The Engineer III challenge requires you to deal a total of 2,500 damage to aircraft using your Engineer class launchers. This typically translates to destroying roughly two to three Helicopters or Jets. Completing this challenge unlocks the Dead Air Player Card Icon, the Patch Job Uniform Patch, and the Gold Badge for Engineer.
Challenge Overview
What You Need to Do
The challenge tasks you with dealing 2,500 damage to aircraft using the SLM-93A SPIRE, which is the Air Defense Launcher available to the Engineer class. This launcher locks onto aircraft in the sky and fires a tracking missile that follows Helicopters and Jets until impact.
Enemy pilots can deploy countermeasures to break the lock, creating a psychological game of timing. You must decide when to fire your missile while they decide when to pop flares or dive out of range. Successfully landing hits on aircraft should progress the challenge, though, as many players have discovered, this is not always the case.
Challenge Rewards
Completing the Engineer III challenge unlocks three cosmetic items. The Dead Air Player Card Icon displays on your profile and in-game card. The Patch Job Uniform Patch can be equipped on your character. The Gold Badge for Engineer serves as the final badge tier for the class. But most importantly, completion of Engineer 3 unlocks Engineer Specialist Challenges.
Why Progress Is Not Tracking
The Engineer III challenge has been bugged since November, and the tracking issues have persisted without an official fix. Players report destroying dozens of aircraft with the SLM-93A SPIRE and seeing zero progress on their challenge counter. This is a known issue that has been reported extensively on Steam forums and community channels.
Several theories exist about why damage sometimes tracks and sometimes does not. Some players believe the challenge only counts damage dealt to aircraft occupied by players, meaning empty or abandoned vehicles do not count. Others theorize that the aircraft must be damaged but not destroyed, though this seems counterintuitive, as most, if not all, SLM shots destroy aircraft.
Inconsistent tracking means some hits will count while others will not, with no clear pattern. Some players report a success rate as low as one in ten aircraft actually registering progress. Despite the frustration, there are workarounds that have helped players push through and complete the challenge.
Potential Fixes and Workarounds
While there is no guaranteed fix, the following methods have worked for various players. You may need to try multiple approaches before finding one that works for you.
| Theory | Potential Solution |
|---|---|
| Only counts damage to aircraft with players inside | Keep targeting aircraft until you catch pilots who don’t bail. Most will jump when locked, so brute force is often the only answer. |
| Loadout configuration causes tracking to break | Reset Engineer Loadout 2 to default (hold X on PC) and don’t modify it |
| Standard multiplayer has inconsistent registration | Play Redsec mode where bot Helicopters track more reliably |
| Challenge doesn’t register launcher damage correctly | Use an Anti-Air Vehicle (Cheetah 1A2 / GE-26 PAX) as Engineer instead |
Disclaimer: These theories are community speculation based on player experiences. None have been officially confirmed by the developers. What works for one player may not work for another. Try multiple approaches if your progress remains stuck.
Reset Your Engineer Loadout
Many players have reported that resetting their Engineer Loadout 2 (the middle loadout slot) fixed the tracking issue. On PC, hold X while hovering over the loadout to reset it to default settings. This restores the loadout to the SGX primary weapon, P18 sidearm, and most importantly, the SLM-93A SPIRE launcher.
After resetting, some players noticed their progress started tracking immediately. This appears to be the most reliable fix and should be your first attempt before trying other methods. Be sure to select the loadout names first; then, a button should appear to reset the class to defaults.
Battle Royale Mode (Redsec)
Battlefield 6’s Battle Royale mode, called Redsec, spawns bot-controlled Helicopters during matches. Destroying these bot Helicopters with your Engineer launcher has been confirmed to count toward the challenge progress for some players. This provides a more controlled environment compared to standard multiplayer.
Queue into Redsec matches and keep your launcher ready for when bot Helicopters appear. While this method requires patience while waiting for spawns, the consistent tracking makes it worthwhile.
Anti-Air Vehicles
Some players have reported that using an Anti-Air Vehicle while playing as Engineer counted toward their challenge progress. This should not work based on the challenge wording, but has been confirmed by multiple players. If other methods fail, try hopping into an AA Vehicle on maps like Operation Firestorm and targeting aircraft from there.
Keep in mind this is an unintended workaround that may be patched in the future. It also contradicts the spirit of the challenge, but if you are desperate for progress, it is worth attempting.
TOW Weapons
There are TOW found around specific maps, which is a Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile system – those can be identified as Ground Mounted Rocket Launchers typically found around Conquest sites.
TOWs may help progress the challenge as they sometimes register as Helicopter Damage. They’re player-guided rather than lock-on, meaning they ignore flares entirely – just aim, and the missile follows until it hits or goes out of sight. Results vary, but it’s worth a shot in Conquest.
The Brute Force Method
If nothing else works, some players have simply powered through by destroying as many aircraft as possible. With an estimated 1 in 10 success rate in tracking, this means targeting around 30 to 50 aircraft to accumulate 2,500 damage. This is tedious but has worked for players who had no luck with other fixes.
Focus on high-traffic maps and stay persistent. Eventually, enough damage will register to complete the challenge. I’d managed to deal 1900 Damage over 120 hours, which is most definitely a tracking issue, though my focus had shifted to progressing other challenges instead.
Best Maps for Aircraft
Operation Firestorm is the best map for this challenge due to its open skies and constant air traffic. The map design encourages aircraft usage, giving you plenty of targets throughout the match. Position yourself near objectives with clear sightlines to the sky.
Other solid options include Mir Valley, Liberation Peak, and New Sobek City. These maps feature open terrain and active vehicle combat, providing regular opportunities to engage enemy aircraft. Stick to Conquest or Breakthrough modes where vehicle spawns are frequent.
Tips for Hitting Aircraft
Position yourself near friendly objectives where you can resupply ammunition and have cover from ground threats. Elevated positions provide better sightlines but make you more vulnerable. Find a balance between visibility and safety.
Wait for pilots to commit to attack runs before firing your missile. Aircraft that are strafing ground targets have less room to maneuver and are more likely to take the hit. Firing at aircraft that are far away gives pilots too much time to deploy countermeasures or escape.
Pay attention to countermeasure cooldowns. If you see a pilot pop flares, wait a few seconds and fire again before their countermeasures recharge. Patience and timing will land you more hits than spamming missiles whenever you get a lock.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Engineer III challenge not tracking?
The Engineer III challenge has been bugged since November with inconsistent tracking. Your first step should be resetting your Engineer Loadout 2 to default settings by holding X on PC while in the loadout menu. This has fixed the issue for many players.
What weapon do I need for this challenge?
You need the SLM-93A SPIRE, which is the Air Defense Launcher for the Engineer class. This is a lock-on missile launcher designed specifically for targeting aircraft. It comes equipped by default on Engineer Loadout 2.
How many aircraft do I need to destroy?
The challenge requires 2,500 damage, which typically equals destroying two to three Helicopters or Jets. However, due to tracking issues, you may need to hit significantly more aircraft before the challenge completes.
What is the best map for this challenge?
Operation Firestorm is widely considered the best map due to its open skies and constant aircraft traffic. Mir Valley, Liberation Peak, and New Sebc City are also good alternatives with active vehicle combat.
Do Anti-Air Vehicles count toward the challenge?
Some players have reported that using AA Vehicles as Engineer counted toward their progress. This should not work based on the challenge requirements, but has been confirmed as an unintended workaround by multiple players.
Does Redsec mode work for this challenge?
Yes, Battlefield 6’s Battle Royale mode (Redsec) spawns bot Helicopters that can count toward the challenge when destroyed with your Engineer launcher. This provides a more consistent tracking environment for some players.
