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Old 06-30-2021, 02:46 PM
Vespers War Vespers War is offline
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For the hand-launched Pointer, the number bought was small because it was quickly superseded by improved versions. The 50 Pointers (full production deliveries starting in 1990) were replaced by RQ-11 Ravens (originally an FQM-151 upgrade in 1999, officially introduced in 2003) and RQ-20 Pumas (2008), which had production numbers in the thousands (Puma) to tens of thousands (Raven). A timeline where that development was cut short by war would have seen resources diverted to production of what was available at the time (Pointer). Even a primitive drone like that would be useful for short-distance recon (the control station's range was ~5 miles), particularly since it could carry an infrared camera.

I also found a report from 2003 discussing all the American drones that had been deployed since 1991. By first use in a combat theater:
RQ-2 Pioneer - 1991
FQM-151 Pointer - 1991
RQ-1 Predator - 1995
RQ-5 Hunter - 1999
MQ-1 Predator - 2001
RQ-4 Global Hawk - 2001
RQ-14 Dragon Eye - 2003
Desert Hawk - 2003
RQ-7 Shadow - 2003

Depending on when one sets their Twilight War will help with figuring out which drones would be most available.
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