A VATSIM Special Operations organisation flying high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions — from the edge of space to the training pattern.
Fleet
Each airframe in our fleet represents a distinct mission set, from strategic reconnaissance at the edge of the atmosphere to undergraduate pilot training.
SR-71
Strategic high-speed, high-altitude reconnaissance.
U-2
High-altitude surveillance and signals collection.
RQ-4
Long-endurance unmanned ISR.
MC-12W
Manned airborne ISR and signals support.
T-38
Supersonic trainer for pilot qualification.
KC-135Q
Aerial refuelling support for high-altitude reconnaissance operations.
Proprietary Systems
SKYWARDEN is 9RW's purpose-built ISR mission management suite — developed in-house and unique to this Wing. It turns a reconnaissance sortie into a structured, data-driven mission with real consequences for collection quality.
Connects directly to the simulator via SimConnect, tracking aircraft state in real time throughout the mission.
Type-specific sensor behaviour, including emitter detection and tracking, modelled against real mission parameters.
Pulls real-world weather via Open-Meteo, affecting sensor performance and collection quality during the sortie.
Pilots work from generated target sheets and triangulate emitter locations using onboard sensor data.
Automated post-mission reports are published to the SKYWARDEN Intelligence Website, recording collection results for every sortie.
Mission
We recreate the operations of a real-world reconnaissance wing on the VATSIM network, with structured training and a focus on realistic procedures.
Missions are planned and flown using procedures based on real-world reconnaissance tasking — high-altitude routes, sensor employment, and coordination with ATC.
New pilots progress through a syllabus covering aircraft familiarisation, navigation, instrument procedures, and airframe-specific advanced training before flying operational missions.
We are building towards VATSIM Special Operations Association (VSOA) status, operating in accordance with VATSIM Special Operations policy. VSOA approval will unlock access to special use airspace and joint exercises with other approved organisations.