"Altius 600" Drone

[oak minnow]

There are two versions of this drone, the ALTIUS "C" and "E". They are launched from an aircraft by a Pod. Each pod can carry up to 2-3 drones per set and is accessible to the AH-94, F45, and AV-42C. The drones have a icon that will appear on the NAV and TSD page to friendlies.

The "C" version invites a brand new playstyle of intel gathering by offering an electro-optical/infrared camera that allows pilots to control remotely via MFD and Joysticks to fly the drone remotely and use the camera for target designation. Sharing similarities with TADs and TSD to locate and mark GPS targets. This version will give pilots creative opportunities for target designation without being detected and ensure the pilots survivability during recon operations. 3 drones can be fired and can be cycled between the drones cameras via MFD. Any drone that's not "Drone of interest" will fly neutrally however it was last set like with the ADM-160.

The "E" version has an explosive payload, that can be controlled via MFD and Joysticks to fly the drone remotely to attack targets from afar. This version can be used to destroy structures, light and heavy armored vehicles, radars, and launchers. Because of the IR warhead, it can be easily detected by enemy Radars and Fighters. Pilots must be very conservative and strategic to ensure the drones survivability and usage. Like with the "C" version, the pilot can fire up to 3 drones and use the MFD to cycle between the drones as long as they are active. Opinions?

Here are a few examples I found from a Bell 360 Invictus Video. The videos demonstrates the perfect examples on how these Air Launched effects are supposed to work

"Altius 600" Drone

[humble marten]

Question, i dont understand why the E variant would be more detectable than the C variant, could you explain it to me in another way?
Also, by the Explosive payload, do you mean something detachable like bombs/missiles, or would this be a drone meant to fly into stuff?

[novel tulip]

i think kamikaze

[normal crown]

yes "kamikaze", its a loitering munition

[humble marten]

new skill tree unlocked: air to air kamikaze drone

[normal crown]

ukraine vibes

[hollow field]

dont add this ive already started making this it would be very rude

[oak minnow]

So, the picture with 2 drones with yellow stripes are pretty much kamikaze drones. In the video source I used, the helicopters fires the drones, to which they flew into a "MAD-4" like Radar truck

[oak minnow]

I just added that detail for balancing, I suspect the Explosive version to possibly have like a IR signature, but I am not 100% sure

[normal crown]

the one with a warhead has less fuel

[oak minnow]

I suspected that. Definitely can see where the balancing factors can come in between the 2 versions as far as range.

[normal crown]

yeah range/loiter time

thats the trad off

maybe weight

on the pylon

[oak minnow]

Definitely that

[normal crown]

ISR version maybe has a slightly better seeker/TGP (like a little extra zoom)

or only it can lase

not the armed version

plenty of little things you can do

[oak minnow]

Right. Its similar to the ADM-160J, but with more utility. Being able to change its path and course on the NAV page gives the idea that you could probably do that to with the "C" variant

Lasing targets I think its like using your TGP to find targets visually, but with ensured survivability. This drone could definitely be useful in finding hidden IRAPCs, MANPADS, or targets that can be a threat to the pilot

[humble marten]

would this also be possible to steer fully rc? like switch between the more automatic piloting, and between rc steering

[oak minnow]

Yes. That's why I said it can be remotely controlled via MFD and joysticks to steer the drone

The automatic part seems to be like how you control the ADM-160J and you could probably preplan routes by placing waypoints on the NAV Page for the drone to take

Essentially like a autopilot, so you can use the camera for lasing or targeting

[outer valley]

https://discord.com/channels/319915885575798785/1243628969945989221

duplicate post

[humble marten]

kinda, but this post has 2 versions of the drone, and adds the drone to 2 more aircraft. imo warrants its own post

[outer valley]

I dont see this being super useful for fixed wing due to map sizes. the different models (C) is a tgp while the (E) is basically just a loitering cruise missile and I dont think it adds much

its basically the same suggestion with some minor changes that you couldve mentioned in that thread

[humble marten]

it is useful for air to ground on fixed wing in bad weather. instead of having to get close and personal yourself you can send the drone out to scout, mark gps points, reveal targets for the tsd, and laser guide munitions. the E variant has a completely different role, which can also be useful for both fixed wing and helis. i also dont see how map size is a factor for the drones to be effective or not

[outer valley]

map size + tgp range + aircraft speed
I think itd be cool if only the 94 had access so it could provide more support to fixed wing jets and create some better gameplay for helicopters playing a linebacker/deep pen role

[humble marten]

i dont think that:
-being equippable on different aircraft
-having a new way to fly it
-having a new whole variant with a completely new purpose
are minor changes. maybe by itself, but combined it holds up on its own

[outer valley]

my original suggestion was of the opinion that the 94 when included in a mission with fixed wing, is a bit pointless. the jets will get there first, kill everything, and rearm by the time the 94 gets there. if ALE was a feature of just the 94 and a possible future transport helicopter, it would provide more cohesion between rotary/fixed wing. If fixed wings could do the same job and arguably better it would leave the helicopter in the same niche as it is currently, a bit pointless in a mission with jets

this is under the assumption that the ALE can cruise significantly faster than the 94

[humble marten]

map size + tgp range + aircraft speed
i dont see how thats a problem? you can try to hide between mountains until at close range, then deploy it, and fly cold with the plane while setting up the drone for lasing. the plane can then turn around again, go high, and drop weapons then

[outer valley]

I purely think that if this were to be considered. It should stay as a feature for rotary due to their average speed and how it could directly benefit them, helping with mission design and giving the 94 a unique role in missions as a linebacker of sorts
loitering munitions (while cool) would be very situational and fairly uninspiring gameplay ultimately providing cruise missile for the helicopter

[humble marten]

if you want more synergy, you can always change the mission, at least a little bit, to fit better (spawn the helis closer, since they need a much smaller base compared to fixed-wing, have fixed-wing fly air cover while heli attacks ground, have targets in a city, since planes have trouble with targetting stuff in between buildings). limiting it to the 94 only so that the 94 has a use in fixed wing missions seems to me like an excuse to have it more than an actual good reason. i am sure that there are ways to integrate the heli in missions besides using it as a faster tgp

[outer valley]

there are many ways to help a 94 in a mission like this. but the vast majority of mission creators don't use them or still find glaring issues when trying to improve the experience. Im not using that as an excuse, but to show that the 94 could be improved and providing a unique equipment like ALE is a step towards that

[humble marten]

if you want to have the equipment be unique to the 94, you can do that in the misison editor. i dont think that having it fully unique to the 94 in all missions is good, since it limits you to using the 94 in that scenarios. having the drone on other aircraft too can help them without the need to sacrafice one guy to just become a floating TGP in missions that would use the drone. i do see how limiting equipment per aircraft can help with their role to stand out, but for something like this i think its a bad idea

[normal crown]

not a dupe because this has loitering munitions