Mission 16 Objectives at a Glance
This sortie is an identification problem before it becomes a weapons problem. Ships in view are not automatically authorized targets. Slow the decision down enough to inspect the relevant vessel and then make a deliberate attack. A quick missile launch at the wrong ship is less useful than a slightly longer approach that gives you a clear visual check.
The later UAV threat changes that rhythm. Once drones are climbing, continuing the ship search can consume the time you need for interception. Read the new objective as soon as it appears. Your earlier surface-target plan must yield to the active aerial threat rather than continuing simply because it was the plan at launch.
| Part of the sortie | Task | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping search | Visually identify the hostile vessels | Treating every container ship as hostile |
| Confirmed surface attack | Engage the positively identified targets | Firing while the visual cue is still ambiguous |
| UAV launch, if it occurs | Intercept the climbing drones | Remaining occupied with surface cleanup |
Best Aircraft and Weapons for Mission 16
Prepare for both surface targets and a possible air interception phase. A familiar multirole aircraft is a reasonable starting point because the decision requires more than raw anti-ship firepower. You need enough control to inspect a vessel and enough aerial capability to respond promptly after an objective change. Select weapons after checking the exact options in your current hangar.
A multi-target air weapon can help when several drones are available to engage from one approach. It does not remove the need to acquire sensible locks. Avoid committing your entire weapon selection to ships and then discovering that the airborne threat requires repeated standard-missile passes. Conversely, a costly aircraft upgrade is unnecessary if your current setup can perform both jobs reliably.
| Job | Useful capability | Selection question |
|---|---|---|
| Ship inspection | Predictable low-speed handling | Can I see the markings without losing control? |
| Surface attack | An adequate weapon already available | Can I destroy the identified target cleanly? |
| UAV interception | Air-to-air capability and responsive handling | Can I change altitude and engage without delay? |
Mission 16 Walkthrough: Phase by Phase
Locate and inspect the container ships
Enter the shipping area and make a pass that gives you a clear view of each candidate. Inspect one vessel at a time. Keep the crane arrangement and emblem in mind together; recognizing only one feature is a reason to look again. Avoid trying to count details while also forcing a very steep attack angle. A clean inspection pass makes the following engagement easier.
Commit to the confirmed targets
Once the visual identification is clear, line up the attack and keep track of which ship you have engaged. Make the distinction between a vessel you inspected, a vessel you damaged and a vessel you destroyed. That prevents repeated passes over a completed target while another candidate remains unresolved. After the attack, check the current objective instead of assuming that a weapon impact ended the stage.
React to the UAV objective
If the Explosive UAV phase begins, climb and prioritize drones that are already highest. Their movement toward the Space Elevator is the urgent problem. Use the radar to choose your next interception and keep scanning after each kill. Do not keep circling the shipping lane out of habit when the objective has moved into the air.
How to Find the Correct Targets
The visual cue is the combination of three cranes and a sun emblem. Plan an approach that allows both to be inspected. If the emblem is hidden by your angle, turn for another view rather than interpreting an unclear shape as confirmation. This is particularly helpful when several similar vessels occupy the same scene and you are tempted to use position alone.
A useful mental record has three states: unchecked, confirmed and cleared. Move a ship between those states only after the relevant action. You do not need an invented coordinate list to apply this method. You need to avoid letting a familiar-looking silhouette become a substitute for the identification task the mission presents.
Common Mistakes and Fixes
If every container ship looks the same, separate inspection from attack. Give yourself a stable view before selecting a weapon. If you lose track of your target, return to the identification cue instead of firing at the nearest vessel. If the UAVs get ahead of you, the next replay should improve the transition between jobs before making the ship phase faster.
A loadout mismatch can resemble an aiming problem. When you consistently need too many aerial passes, inspect your air weapon options and test one adjustment. When you struggle to see a ship marking, aircraft handling and approach angle deserve attention before firepower. Buy a specific solution to a repeated difficulty rather than spending MRP on a general impression that your plane is weak.
Replay and Rank Tips
During your first successful run, learn the visual check and the objective transition. During a rank replay, reduce repeated inspection passes without skipping confirmation. Save the results screen and note whether your delay came from searching, attacking or climbing to intercept. That gives the next attempt a concrete purpose.
Keep the same difficulty while comparing changes. There is no reason to interpret a different result as proof that a new aircraft helped when several other settings also changed. For currency planning, include the complete repeat loop and failed attempts. A short successful sortie can be useful, but the rate comes from your recorded rewards and elapsed time.
Sources and Further Reading
Source attribution: Mission-specific objectives, ship-identification cues and the UAV phase are based on TPose Gaming's Mission 16 walkthrough.
Common questions
Mission 16 FAQ
What is Mission 16 called?
Mission 16 is Singer.
How do I identify the hostile ships?
Look for three cranes together with a sun emblem. Use a clear visual approach and confirm both details before attacking.
What should I do when the UAVs launch?
Switch to aerial interception and prioritize the drones already highest as they climb toward the Space Elevator.
Do I need a dedicated anti-ship aircraft?
Choose a loadout that can deal with confirmed surface targets and respond to the UAV phase. A practical multirole setup can cover both jobs.
How can I make a replay cleaner?
Reduce unnecessary inspection passes, track cleared ships and improve the transition to the aerial objective. Compare completed runs on the same difficulty.
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