Rise of the Reds Update #63: Death from Above news

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The WASP Hive ('Weaponized Assault, Security & Patrol' Drone) is the latest American asset in unconventional warfare. Ever since the turn of the millennium, unmanned weapons have become a mainstay counter-insurgency tool in the Middle East and Africa. The WASP Hive was the first breakthrough made by current generation drone technologies, the result of billions of Dollars worth of research and their increasing importance to US military operations.

Although a plain Stryker APC on the outside, its passenger compartment has been completely redesigned to shelter advanced computer systems and a console. Besides the driver, the only other crew member is the drone operator. Thanks to advanced computer assistance controls, the operator functions more as a 'drone commander' than a 'drone pilot' as he orders an entire swarm of WASPs to fight for him and protect the vehicle if necessary.

The technology does have its limitations however: Although the operator has what seems to be an unlimited swarm of drones at his disposal, the computer cannot control more than three drones simultaneously. Due to the expendable nature of the WASPs, the Hive is designed with drone losses in mind and can quickly a replace a drone that is shut down, making it excellent for harassing enemies and supporting more valuable units at a long distance.

Little is known about the drone operators themselves, other than they are required to have a high resistance to fatigue due to extended active duty and patience to conduct operations that can last days in scouting, acquiring and neutralizing a single target.

First flown in combat during the hunt for Dr. Thrax , the Spectre II was the US Navy's ambitious attempt at producing a jet-powered gunship that was faster and lighter than the Air Force's aging AC-130. Adding emphasis on rapid global deployability, the new plane was equipped with variable-sweep wings which made it compact enough to be stored on the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. However, the complicated engine and wing setup were prone to mechanical failures. Soon after the war, the USAF, now the only branch that was still in any position for technological adventures due to doctrine changes and the budgetary issues of the others, came forward with its own idea of a new gunship which was eventually adopted to replace all previous models: Based on the C-17 Globemaster transport plane, the AC-17 Spectre III was more economical to produce, as it was merely an elaborate re-fit rather than an entirely new air frame. Despite no longer being carrier-capable due to its enormous size, the swing wings were kept and improved, as they allow the plane to perform its approach at breakneck speed. The larger hull carries enough weapons to devastate an entire division of tanks: A massive 155mm howitzer and pair of 25mm Equalizer cannons. In addition, the new Spectre has external hardpoints for several missiles which are rapidly fired at ground and air targets of opportunity by an automatic computer system.

...and since the new Spectre is so incredibly hardcore, we've also prepared two nice wallpapers for you: