Fighter Drones
Fighter Drone Mk1
“A fighting drone can be launched a great distance against an enemy ship and attacks targets autonomously.”
Cheap limited-duration stand-in for an M5. Only carries one IRE, and lasts for approximately 10 minutes, but its maneuverability makes it very hard to hit. Good decoys for TS class ships under attack. Fighter drones may be recovered by ships with open cargo bay space and an empty docking bay.
For Out-Of-Sector combat, the combination of a TM and fighter drones makes for a cheap alternative to an M5 carrier. As drones are easier to replace, attrition losses are less of a logistical problem, essentially commoditizing fighter power. In this role, the superior speed of fighter drones (compared to the Fighter Drone MKII or Keris) makes them more attractive for projecting power as it permits them to reach firing range faster.
For In-Sector combat, the weak power of the IRE and limitations on a number of platforms that may attack at once severely limit drone effectiveness, especially against capital ships, and MKII or heavier drones may prove more effective.
It is a common misconception for players to assume that only TS and TM class craft carry fighter drones because the AI is scripted to do so when under attack by a particular enemy and no other craft can carry them. This is not true; all fighter drones are compatible with any craft that has M-class cargo capability or higher.
As with all fighter drones, their kills do not register for your reputation and combat ranks, and you still need to directly participate in combat in order to remedy this problem.
| Cargo Class | M |
| Volume | 2 |
| Min. Price | 3195 |
| Ave. Price | 4044 |
| Max. Price | 4893 |
Trading Information
| Produced By | Primary Resource At |
|---|---|
| Argon Drone Factory | |
| Split Drone Factory |
Fighter Drone MkII
“The MKII Fighter Drone offers an increase in both maneuverability and firepower over the previous version, while also enjoying an extended range of operation.”
More heavily armed, but slower than MKI Drones. In general practice, 2 MKI Drones work better than 1 MKII Drone, particularly for Out-Of-Sector applications. These drones last for about 10 minutes.
While MKI drones mount an Impulse Ray Emitter, MKII drones mount a Particle Accelerator Cannon, which is substantially more useful at dealing hull damage. Unfortunately, MKII drones are not widely used because, despite these advantages, they still aren't much more advantageous at damaging shields and have no armor, yet cost significantly more per unit. As a result, they aren't as disposable or easy to replace as regular drones.
However, the MKII should not be underestimated nor undervalued: in In-Sector combat, when deployed in large numbers (if you have the money to buy them in bulk, that is), the dual PACs can shred even the biggest capital ships within minutes and a swarm of these drones is a death sentence for fighter craft. The only problem to consider is that drones have a tendency to smash into other ships, especially capitals. Additionally, even if drones destroy a ship, their kills do not legitimately register for your reputation and combat ranks, so use them wisely.
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| Cargo Class | M |
| Volume | 4 |
| Min. Price | 21293 |
| Ave. Price | 26952 |
| Max. Price | 32611 |
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Trading Information
| Produced By | Primary Resource At |
|---|---|
| Argon Drone Factory | |
| Split Drone Factory |