UAV Overwatch is a Recon class ability that reveals enemies within roughly 100 meters of your current position for 60 seconds. The scan is tied to you rather than a controllable drone, and it can’t be shot down. Treat it as a temporary wallhack for your team: a short window where rotations, flanks, and pushes become much safer because you know where nearby threats are.

How to unlock UAV Overwatch mid‑match (Recon training path)

UAV Overwatch sits at the top of Recon’s training path (also called Field Specs). You fill this path during a match by earning XP from objective play and squad-focused actions. Think of it as a vertical ladder of boxes on the right side of the HUD: each box fills, locks in, and then progress starts on the next one. The UAV unlocks only when you reach the top box for Recon.

Two nuances matter:

  • Progress decays if you’re inactive before a box locks. Keep contributing—spotting, capping, reviving—until each box clicks in.
  • Make sure you’re running Recon with its Sniper training path active. That’s the default for the class, and it’s the one that grants UAV Overwatch.

Default inputs to call in the UAV (PC, PlayStation, Xbox)

Platform Default input
PC Press the 6 key
PlayStation 5 Press L1 + R1 together
Xbox Series X|S Press LB + RB together

These inputs only work once the Recon training path is fully maxed for that life. If nothing happens, you haven’t reached the top box yet—or your binding has been changed in settings.

When to press it (and what to do during the 60‑second window)

Because the scan lasts just one minute, trigger it with intent. Pop it as your squad stages a push, when you’re about to rotate through a risky lane, or to stabilize a defense after a wave of pressure. Watch the minimap closely and call out clusters; identify common choke points and pieces of cover where enemies stack up, then route around or pre-aim with that information. The ability’s value peaks when your team moves decisively while the grid is “lit.”

Why the UAV won’t activate (quick checks)

  • You’re not at the top of the Recon training path. Keep earning XP until the final box locks in; the input won’t register before then.
  • You’re on a different training path. Switch Recon back to its Sniper path to gain access to UAV Overwatch.
  • Your keybinds were changed. Ensure the class ability input is bound to something you can press quickly (on PC, many layouts use 6 by default).
  • You’re pressing only one bumper on a controller. The call-in requires both bumpers simultaneously.
  • You went inactive mid-progress. If the bar drained before a box locked, you’ll need to rebuild that segment by returning to objective and squad play.

UAV Overwatch at a glance

Class requirement Recon (Sniper training path)
Unlock condition Reach the top box of the Recon training path during the match
Activation PC: 6 • PS5: L1 + R1 • Xbox: LB + RB
Duration 60 seconds
Range ~100 meters around your current position
Counterplay None (scan isn’t shootable)

Use it to turn a tight lane into a known quantity: clear info, fewer surprises, and a better chance your squad wins the next fight. If you consistently hit the top of the path early, you’ll have this tool available when it matters most.