Loitering Munitions?
 

I got to wondering (mostly in response to comments in the Caucasus War 2020 thread) how best to portray / simulate these weapon systems in game.

As most seem fairly capable of avoiding conventional AA defences is the best approach to use a single shot (1 ammo) NLOS missile on a 0 move light vehicle? (this gives I think the best approximation)

Thoughts?

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

Why zero move? Rest makes sense to me though you could also equip infantry teams with lower yield war head versions.

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

My thinking was that then the launch vehicle (which effectively doesn't exist in reality) will have no further value.

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

Would some of these be better off as say a new form off board artillery for ease of use in the game?

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

I guess my basic premise was how to utilise the existing unit classes/ weapon classes rather than the developers coming up with something new (which would be nice but unlikely at this juncture, I believe...).

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

The existing NLOS ATGM wouid cover the case. Or a very small and slow attack helicopter?

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

That might work for some of the larger UAV that expend separate munitions instead of having an internal explosive payload.

Here's an IAI video for Mini Harpy showing how it's used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBmhJ-jrzrc

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

A little helicopter carrying a suitable demolition charge might also work - see IEDs/VBIEDs in the OOBS.

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

Do they though? We don't see the videos of all those which missed the targets, which were destroyed, etc.
Also the air defenses of Armenia are not exactly top of the line and their best ones are inside Armenia, not where the actual fighting takes place.

Don't get me wrong, they are dangerous drones, but how successful they would have been against an actual at least semi modern air defense?

Re: Loitering Munitions?
 

I think they & drones have a window of opportunity that is vanishing as radars are being updated to detect them. Currently I think most air defence units would class them as a bird because they are to slow so ignored to reduce clutter.

Bases are probably covered now either by close in air defence or the "Dome Defence" guns designed to intercept things like artillery. So long as the radar is capable its a software update to recognise they are a threat.

So some guns can take them out now have seen talk about updating short range SAM air defence to intercept also, probably the reason the US is bringing them back.
Also read developing an Air to Air missile that is small & relatively cheap, seem to remember the idea is it can carry 4-8 on a pylon & be multirole.

Guns makes the most sense unless its a massive swarm using a missile to destroy them is not exactly cost effective.