The Special Operations Forces distinguish themselves from the regular military units by their training to accomplish raids on high value targets, often located behind enemy lines, rather than frontally attacking the enemy forces.
The success of these operations relies on 3 main factors: speed, stealth and a high level of support proportionally to the number of soldiers involved.
And in Broken Arrow, this army specialization is the embodiment of these principles:
Hard hitting infantry coming from the various Special forces groups and the 75th Ranger regiment, equipped with the latest weapons, airdropped or transported by fast vehicles and helicopters from the 160th SOAR (special operations aviation regiment), and supported by stealth drones and planes.
RECONNAISSANCE
Special forces reconnaissance is a fighting recon. They have the stealth and optics but on top of that they have the weapons.
Blend into the shadows, keep your eyes on the enemy at all times, and strike when it hurts the most.
Rangers RRC: The Regimental Reconnaissance Company is a group of elite soldiers from the 75th Ranger Regiment extensively trained to conduct special reconnaissance.
In the game they are represented as a 6 man team equipped either with suppressed weapons like the HK-416 D10RS and Mk 46 machine gun, particularly deadly at short range. Or with a loadout more dedicated to standoff engagement distances with 7.62mm guns like SCAR-H, Mk 48 machine gun and SCAR Mk 20 marksman rifle as well as M3E1 MAAWS recoilless rifle.
Ranger Snipers: A 3 man team with the best stealth and optics that can be equipped with suppressed rifles and laser designator:
- Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle, a designated marksman rifle in 5.56x45 caliber
- M110 Semi Automatic Sniper System, chambered in 7.62x51
- M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle, chambered in .300 WM reaching longer distances
Alternatively an anti-materiel configuration is possible with a Barrett M107 chambered in 12.7x99 and the two soldiers holding security equipped with M4A1 Mod.II rifles and AT4 rockets.
Green Berets: Specialists of infiltration and behind enemy lines operations, the 4 man Green Berets teams come equipped with 3 very different, sometimes unconventional, but always deadly loadouts:
A long range “Sniper contest” loadout with 4 different sniper rifles each with a different range and caliber (SCAR Mk 20 in 7.62x51, MRGG-S in 6.5 Creedmoor, Mk 22 ASR in .338 Norma Magnum and M107 in .50cal)
A medium range loadout with MRGG-A rifles, Mk 48 machine gun, SCAR Mk 20 marksman rifle and the XM-25 Punisher grenade launcher.
A short range loadout with suppressed HK-416 and Mk416, and a M202 Flash incendiary rocket launcher.
Pararescue/STT: The air force special forces come as a 6 man team with two possible loadouts:
CQC Pararescuemen with suppressed HK-416, Mk46, shotguns, multiple charges of smoke grenades and flashbangs which instantly panic the enemy squads located in the building they assault.
Special Tactics Teams equipped with long range weapons (MRGG-A, KAC AMG, MRGG-S) Stinger anti-aircraft missiles in their newer J variant as well as a laser designator.
M-ATV: a mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicle regularly used by special forces. It is equipped with a remote weapon station which can be fitted with M2 browning, a Mk19 automatic grenade launcher and optionally a Javelin top-attack anti-tank missile.
A special force operator is also picking out from the vehicle to engage targets with its M107 .50cal sniper rifle (when the vehicle is not on the move of course).
RQ-170 Sentinel: Seeing without being seen is a powerful ability provided by this fast and stealthy high altitude drone. Enemies who know they are being observed act carefully and change their position regularly. While those who don’t know are easy targets, unless they fall into paranoia because they feel constantly observed.
MQ-9 Reaper: The Reaper drone is the most heavily armed drone in the US arsenal with the possibility to carry 2x 500lb smart bombs, up to 8x Hellfire missiles and to combine Stinger or AIM-9 anti-air missiles.
INFANTRY
Delta Force: A full detachment of 12 men with the best training and equipment. Limited in numbers but deadly wherever they go.
Equipped for CQC with suppressed weapons, shotguns, M32 multiple grenade launchers and flashbangs, they can clean buildings in seconds with this loadout.
Or for long range engagement with the newest MRGG-A rifles, MRGG-S marksman rifles, KAC AMG, all chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor, a very performant munition (and very expensive) designed for competition shooting and adopted by the US special forces.
Rangers: This 9 man squad is the backbone of the specialization.
They can be equipped with SMAW-D bunker buster ammunition on top of M4A1 Mod. III, M249 Para and M320 grenade launchers, or trade the SMAW-D for a pair of SCAR-H marksman rifles and a RAWS (Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle).
Rangers RAWS: This is a 6 man team dedicated to short range anti-tank duty with 3 RAWS launchers that can be upgraded to M3E1 MAAWS with more range and more armor penetration.
This team leaves very little chance to escape to enemy armor even if they are equipped with active protection systems because of the sheer volume of anti tank projectiles fired.
Rangers support AT/AA: A 6 man team composed 2 pairs with MG338 machine gun, a modern machine gun chambered in .338 Norma Magnum with very long range similar to a M2 Browning. And one pair equipped with either a Stinger-J anti-aircraft missile or a Javelin top attack anti-tank missile fitted with the newer Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) giving it a longer engagement range.
Mk47 Striker: A 6 man team equipped with 2x Mk47 Striker automatic grenade launchers shooting 40mm programmable airburst grenades able to hit the usual ground targets but also helicopters if they don’t fly too fast.
VEHICLES
The Special Forces deck offers no independent fighting or support vehicle, but proposes a variety of transports that can be customized with different weapons able to provide a highly mobile fire support.
Ranger Special Operations Vehicle (RSOV): Based on the Land Rover Defender, this light transport can transport up to 6 men at speeds of up to 130km/h on roads which makes it the fastest non-flying infantry transport available to the US faction.
It is not armored at all but a M2 Browning or a Mk47 grenade launcher can be mounted on it.
Flyer GMV: Slightly slower than the RSOV, with a maximum speed of 120 km/h, this vehicle can also carry 6 men, but has access to a wider range of weapons, including the M2 and Mk47, but also the GAU-19 .50cal minigun and M230LF 30mm autocannon, which will make mincemeat of enemy reconnaissance units and can wreak havoc in enemy rear lines.
LMTV War Pig: A conversion of the LMTV truck stripped from absolutely everything that is not mission essential to make room for more weapons, ammo, fuel, spare parts, etc.
This truck is designed to conduct long range missions behind enemy lines. It can carry up to 12 personnel at a speed up to 95 km/h. It is equipped with a M240 medium machine gun for the front passenger as well as a second pintle mount weapon in the back.
You can choose between another M240 to make it as cheap as possible or a M2 Browning, Mk47 Striker, Fletcher laser guided rockets or TOW-2 to support the infantry at longer ranges.
HELICOPTERS
The special forces are supported by the helicopters of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).
Transports helicopters:
MH-6M Little Bird: A very agile helicopter able to carry 6 soldiers and small enough to easily land between 2 buildings. Its agility is required as it doesn’t have any countermeasures to lure enemy missiles.
It can be upgraded with an optronic ball to turn it into a cheap recon helicopter.
MH-60M Blackhawk: The most modern version of the medium lift helicopter, equipped with better sensors and electronic countermeasures than the regular army version.
With a carrying capacity of 12 to can transport 2 ranger fire teams at once. Allowing to occupy a position with a mix of anti-tank and anti-air units in one go.
Each side is covered by a M240 machine gun that can be upgraded to a GAU-17 minigun or a GAU-21 fast firing .50cal.
MH-60X Silent Hawk: This top secret helicopter featuring noise reduction and stealth technology enables the infiltration of troops deep inside enemy territory without being detected.
It is however completely unarmed and its flight performance is not the best.
MH-47G Chinook: This version of the cargo helicopter incorporates advanced countermeasures and sensors as well as extra armor and 4 weapon stations instead of 2.
So you can install up to 4x GAU-21, lift up to 12.5t of cargo and carry up to 32 fully equipped soldiers.
The protection can be further upgraded with Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) pods.
CV-22B Osprey: The tilt-rotor aircraft is used by the air force 352nd Special Operations Wing to transport Special Tactics Teams.
This aircraft can fly as fast as a plane and land like a helicopter. The downside is that it requires time to slow down so you cannot improvise an emergency landing with it.
It can be upgraded with a belly-mounted GAU-17 minigun.
Reconnaissance/Attack helicopters:
AH-6M Killer Egg: The armed version of the Little Bird cannot transport troops but instead carries 2x GAU-17 miniguns and the possibility to assign on each side a different weapon to choose between GAU-19B .50cal minigun, A pod of 7 Hydra rockets, 8 DAGR guided rockets, a pair of Hellfire missiles, a pair of stinger missiles.
Like the MH-6 this helicopter has no countermeasures and must count on its agility to fly low between buildings but in expert hands it can be extremely cost efficient as it is very cheap.
MH-60M DAP: The Direct Action Penetrator version of the Blackhawk is half transport as it retains the possibility to carry 6 soldiers, half combat helicopter as it can be equipped with a large variety of weapons including M230 30mm chain guns, unguided and guided 70mm rockets, Hellfire and Stinger missile.
It is also equipped with one of the best ECM protections.
RAH-66 Comanche: In broken arrow alternative timeline the two prototypes of RAH-66 stealth helicopter have not been shelved as museum pieces but have reached active service in the 160th SOAR to escort the MH-60X in their perilous missions.
They feature retractable weapon bays which can carry a mix of guided and unguided rockets, Hellfire and Stinger missiles.
A radar can also be installed on top of the rotor to increase the detection range and see first in addition to being seen last.
AH-64E Guardian: The most advanced variant of the AH-64 helicopter can be equipped with a large payload of guided or unguided rockets, JAGM anti-tank missiles with extended range compared to Hellfire.
The wingtips can also be equipped with additional Stinger missiles or extra ECM protection.
This helicopter is the bane of any enemy armored groups which can be destroyed in a matter of seconds by volleys of top attack missiles.
PLANES
AC-130U Spooky / AC-130J Ghostrider: The famous gunship aircraft will unleash a hailstorm of fire on enemy units located within its turn radius.
In the game we have decided to let you mix multiple versions of the aircraft so you can choose between the U version with 25mm GAU-12 Equalizer + 40mm Bofors cannon + 105mm howitzer or the J version with a 30mm GAU-23 autocannon + 105mm howitzer
But on top of that you can equip all the most modern guided weapons like GBU-53 Small diameter bombs or Hellfire missiles under the wings and Griffin missiles launched through the rear ramp on targets laser designated by the aircraft itself.
MC-130H: Special force version of the C-130 aircraft fitted with additional counter measures, ideal to airdrop special forces and their light vehicles from low altitude in contested airspace.
Up to 64 paratroopers or 20t of equipment can be airdropped.
F-117 Nighthawk:The iconic black jet officially retired in 2008 is still flying to this day and continues to be certified for new capabilities. Will it get a second life ? At least in Broken Arrow it will.
This stealth aircraft is a precision bomber able to carry 2 smart bombs of 500lb, 1000lb or 2000lb as well as the new JSOW gliding bombs with their cluster warhead or a pair of JASSM cruise missiles.
F-35A Lightning II:This is the air force version of the stealth multirole aircraft with conventional take-off and landing. The lack of a vertical take off capability allows this aircraft to carry heavier loadouts than its USMC counterpart.
Each of the 2 weapon bay doors has an AMRAAM air-to-air missile attached to it and the bay itself can contain a large panel of weapons:
- 2 additional AMRAAMs
- 1 500lb or 2000lb smart bombs
- 4 GBU-53 StormBreaker small diameter bombs
- 1 AGM-154 JSOW smart cluster bomb
- 1 AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile
- 1 Joint Strike (cruise) Missile
F-22 Raptor: Initially designed as a pure air superiority fighter, the F-22 lost most of its purpose at the end of the cold war and gained additional air to ground capabilities.
It carries by default a pair of short range infrared AIM-9X sidewinders and each ventral weapon bay can contain up to 3 air to air missiles, either AIM-120 AMRAAM or the newest AIM-260 JATM with longer range. Two missiles can be sacrificed to carry a 1000lb bomb, either JDAM or JSOW or 4 Stormbreaker small diameter bombs.
B-2 Spirit: The giant flying wing is the most deadly bomber in the US arsenal with a stealth capability allowing it to approach its target undetected and drop its huge payload of conventional, guided or nuclear bombs.
The bomb bay can contain:
- 80 Mk.82 500lb bombs
- 16 Mk.84 2000lb bombs or their guided equivalent the GBU-56 LJDAM
- 16 AGM-154 JSOW 1000lb cluster gliding bombs
- 16 JASSM cruise missiles
- A B-61 tactical nuke (16 in reality but that’s a bit overkill at our scale :D )
All US specializations have now been revealed!
You now know the 5 different specializations available to the US faction.
- Marine Expeditionary Unit
- Armored Brigade
- Airborne Infantry
- Stryker Cavalry Regiment
- Special Operations Forces
To build your battlegroup you need to choose 2 of them meaning that there are 10 possible combinations:
Marine + Armored that you could play during February 2023 Beta.
Marine + Airborne and Armored + Airborne which were added for the second beta in November 2024.
And so 7 more combinations will be available at release. This more than triple the diversity of the battlegroups you’ll be able to play and face on the battlefield.
We are very excited to see the game's full potential finally unleashed, and eager to see tens of thousands of players facing off in massive multiplayer battles at release to see which strategies will emerge, how fast counters will be found, and of course adapt the game whenever it is needed to offer a truly memorable, long term experience to our players.
Multiplayer is what bound our team together and gave us the motivation to create our own game. We really wish to offer this opportunity back to the world and hope that many will be able to experience what we experienced.
Sincerely,
Steel Balalaika Team