The final development build of the Ferret UCV, the Ferret-X M05B has completed it's intensive trials programme (which included deployment in the Crayfish exercises). R102 Lancer which operated some 20 Ferrets has left the DDS deployment (C125 Positron being made flag for the remaining part of the deployment) to return to Solaris for crew rotation and resupply.
Production has now begun of the first block of production Ferret-Es, which are very similar to M05B. The 27 M05Bs already built will be converted to E standard and added to the fleet. Lancer and the other carrier Missileer will each deploy 40 Ferret-Es with numbers rising to 80 each by next year. The Ferrets are being built at a large new facility on Starbot, initial production rate has been set at 8 a day with the aim of increasing to 12 by the end of the year. The DDS have 1200 on order, the Dinos 650 and Starbot 200.
The first operational deployment of Ferret-E aboard a Missileer is expected in the Summer. The Dinos have taken the lead in the next stage of the Ferret development, the Ferret-G which has the ability to fight in atmospheres too. This is expected by 2110.
