Asp Scout

Asp Scout
Overview
Manufacturer	Lakon Spaceways
Type	Combat Explorer
Cost	3,961,150 CR
Specifications
Landing Pad Size	Medium
Dimensions	54.8L - 59.4W - 17.0H
Hull Mass	150 t
Mass Lock Factor	8
Armour	324
Shields	105 MJ
Fuel Capacity	16 t
Manoeuvr-ability	5
Top Speed	223 m/s (default) 255 m/s (upgraded)
Boost Speed	304 m/s (default) 348 m/s (upgraded)
Unladen Jump Range	11.59 ly (default) 31.47 ly (upgraded)
Cargo Capacity	16 t (default) 72 t (max)
Outfitting
Hardpoints	2× Utility Mounts 2× Small Hardpoints 2× Medium Hardpoints
Internal Compartments	2× Class 2 Compartments 2× Class 3 Compartments 1× Class 4 Compartment 1× Class 5 Compartment

Lakon Spaceways unveiled the Asp Scout in late 3301 as a cheaper alternative to the well-regarded Asp Explorer, and in terms of market it sits between the Diamondback range and the Asp Explorer. It utilizes much of the same airframe as the Explorer, but the reduced hardpoint capacity (compared to its parent model) means it packs less of a punch. Test pilots reported that the mass reduction resulted in a vessel that handles better than the Asp Explorer while maintaining its impressive jump capability.

— In-game Description

The Asp Scout is a lighter and cheaper version of the Asp Explorer. It is designed as the Asp version of the Diamondback Scout, being around two thirds the price of its full model.

Overview

The Asp Scout maintains its variants focus on being a multipurpose ship, being less effective but at a lower cost.

In combat the Scout is rather poor. It has awful shields and armour for its price range and its hardpoints are not very good; even the Cobra MkIII boasts comparable stats. The upside the ship has is its manoeuvrability; at an impressive 5 it can evade fire very easily and keep fixed mounts on targets easily. This would make it a good stealth ship; however, another glaring fault in the Scout makes this unviable; the utility mounts. With only two the ship cannot make very good use of Chaff Launchers; a mandatory asset for Stealth fighters, making it a questionable choice compared to cheaper ships.

With only 72t of cargo the ship is a rather poor trader. It also boasts around the same jump range as a Type-6 and less than a Dolphin making both much better options for trade. Even the Keelback has very similar jump ranges; but greater cargo space.

As an Explorer the Scout has about 31Lys of jump range without engineering. This is a rather average amount; around the same as the Type-6, Cobra MkIII and Diamondback Scout. Meanwhile, the Dolphin and Adder surpass this amount by a good margin and the Diamondback Explorer and Hauler eclipse it, and all of the above ships are significantly cheaper than the Asp scout. Combined with poor compartment space and sizes, while the Scout certainly isn't a bad Explorer, its price makes it very ill-sutied as a dedicated vessel, unlike the Asp Explorer.

Overall the Asp Scout doesn't quite live up to the power of the Asp Explorer and instead ends up a Master of None ship, and doesn't excel in any department. However, its sole advantage is the general lack of multi-purpose ships in the price range. The Scout can be a good option for a commander looking for a ship that can do everything, and finds the Keelback's low manoeuverability unappealing.

The weapon hardpoints are located as follows: One Top mounted Class 2 Medium hardpoints on each side of the cockpit (Total 2), and Two bottom mounted Class 1 Small hardpoints directly underneath the cockpit.

Unlike the Asp Explorer, the Asp Scout has a single centerline grouping of engines instead of the twin offset engine mountings of the Explorer. Compared to the Asp Explorer, the Scout is shorter, and wider than the original.

Purchase Locations

System	Station	Date Seen	Notes
LHS 3447	Dalton Gateway	May 12, 2016
LHS 215	Spring Gateway	October 15, 2017
GD 219	McKee Ring	May 12, 2016
Belarsuk	Kurland Hub	May 18, 2016
Lusonda	Lee Orbital	29 June, 2016
Altair	Solo Orbiter	30 June, 2016
Taotiges	Yano Terminal	20 July, 2016
Kappa Phoenicis	Flipchenko Hub	5 September, 2016
Fusang	Cleve Vision	December 9 2016
Ross 733	Strelakov Gateway	December 29 2016
Cernobog	Kirkwood Vision	February 5 2017
LFT 625	Fox Enterprise	June 19 2017
Congari	Tendin station	April 18 2017
Aulin	Aulin Enterprise	July 14 2016
Mu Koji	Aksyonov Hub	August 11 2017
Shinrarta Dezhra	Jameson Memorial	January 26, 2018	10% Discount, Founders Permit Needed

Outfitting

Main article: Outfitting

"class 4": Power Plant, Thrusters, Frame Shift Drive, Power Distributor, Sensors, Fuel Tank.

"3 class": Life Support.

Comparison with Asp Explorer

	Weapon Hardpoints	Stock Top Speeds	Max Top Speed*	Max Cargo	Stock Jump Range	Max Jump Range
Asp Scout	4	111 at 0 pips 167 at 2 pips 223 at 4 pips 304 w/ boost	128 at 0 pips 192 at 2 pips 255 at 4 pips 348 w/ boost	72 T	11.69 Ly	31.47 Ly
Asp Explorer	6	122 at 0 pips 188 at 2 pips 245 at 4 pips 345 w/ boost	139 at 0 pips 215 at 2 pips 290 at 4 pips 395 w/ boost	128 T	13.12 LY	38.19 Ly

Max Top Speed* obtained with no weapons, no utility mounts, no modules fitted, smallest fuel tank, and lightest internals fitted.

Trivia

• The Asp Scout length (54.8 m) is similar to a Boeing 747 SP (56.3 m).

Videos

Asp Scout Ship Review ► Elite Dangerous

Gallery

Asp Scout profile

Asp scout left.png

Asp scout back.png

Asp scout belly.png

Elite - Dangerous (CLIENT) 2 11 2016 8 57 50 PM.png

ASP Scout

Elite - Dangerous (CLIENT) ASP SCOUT.png

ASP Scout

Lakon Asp Scout

Asp Scout Docked.png

Asp Scout docked

Asp Scout Firing.png

Asp Scout firing