Updated October 25, 2026
Enemy-controlled UAV Towers can make moving through Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 DMZ much more dangerous. Once another squad activates a tower, it gains reconnaissance information that can help it track nearby enemies and defend the surrounding area.
The problem becomes more serious when an Operator uses the Overwatch trait, which can keep an activated UAV Tower running for the remainder of the deployment. If an opposing squad controls a useful tower location, waiting for its coverage to expire may not be an option.
Fortunately, an October 22 update introduced the ability to steal UAV Towers from enemy control.
This guide explains how to capture an enemy-controlled UAV Tower, counter permanent UAV coverage, use DDoS as an alternative disruption tool, and troubleshoot activation problems.
📋 Table of Contents
- Quick Answer: How to Steal a UAV Tower
- Can You Capture an Enemy UAV Tower?
- How to Steal an Enemy UAV Tower
- What Changed in the October 22 Update?
- How Permanent UAV Towers Work
- How to Counter Permanent UAV Towers
- Does DDoS Disable a UAV Tower?
- Deadtown UAV Tower Already Controlled?
- Why You Cannot Activate or Steal a Tower
- UAV Tower Activation Cost
- UAV Tower vs. SAM Site
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Tips
Quick Answer: How to Steal an Enemy UAV Tower in MW4 DMZ
Yes, you can steal an enemy-controlled UAV Tower in MW4 DMZ without waiting for its current activation to expire.
Follow these steps:
- Open your tactical map and locate the UAV Tower you want to capture.
- Approach the tower carefully, watching for enemy Operators defending the area.
- Find the tower's activation console.
- Interact with the console and follow the displayed takeover instructions.
- Complete the interaction and confirm that your squad has gained control of the tower.
This also gives you a way to contest towers kept active through the Overwatch trait.
If the console displays a cost or other requirement, follow the current on-screen instructions rather than relying on older activation methods.
Can You Capture an Enemy UAV Tower?
Yes. Enemy ownership no longer prevents you from attempting to take over a UAV Tower.
An active enemy UAV Tower can be contested through its interaction point, allowing your squad to challenge control of the area rather than simply avoiding it.
This is especially important when the opposing team has activated a tower in a location you need to visit for a mission, extraction route, or other objective.
However, being able to capture a tower does not make the interaction safe.
An enemy squad may still be nearby, and its reconnaissance coverage can make your approach more dangerous. Treat an enemy-controlled UAV Tower as a contested position rather than an unguarded map objective.
How to Steal an Enemy UAV Tower
The main challenge is reaching the tower's console while another squad may be monitoring or defending the surrounding area.
Step 1: Locate the UAV Tower
Open your tactical map and identify the tower you want to capture.
Before approaching, check nearby buildings, streets, and possible routes into the area.
If the tower is already active under enemy control, plan your approach with the possibility that the opposing squad has information about nearby movement.
Step 2: Secure Your Approach
Avoid rushing directly toward an exposed tower position.
Use nearby cover and watch for enemies occupying rooftops, windows, or other positions overlooking the console.
If you are playing with teammates, have one player watch the surrounding area while another prepares to interact with the tower.
For solo players, the safest approach is generally to avoid unnecessary fights and reach the interaction point only when the immediate area appears clear.
Step 3: Find the Activation Console
Move to the UAV Tower's normal interaction point.
Enemy-controlled towers can now be contested through the console, so an active tower does not automatically mean you must wait for its coverage to end.
Look for the available interaction prompt.
If the game displays a requirement or cost, check it before proceeding.
Step 4: Complete the Takeover
Interact with the console and follow the on-screen instructions.
Allow the interaction to finish before moving away.
Do not assume that every tower takeover is instantaneous or that an enemy-controlled tower has exactly the same requirements as an ordinary activation.
Step 5: Confirm Your Squad Has Control
After the interaction finishes, check the tower's displayed status or the relevant tactical-map information.
Make sure the takeover has actually completed.
If the status has not changed, return to the console and check whether an interaction requirement remains.
Tip: You do not always need to defend a captured tower afterward. If your priority is completing a mission or reaching extraction, consider moving on once the takeover has served its purpose.
What Changed in the October 22 Update?
The October 22 MW4 DMZ update introduced the ability to steal UAV Towers already controlled by enemy Operators.
The change makes tower ownership contestable.
Instead of treating an activated enemy tower as unavailable until its coverage ends, players can attempt to capture it directly.
This matters most when an enemy squad has established persistent reconnaissance coverage over a useful area.
UAV Towers also serve a different purpose from Lieutenant Hunt objectives. If you are trying to complete a mission involving Lieutenant intel, see our MW4 DMZ Hunter Order: Lieutenant Hunt Tower Guide.
How Permanent UAV Towers Work
The Overwatch Major trait in the Scout tree allows UAV Towers activated by that Operator to remain active for the rest of the deployment.
Normally, a UAV Tower provides reconnaissance coverage for a limited period. Overwatch changes that duration, allowing the Operator to maintain coverage without relying on the usual expiration.
This can become particularly troublesome when an enemy squad controls a tower overlooking an important objective or commonly used route.
Does Stealing a Tower Remove the Overwatch Trait?
No. Capturing a tower does not remove the Overwatch trait from the opposing Operator.
The important distinction is between an Operator's trait and control of a particular UAV Tower.
A tower can be contested even when its previous owner has a trait that extends activation duration.
If the enemy squad controls several towers, capturing one does not mean every other tower has been disabled.
How to Counter Permanent UAV Towers
There are several ways to respond when an opposing squad has established persistent UAV coverage.
1. Capture the Enemy Tower
Direct recapture is the clearest option when you need control of a particular area.
Approach the tower, reach its console, and complete the takeover interaction.
This is particularly useful when the tower is near a mission objective you cannot easily avoid.
2. Avoid the Controlled Area
Not every enemy UAV Tower is worth fighting over.
If you can reach your objective through another route, avoiding the contested area may be safer than attempting a capture.
This is especially important when you are carrying valuable equipment or mission items.
If limited inventory space is also affecting your extraction plans, our MW4 DMZ Backpack Full guide explains how to manage your carried loot.
3. Use DDoS to Disrupt Electronics
DDoS offers a possible way to interfere with active UAV Tower coverage.
It is best treated as a temporary disruption tool rather than a replacement for capturing the tower.
If you need ownership of the objective, use the console takeover interaction.
4. Avoid Staying in Predictable Positions
An enemy squad controlling a UAV Tower has a reconnaissance advantage in the surrounding area.
Avoid repeatedly approaching from the same direction or remaining unnecessarily close to a tower you do not intend to capture.
If the position is heavily defended, consider whether contesting it is worth the risk.
Does DDoS Disable an Active UAV Tower?
DDoS is an electronic-disruption tool that can be useful when dealing with enemy equipment.
It can also be used as a possible counter to active UAV Tower coverage, including towers maintained through persistent-activation traits.
However, disrupting a UAV Tower is not the same as capturing it.
If you use DDoS near an active tower, check whether its operation has been interrupted before moving through the area.
Do not assume that DDoS automatically transfers ownership to your squad.
How Long Does DDoS Disable a UAV Tower?
Do not rely on a fixed shutdown duration.
The important consideration is whether the tower is currently operating and whether its status changes after the disruption.
If you need to maintain control of an area, recapturing the tower through its console is the more direct option.
Deadtown UAV Tower Already Controlled? What to Do
Some DMZ objectives require players to activate a UAV Tower in a particular area, including Deadtown.
A problem can arise when another squad reaches the tower first and activates it.
Previously, an already active tower could leave players unsure how to proceed with their own activation objective.
The enemy-tower recapture mechanic provides another interaction to try.
What to Do If Another Squad Owns the Tower
- Locate the required UAV Tower in Deadtown.
- Check whether another squad currently controls it.
- Approach the console after securing the immediate area.
- Use the available takeover interaction.
- Check your mission tracker after the interaction finishes.
Important: Taking ownership of a tower does not necessarily guarantee credit for every mission that requires a UAV Tower activation.
If the objective remains incomplete, check its exact wording and whether it requires a specific location or activation action.
Do not assume the mission has progressed until the tracker confirms it.
Why You Cannot Activate or Steal a UAV Tower
If the console does not respond as expected, check the following possibilities before abandoning the objective.
The Interaction Prompt Is Missing
Move closer to the console and make sure you are facing the correct interaction point.
If the prompt does not appear, reposition slightly and check again.
You Have Not Met the Displayed Requirements
If the tower shows an activation cost or another requirement, make sure you meet it.
The requirements displayed in your current match should take priority over older instructions.
The Tower Is Already Controlled
Check whether the tower is under enemy or friendly control.
If it belongs to an enemy squad, look for the takeover interaction rather than assuming the tower cannot be used.
The Interaction Does Not Complete
If the interaction stops unexpectedly, check whether you moved away from the console or whether nearby enemies interrupted your attempt.
Return to the console when it is safe and inspect the current prompt.
The Tower Changes Ownership but the Mission Does Not Progress
A successful takeover and a mission objective are not necessarily identical.
Check the objective wording and the mission tracker before attempting another activation.
The Game Is Experiencing Connection Problems
If several interactions are delayed or fail during the same match, check whether you are also experiencing packet loss, rubberbanding, or other network symptoms.
Our MW4 DMZ Packet Burst & Rubberbanding guide covers connection troubleshooting for PC and consoles.
Connection problems should not be assumed to be the cause of every failed tower interaction.
UAV Tower Activation Cost: What to Check
Before activating or recapturing a UAV Tower, inspect the interaction prompt for any displayed cost or requirement.
Do not assume that capturing an enemy-controlled tower is free or that it uses the same cost as an ordinary activation.
Likewise, do not depend on older activation-cost bypass methods after a game update.
If the interaction displays a payment requirement, follow the current on-screen instructions.
For players attempting to complete a mission, make sure you understand the required action before spending resources on a tower that may not satisfy the objective.
UAV Tower vs. SAM Site: What's the Difference?
UAV Towers and SAM Sites are separate DMZ objectives with different functions.
- UAV Tower: Provides reconnaissance information about nearby enemies and Operators, helping your squad monitor the surrounding area.
- SAM Site: Serves an anti-aircraft function rather than providing the same ground reconnaissance coverage.
Activating a UAV Tower will not substitute for a mission that specifically requires a SAM Site.
If you are struggling with a SAM Site objective, see our MW4 DMZ Capture SAM Site guide which covers capture-progress problems and the Eye in the Sky mission.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you steal an active enemy UAV Tower in MW4 DMZ?
Yes. The October 22 update allows players to contest UAV Towers already controlled by enemy Operators. Approach the console and complete the available takeover interaction.
Do you have to wait for an enemy UAV Tower to expire?
No. You can attempt to recapture an enemy-controlled tower without waiting for its current activation to end.
What makes a UAV Tower permanent?
The Overwatch Major trait in the Scout tree allows UAV Towers activated by that Operator to remain active for the rest of the deployment.
Can you steal a UAV Tower with Overwatch active?
Yes, enemy tower ownership can be contested. Extended activation duration does not make the tower permanently owned by the original squad.
Does capturing a tower remove the enemy's Overwatch trait?
No. The Operator retains the trait. Capturing a particular tower does not remove that trait or automatically disable other towers.
Does DDoS permanently destroy a UAV Tower?
Do not assume DDoS permanently destroys or transfers ownership of a tower. It is an electronic-disruption option, not the same as a console takeover.
Does stealing a tower complete the Deadtown UAV objective?
Not necessarily. Check whether the mission tracker registers the interaction. A takeover should not be assumed to satisfy every activation objective.
Is stealing an enemy UAV Tower free?
The exact current takeover cost is not established here. Check the console for any displayed payment or interaction requirements.
Can enemies steal a UAV Tower after my squad activates it?
Yes. Tower ownership can be contested by opposing squads, so activating a tower does not guarantee that your team will retain control.
Final Tips
Enemy UAV Towers can now be recaptured, including towers maintained through persistent-coverage traits.
Secure your approach, use the tower console, and confirm that control has changed before moving on.
If the tower is heavily defended, avoiding the area or temporarily disrupting its coverage may be safer than attempting a direct takeover. Prioritize completing your mission and extracting successfully over fighting for a tower you do not need.
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