UAV S-100 Camcopter
Introduced in version 4.357 the S-100 Camcopter is a medium-sized, rotor-based, unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with optical and thermal cameras, GPS receiver, and laser range finder for use as a reconnaissance and call for fire platform. Note that this UAV is unarmed. The S-100 Camcopter UAV is manufactured by the Austrian Schiebel Corporation and its body is used for the external model, but although named as such, this vehicle is not modeled in-sim to represent the actual performance characteristics of the S-100. This element is placed on the map like any other unit.
The Camcopter may be controlled by a human player during solitaire and network training sessions using the Q and Z keys to change flight height and the W A S D keys to control direction (A and D) and speed (W and S). If the S-100 is on autopilot (you haven't manually steered it off a route) then when it gets to the end of the route it will loiter in a circle. The Camcopter's dual channel HD camera is controlled by either the mouse or joystick with the either the Ctrl key or joystick button 2 being used to fire the laser.
Note that all UAVs under computer control are “blind”, and will not report enemy units. Consequently, computer-controlled units will hold their fire in the presence of such UAVs unless it is under control of a human player (they're very hard to shoot down actually, even with 3P ammo and proximity fuse selected). The F7 view of the Camcopter is mute. (There is still sound from the external position)
Revision 2.416 implemented a “target lock” mode for UAV(R) sights. The target lock will automatically turn on when a point is lased and will turn off when you start to control the camera again. For the joystick, there is a 3 second period after lasing that the joystick movement will not cancel the target lock. This was necessary because the joystick will almost certainly be offset when the point is lased. The user will have to center the joystick within 3 seconds of lasing if he wants the target lock to continue. This seems much less annoying, although it does mean that you will have to re-lase whenever you move the camera control.
Air defense artillery units will be the primary weapon system to engage UAVs (which have very low priority for computer-controlled units), while other units will fire only small and medium caliber weapons.
Youtube - UAV Demonstration video (by daskal)
Thermal Signature
Operator Position
Please visit the UAV Sperwer page for detailed information on the S-100 Camcopter operator's position since both UAVs are functionally identical.