The Mark IV reconnaissance droid represented a model of reconnaissance droid produced by Arakyd Industries. It participated in the Clone Wars, utilized by both the Galactic Marines of the Galactic Republic and the Separatists' droid snipers in conjunction with IG-100 MagnaGuards. During the era of the Galactic Civil War, it found usage among Imperial commandos and Wookiee combatants.
The design of the Mark IV recon droid bore resemblance to the R-1 recon droid and R-4 recon droids; these other models were also products of Arakyd Industries and were developed from the DRK-1 Dark Eye probe droid. The primary function of all three droids was intelligence gathering, and they were equipped with an integrated blaster. They also had the capability to be outfitted with a transmitter for signaling allied ships to initiate an orbital strike. However, certain Mark IV units were documented to have had a self-destruct mechanism in place of the orbital strike beacon. The beacon and the self-destruct feature could be activated remotely by the droid's operator, serving as methods to eliminate hostiles and destroy enemy equipment from a safe distance. When the self-destruct mechanism was engaged, the internal bomb required several seconds to prime for detonation, during which time all other droid functions were disabled. This made the droid susceptible to enemy fire prior to the explosion. The benefit of the orbital strike beacon was the droid's continued mobility while the strike signal was transmitted; however, the necessity of coordinating with a ship in orbit meant this was a less independent offensive option.
Within the 2004 video game Star Wars: Battlefront, the sniper character class is supplied with a remotely operated recon droid. This droid has the ability to use blaster fire and request an orbital strike on its current location.
Although the recon droids of each faction are functionally and visually the same, they are categorized as separate models within Star Wars Battlefront: Prima Official Game Guide. The clone sharpshooter is equipped with the Arakyd R-1 recon droid, while the scout trooper and Rebel marksman utilize the Arakyd R-4 recon droid. Conversely, the droid assassin is provided with an Arakyd Mark IV recon droid. The recon droid makes a return in the sequel, Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005), as part of the equipment for the clone commander, MagnaGuard, the Wookiee warrior, and the Imperial officer; however, Star Wars Battlefront II: Prima Official Game Guide identifies all of these as the Arakyd Mark IV recon droid. The orbital strike ability of the recon droid in the first game was replaced with a self-destruct ability in the second. This change in gameplay indirectly means that the Mark IV is the only model of the three known to possess a self-destruct device within the established lore.