| RQ-29 Vanguard | |
|---|---|
| |
| Type: | Unmanned Aerial Vehicle |
| Used by: | United States Air Force |
| Season(s): | 9 |
| First episode: | "Day 9: 3:00pm-4:00pm" |
| Last episode: | "Day 9: 7:00pm-8:00pm" |
The RQ-29 Vanguard was a stealth drone used by United States Air Force during Day 9. It was designed as a first strike weapon for taking out air defenses, and carried an armament of 6 laser guided AGM-114 Hellfire missiles. It was equipped with latest stealth technology, and it was impossible to track by radar and left no infra-red signature.
Day 9[]
Schematics
During Day 9, the United States Air Force lost control of six RQ-29 vanguard drones after Naveed Shabazz used the Defense override module to commandeer them. One was used to take out a CIA team tracking Margot Al-Harazi, before Ian Al-Harazi redirected it above cloud cover to conceal it. He then used the drone to destroy St. Edwards Hospital in an attempt to assassinate Simone Al-Harazi, and used the remainder of its missiles when chasing her across London.
A second RQ-29 drone took out Wembley Stadium in an attempt to assassinate President James Heller. Later, a drone threatened to destroy Waterloo Station before Jack Bauer drove it into the river.
Background information and notes[]
- On the radar screen seen in Day 9: 3:00pm-4:00pm, the drones are designated as RG29 instead of RQ-29, and in Day 9: 7:00pm-8:00pm the last drone is designated RF29.
- Lockheed Martin manufactures the RQ drone series, although there is no RQ-29 model and the "RQ" designation indicates a surveillance drone that carries no weapons. The vehicle seen on the show as the RQ-29 looks identical to the design of the MQ-1 Predator drone from earlier in the season.