Well it had to be done eventually. My first time designing with COACC. It took me a while to get may head around designing though weight, and of course the damage and inoperative numbers are just, well … wrong.

The fuel usage and props in COACC are probably dated, this type of UCAV IRL should have an endurance of about 20 hours on a weight of 650kg on a payload of 150kg. Also the ordinance isn’t small enough in COACC. This type of drone IRL carries a 25kg semi active laser guided smart munition with normal and reactive armour penetration abilities.

I’m going to model some more. I’m likely looking to do a decoy done, probably a conversion of the Van Nuys class (COACC page 55), a kamikaze drone, and probably a larger one with a turbo prop.

Anyway for your comments. I’m not sure I need the video recorder, but I kept it in anyway. The slave control panel is for remote operations, and the robot brain is for autonomous operations and to assist in target identification and precision strike.

Ensign Class Unmanned Combat Arial Vehicle

Updated 2020-11-17

CraftID:	Ensign Class Unmanned Combat Arial Vehicle, TL8, Cr 82,447.5 UPP=xxx03x
Hull:	5/12.5, Displacement=5.5, Loaded=1.25 tons, Airframe=Simple STOL
Power:	4/10, Internal Combustion=0.25 Mw, Duration=5 hours
Loco:	Light Propeller, Thrust=1 ton, Minimum Speed=75 kph, Cruise=225 kph, Top=300 kph, Agility=7
Comm:	Radio=Regional (500 km) x3, Interface=Brain, Program
Sensors:	Passive IR, Image Enhancement, Environ Sensor, Magnetic Sensor, Radiation Sensor, Video Recorder, Laser Designator
Off:	Inboard Wing Hardpoints x4 Maximum External Stores=200kg
Control:	Computer Fly By Fire, 6 Manoeuvre Points, Panel=Slave x1, NHR Basic Function 210 Robot Brain CPU=Linear x11, Storage=Standard x30 FundLogic=LowData, FundCmd=LimitedBasic Software=Forward Observer-1, Navigation-1, Propeller Aircraft-1,
Accom:	None
Other:	Fuel=0.353 klitres, Cargo=0 klitres, ObjSize=Small, EmLevel=None Cost in Quantity=Cr 65,958

The Ensign is a medium altitude short endurance Unmanned Combat Arial Vehicle (UCAV), more commonly known as a drone, capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. Manufactures by Flag Bearer Industries (FBI) of Riftgate to allow for a UCAV combat capability for the Home County (Riftgate) Army COACC.

FBI licensed the NHR 210 Robot brain to allow for autonomous operation to is UCAV design and to aid in forward observing tasks. The Ensign are used to carry out precise strikes using onboard ordinance and reconnaissance operations relaying coordinates for targets of opportunity for artillery bombardment.

The normal loadout of the Ensign are 4x 50kg laser guided low-drag/high-drag airbrake system deadfall ordinance targeted by the UCAV itself or by remote operation. Normal operating procedure for the Ensign is remote operation by a team of three operators from a remote location, however when returning to base the operators usually switch to autonomous flight so they can then switch to an active drone in the area of operations allowing a small number of operating teams to manage a significant amount of drones. This enables better co-ordination between teams and forces on the ground.

While not a replacement for maned close air support the Ensign provides additional force multiplication, especially in joint forces operations.

If there are limited drones available in the operational theatre and thus limited operating teams the Ensign can be re-programmes in flight generally increasing Forward Observer to skill 2 while dropping the Navigation ability of the drone. In this configuration the operators are required to fly the drone all the way home up to final approach, from where the drone can land autonomously.

Best regards,

Ewan

For the fallen in the cause of the free:

"When I go home I will tell of them and say,

For our tomorrow, They gave their today."

My spelling is entirerly due to dyslexia, typos, and poetic license