do. You may even end up carrying some light resupply to allies. This UGV can make for a great mobility item for special cases.

Final Tips and Notes

1. Any vehicle that CANNOT hover needs to remain in Autonomous mode to keep it from crashing.
2. Set all ordinance platforms to Never Fire to prevent them from wasting payload or worse case, killing allies.
3. Remember your role is important. Kicking back and staring at one place is never acceptable. You could be the difference from a FT getting surprised by a BTR or them getting the jump on one. Intel is the biggest part of the battle.
4. Stay behind the action. A dead UAV or operator is a crippling blow for friendly forces. Keep yourself and your drone alive. There is never a reason to hang out in a bad place.
5. Know how to fly the craft your about to use. Set the up controls to work for you. If you can't pilot a helicopter, then get a bit of practice. Same for fixed wings.
6. The AR-2 is sensitive. Seriously, this thing likes to move like a rocket. Set it to auto hover and it becomes very manageable. Unless you're needing to really move quick.
7. Listen to the radio. You can work your position without PL holding your hand. Don't be afraid to call directly to a SL if you have information his squad needs. Save lives, not prides.
8. Enjoy doing what you do. If you're a run-and-gun guy, this probably won't be for you. Know beforehand if you are comfortable with sitting back and being a support rather than an assault.