F-99 Wombat

The F-99 "Wombat" Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle is an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) manufactured by Misriah Armory and employed by the United Nations Space Command.

Design details
The F-99 Wombat is an unmanned drone that seats no human crew, but instead relies on an on-board artificial intelligence for flight. Typically, the Wombat is flown by an onboard non-volitional "dumb" AI when performing routine flight and patrol tasks, but can be taken over by a remote human pilot or even a volitional "smart" AI for more complex scenarios. The craft has two weapons pylons mounted underneath the drone, which can be used to mount missiles, alongside an integrated optics package that can aim down. Final control of targeting and weapons release can be withheld for a remote operator or AI even when AI-piloted.

Wombat drones are compatible with a number of UNSC ground-based targeting systems linked with the overall battle network. These include Target Designators like the H-295 model, and the AKIS helmet designed to maximise range-finding capabilities for Wombats among other UNSC aircraft like the S-14 Baselard. The P237-THEIATEK optical suite was designed for the AKIS helmet to incorporate a range of UAV imagery.

Usage
The Wombat, and drones like it, make up a majority of the aircraft fleets fielded by the UNSC Air Force. They are capable of being launched from ocean-going aircraft carrier platforms such as the. They can be used in a variety of roles ranging from interception to tactical ground-attack and reconnaissance.

Operational history
During the Battle of Mombasa in October 2552, numerous F-99 UCAVs were deployed in reconnaissance elements numbering two to three aircraft to the city of New Mombasa, deploying from s a few kilometers off the coast. was involved in resupplying Wombat and D77-TC Pelican strike sorties during the conflict. They provided air support for embattled Marines across the city, particularly the Uplift Nature Reserve. The collective optical feeds provided by drones could also be accessed by ground forces through the UNSC battle network. One of these drones crashed into a statue in front of the Reserve and its ejected optics package was later found by a lone ODST. Following the war's end, F-99s were used by the security detachment protecting the Voi Excession to prevent unauthorised entry into portal airspace.

The Surakan Militia Volunteers had an unknown number of Wombats. In 2558, during the Carrow Conflict, the SMV used an F-99 to spy on the Jiralhanae position, it managed to transmit several images before being shot down.

Production notes
The F-99 Wombat was originally going to be featured in Halo 3. Though they were omitted from the final game, they were redesigned and featured in Halo 3: ODST. Drones of a different model, which are based directly on the concept art, appear in the background of the multiplayer map Longshore. However, given the depiction of the craft in Longshore as distant background details, it is possible that these are simply meant to be low-detail renderings of the F-99.

The Wombat's design was used as the basis for a cut spacecraft designed during the production of Halo: Reach.

Trivia
Unlike the majority of UNSC air vehicles (which bear the names of birds or other flying animals), the Wombat bears the name of an arboreal marsupial native to Australia.

List of appearances

 * Halo 3
 * Mythic II Map Pack
 * Halo 3: ODST
 * Halo: Reach
 * Halo: Hunters in the Dark
 * Halo: Envoy