At the Missileer unveiling yesterday it was mentioned that a secondary role for the arsenal ship was to carry and operate UCAVs. The question the galaxy's media asked was, what UCAVs? There have been rumours the DDS have been looking into unmanned combat ships for some time now, even a UCAV version of the Panther was mooted (the Stoat). Today Dr Forbidden gave a media briefing where he detailed what exactly the DDS was working on.
He said for the last few months a joint DDS-Dino team had been working on a small UCAV with space fighting and space-ground capabilities. The ships would be small and nimble and able to carry a TPM and other missiles. The ships would not have a hyperspace drive so would have to be taken to the combat zone by a carrier spacecraft.
He said the Starbotians have joined the project to assist with the AI and other guidance systems. He said it was likely the UCAV would be built on Starbot for both the DDS and Dino Armies. The UCAV would be cheap and mass produced in the 100s maybe 1000s. Dr Forbidden said that he hoped prototypes would be available later in the year. A possible name for the type in DDS service is Ferret but a name would not be finalised until later in the year.
