Author Topic: How does the RAF control their drones?  (Read 4786 times)

Yeti

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How does the RAF control their drones?
« on: 16 October 2013, 00:03:00 »
Apparently using light drones (Celerity, Revenant) as support units seems to be part of the new RAF doctrine.
But the only unit able to controll them seems to be the Duat dropship. Is there any other unit that can control drones or are they using static installations or custom units?

Decoy

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #1 on: 16 October 2013, 00:05:15 »
I'm betting the Hi-Scout drone carrier does the job.

SCC

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #2 on: 16 October 2013, 00:18:13 »
If their actual DRONES, and not robotic units, yes the Hi-Scout will work

Alexander Knight

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #3 on: 16 October 2013, 00:37:20 »
The new Celerity and Revenant are remote-controlled drones, not autonomous robotic combat units.

SCC

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #4 on: 16 October 2013, 00:52:54 »
The new Celerity and Revenant are remote-controlled drones, not autonomous robotic combat units.
Still probably best to make it clear but, don't want people taking Hi-Scout's with normal Revenant's.

And while the idea is nice Drones are insanely vulnerable to ECM, like a C3 system but instead of loss of bonus the Drone shuts down and given how common that is on the modern battlefield

Yeti

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #5 on: 16 October 2013, 00:55:12 »
While the Hi-scout would be possible it looks slightly underpowered for a modern battlefield...
Is there really no other canon unit that mounts a drone control system?


Martius

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #6 on: 16 October 2013, 02:17:06 »
According to the fluff the drones are used to defend fixed installations (which prpably mount everything necessary to control the drones) and for raids using the Duat droppers.

If they use other means we have yet to see them.


SCC

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #7 on: 16 October 2013, 02:29:51 »
...for raids using the Duat droppers.
Sounds like the Drones should be LAM's, that way the dropper doesn't even need to land

That is a thought, is the reason the SL developed LAMs to port the advanced aerospace robotic tech to 'Mechs? Are part of it at least

mbear

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #8 on: 16 October 2013, 06:28:15 »
ComStar also had that Fury variant that could control drones. Given the RAF has the Celerity and other ComStar-derived gear, it's likely they have one or two of these as well.
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Diablo48

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #9 on: 16 October 2013, 07:11:21 »
Sounds like the Drones should be LAM's, that way the dropper doesn't even need to land

That is a thought, is the reason the SL developed LAMs to port the advanced aerospace robotic tech to 'Mechs? Are part of it at least

Can the Duat control the drones from orbit?  If so, they could use combat drops and abandon or sacrifice the drones if they cannot safely recover them.  The big plus to LAMs is that you can get them back without having to land, but drones are inherently expendable so I can see the RAF planning on sacrificing them on a semi-regular basis.


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Savage Coyote

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #10 on: 16 October 2013, 07:17:24 »
Ajax D also has a Drone Control System that can control 6 drones.  Figure the Republic has a few since they have everything else.

Yeti

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #11 on: 16 October 2013, 07:28:28 »
That is what i am looking for, a heavy tank that can control my light drone swarm.   }:)

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #12 on: 16 October 2013, 09:00:54 »
Six drones, AND an Arrow system for the more personal touch? I think we have a winner! O0
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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #13 on: 16 October 2013, 10:50:26 »
AND a 4 ton infantry bay for a defensive BA unit?  Yes... please!

3rdCrucisLancers

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #14 on: 16 October 2013, 12:22:27 »
Apparently using light drones (Celerity, Revenant) as support units seems to be part of the new RAF doctrine.
But the only unit able to controll them seems to be the Duat dropship. Is there any other unit that can control drones or are they using static installations or custom units?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._39_Squadron_RAF
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SCC

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #15 on: 16 October 2013, 14:39:48 »
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._39_Squadron_RAF
We're talking about in Universe, not out

Can the Duat control the drones from orbit?  If so, they could use combat drops and abandon or sacrifice the drones if they cannot safely recover them.  The big plus to LAMs is that you can get them back without having to land, but drones are inherently expendable so I can see the RAF planning on sacrificing them on a semi-regular basis.
Yes it can, it's even preferable to do so, you get more range

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #16 on: 16 October 2013, 14:44:21 »
We're talking about in Universe, not out
Quote
Yes it can, it's even preferable to do so, you get more range

I'd prefer to keep the Duat on the ground, where it can use its Cruise Missiles against any targets the drones find.
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Diablo48

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #17 on: 16 October 2013, 18:18:11 »
Yes it can, it's even preferable to do so, you get more range

Well, that certainly opens up some possibilities. >:D

I'd prefer to keep the Duat on the ground, where it can use its Cruise Missiles against any targets the drones find.

That is reasonable, although it could be unnecessarily risky for the DropShip.


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VhenRa

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #18 on: 17 October 2013, 07:58:41 »
OmniVehicles are perfect for this...

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #19 on: 17 October 2013, 08:18:41 »
That is reasonable, although it could be unnecessarily risky for the DropShip.

Possibly, though worth it in this case. The Duat-class is well-suited for solo operations, as a heavy weapons array and armor thick enough to make a PWS wilt in envy makes it easy for it to punch through a typical fighter screen, the spheroid nature makes finding LZs easy, and that Cruise Missile battery makes almost any landing worth it given the havoc it can wreak. Given the thus-far successful nature of the RAF's raiding campaign, it seems safe to assume that they're quite skilled at reaching a planet undetected, and that Republic intelligence is up to the task of finding gaps in planetary detection nets.
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Diablo48

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #20 on: 17 October 2013, 13:06:08 »
Possibly, though worth it in this case. The Duat-class is well-suited for solo operations, as a heavy weapons array and armor thick enough to make a PWS wilt in envy makes it easy for it to punch through a typical fighter screen, the spheroid nature makes finding LZs easy, and that Cruise Missile battery makes almost any landing worth it given the havoc it can wreak. Given the thus-far successful nature of the RAF's raiding campaign, it seems safe to assume that they're quite skilled at reaching a planet undetected, and that Republic intelligence is up to the task of finding gaps in planetary detection nets.

What is worth it is heavily based on the local defenses.  After all, the most valuable targets are going to be the best protected, and if the planet has a large garrison or a working SDS they may have the ability to easily squash the dropper if it tries to land which would make landing not worthwhile.


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Alexander Knight

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #21 on: 17 October 2013, 18:21:11 »
What is worth it is heavily based on the local defenses.  After all, the most valuable targets are going to be the best protected, and if the planet has a large garrison or a working SDS they may have the ability to easily squash the dropper if it tries to land which would make landing not worthwhile.

Nobody in 3145 has a working SDS anymore.

VhenRa

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #22 on: 18 October 2013, 08:34:59 »
Er. What about those Reports of the Cappies placing Sub-Capital Weapons in a Ground-Based Proto-SDS back in 3079 on Sian.

snewsom2997

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #23 on: 18 October 2013, 09:35:19 »
Maybe in 3085 no one had a working SDS, we however have 60 years of little data on the Terran System.

Alexander Knight

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #24 on: 18 October 2013, 09:37:55 »
Maybe in 3085 no one had a working SDS, we however have 60 years of little data on the Terran System.

Somehow I doubt the RAF would be conducting offensive drop operations on Terra.

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #25 on: 19 October 2013, 06:24:13 »
What would be good is for defensive operations on Terra, they can use the inherent communications networks to remote a drone or fleet of drones from anywhere on Terra.

So a defender can field drones, without needing a command platform on the field.

As to SDS, there is none on Terra.  They have the gamers developing a better version.

CloaknDagger

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #26 on: 19 October 2013, 11:12:47 »
Can the Duat control the drones from orbit?  If so, they could use combat drops and abandon or sacrifice the drones if they cannot safely recover them.  The big plus to LAMs is that you can get them back without having to land, but drones are inherently expendable so I can see the RAF planning on sacrificing them on a semi-regular basis.

If you could control a drone from orbit, it means that all you need to do is give it an AECM in counter mode and it's virtually immune to being taken out by ECM.

Then you get the situation where your pilots can get better and better and better without even being risked in combat. 0/0 pilots for everyone!

SCC

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #27 on: 19 October 2013, 15:06:13 »
If you could control a drone from orbit, it means that all you need to do is give it an AECM in counter mode and it's virtually immune to being taken out by ECM.

Then you get the situation where your pilots can get better and better and better without even being risked in combat. 0/0 pilots for everyone!
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YingJanshi

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #28 on: 19 October 2013, 15:20:41 »
Does this mean we need newer canon Drone Control vehicles?
A Hi-Scout II at the very least?

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Re: How does the RAF control their drones?
« Reply #29 on: 19 October 2013, 15:59:47 »
Hi-scouts have trailer hitches. Here's what I've been thinking. In addition to the drones, the Hi Scout has one squad of magclamp BA ride that, one squad of magclamp ride a Guntrailer (Fortress) towed behind the Hi-Scout, and a third squad inside the Guntrailer.

 

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