ION Services (Western Sahara)

NOTE: This article is about the semi-official faction in ArmA 3's Western Sahara Creator DLC. For the canonical ION Services company/faction in the main ARMA games, see ION Services.

ION Services (short form: ION/IoN) is a BLUFOR faction in ArmA 3. It was added with the release of the Western Sahara Creator DLC.

Overview[]

A U.S.-based private military company, ION Services Inc. has been deployed to the Sefrou-Ramal region of Argana^[1] following the outbreak of an armed rebellion by the Tura tribes.^[2]

Officially, their mission is to safeguard economic assets on behalf of the Daltgreen mining company and the Shenzhen Industry Group.^[3]^[4] Unofficially however, ION has been contracted by an anonymous client to carry out a search and rescue operation to locate missing news journalist, Michael Sully, following his sudden disappearance.^[5]^[6]

Equipment[]

ION contractors (2036)

Hailing from a variety of ethnic and professional backgrounds, ION's contractors do not have a uniform set of outfits or personal gear. For instance, many contractors eschew ballistic-resistant helmets altogether and only wear headsets for communication, ballcaps, bandanas, and dust goggles for better visibility in sandstorms.

However, on some occasions, specialists and tactical drivers with experience in operating armoured vehicles may wear helmets made from aramid fibres and tanker helmets for protection against fragmentation and shrapnel. Some contractors may even bring along ballistic-resistant facemasks, though they are rarely seen in combat with them.

Informal wear extends to their clothing and vests wherever applicable. Contractors can be seen wearing milspec plate carriers to lightweight body armour vests, mixed in with brightly-coloured flannel shirts, polos, and t-shirts paired with cargo trousers and camouflaged combat pants.

Arsenal[]

Armoury[]

Image	Name	Description
	AA40	Shotgun Calibre: 12 Gauge
	ADR-97	Submachine Gun Calibre: 5.7×28 mm
	Mk18 ABR	Designated Marksman Rifle Calibre: 7.62×51 mm NATO
	Mk200	Light Machine Gun Calibre: 6.5×39 mm
	P07	Handgun Calibre: 9×21 mm
	PDW2000	Submachine Gun Calibre: 9×21 mm
	Vermin	Submachine Gun Calibre: .45 ACP
	XMS	Bullpup Assault Rifle Calibre: 5.56×45 mm NATO

Motor Pool[]

Vehicle	Role	Notes
AMV-7 Marshall CV	Modular Armoured Fighting Vehicle / Command Vehicle	- Amphibious - Can carry up to 8 passengers - Is Data Link-enabled - Has a passive radar
AP-5 Bustard	Small UCAV	- Autonomous - Has a variable weapons system that supports most infantry small arms - Has a laser designator - Uses a visual sensor to detect infantry
AR-2 Darter	Small UAV	- Autonomous - Has a laser designator - Uses a visual sensor to detect infantry
Offroad	Pickup Truck	- Variable transportation capacity depending on variant
MSE-3 Marid	Armoured Personnel Carrier	- Amphibious - Can transport up to six passengers
Quadbike	All-Terrain Vehicle	- Can transport a single passenger
PO-30 Orca UP	Light Utility Helicopter	- Can transport up to 8 passengers - Has two (2) weapon pylon hardpoints - Can utilise Slingloading
Zamak	Utility Truck	- Can carry up to 14 passengers

Gallery[]

References[]

↑ ARMA 3: Western Sahara 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, Extraction, "Iron ore surface mine, operated by Daltgreen Mining and Exploration Ltd. It is currently closed on account of the escalating violence. Team Shield is stationed in this area to safeguard company assets."
↑ ARMA 3: Western Sahara 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, Extraction, \lxws\missions_f_lxws\video\ext_aan_intro.ogv, 00:06, "Internecine violence continues across Saharan states this week, following last month's popular uprising by Tura insurgents. Government forces in Argana's Sefrou-Ramal province have been unable to maintain order but deny losing key districts to the rebels...", AAN News
↑ ARMA 3: Western Sahara 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, Extraction, "Iron ore surface mine, operated by Daltgreen Mining and Exploration Ltd. It is currently closed on account of the escalating violence. Team Shield is stationed in this area to safeguard company assets."
↑ ARMA 3: Western Sahara 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, Extraction, "As far as the rest of the world's concerned, we're here to safeguard economic assets on behalf of Daltgreen Limited and the Shenzhen Industry Group."
↑ ARMA 3: Western Sahara 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, Extraction, "Our mission is to rescue the foreign correspondent, Michael Sully. He is most likely being held by Tura tribesmen somewhere in the Sefrawi Desert. His exact whereabouts are not yet known, as his captors are highly mobile, changing camp every other night to avoid detection. Not much to go on, I know. So expect some legwork. You will need to gather additional intel from insurgents in the field and bring it back to base for analysis."
↑ ARMA 3: Western Sahara 2021 [Video Game], Rotators Collective, Extraction, "Michael Sully, a foreign correspondent for AAN News, has been missing for nearly two months. Last week, HUMINT confirmed our fears: He is in the hands of insurgents. ION Services Inc. has been contracted by an anonymous client to find him and bring him home."

Factions of Western Sahara
BLUFOR	ION • NATO • Tura • UNA
REDFOR	SFIA • Tura
INDFOR	Tura