Unmanned aerial vehicle

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is term used to describe an aircraft that doesn't have a human pilot aboard. UAVs are considered valuable for their ability to perform recon mission, or, if armed with military armament (being a UCAV), provide support for armed forces on the ground. UAVs can also perform solo operations without the need to put boots on the ground and reducing the risk of friendly casualties.

Overview

UAVs are typically remotely transmitted controlled aerial aircraft that are used by military for scouting, air reconnaissance and air support. There are various models of UAVs and the concept is not a relatively new concept, with history beginning around the mid-1800s. During World War I, the Dayton-Wright Airplane Company had developed a timer-set torpedo used for dealing with long range targets. During this time, other variations and concepts were developed and tested, and it soon gained a faster interesting during World War II. Much of the 20th century saw a rise in UAV models by not just the United States, but among other countries such as the Israeli-developed UAV, the Tadiran Mastiff. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, the Central Intelligence Agency had commissioned a UAV program for use of aerial drones in covert and clandestine operations.

Known UAVs in Splinter Cell series

The first mention of a UAV was in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, in the first official mission "Police Station." Third Echelon's Anna Grímsdóttir notifies Splinter Cell agent Sam Fisher that a Darkstar drone had been used to scan the building Fisher had to infiltrate to meet with Thomas Gurgenidze in T'blisi Old Town, T'blisi. A possible drone known as "Red Bear" had been supposedly used, as evidenced in a data stick in the Oil Refinery mission. Red Bear is never identified as a drone, however, and could be something else entirely.

Unidentified North Korean UAV

Main article: Unidentified North Korean UAV

The Unnamed North Korean UAV was an advanced UAV model that came equipped a machine gun, and maneuvered by a propeller system connected to the top of the UAV. The UAV itself is round, heavily armored to withstand small arms and is very deadly. It seems to not use infrared technology, but instead uses a spotlight and likely a camera feed to detect hostiles.

Fourth Echelon Drone

The Fourth Echelon Drone carries a sniper rifle, a 30mm cannon and a 76mm rocket launcher (referred by Grim as AGM missile). During the Blacklist attacks, it was carried aboard the C-147B Paladin, and watched over team leader Sam Fisher as he infiltrated an insurgent stronghold in Iraq. It was subverted by the engineers and fired at him, and was subsequently reformatted by Charlie Cole. The drone also monitored his situation in Iran, and when the getaway van came under fire, Anna Grímsdóttir made the decision to fire on the pursuing vehicles. President Patricia Caldwell later wrote the incident off as a "drone malfunction." During the attack on the Paladin in Yucatan, it was slaved to Isaac Briggs' OPSAT and used to protect and escort the Paladin across the runway.

Tri-rotor

Main article: Tri-Rotor

In Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Sam Fisher and Isaac Briggs used a small drone named the Tri-Rotor on basic mission operations. It is a small aerial drone with three rotor systems that allow it to hover in the air, allowing the user to view it's camera from their OPSAT system linked in with the device. While ideal for stealth, it can still be detected if it is too close to an enemy unit.

Fourth Echelon's Mercanary UAV Drone.

Mercenary UAV drone

The mercenaries in Spies vs Mercs Blacklist, operate a drone while equipped with the UAV suit. The drone has a limited battery capacity that drains based on how long it is operated. It is armed with an explosive, that can be detonated. It is used for scouting, to detect spies in an open area or surprise attack from a safe place which can instantly kill them upon detonation. The UAV can be heard by everyone of its mechanical whirling and can be destroyed by gunfire or using the Trophy system.

Trivia

• During the first Blacklist co-op mission, players trade control of the drone to make it to the extraction point.
• Issac Briggs operated the drone twice in the single player of Blacklist, while the 4E operatives were in Iran, Grim seems to take over the control of the drone and used force.
• Mercenaries in Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist multiplayer used a two-rotor flying drone with the ability to self-destruct near targets.
• Drones had been a multiplayer-exclusive devices until Blacklist.
• The closest real life counterpart to the 4E drone is MQ-1C Gray Eagle or the MQ-9 Reaper (formerly known as Predator B), although MQ-1C and MQ-9 have no cannon on board.

Appearances

• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory
• Splinter Cell Blacklist Spider-Bot
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist Aftermath