Rise of the Reds Update: Robot Wars, Part I Options

[MARS]

United States of America, 2038

"Hi! I'm Steve Dawson and on today's episode of Future Warfare, I'll be giving you an exclusive look at some of the most cutting edge combat robots of the United States military. Now, as a former Force Recon Marine, I'm telling you here and now that wars will always be decided by the boots on the ground. But even in my time with the Corps back during the Global War on Terror, my fellow leathernecks and I fought alongside some very sophisticated unmanned weapon systems. We stormed the coast of Kazakhstan with an entire swarm of Predator UAVs providing live intel from above, the Rottweiler Sentry Drone covered our backs during the intense house-to-house fighting in Mogadishu and the Cypher Battle Drone kept our Humvees chugging all the way to Tehran. Today, about two decades later, the newer versions of these drones have become a mainstay component of any US military operation and I'm here at Fort Eustis, Virginia to see what's in store for the next time the United States of America go on a world tour - Let's check it out!"

"Back in the Corps, we always had two major rules that we were to follow at all times. First: Do not -ever- leave your fellow Marine behind in a fight. Second: If you can't drop an enemy dead with your gun - use MORE gun! The second rule must have been one of the few things that the R&D eggheads have actually learned from our previous engagement with the GLA, so they created this little guy right here: The Guardian Drone. This amazing box o' fun on treads is basically a remote controlled mini tank - I bet you would have loved to find one of these under the tree on Christmas. Armed with a short 40mm cannon, the Guardian packs enough punch to blast holes through light vehicles and it is both small and agile enough to support our grunts in close quarters. Its treads are built to be very sturdy to compensate for the recoil of the weapon, which also allows the drone to bury itself into a hull-down position for added protection. The Guardian stands as a fine example of our new doctrine: First you send in the robots to secure a foothold and then you get boots on the ground to seal the deal. Rumour has it that the Chinese are currently developing a new type of light tank for the exact same purpose. I hate to break it to the guys in Beijing, but...manned tankettes have been out of fashion since World War II. I guess they missed the memo."

This, my friends, is one of today's highlights: What you're looking at here is the AQ-360 Hunter Killer UCAV, the first -fully- autonomous military aircraft in the world. The state-of-the-art computer system that resides inside this machine is brought to us by some of our most renowned AI researchers and it's right over at Langley AFB where the artificial mind is merged with a lean and mean, all-American airframe made of lightweight but highly durable polymer materials. I know what some of you are thinking right now, but rest assured: There's always a way to pull the plug in case they ever try to go SkyNet on us and the AI itself is still way less intelligent than your average Army PFC. The HK can hold up to four Maverick air-to-ground missiles which makes it an exceptional tank-killer and ideal for close air support missions that are deemed too dangerous to risk the lives of our combat pilots. All of you Chair Force fighter and bomber jocks out there don't need to worry though; your jobs are safe! The Hunter Killer is purely designed to take on ground vehicles, so all that sweet dog-fighting and bomb-dropping is still up to you guys."

"That was pretty neat for a start, wasn't it? Well, let me tell you, there's more where this came from: Tune back in after the break and I'll show you something truly revolutionary. Here's a hint: It walks!"

[__CrUsHeR]

Yes! More robots!! More Robots!!!

The Guardian Drone was cool - a tank fast and cheap - it is able to beat a tankette Chinese?

I loved the Hunter Killer, it should really cause a good damage on enemy columns.

I'm curious to see what he had seen after the break, "something that walks" ... what the future has reserved for the USA???

This post has been edited by __CrUsHeR: 25 Apr 2013, 18:07

[Сергеј Иванович]

COOL UPDATE!!! But I have some questions...
Does HK takes the role from Comanche for certain USA general?
And I can't wait to see that mecha!!!

[MARS]

The HK is a plane, not a helicopter. It'll likely be available to all Generals and be especially effective against tanks.

Also, before anyone asks: Yes, we split that planned five render update in two in order to give you SOMETHING to compensate for our unexpected schedule slip.

[Claine]

[Joe Kidd]

Slavik: Define favorable out come CABAL

CABAL: They all die

Slavik: That'll do,

brings back the good ol' days

[X1Destroy]

I thought the Predator drone will remain in SW forever

BTW, Great job as always.. Finally an update after all those days

This post has been edited by X1Destroy: 25 Apr 2013, 18:47

[Nemanja]

Hunter drone skined and modeled by IPS . . .
And IPS drone will be done by Hunter ?

Nice update,although I don't like how it sounds,
it reminds me of that bold prick from Discovery Channel . . .
Anyway,interesting update for US arsenal,
one question tho,
will Hunter drone cost slightly less than jets,
I mean something like under 1000 or it will be
comparable to SF and Raptor ?

[Pepo]

Great update.seem really interesting.looking foward to the next one

[ubermensche]

Nice update,although I don't like how it sounds,
it reminds me of that bold prick from Discovery Channel . . .

Looks like I'm not the only one who thought of Mack from Future Weapons. That was a good show when I was like 15. Now when I watch re-runs, I can't stand more than 5 minutes of his dickwaving.

[MARS]

Looks like I'm not the only one who thought of Mack from Future Weapons. That was a good show when I was like 15. Now when I watch re-runs, I can't stand more than 5 minutes of his dickwaving.

Well, this update was intended as a very obvious, on-the-nose parody of Future Weapons so that's that.

[wb21]

Lol at the Richard Machowicz reference. I would lol more if it was R. Lee Ermey On a related note:
"Supplementing and eventually replacing the A-10 Thunderbolt in frontline service gives a respectable level in service record...Its capability to do a plethora of air support roles too dangerous for manned aircraft makes it high in versatility...Adopting the strengths and capabilities of both manned and unmanned combat aircraft makes it score high in design ingenuity...Being the first purpose-built ground attack UAV gives plus points for rank in its class...overall the AQ-360 Hunter Killer places itself in the number three spot on our countdown."



With a dedicated attack aircraft for the US, will the Raptor's role gets a tweak?

[Panzer4life]

Argh, this update is awesome, yet I can't play on my CPu, since it runs on windows 8. Wait, i hav e a alternate computer i can instal ZH onto, nvm. really looking forward to new updates, been lonely unable to play ROTR.

[MARS]

There's still a valid role difference between the Raptor and the HK. The HK can only attack vehicles and it won't actually dump all of its missiles on a single target in one second, so you can actually micro them.

[Darkfire Angel]

Awesome update is awesome, glad to finally see some new tech for the US. Will the HK be built at the Drone Facility or the Airbase and require the Drone Facility?

[The_Hunter]

Awesome update is awesome, glad to finally see some new tech for the US. Will the HK be built at the Drone Facility or the Airbase and require the Drone Facility?

Build at the airfield but require an on site drone assembly plant (as all other drone based units or those that use drone tech)

[ubermensche]

Argh, this update is awesome, yet I can't play on my CPu, since it runs on windows 8. Wait, i hav e a alternate computer i can instal ZH onto, nvm. really looking forward to new updates, been lonely unable to play ROTR.

Wait...you mean that CNC Generals can't run on Windows 8?

I'm getting a new computer in a couple of months so...

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK.

[Megazord]

Wait...you mean that CNC Generals can't run on Windows 8?

That's not true - it works perfectly fine, just like on Win7.

Great update! How many drone units will be in final version?

[ultimentra]

I can't be the only person who read this whole thing in Mack from Future Weapon's voice. I really loved that show, no matter how ridiculous it was sometimes. The intense whispering man!

Great update guys! Can't wait to see these in some in-game screenshots.

[Basilisx]

Oh yeah, sweet. I'm glad to hear from you guys again

How does the HK compare to the Raptor regarding speed and agility ? Does the HK rearm in the air like a Harrier or on an airfield ?

[Dangerman]

Is the Hunter Killer supposed to be the US's 1.82 Anti tank drone?

[Cobretti]

Awesome! Good to see another update from the mod team. The Hunter Killer drone looks especially cool. Does it take up an airfield spot like Raptors and Stealth Fighters do?

[Mcbob]

I like how the jarhead host has plenty of disparaging remarks toward the other uniformed services.

Except he can't say jack about the Navy

Damn I'm excited.

[Warpath]

Update Woohoo!

[Mcbob]

"That was pretty neat for a start, wasn't it? Well, let me tell you, there's more where this came from: Tune back in after the break and I'll show you something truly revolutionary. Here's a hint: It walks!"

Oh my god.