Covert Operative (EU2012)

Keys to Cover Operative Deployment

Covert operatives are limited to pistols; pistol tech and Foundry upgrades may be useful.
Covert operatives have a powerful in-mission ability. "EXALT Comm Hack". If you can find an EXALT comm array, you covert operative can hack it, disabling all EXALT forces weapons for a short time.
Heavy soldiers and MEC Troopers are ineligible for covert ops duty.

Source: XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012)

Notes

With only a Pistol as a weapon, Covert Operatives will depend a lot on their specific class abilities like Low Profile, Sprinter or Lightning Reflexes.
Operatives deploy with no armor and only 1 item slot, but they can be upgraded to 2 item slots if the necessary Foundry upgrade is purchased.
Covert operatives have a powerful in-mission ability. "EXALT Comm Hack". If you can find an EXALT comm array, you covert operative can hack it, disabling all EXALT forces weapons for a short time.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012): XCOM Units
Soldiers:	Assault • Heavy • Sniper • Support • Psionic • MEC Trooper (EW DLC)
S.H.I.Vs:	S.H.I.V.• Alloy S.H.I.V. • Hover S.H.I.V.
Attributes:	Classes • Class Builds • Abilities • Stats • Nicknames • Gene Mods (EW DLC) • Medals (EW DLC)
Loadout:	Weapons • Armor • Equipment • MEC Suit (EW DLC)
Barracks:	Officer Training School • Psi Lab • Memorial • Genetics Lab (EW DLC) • Cybernetics Lab (EW DLC)
Other:	Volunteer • Heroes • Zhang (Slingshot DLC) • Annette (EW DLC) • Covert Operative (EW DLC) • Training Roulette (EW DLC)