text: FM 7-100.1________________________________________________________________________________
  AIR ASSETS
  6-26. Aerial reconnaissance includes visual observation, aerial imagery, UAV
  reconnaissance, and signals reconnaissance. Since most reconnaissance air-
  craft must penetrate enemy airspace, many of these missions are possible for
  manned aircraft only when the OPFOR has established air superiority. How-
  ever, UAVs do not necessarily require air superiority. They are generally
  harder to detect because they are smaller and fly at lower altitudes than manned
  aircraft. Also, they are relatively low-cost and may be considered expendable.
  Fixed-Wing
  6-27. The Air Force has varying reconnaissance assets to meet specific needs.
  These units use high-performance aircraft to conduct aerial reconnaissance,
  including visual, photographic, radar, and signals reconnaissance missions.
  Aircraft on photographic reconnaissance missions normally fly at high speed
  and may fly at high or low altitudes. They fly in pairs or singly, out to about
  600 km from their operating base. Aircraft with side-looking airborne radar
  (SLAR) normally work at high altitude and may not need to cross the battle
  line to achieve their objectives. Similarly, signals reconnaissance aircraft may
  not need to cross the battle line to identify and locate enemy radar emissions.
  Rotary-Wing
  6-28. Helicopters are a primary means to transport and insert reconnais-
  sance units behind enemy lines. They can emplace observation posts or
  reconnaissance patrols rather than perform air reconnaissance, especially
  when the OPFOR does not have air superiority.
  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  6-29. There are two types of UAV: drones and remotely-piloted vehicles
  (RPVs). A drone flies a set course programmed into its onboard flight control
  system prior to launch. An RPV, on the other hand, can be flown by remote
  control from a ground station, over a flight path of the controller’s choosing.
  Flight patterns can vary according to the mission. For surveillance missions, the
  UAV typically uses a figure-eight or racetrack pattern to maintain it over the
  assigned surveillance area. For reconnaissance, intelligence collection, target
  acquisition, and battle damage assessment missions, a loop or zigzag pattern
  allows thorough coverage over a specific target area. RPV operators can vary
  these basic flight patterns by taking control of the RPV and changing its altitude,
  speed, or direction of flight. This allows RPVs to search for high-priority targets
  or to collect more detailed information on such targets once it locates them.
  While the radio command link gives an RPV greater flexibility, it also limits the
  range of the RPV to the line-of-sight transmission range from its control station.
  However, many RPVs can also operate in a preprogrammed mode at longer
  ranges. UAV operations are also described in greater detail in FM 7-100.2.
  SATELLITES
  6-30. The Intelligence Directorate controls satellite reconnaissance to support the
  OPFOR. These satellites provide unique capabilities of noninvasive reconnaissance
  (not violating enemy airspace), “free” access, and continuous communications or