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{{about|the military surveillance system|other uses|Rover (disambiguation)}}
[[File:ROVER Laptop.jpg|thumb|ROVER consists of a laptop receiver for aircraft video feeds.]]
'''Remotely Operated Video Enhanced Receiver''' ('''ROVER''') is a system which allows ground forces, such as [[Forward air control]]lers (FAC), to see what an aircraft or [[unmanned aerial vehicle]] (UAV) is seeing in real time by receiving images acquired by the aircraft's sensors on a laptop on the ground. There's little time delay and usage of ROVER greatly improves the FAC on the ground reconnaissance and target identification which are essential to [[close air support]].
==ROVER system==
[[File:Raven UAV flying.jpg|thumb|UAVs such as the [[RQ-11 Raven]] transmit video that shows real-time, nearby dangers.]]
The initial ROVER system, ROVER I, was developed in 2002 to allow ground forces to view video feeds from [[General Atomics MQ-1 Predator|Predator UAVs]] or [[Lockheed AC-130|AC-130 gunships]]. The interface was so large it was carried in a [[Humvee]], but it avoided the long delay of having to call a distant UAV controller and ask what the aircraft was seeing. By fall of 2004, the system's size was reduced to that of a 5.4 kg (12&nbsp;lb) device carried in a backpack. ROVER IV plans to include the capability to interface with a wide variety of aircraft and also allow interaction between ground controllers and close air support pilots. With ROVER III, ground controllers have to talk the pilot to the target since they only see the image the aircraft transmits. ROVER IV seeks to use GPS and other systems to allow the controller to click a target they would like the aircraft to engage or the UAV operator to focus on. ROVER is compatible with UAVs and aircraft carrying the [[LITENING targeting pod]] as well as other targeting systems.<ref>[[Jim Dunnigan|James Dunnigan]]. [http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles2005/200510130916.asp Soldier Demands Spur Development of New Gear]. October 13, 2005.</ref>
==U.S. Navy usage==
[[File:F-14 Tomcat ROVER antenna circled.jpg|thumb|An F-14D(R) Super Tomcat with the ROVER transmit antenna circled. USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'' (CVN-71) in the background.]]
ROVER III capability was added to the F-14D Super Tomcat during its last deployment. It was first used by [[VF-31]] and [[VFA-213|VF-213]] on their last cruise with the [[F-14 Tomcat]] in 2005 and 2006. Within days of the modification teams arrival on the [[USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71)|USS ''Theodore Roosevelt'' (CVN-71)]] all F-14 Tomcats had complete ROVER capability. Before ROVER, ground controllers had to rely on "visual talk-ons" to hunt enemy ground forces and would use a map to guide pilots where they needed to go. A joint VF-31/VF-213 investigation revealed that it would be possible to modify the F-14D Super Tomcat with off-the-shelf technology for only 800 dollars per aircraft.{{fact|date=December 2012}}<!--I'm guessing the LANTIRN video was transmitted? any source on what video was transmitted?-->
A team of F-14D experts from the [[Naval Air Systems Command]] (NAVAIR) F-14 Program Office (PMA-241) staff at [[Naval Air Station Patuxent River]] was presented with this idea in early November 2005 and were able to research, develop and field this technology within a six-week window. [[Northrop Grumman]] employees from [[Naval Air Station Oceana]] and members of the fleet support team from Naval Air Systems Command Depot at [[Naval Air Station Jacksonville]] performed the aircraft modification.
F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets from [[VFA-25]], [[VFA-113]], [[VFA-22]] and [[VFA-115]] were also modified with ROVER capability for the first deployment of the [[USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76)|USS ''Ronald Reagan'']] in 2006.<ref>[http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=24538 Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group Returns Following 6-Month Deployment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090913142353/http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=24538 |date=2009-09-13 }}. July 6, 2006.</ref>
The [[Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod]] also uses the ROVER for ground station.
==See also==
*[[LITENING]]  [[targeting pod]] - LITENING II targeting pod is also usable with ROVER
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=21377 ROVER System Revolutionizes F-14's Ground Support Capability]
*{{webarchive |date=2012-12-12 |url=https://archive.today/20121212015836/http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123024416 |title=ROVER adds extra set of eyes to sky}} - Usage in Raven UAV
*{{webarchive |date=2011-10-21 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021015253/http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/rover-sics-tacair-on-americas-enemies-updated-01700/ |title=ROVER Sics TacAir on America's Enemies}} - Discusses original ROVER usage in UAVs and targeting pods.
*{{webarchive |date=2005-05-07 |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507204822/http://www.robins.af.mil/history/FY02/CH3.02.htm |title=Warner Robins Air Logistics Center - FY2002 - High Technology}} - Historical account of the rapid deployment of ROVER capability to AC-130's during Operation Enduring Freedom
*[https://archive.today/20130127211256/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-rover13sep13,0,263719,print.story?coll=la-home-center US Pilot Helped Clear the Fog of War] - LA Times account of how ROVER was championed and adopted by the various services in Iraq and Afghanistan
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[[Category:Aircraft weapons]]