How far can you range around a patrol goal marker?

[-Pv-]

There is no "timer." There is something specific you need to accomplish and that specific thing is near the marker.

For instance in the mission to plant an insurgent, it doesn't matter WHEN it's done. You can go around the world and come back. Go to a port and refuel, come back, etc. (though I suspect you want to complete the task before the war ends.) You simply get within 1.5 miles of the insertion point and stop the engines.

I suspect you ask because you are worried if you spend too much time trying to evade enemy that micht make it rough for you near the mission icon, you will fail the mission. That is not the case. The game is designed so you can play it smart, not desparate.

Other tasks are not quite that rigid. In photo recon you need to get within parascope range to lock on specific targets. The mission icon is placed near the photo targets, but the relationship of the targets to the icon varies and is not important. Also, you need NOT travel over the mission icon. It's not a pickup or a mission requirement. Think of it as an AREA not a target.
-Pv-