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The AR-2 Darter / Tayran AR-2 is a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle used by several BLUFOR, REDFOR and INDFOR factions in ArmA 3.

A civilian variant also exists and is simply known as the Drone, where it is used in limited numbers by IDAP aid workers. It was added with the release of the Laws of War DLC.

Overview[]

  • Roles:
    • Reconnaissance
    • Surveillance
    • Laser targeting
« The Darter AR-2 is a miniature remote-controlled quadcopter equipped with laser designator. It is perfect for reconnaissance, surveillance and target designation. Darters are agile, silent and hard to detect. The ability to hover in one place and use the camera to observe a location is invaluable in setting ambushes. An OPFOR arms manufacturer was able to reverse-engineer the Darter's construction and now produces a similar vehicle. The OPFOR quadcopter is labeled as the Tayran AR-2.
Field Manual
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Design[]

Man-portable and compact, the Darter is miniature VTOL-capable quadrotor drone that is small enough to be carried in a backpack.

Features
Once unpacked and assembled by the operator, it can then be connected to through a UAV Terminal and assigned tasks or be used to mark targets with its laser designator for precision guided munitions.

It can be assigned to follow a person or vehicle while hovering at a safe distance, essentially acting as third, infrared-enabled eye for the operator (provided that they toggle the UAV's real-time camera feed).

Mobility
Its small size makes it agile and true to its name, can quickly dart through small gaps in buildings or hover just above the treeline in a forest. Some care should be taken when manoeuvring the drone in tight spaces however, as its controls are quite sensitive, and it is easy to accidentally crash the drone into a wall by flying too fast. In such cases, it may be advisable to toggle the Darter's auto-hover mode so as to mitigate some of its sensitivity.

Arma3-darter-01

A single Darter relays its laser spots to Rhino TDs positioned at two different locations. The CSAT convoy is neutralised by MARUKs despite the Rhino crews being positioned three kilometres away from their targets.

Notable Traits
The Darter UAV possesses integral data link capability. Because of this, whatever the drone marks with its laser can be transmitted to any nearby friendly vehicles that can receive targeting information via data link.

One practical scenario of where this can be employed very effectively is with the Rhino tank destroyer's MARUK laser-guided ATGMs. By default, the Rhino's ATGMs are non-line-of-sight and thanks to the Darter, this NLOS capability can be exploited to full effect. So long as the Darter itself remains undetected, the drone operator can coordinate with the tank destroyer's crew to strike hostiles several kilometres away with near-pinpoint accuracy.

Another instance where the Darter's data link feature comes into play is with the MK41 VLS batteries fitted onto Liberty-class destroyers. The Darter can relay the location of its laser spots back to the battery's operator, allowing the ship's crew to strike any target within range with its devastating payload of Venator surface-to-surface cruise missiles.

Drawbacks
Care must be taken with the Darter's use, regardless of whether it is set to autonomous operation or manual control. It has no armour plating and can be disabled by just one bullet hitting any part of the airframe. Even coming into contact too roughly with a hard surface can instantly destroy the Darter.

Camouflage[]

All faction variants have access to the same camouflage options:

  • IDAP: Flat white paint scheme with additional livery in the form of IDAP logos and signage. Used exclusively by IDAP aid workers.
  • White: Pattern-less flat white paint scheme. Used on NATO AR-2s.
  • Grey Hex: Light/dark grey cell pattern camouflage. Utilised by CSAT's AR-2s.
  • Digital Grey: Digitised semi-fractal camouflage pattern used by several AAF aircraft and boats. Exclusive to AAF AR-2s.
  • Geometric: Greyscale version of the Geometric fractal camouflage pattern on Livonian Defense Force uniforms. Only applied onto LDF-operated AR-2s.

Protection[]

Both variants of the drone have base armour values of just 0.5.

Stealth[]

As a Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) the Darter cannot be targeted by most anti-aircraft systems due to being too tiny to be trackable by most sensors:

RCS[]

The Darter has a radar cross-section rating of just 0.1, which reduces active radar range by 90% to just 10% of their default maximum range.

Because the Darter lacks a radar module of its own however, spotting the Darter via passive radars is not possible, and detecting it on active radar is virtually impossible under normal circumstances.

IR[]

The Darter provides no stealth capabilities against infrared-based sensors.

Visual[]

The Darter is extremely difficult to track via visual-based sensors, and can only be spotted at 10% of their maximum ranges (factor of 0.1; reduction of 90%).

Sensors[]

Being a small UAV, the Darter has only two types of sensors that are meant to be used exclusively for tracking purposes:

Sensor type Max range (Air/Ground) Min range (Air/Ground) Affected by environment? Target max speed (km/h) Azimuth coverage (°) Elevation coverage (°) Friendly identification range (m)
Infrared A: 4,000 m
G: 3,000 m
A: 500 m
G: 500 m
Fog (0.005%) 126 km/h 51° 37° 2,000 m
Human A: 750 m
G: 500 m
A: 500 m
G: 500 m
Fog (0.005%) 54 km/h 51° 37° 0 m

Infrared Sensor[]

The Darter's IR Sensor is located in the drone's gimbal camera (represented by the red cone on the SENSORS panel). Although it is technically affected by heavy fog, the range reduction effect is so miniscule (-0.15 metre reduction) that it will be barely noticeable.

It should be noted that the IR Sensor has an elevation offset of -0.5 degrees.

Human Sensor[]

The Darter's Human Sensor is located in the drone's gimbal camera (represented by the red cone on the SENSORS panel). Although it is technically affected by heavy fog, the range reduction effect is so miniscule (-0.0375 metre reduction) that it will be barely noticeable.

It should be noted that the Human Sensor has an elevation offset of -0.5 degrees.

Trivia[]

  • The Darter appears to be based on an enlarged version of the "AR.Drone Version 2.0" manufactured by Parrot SA of France.
  • Prior to Game Update 1.12, Darter drones could not be assembled properly if the user was inside a building (the drone would either be destroyed instantly or would assemble underneath the structure).[1]
  • The sound effect of its rotors spinning was changed after the release of the Laws of War DLC.[2]
  • Despite clearly being battery-operated, Darters can "refuel" themselves from civilian gas terminals and military fuel trucks. At the same time, they cannot be recharged with batteries used by actual electronic items (i.e. laser designators).
  • A unique CSAT-exclusive variant of the Tayran exists in the Old Man mini-campaign/scenario (Classname: O_UAV_01_Mine_F).[3]
    • These variants, generically designated as "Sentry Drones", remain visually identical to regular Tayrans and patrol the outskirts of high-security bases. However, they are designed to serve as suicide UAVs that detonate an explosive charge onto the player if they are detected by the drone.[4]

Gallery[]

References[]

  1. van 't Land, J.J. 2014, SPOTREP #00019, Arma 3, viewed 6 August 2023, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/spotrep-00019>.
  2. van 't Land, J.J. 2017, SPOTREP #00073, Arma 3, viewed 6 August 2023, <https://dev.arma3.com/post/spotrep-00073>.
  3. ARMA 3: Apex 2020 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., \a3\missions_f_oldman\config.bin, CfgVehicles >> O_UAV_01_Mine_F
  4. ARMA 3: Apex 2020 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., Old Man

External links[]

See also[]

Drones of comparable role and configuration[]

Vehicles of ArmA 3
Wheeled AFV-4 GorgonAMV-7 MarshallHatchbackHEMTTHunterIfritKartMB 4WDMSE-3 MaridOffroadProwlerQilinRhino MGS (UP) • StriderSUVTempestTractorTruckQuadbikeUGV StomperVanZamak (MRL)
Tracked 2S9 SochorAWC NyxBTR-K KamyshCRV-6e BobcatED-1D Mini UGV (ED-1E) • IFV-6a CheetahIFV-6c PantherFV-720 MoraM2A1 Slammer (A4 UP) • M4 ScorcherM5 SandstormMBT-52 KumaT-100 Varsuk (X Futura) • T-140 Angara (T-140K) • ZSU-39 Tigris
Rotor-wing AH-9 PawneeAH-99 BlackfootAR-2 DarterCH-49 MohawkCH-67 HuronDemining DroneMH-9 Hummingbird (M900) • Mi-48 KajmanMi-290 TaruMQ-12 FalconPO-30 OrcaUH-80 Ghost HawkUtility DroneWY-55 Hellcat
Fixed-wing A-143 BuzzardA-149 GryphonA-164 WipeoutCaesar BTTF/A-181 Black Wasp IIKH-3A FenghuangMQ-4A GreyhawkTo-199 NeophronTo-201 ShikraUCAV SentinelV-44X BlackfishY-32 Xi'an
Aquatic Assault BoatMotorboatRHIBSpeedboatSDVWater Scooter
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
Karts DLC | Helicopters DLC | Apex DLC | Jets DLC | Laws of War DLC | Tanks DLC | Contact DLC
Arma3-factionicon-nato NATO - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
Wheeled AMV-7 MarshallHEMTTHunterProwlerQuadbikeRhino MGS (UP) • UGV Stomper
Tracked CRV-6e BobcatED-1D Pelter (ED-1E Roller) • IFV-6a CheetahIFV-6c PantherM2A1 Slammer (A4 UP) • M4 ScorcherM5 Sandstorm
Rotor-wing AH-9 PawneeAH-99 BlackfootAL-6 PelicanAR-2 DarterCH-67 HuronMH-9 HummingbirdMQ-12 FalconUH-80 Ghost Hawk
Fixed-wing A-164 WipeoutF/A-181 Black Wasp IIMQ-4A GreyhawkUCAV SentinelV-44X Blackfish
Aquatic Assault Boat (Rescue) • Speedboat MinigunSDV
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
Helicopters DLC | Apex DLC | Jets DLC | Laws of War DLC | Tanks DLC | Contact DLC
Arma3-factionicon-csat CSAT - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
Wheeled IfritMSE-3 MaridQilinQuadbikeTempestUGV SaifZamak
Tracked 2S9 SochorAkinaka ED-1D (Sayyah ED-1E) • BTR-K KamyshT-100 Varsuk (X Futura) • T-140 Angara (T-140K) • ZSU-39 Tigris
Rotor-wing Jinaah AL-6Mi-48 KajmanMi-290 TaruPO-30 OrcaTayran AR-2
Fixed-wing K40 Abalil-3KH-3A FenghuangTo-199 NeophronTo-201 ShikraY-32 Xi'an
Aquatic Assault Boat (Rescue) • Speedboat HMGSDV
Parenthesis denote variants.
Helicopters DLC | Apex DLC | Jets DLC | Laws of War DLC | Tanks DLC | Contact DLC
Arma3-factionicon-aaf AAF - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
Wheeled AFV-4 GorgonQuadbikeStriderUGV StomperZamak (MRL)
Tracked AWC NyxED-1D Pelter (ED-1E Roller) • FV-720 MoraMBT-52 Kuma
Rotor-wing AR-2 DarterAL-6 PelicanCH-49 MohawkWY-55 Hellcat
Fixed-wing A-143 BuzzardA-149 GryphonK40 Abalil-3
Aquatic Assault Boat (Rescue) • Speedboat MinigunSDV
Parenthesis denote variants.
Jets DLC | Laws of War DLC | Tanks DLC | Contact DLC
Arma3-factionicon-livoniandefenseforce LDF - Vehicles (ArmA 3)
Wheeled OffroadQuadbikeUGV StomperVanZamak (MRL)
Tracked ED-1D Pelter (ED-1E Roller) • FV-720 Odyniec
Rotor-wing AL-6 PelicanAR-2 DarterWY-55 Czapla
Fixed-wing A-149 Gryphon
(Parenthesis) denote variants.
Jets DLC | Laws of War DLC | Tanks DLC | Contact DLC
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