AZ-31-A Close-Support Totem
Support and Reconnaissance Drone Frame
Rank: V

--- Named after something you can't unsee ---

--- USER MANUAL ---

"Vanilla" version here

( i ) This machine uses the Fly-by-Wire mod for a yaw stability unit.

CONTROLS:
Throttle - Lift Engines
Pitch - Strafe Forward/Backward
Roll - Strafe Sideways
Yaw - Yaw Rotation
VTOL Down - Plasma Repeater Depression
FireGuns - Fire Plasma Repeater
LandingGear - Lift Legs
FireGuns - Fire Plasma Repeater
AG1 + Pitch Forward - Additional Forward Thrust
AG5 + FireGuns - Fire Missile Defense Unit
AG6 - Missile Defense Unit Forward/Backward

( i ) The flight unit is the same as the one present on the AZ-11, only short of the body pitch.

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The AZ-31 "Totem" is a Support and Reconnaissance Drone Frame equipped with a powerful variable-range radar. It is designed to spot enemy targets on the battlefield, close enough to gain clear and detailed information, while being far enough to only be engaged by the most long-range weapons.

Specifications (AZ-31-A)
Length: 4.30 m
Width: 5.92 m
Height: 5.35 m (Flyer 4.03 m)
Unloaded Mass: 3,600 kg
Earth
Capacity: 6,500 kg
Maximum Speed: 1,000 km/h
Never Exceed Speed: 1,200 km/h

Units are usually deployed in small numbers and may or may not be accompanied by an AWACS aircraft/spacecraft. Later, ASTIND. introduced a version of the AZ-31 with a radar dish.

AZ-31 units were later converted to civilian surveillance drones and camera drones at the start of the 2100s, where they were favored by those who valued its high speed and efficiency over its operation costs. Camera units were test-operated by ASTIND for motorsport events and air races, but proved too dangerous to use in urban areas.

DESIGN

The main detail setting apart AZ-31 units from the other Drone Frames is the equipping of lift engines on the "arm" hardpoints. The engines allow for a quick and reliable transition between vertical and forward flight modes.

The head contains the radar, control system, and primary forward thrust engine. The back of the head splits into two halves to function as an airbrake. The communications unit, forward thrust engine exhaust, and APU exhaust is located under this.

Each leg carries a missile defense unit with free elevation. This unit emits energy pulses that corrupts the memory and overloads the circuits of missiles, causing them to detonate prematurely. However, as the unit has no horizontal traverse, the drone must yaw to direct the unit to the missiles.

The (A) variant gives the Frame a plasma repeater system, allowing the AZ-12 to defend itself from close range enemy attacks, or even partake in the assault.

ARMAMENT

AZ-31(A) Close-In Support Totem

[Primary Armament] Triple-Barrel Plasma Pulse Repeater. Range 3 km in r.t.p., constant fire rate 180 pulse/min, but a quick-burst mode is also available.

[Defensive Equipment] 2x Anti-Missile Energy Pulse Unit.

[Support Equipment] Active Variable-Range Microwave Radar. Range 5-80 km, limited to 20 km when weaponry is armed.

VARIANTS

AZ-31(A): The second release version of the AZ-31 that places more importance on close-range support. Added plasma repeater system.

AZ-31(W): Experimental version carrying a large radar on the top.