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File:Elite-Ships-Group.png

Group of ships

Ships are the central feature of Elite Dangerous, and are used to traverse space and perform a variety of different tasks. There are a variety of designs to suit various roles. Many ships were inspired by the classic wireframe and polygonal models of previous Elite games.

Evolution-of-the-Cobra-Ship-Elite-Universe

Evolution of the Cobra in the Elite Universe

Each ship has access to a range of different modules which they can fit to help specialize as traders, smugglers, bounty hunters, pirates, etc. All ships have been designed with the ship interiors in mind and for future gameplay opportunities.

Currently, there are 35 playable ships and 3 playable fighters, each built by one of several manufacturers with their own unique styles. Initially, there was a planned total of 30 playable ships with multiple variants in addition to some non-playable ships.

All commanders begin the game with a Sidewinder MkI. The player may upgrade components or purchase an entirely new ship based upon their needs and available funds. New ships can only be purchased at Stations; Shipyard service and modules can only be changed or upgraded at stations with the Outfitting service.

People can join other ships as a hologram with multicrew. Nearly all ships and stations are standard fitted with the GalNet system for market information, galactic news and communication.[1][2]

Available Ships

All ships available to players are organized below by manufacturer and size. Some ships require attaining a specific rank with the Federal or Imperial navies before they can be purchased. Ship-Launched Fighters can only be deployed from Fighter Hangars equipped on suitable ships.

Manufacturer Small Ships Medium Ships Large Ships Ship-Launched Fighters
Core Dynamics Eagle MkII
Vulture
Federal Dropship
Federal Assault Ship
Federal Gunship
Federal Corvette F63 Condor
Faulcon DeLacy Sidewinder MkI
Cobra MkIII
Cobra MkIV
Viper MkIII
Viper MkIV
Krait MkII
Python
Anaconda Taipan
Gutamaya Imperial Eagle
Imperial Courier
Imperial Clipper
Imperial Cutter
Imperial Fighter
Lakon Spaceways Diamondback Scout
Diamondback Explorer
Alliance Challenger
Alliance Chieftain
Asp Scout
Asp Explorer
Type-6 Transporter
Keelback
Type-7 Transporter
Type-9 Heavy
Type-10 Defender
Saud Kruger Dolphin Orca
Beluga Liner
Zorgon Peterson Adder
Hauler
Fer-de-Lance

Specifications

Default ship specifications as equipped when purchased. Sidewinder can be obtained for free.

Model Type Jump Range
[Laden]
(LY)
Mnvr
Rating
Cargo
[Max]
(T)
Pad Size Speed
[Boost]
(m/s)
Armour Shield
(MJ)
Cost
(CR)
Hull
Mass (T)
Mass Lock
Factor
Optional Modules
(Restricted)
Model
Sidewinder MkI Multipurpose 7.56
[6.96]
5 4
[12]
S 220
[321]
108 52 32,000 25 6 4 Sidewinder MkI
Eagle MkII Combat 8.47
[8.27]
7 2
[16]
S 239
[349]
72 78 44,800 50 6 4 (1) Eagle MkII
Hauler Freighter 9.87
[8.08]
4 8
[22]
S 206
[309]
180 65 52,720 14 6 4 Hauler
Adder Multipurpose 9.12
[8.47]
4 6
[26]
S 220
[321]
162 78 87,808 35 7 5 Adder
Imperial Eagle Combat 8.22
[8.03]
5 2
[16]
S 298
[397]
108 104 110,830 50 6 4 (1) Imperial Eagle
Viper MkIII Combat 7.67
[7.35]
4 4
[22]
S 315
[394]
126 137 142,931 50 7 4 Viper MkIII
Cobra MkIII Multipurpose 10.46
[9.78]
5 18
[60]
S 286
[408]
216 92 379,718 180 8 6 Cobra MkIII
Viper MkIV Combat 10.36
[9.69]
3 18
[50]
S 271
[342]
270 103 426,990 190 7 6 (1) Viper MkIV
Diamondback Scout Combat Explorer 11.35
[11.35]
5 0
[28]
S 283
[384]
216 92 564,330 170 8 4 Diamondback Scout
Cobra MkIV Multipurpose 9.37
[8.38]
3 34
[88]
S 200
[299]
216 125 745,610 210 N/A 8 Cobra MkIV
Type-6 Freighter 12.39
[10.07]
3 50
[112]
M 223
[355]
324 77 1,045,945 155 8 7 Type-6
Dolphin Passenger 10.67
[10.11]
3 14
[84]
S 258
[361]
198 143 1,337,330 140 9 7 (1) Dolphin
Diamondback Explorer Combat Explorer 15.61
[15.12]
4 12
[56]
S 251
[328]
270 131 1,894,760 260 10 6 Diamondback Explorer
Imperial Courier Multipurpose 8.83
[7.69]
4 12
[30]
S 280
[380]
144 230 2,542,931 35 7 6 Imperial Courier
Keelback Combat Freighter 10.94
[9.48]
2 38
[88]
M 202
[303]
486 80 3,048,000 180 8 6 Keelback
Asp Scout Combat Explorer 11.69
[10.84]
5 16
[72]
M 223
[304]
324 105 3,862,130 150 8 6 Asp Scout
Vulture Combat 7.93
[7.75]
5 8
[56]
S 215
[348]
288 293 4,925,615 230 10 5 (1) Vulture
Asp Explorer Multipurpose 13.12
[12.07]
4 38
[128]
M 254
[345]
378 152 6,661,153 280 11 7 Asp Explorer
Federal Dropship Multipurpose 7.25
[6.77]
3 56
[164]
M 183
[304]
540 104 14,314,210 580 14 7 (2) Federal Dropship
Type-7 Freighter 10.68
[8.63]
1 128
[304]
L 181
[301]
612 78 17,472,252 420 10 8 Type-7
Alliance Chieftain Combat 9.59
[-]
4 40
[120]
M 235
[338]
504 162 19,382,250 400 13 5 (3) Alliance Chieftain
Federal Assault Ship Combat 8.33
[7.69]
4 32
[96]
M 214
[357]
540 133 19,814,205 480 14 6 (2) Federal Assault Ship
Imperial Clipper Multipurpose 8.98
[8.05]
5 74
[248]
L 306
[388]
486 186 22,295,860 400 12 8 Imperial Clipper
Alliance Challenger Combat 8.58
[-]
4 40
[152]
M 204
[316]
540 208 30,472,265 450 13 6 (3) Alliance Challenger
Federal Gunship Combat 6.66
[6.54]
1 16
[168]
M 171
[282]
630 186 35,814,210 580 14 5 (3) Federal Gunship
Krait MkII Multipurpose 8.99
[-]
3 82
[228]
M 245
[337]
396 262 45,814,205 320 17 8 Krait MkII
Orca Passenger 10.48
[10.04]
1 72
[192]
L 308
[390]
396 233 48,539,887 290 15 8 (2) Orca
Fer-de-Lance Combat 7.00
[6.59]
4 24
[70]
M 265
[357]
405 271 51,567,040 250 12 5 Fer-de-Lance
Python Multipurpose 8.23
[7.36]
2 82
[292]
M 234
[305]
468 294 56,978,179 350 17 9 Python
Type-9 Freighter 8.68
[6.62]
0 348
[788]
L 151
[232]
864 110 76,555,842 850 16 9 Type-9
Beluga Liner Passenger 9.83
[9.58]
2 44
[368]
L 197
[276]
504 92 84,532,780 950 18 11 (4) Beluga Liner
Type-10 Defender Combat Freighter 6.97
[6.07]
0 220
[532]
L 179
[219]
1044 99 124,755,342 1200 26 9 (2) Type-10 Defender
Anaconda Multipurpose 9.41
[8.52]
1 114
[468]
L 183
[244]
945 362 146,969,451 400 23 11 (1) Anaconda
Federal Corvette Combat 6.31
[6.03]
2 76
[616]
L 198
[257]
666 516 180,327,022 900 24 10 (2) Federal Corvette
Imperial Cutter Multipurpose 8.21
[7.57]
0 164
[792]
L 202
[323]
720 705 203,745,220 1100 27 9 (2) Imperial Cutter
Model Type Jump Range
[Laden]
(LY)
Mnvr
Rating
Cargo
[Max]
(T)
Pad Size Speed
[Boost]
(m/s)
Armour Shield
(MJ)
Cost
(CR)
Hull
Mass (T)
Mass Lock
Factor
Optional Modules
(Restricted)
Model

A-Class Frame Shift Drive, Thrusters and Power Distributor and lowest mass on everything else except Fuel Tank. All Internal Compartments are Cargo Racks. Power Plant is the lightest available with sufficient power.

Model Unladen Jump Range
(LY)
Laden Jump Range
(LY)
Manoeuvrability Max Cargo
(T)
Speed
[Boost]
Armour Cost
(CR)
Sidewinder MkI 22.08 16.48 5 12 255
[372]
108 371,520
Eagle MkII 22.36 18.15 7 16 271
[395]
72 1,113,210
Hauler 29.64 16.14 4 22 232
[348]
180 408,060
Adder 26.14 18.15 4 26 255
[372]
162 1,165,400
Imperial Eagle 22.36 18.15 5 16 338
[451]
108 1,174,950
Viper MkIII 18.58 14.69 4 22 346
[433]
126 1,318,850
Cobra MkIII 25.59 20.23 5 60 320
[457]
216 3,759,820
Viper MkIV 24.61 20.30 3 50 306
[386]
270 3,831,710
Diamondback Scout 27.06 23.93 5 28 327
[440]
216 3,912,660
Cobra MkIV 22.59 16.82 3 88 223
[334]
216 4,209,960
Type-6 29.10 18.62 3 112 255
[406]
324 4,591,040
Dolphin 28.46 20.14 3 84 290
[406]
190 8,312,300
Diamondback Explorer 36.09 31.00 4 56 263
[344]
270 9,021,900
Imperial Courier 25.50 17.04 4 30 325
[440]
144 3,705,470
Keelback 25.91 18.59 2 88 229
[344]
486 6,616,000
Asp Scout 27.93 20.73 5 72 240
[327]
324 7,882,100
Vulture 19.61 16.48 5 56 244
[395]
288 13,001,920
Asp Explorer 32.82 24.47 4 128 290
[395]
378 17,665,010
Federal Dropship 17.34 14.08 2 164 209
[348]
540 39,514,040
Type-7 24.17 15.14 1 304 201
[334]
612 17,472,252
Alliance Chieftain - - 4 120 -
[-]
504 -
Federal Assault Ship 20.17 17.43 4 96 244
[406]
540 44,746,150
Imperial Clipper 23.04 15.74 5 248 348
[441]
486 48,165,760
Alliance Challenger - - 4 152 -
[-]
540 -
Federal Gunship 16.32 13.35 1 168 196
[322]
630 67,324,970
Krait MkII 30.79 - 3 228 245
[337]
396 -
Orca 28.74 19.85 1 192 348
[441]
396 71,924,940
Fer-de-Lance 17.17 14.22 4 70 302
[406]
405 61,830,450
Python 22.62 14.72 2 292 267
[348]
468 88,412,870
Type-9 20.12 11.68 0 788 151
[232]
864 154,485,880
Beluga Liner 25.08 19.73 2 368 221
[309]
504 192,677,380
Type-10 Defender 23.77 17.34 0 532 195
[238]
1044 235,147,912
Anaconda 27.82 17.46 1 468 209
[279]
945 241,415,150
Federal Corvette 17.03 11.52 2 616 224
[291]
666 283,970,450
Imperial Cutter 21.94 14.53 0 792 232
[372]
720 435,747,300
Model Unladen Jump Range
(LY)
Laden Jump Range
(LY)
Manoeuvrability Max Cargo
(T)
Speed
[Boost]
Armour Cost
(CR)

A-Class Frame Shift Drive and lowest mass on everything else except Fuel Tank. Internal Compartments contain biggest size A-Class Fuel Scoop, Advanced Discovery Scanner and Detailed Surface Scanner. Power Plant is the lightest available with sufficient power.

Model Jump Range
(LY)
Manoeuvrability Cost
(CR)
Relative Cost
(CR per LY)
Sidewinder MkI 21.47 5 2,269,702 105,715
Eagle MkII 23.27 7 3,238,135 139,154
Hauler 28.55 4 2,907,482 101,838
Adder 27.40 4 3,277,509 119,617
Imperial Eagle 23.27 5 3,299,850 141,807
Viper MkIII 19.70 4 3,344,740 169,784
Cobra MkIII 26.41 5 6,587,410 249,429
Viper MkIV 25.37 3 6,685,320 263,513
Diamondback Scout 27.93 5 4,870,520 173,383
Cobra MkIV 23.23 3 6,985,350 300,704
Type-6 30.11 3 13,445,710 446,553
Dolphin 30.38 3 7,809,790 257,070
Diamondback Explorer 37.03 4 11,767,640 317,786
Imperial Courier 27.64 4 5,714,860 206,760
Keelback 26.71 2 15,528,770 581,384
Asp Scout 30.11 5 10,224,600 339,575
Vulture 21.75 5 17,307,900 795,766
Asp Explorer 34.76 4 42,079,470 1,210,572
Federal Dropship 18.99 3 49,693,790 2,616,840
Type-7 25.00 1 52,796,290 2,111,852
Alliance Chieftain - 4 - -
Federal Assault Ship 22.45 4 35,605,880 1,586,008
Imperial Clipper - 4 - -
Alliance Challenger 26.28 5 119,497,850 4,547,102
Federal Gunship 18.87 1 71,049,660 3,765,218
Krait MkII - 3 - -
Orca 31.12 1 64,851,300 2,083,910
Fer-de-Lance 19.81 4 63,919,800 3,226,643
Python 27.58 2 91,482,370 3,316,982
Type-9 19.16 0 381,456,730 19,909,015
Beluga Liner 26.46 2 167,740,990 6,339,417
Type-10 Defender 25.01 0 466,665,142 18,659,142
Anaconda 38.06 1 254,556,830 6,688,303
Federal Corvette 20.21 2 295,562,890 14,624,586
Imperial Cutter 25.32 0 544,970,390 21,523,317
Model Jump Range
(LY)
Manoeuvrability Cost
(CR)
Relative Cost
(CR per LY)

A-Class everything, Bulkheads as Reactive Surface Composite which is the most expensive part of a ship. Hardpoints, utility mounts and internal compartments empty except Shield Generator which is highest possible size.

Model Jump Range
(LY)
Manoeuvrability Speed
[Boost]
Armour Shield Cost
(CR)
Sidewinder MkI 17.84 5 245
[357]
210 68
[2A]
854,770
Eagle MkII 18.23 7 259
[377]
140 102
[3A]
1,981,830
Hauler 22.14 4 232
[348]
350 85
[3A]
1,365,130
Adder 20.76 4 244
[355]
315 102
[3A]
2,520,740
Imperial Eagle 17.98 5 322
[430]
210 136
[3A]
2,612,910
Viper MkIII 14.98 4 330
[413]
245 179
[3A]
2,841,390
Cobra MkIII 21.21 5 307
[439]
420 124
[4A]
8,040,840
Viper MkIV 22.06 3 299
[376]
525 226
[4A]
8,181,690
Diamondback Scout 22.98 5 316
[425]
420 139
[4A]
7,425,750
Cobra MkIV 19.11 3 214
[322]
420 173
[4A]
9,346,220
Type-6 23.49 3 247
[393]
630 153
[5A]
12,459,260
Dolphin 20.39 3 290
[406]
385 187
[4A]
14,986,320
Diamondback Explorer 30.49 4 262
[343]
525 191
[4A]
16,893,590
Imperial Courier 19.33 4 306
[415]
280 335
[3A]
11,851,200
Keelback 21.23 2 220
[329]
945 187
[5A]
20,513,520
Asp Scout 21.61 5 242
[331]
630 200
[4A]
20,664,720
Vulture 15.95 5 244
[395]
560 387
[5A]
31,577,410
Asp Explorer 25.45 4 282
[383]
735 234
[6A]
55,553,110
Federal Dropship 14.11 3 201
[334]
1050 228
[6A]
106,036,180
Type-7 19.87 1 192
[320]
1190 217
[6A]
86,817,860
Alliance Chieftain - 4 -
[-]
- -
[-]
-
Federal Assault Ship 16.36 4 242
[403]
1050 213
{5A]
113,526,110
Imperial Clipper 17.20 5 348
[441]
945 306
[7A]
168,364,300
Alliance Challenger - 4 -
[-]
- -
[-]
-
Federal Gunship 13.34 1 187
[308]
1225 286
[6A]
185,070,720
Krait MkII - 3 -
[-]
- -
[-]
-
Orca 21.65 1 348
[441]
770 321
[5A]
198,948,560
Fer-de-Lance 13.59 4 301
[405]
788 468
[5A]
205,142,660
Python 17.47 2 267
[348]
910 397
[6A]
291,969,770
Type-9 13.86 0 139
[214]
1680 390
[8A]
505,433,850
Beluga Liner 20.25 2 211
[295]
980 204
[6A]
447,582,930
Type-10 Defender 18.59 0 185
[226]
2030 483
[8A]
848,756,112
Anaconda 19.74 1 208
[277]
1838 595
[7A]
825,479,020
Federal Corvette 13.62 2 213
[277]
1295 741
[7A]
962,815,660
Imperial Cutter 17.53 0 225
[360]
1400 947
[8A]
1,261,053,840
Model Jump Range
(LY)
Manoeuvrability Speed
[Boost]
Armour Shield Cost
(CR)

Outfitting

External Hardpoints and Utility Mounts.

Model Small Medium Large Huge Utility
Mount
Sidewinder 2 - - - 2
Eagle 3 - - - 1
Hauler 1 - - - 2
Adder 2 1 - - 2
Imperial Eagle 2 1 - - 1
Viper MkIII 2 2 - - 2
Cobra MkIII 2 2 - - 2
Viper MkIV 2 2 - - 2
Diamondback Scout 2 2 - - 4
Cobra MkIV 3 2 - - 2
Type-6 2 - - - 3
Dolphin 2 - - - 3
Diamondback Explorer - 2 1 - 4
Imperial Courier - 3 - - 4
Keelback 2 2 - - 3
Asp Scout 2 2 - - 2
Vulture - - 2 - 4
Asp Explorer 4 2 - - 4
Federal Dropship - 4 1 - 4
Type-7 4 - - - 4
Alliance Chieftain 3 1 2 - 4
Federal Assault Ship - 2 2 - 4
Imperial Clipper - 2 2 - 4
Alliance Challenger 3 3 1 - 4
Federal Gunship 2 4 1 - 4
Krait MkII - 2 3 - 4
Orca - 2 1 - 4
Fer-de-Lance - 4 - 1 6
Python - 2 3 - 4
Type-9 2 3 - - 4
Beluga Liner - 5 - - 6
Type-10 Defender 2 3 4 - 8
Anaconda 2 2 3 1 8
Federal Corvette 2 2 1 2 8
Imperial Cutter - 4 2 1 8
Model Small Medium Large Huge Utility
Mount

Core Internal Compartments.

Model Power Plant Thrusters FSD Life Support Power Distributor Sensors Fuel Tank
Sidewinder 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
Eagle 2 3 3 1 2 2 2
Hauler 2 2 2 1 1 1 2
Adder 3 3 3 1 2 3 3
Imperial Eagle 3 3 3 1 2 2 2
Viper MkIII 3 3 3 2 3 3 2
Cobra MkIII 4 4 4 3 3 3 4
Viper MkIV 4 4 4 2 3 3 4
Diamondback Scout 4 4 4 2 3 2 4
Cobra MkIV 4 4 4 3 3 3 4
Type-6 3 4 4 2 3 2 4
Dolphin 4 5 4 4 3 3 4
Diamondback Explorer 4 4 5 3 4 3 5
Imperial Courier 4 3 3 1 3 2 3
Keelback 4 4 4 1 3 2 4
Asp Scout 4 4 4 3 4 4 4
Vulture 4 5 4 3 5 4 3
Asp Explorer 5 5 5 4 4 5 5
Federal Dropship 6 6 5 5 6 4 4
Type-7 4 5 5 4 3 3 5
Alliance Chieftain 6 6 5 5 6 4 4
Federal Assault Ship 6 6 5 5 6 4 4
Imperial Clipper 6 6 5 5 6 5 4
Alliance Challenger 6 6 5 5 6 4 4
Federal Gunship 6 6 5 5 7 5 4
Krait MkII 7 6 5 4 7 6 5
Orca 5 6 5 6 5 4 4
Fer-de-Lance 5 5 4 4 6 4 3
Python 7 6 5 4 7 6 5
Type-9 6 7 6 5 6 4 6
Beluga Liner 6 7 7 8 6 5 7
Type-10 Defender 8 7 7 5 6 4 6
Anaconda 8 7 6 5 8 8 5
Federal Corvette 8 7 6 5 8 8 5
Imperial Cutter 8 8 7 7 7 7 6
Model Power Plant Thrusters FSD Life Support Power Distributor Sensors Fuel Tank
* Note: All ships currently have a max Bulkhead class of 8.

Optional Internal Compartments.

Model Class
1
Class
2
Class
3
Class
4
Class
5
Class
6
Class
7
Class
8
Sidewinder 2 2 - - - - - -
Eagle 1 1+1[m] 1 - - - - -
Hauler 1 1 2 - - - - -
Adder 1 2 2 - - - - -
Imperial Eagle 2 1+1[m] 1 - - - - -
Viper MkIII 1 1 2+1[m] - - - - -
Cobra MkIII - 3 - 3 - - - -
Viper MkIV 1 2 1+1[m] 2 - - - -
Diamondback Scout - 1 3 - - - - -
Cobra MkIV - 2 2 4 - - - -
Type-6 - 2 1 2 2 - - -
Dolphin - 3 1 2 1[r] - - -
Diamondback Explorer - 2 2 2 - - - -
Imperial Courier 1 3 2 - - - - -
Keelback - 2 1 1 2 - - -
Asp Scout - 2 2 1 1 - - -
Vulture 2 1 - 1 1+1[m] - - -
Asp Explorer - 2 3 - 1 1 - -
Federal Dropship - 1 2 1+2[m] 2 1 - -
Type-7 - - 2 - 3 3 - -
Alliance Chieftain - 2 - 1+3[m] 1 1 - -
Federal Assault Ship - 2 1 1+2[m] 2 - - -
Imperial Clipper - 2 2 2 - 1 1 -
Alliance Challenger - 2 2 3[m] - 2 - -
Federal Gunship - 2 0 3[m] 1 2 - -
Krait MkII - 1 2 1 2 2 - -
Orca - 2 1 1 2+1[r] 1[r] - -
Fer-de-Lance 1 1 - 2 1 - - -
Python - 1 2 1 2 3 - -
Type-9 1 - 2 2 1 1 1 1
Beluga Liner - - 4 1 2[r] 2+2[r] - -
Type-10 Defender - 1 2 2 1+2[m] 1 1 1
Anaconda - 1 - 3 3+1[m] 3 1 -
Federal Corvette - - 1 2 2+2[m] 2 3 -
Imperial Cutter - - 1 1 2+2[m] 3 - 2
Model Class
1
Class
2
Class
3
Class
4
Class
5
Class
6
Class
7
Class
8
[m] = Military Compartment, reserved for Hull Reinforcement Package, Module Reinforcement Package, or Shield Cell Bank.

[r] = Reserved Compartment, limited to Cargo Rack, Hull Reinforcement Package, Module Reinforcement Package, or Passenger Cabin.

Upcoming Ships

Confirmed

Ships listed below have been officially confirmed as being in-development or planned for Elite Dangerous.

Leaked

Ships listed below have not been officially confirmed, but references have been found on official storefronts or similar sources.

Ship Roles

Multipurpose

Multipurpose ships are a jack-of-all-trades in that they can easily be fitted for whatever role the player needs; whether it be hauling cargo, ship-to-ship combat, or exploring the stars, multipurpose ships can do it all. Multipurpose ships usually can do most jobs just as well if not better than comparable ships targeted towards those jobs.

Combat

Combat ships are usually faster, more agile and more heavily armed than other ships of the same size. The exception to this would be gun boats, which have more weapon mounts designed for turrets, but sacrifice their agility for them.

Freighter

Freighters are typically slow, cumbersome and lightly armed, but provide extreme hauling capabilities. Useful for traders and smugglers alike.

Explorer

Exploration ships typically come with large default jump ranges, large Fuel Tanks for ships of their size, and should be fitted with lots of low class Internal Compartments for scanners to optimize jump distance. These ships are designed to be able to equip the multitude of scanning equipment needed for an expedition, then fly long distances into the void without the need for regular refuelling through the use of Fuel Scoops.

Passenger

Couriers who fly passengers and valuable items with small storage requirements have a special class of ships available to them. These ships are elegant and fast, designed to quickly and comfortably get from one system to the next. You can think of them as giant space-limousines.

NPC-only Ship Types

Capital Ships

There are currently two types of Capital Ships in-game: the Federation's Farragut Battle Cruiser and the Empire's Majestic Class Interdictor. Both vessels are Battlecruisers. They are heavily armed, can launch several fighter squadrons, and are piloted by NPCs. However, Frontier said in their roadmap that they intend to add the "availability of giant ‘executive control’ ships to players" in a future content update.[3]

In The Commanders Livestream, a viewer asked "any chance of playing capital ships in the future?", David Braben answered: "it's on the list, but a long way down it, because there's a lot of gameplay to make it work. The issue is what we call the difference between direct control and executive control. Where rather than flying by the seat of your pants you're giving orders to a giant ship. Because you can't expect it to change course very rapidly and that sort of thing. So it's certainly a long-term possibility, but it's long-term."[4]

Megaships

Naphtha Class

Naphtha Class Tanker in Okinura

A Megaship is a class of massive ships that travel through the galaxy, and are utilized in a wide variety of roles.[5] Comparable in size to most stations, and in some cases much longer, a number of megaships are also equipped with docking facilities for small, medium, and large vessels. All services normally available at stations are on offer, with the exception of the Shipyard. Currently only NPCs can control Megaships.

There are various types of Megaships:[5]

Thargoid Ships

The Thargoids are known to have at least three ship types in their arsenal: Thargoid Scouts, Thargoid Interceptors, and Thargoid Motherships. Of these, only the Interceptors have been encountered thus far, while the wreckage of one Scout has been discovered and old logs retrieved from the Intergalactic Naval Reserve Arm's Carmichael Point base attest to the existence of Motherships.

Thargoid vessels employ radically different technologies from human ships, among them the ability to interdict ships during hyperspace transit and to make hyperspace jumps without leaving an identifiable wake signature. Their powerful offensive and defensive capabilities also make them deadly opponents in combat.

Development Notes: Fleet Hierarchy

The fleet-class ships that are available to the game’s major factions follow a hierarchy.[7]

Cruisers (Battlecruisers, Battleships, Interdictors)

Farragut-Battle-Cruiser-Surface

Farragut Battle Cruiser and a Vulture

Long range, independent ships that are capable of controlling entire systems. Heavily armed and capable of deploying large fighter squadrons. The capital ships already shown are an example of this class. In the Empire they are usually known as “Interdictors” – named after the first successful class of cruisers. Currently the most common and most successful Imperial Cruiser is the Majestic class – generally referred to as a “Majestic class Interdictor”. As ships that can also carry out ambassadorial missions they can be used for ‘soft’ power projection, as well as hard, the same goes for the Federation's most common and successful Cruiser, named the Farragut Battle Cruiser.

Interdictor-cho-highRES

Majestic Class Interdictor

Frigates

These are large ships designed for escort duties. The actual vessels vary greatly between navies, but are all designed to engage multiple small, fast enemies (typically fighters and missile swarms) and are loaded with point defence batteries. They will also have some anti-ship capability, but are not designed to go up against other warships.

Destroyers

These are anti-warship vessels, but are generally no longer used in the front line, though some are still in service.

Carriers

Carriers are designed for the deployment of fighter squadrons. Obsolete in the fleets of the major factions due to the popularity of Cruisers, but small navies still make use of them and some have even been converted into transporters.

Transporters (Couriers)

Federal-Dropship-Planetary-Ring

Federal Dropship in a planetary ring

Armoured warships designed specifically for transporting valuable assets and cargo quickly and safely.

Corvettes (Cutters)

Fed corvette

Federal Corvette

Light multi-role warships, capable of reconnaissance, incursions and escort missions. These small warships are also popular with smaller factions, organizations and even wealthy individuals due to their adaptability. The Federal Corvette is a slower Corvette-class Ship with more maneuverability and firepower, while The Imperial Cutter is a lighter and faster Corvette-class ship, players will be able to get their hands on these ships in the game (assuming they can make the right contacts).

Fighters

Imperial Fighter landed

Imperial Fighter landed

Small short-range craft that generally cannot operate independently due to having no jump capability. Their main roles include the defence of stations and the large warships that they are deployed from. Commercial fighters are typically jump-capable and are therefore much more flexible than their faction-specific counterparts.

Drones

Small automated ships that have largely been phased out due to the existence of effective counter-measures. The closest setting-modern analogue would be Limpets, which are used almost purely for logistical/support tasks such as field repairs rather than direct combat, though some can be used for sabotage.

Ship Scale

Videos

Gallery

References

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