However, the ability of a spy plane to be serviced fairly quickly allowed it to even the odds in terms of intelligence gathering. While the area revealed by the recon photos was decently sized, the Allied Spy Satellite Uplink was still superior.

The spy plane did not appear in Red Alert 3. If the unit is getting an AA shot outside its recon range additional footage and information about the AA battery in firing will also be added to the commander's map. These would be transmitted to a commander's terminal, and the topography of the immediate area recon was requested for would be revealed. The spy plane would take off from a distant runway at high speed, fly over the designated area, and take a few snapshots. As Russia had ceased the development of field airstrips, the Spy Plane was built and maintained away from the battlefield. They eventually settled upon bringing back a fast, hard to intercept spy plane.

The Allied treaty also disabled the Soviet Air Force.įollowing Yuri's defection however, the Soviet Union needed a way to undertake field reconnaissance without the need for psychic powers. During the Third World War, the Soviet Union did not find a need for Spy planes, as their psychic corps granted them equal intelligence gathering ability.