Star Citizen Guide to Using the Ursa Rover as an IFV
Star Citizen Guide to Using the Ursa Rover as an IFV
Often sneered at, the Ursa rover is a hidden gem when fielded properly in combat. Controversy over claims that it can fill the role of an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is almost as old as those claims themselves. Below, we explore how we believe the Ursa could succeed in an IFV-like role.
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Key takeaways
The Ursa rover is a fast and versatile surface vehicle that can be used as an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) in Star Citizen.
The Ursa’s ground speed, small size, low-profile turret, and ability to deploy infantry are its main advantages, but it’s vulnerable to anti-armor and mounted weapons.
Smart systems management, a low-emissions weapon loadout, hull-down positioning, and the integration of dismounted infantry are key to the Ursa’s success as a combat platform.
A unique multi-role surface vehicle
The Ursa rover is a Size 3 wheeled surface vehicle. It has a top speed of 144 KMpH—expressed as 40 m/sec on a driver’s head-up display (HUD)—and a turning radius of ~18 m.1 Acceleration and handling are responsive when in forward gear, but can be sluggish in reverse.
For defense, the Ursa has one low-profile remote turret and one Size 0 shield. The turret can equip two Size 1 weapons. When weapons are unequipped, the turret remains functional as a observation device. Either crew member can take full control of the turret. The vehicle’s structural toughness places it between a Tumbril Nova tank and Tumbril Cyclone rover. However, unlike the Nova and militarized versions of the Cyclone, the Ursa’s hull lacks a damage reduction modifier.
In terms of emissions, a Size 0 radar—the most common type used by surface vehicles—can detect an Ursa up to about 900 m. However, the Ursa can achieve a minimum possible emissions score that cuts the range at which it can be detected to less than 400 m.2 3
The vehicle has a maximum of two crew, storage for up to two Size 3 personal weapons, and can carry up to four passengers or 4 SCU of cargo. Passengers and cargo can be mixed in any combination, such as 2 passengers and 2 SCU.
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Capabilities in context
The Ursa rover’s strengths are its speed, small size, use as a crew-served weapon system, and ability to deploy infantry. It’s one of the fastest wheeled vehicles in Star Citizen.
A comparatively small size, angular design, and low-profile remote turret makes blending in with rocky, forested, or otherwise crowded terrain easy. The top-mounted position of its turret means that—with the proper usage of terrain features—the Ursa can go unnoticed by the naked eye while still being able to engage enemies. This is especially true when employing a hull-down position.
Since the Ursa doesn’t feature any inherent damage-diffusing capability, we don’t consider it to be an armored vehicle. But naturally low electromagnetic and infrared emissions can render the Ursa undetectable by hostile vehicle scanners while keeping well within its own weapon range.
It has enough room to carry one or two fire teams depending on infantry unit structural preference.4 A properly trained and equipped fire team can work in tandem with the rover to increase sensory and combat capabilities.
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How you can field the Ursa effectively
The Ursa certainly has potential to make for an effective infantry fighting vehicle when you use it properly. It’s both fast and agile enough to keep pace with, effectively engage, and provide immediate tactical assistance to friendly infantry. A split weapon loadout of one energy repeater and one ballistic cannon will give it enough punch to take down both fast-moving and slightly tougher targets. But just like a real-world IFV, you’ll want to avoid fighting against more powerful armored combat vehicles.
As expected, it’s vulnerable to anti-armor weapons. But you can mitigate this vulnerability with smart systems management, running a low-emissions weapon loadout, and integrating passengers into the Ursa’s sensory and defensive capabilities as dismounted infantry.
Shield systems can be turned off when taking a defensive position to reduce EM signature. Although this leaves the Ursa more vulnerable if hit, it lessens the chance of a glancing strike off of the shield bubble. Powering off individual weapons has the same effect on emissions without disabling the entire weapon system, but so does using a ballistic weapon loadout.
Meanwhile, you can teach dismounted infantry how to act as extra sensors for the Ursa, spotting enemies and prioritizing them for the Ursa crew. A wide range of man-portable weaponry can be employed to defend the rover against threats both large and small, while the presence of dismounted infantry can complicate and slow enemy target prioritization and selection processes.
Measured using a range-finding scope in Star Citizen a3.14.
Calculated using last known publicly available radar multiplier data from Star Citizen a3.10.
As of Star Citizen a3.15.1, information concerning emissions-based detection of the Ursa may be inaccurate.
For our thoughts on fire team sizes, read “Building an Effective Infantry Squad in Star Citizen”.