The latest Depender 161A combat support ship 161-106 Illicit has been fitted with a Proton RM-01C e-Core engine for trials ahead of retrofitting the NS fleet of Friendship platform ships with the more efficient engine.
As the Friendship was derived from a commercial transport there are dozens of similiar ships (built by Consolidated Spacecraft) in service across the UNP and beyond, NS is planning to offer an engine upgrade to these operators in the early 2120s.
Ahead of that NS plan to test the engine out with SS Illicit into 2120 and then could begin an upgrade programme next year.
