{"data":{"id":20006,"title":"Q&A: Drake Ironclad","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/en\/comm-link\/engineering\/20006-Q-A-Drake-Ironclad","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/20006","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/20006","channel":"Engineering","category":"Development","series":"Concept Ship Q&A","images":[],"images_count":0,"translations":{"en_EN":"Ironclad\nby Drake Interplanetary\nRun the skies with Drake\u2019s juggernaut of free enterprise, the mighty Ironclad. An armored freighter that takes the risks involved in deep-space traversal and transport seriously, it stands as a beacon for intrepid independent pioneers across the galaxy.\n\nWe asked the Vehicle and Gameplay teams a few questions about Drake's new self-sufficient beast capable of meeting anything or anybody standing in your way. Here are the answers, straight from the devs themselves.\n\n1. What ships are the main competitors of Ironclad and Ironclad Assault? For example, how does it compare with the Crusader Hercules, as it seems better in every aspect?\nThe Anvil Liberator and Crusader Hercules are the Ironclad\u2019s closest competitors. The Liberator is a dedicated vehicle transporter, so naturally it excels at that, though its cargo remains relatively exposed. The C2 and M2 Hercules are the closest on-paper competitors, providing enclosed cargo capacity and the option for multiple turrets. However, the Ironclad Assault beats the latter, while the base Ironclad beats the former in cargo capacity.\n\n2. Can the Ironclad be used as a mini carrier, and what is the biggest ship that could fit through the retractable roof?\nIt can. However, the cargo bay is designed for cargo metrics, so it doesn\u2019t conform to standardized hangar dimensions, with the current maximum dimensions being 40 x 21 x 7.5m. Bear in mind, the roof does not retract over the full volume, limiting the maximum length. Of course, this may change during production.\n\n3. Will the Ironclad Assault have a retracting roof like the base version?\nYes, the retracting roof is a shared element between the two versions. However, the tractor beam setup is removed, so utility is significantly compromised in the Assault version.\n\n1. Will either version have strong VTOL thrusters to assist atmospheric flight?\nBoth versions have identical thruster layouts, including integrated VTOL thrusters underneath.\n\n2. Is there an armory in the Assault?\nAn armory isn\u2019t shown in the Assault cutaway, but during production, we\u2019ll be looking for the best place for one (likely in the front central area where the secure storage is on the base Ironclad).\n\n3. The Ironclad Assault has a repair bay as an installed feature. Is this bay going to be able to repair more than just vehicles? For example, could it repair ship components as well?\nYes, repair facilities are not restricted by type but more by volume and resources. We\u2019ll discuss repair and crafting in more detail in the future, as it\u2019s a topic more expansive than this Q&A.\n\n4. How will the self-destruction feature work in the Ironclad? Can I initiate self-destruction in the command module and detach to fly away, or will the command module also be in self-destruction mode?\nThere are two independent self-destruct systems, one in the command module and one in the main hull. Setting it off in the command module will self-destruct both (if attached), while the main hull of the base ship can be triggered from the control room.\n\n1. Is the command module shared between the Ironclad and the Caterpillar?\nThe command module is compatible between the Ironclad and Caterpillar. However, the Ironclad\u2019s module is a slight redesign of the original Caterpillar one but retains a lot of the features.\n\n2. If you detach the command module, does the Ironclad become a flying brick, or can you still steer it from the ship itself?\nThe Ironclad is exclusively flown from the command module. With it detached, the main hull can no longer fly independently. However, it retains power, cooling, and other functionality like tractor-beam control and self-defense.\n\n3. How will insurance handle the detaching of the command module and loss of the main ship?\nWe\u2019re currently working on how insurance will work with the Ironclad. We\u2019ll talk more on this subject closer to the ship\u2019s flyable release.\n\n4. Will the command module have a quantum drive?\nYes, there is a quantum drive aboard the command module to facilitate independent quantum travel.\n\n1. Is the ship\u2019s \u2018heavy armor\u2019 actually heavy? How is it represented in-game as armor isn\u2019t a thing yet in the mechanics?\nRelative to other ships of its size class, it is heavily armored and that implementation will be appropriate to the mechanics in place at the time of launch.\n\n2. Is the interior turret a tractor beam or a defense turret?\nThe interior turret at the rear of the cargo bay is a defense turret.\n\n3. Does the Assault have tractor beams? They're listed for the base but not the Assault.\nNo, the Assault trades all its tractor beams for more firepower. If you still wish to tractor items around or on board the Assault, you should bring either FPS tractor items or a tractor-capable ship.\n\n4. How will gravity in the cargo bay be handled? Will this \"Fatterpillar\" have an air shield over the top like the Caterpillar has at the front? For example, if someone is EVAing near the top of the ship to help load cargo, it seems like a great way to fall inside the ship and get a T2 broken leg injury (sounds like a Drake design feature).\nThere is no air shield at the top of the cargo bay. Once opened, it vents to the void of space and care must be taken in the scenarios listed.\n\nDISCLAIMERThese answers accurately reflect development's intentions at the time of writing, but the company and development team reserve the right to adapt, improve, or change feature and ship designs in response to feedback, playtesting, design revisions, or other considerations to improve balance or the quality of the game overall.","de_DE":"Ironclad\nvon Drake Interplanetary\nBezwinge die L\u00fcfte mit Drakes Moloch des freien Unternehmertums, der m\u00e4chtigen Ironclad. Der gepanzerte Frachter nimmt die Risiken, die mit der Durchquerung des Weltraums und dem Transport verbunden sind, ernst und ist ein Leuchtfeuer f\u00fcr unerschrockene, unabh\u00e4ngige Pioniere in der ganzen Galaxis.\n\nWir haben den Fahrzeug- und Gameplay-Teams ein paar Fragen zu Drakes neuem, autarken Unget\u00fcm gestellt, das es mit allem und jedem aufnehmen kann, der sich dir in den Weg stellt. Hier sind die Antworten, direkt von den Entwicklern selbst.\n\nDISCLAIMERT Diese Antworten spiegeln die Absichten der Entwickler zum Zeitpunkt der Erstellung des Artikels wider. Das Unternehmen und das Entwicklerteam behalten sich jedoch das Recht vor, Features und Schiffsdesigns aufgrund von Feedback, Spieltests, Design\u00fcberarbeitungen oder anderen \u00dcberlegungen zur Verbesserung der Balance oder der Qualit\u00e4t des Spiels insgesamt anzupassen, zu verbessern oder zu ver\u00e4ndern.","zh_CN":"Ironclad\nby Drake Interplanetary\nRun the skies with Drake\u2019s juggernaut of free enterprise, the mighty Ironclad. An armored freighter that takes the risks involved in deep-space traversal and transport seriously, it stands as a beacon for intrepid independent pioneers across the galaxy.\n\nWe asked the Vehicle and Gameplay teams a few questions about Drake's new self-sufficient beast capable of meeting anything or anybody standing in your way. Here are the answers, straight from the devs themselves.\n\n1. What ships are the main competitors of Ironclad and Ironclad Assault? For example, how does it compare with the Crusader Hercules, as it seems better in every aspect?\nThe Anvil Liberator and Crusader Hercules are the Ironclad\u2019s closest competitors. The Liberator is a dedicated vehicle transporter, so naturally it excels at that, though its cargo remains relatively exposed. The C2 and M2 Hercules are the closest on-paper competitors, providing enclosed cargo capacity and the option for multiple turrets. However, the Ironclad Assault beats the latter, while the base Ironclad beats the former in cargo capacity.\n\n2. Can the Ironclad be used as a mini carrier, and what is the biggest ship that could fit through the retractable roof?\nIt can. However, the cargo bay is designed for cargo metrics, so it doesn\u2019t conform to standardized hangar dimensions, with the current maximum dimensions being 40 x 21 x 7.5m. Bear in mind, the roof does not retract over the full volume, limiting the maximum length. Of course, this may change during production.\n\n3. Will the Ironclad Assault have a retracting roof like the base version?\nYes, the retracting roof is a shared element between the two versions. However, the tractor beam setup is removed, so utility is significantly compromised in the Assault version.\n\n1. Will either version have strong VTOL thrusters to assist atmospheric flight?\nBoth versions have identical thruster layouts, including integrated VTOL thrusters underneath.\n\n2. Is there an armory in the Assault?\nAn armory isn\u2019t shown in the Assault cutaway, but during production, we\u2019ll be looking for the best place for one (likely in the front central area where the secure storage is on the base Ironclad).\n\n3. The Ironclad Assault has a repair bay as an installed feature. Is this bay going to be able to repair more than just vehicles? For example, could it repair ship components as well?\nYes, repair facilities are not restricted by type but more by volume and resources. We\u2019ll discuss repair and crafting in more detail in the future, as it\u2019s a topic more expansive than this Q&A.\n\n4. How will the self-destruction feature work in the Ironclad? Can I initiate self-destruction in the command module and detach to fly away, or will the command module also be in self-destruction mode?\nThere are two independent self-destruct systems, one in the command module and one in the main hull. Setting it off in the command module will self-destruct both (if attached), while the main hull of the base ship can be triggered from the control room.\n\n1. Is the command module shared between the Ironclad and the Caterpillar?\nThe command module is compatible between the Ironclad and Caterpillar. However, the Ironclad\u2019s module is a slight redesign of the original Caterpillar one but retains a lot of the features.\n\n2. If you detach the command module, does the Ironclad become a flying brick, or can you still steer it from the ship itself?\nThe Ironclad is exclusively flown from the command module. With it detached, the main hull can no longer fly independently. However, it retains power, cooling, and other functionality like tractor-beam control and self-defense.\n\n3. How will insurance handle the detaching of the command module and loss of the main ship?\nWe\u2019re currently working on how insurance will work with the Ironclad. We\u2019ll talk more on this subject closer to the ship\u2019s flyable release.\n\n4. Will the command module have a quantum drive?\nYes, there is a quantum drive aboard the command module to facilitate independent quantum travel.\n\n1. Is the ship\u2019s \u2018heavy armor\u2019 actually heavy? How is it represented in-game as armor isn\u2019t a thing yet in the mechanics?\nRelative to other ships of its size class, it is heavily armored and that implementation will be appropriate to the mechanics in place at the time of launch.\n\n2. Is the interior turret a tractor beam or a defense turret?\nThe interior turret at the rear of the cargo bay is a defense turret.\n\n3. Does the Assault have tractor beams? They're listed for the base but not the Assault.\nNo, the Assault trades all its tractor beams for more firepower. If you still wish to tractor items around or on board the Assault, you should bring either FPS tractor items or a tractor-capable ship.\n\n4. How will gravity in the cargo bay be handled? Will this \"Fatterpillar\" have an air shield over the top like the Caterpillar has at the front? For example, if someone is EVAing near the top of the ship to help load cargo, it seems like a great way to fall inside the ship and get a T2 broken leg injury (sounds like a Drake design feature).\nThere is no air shield at the top of the cargo bay. Once opened, it vents to the void of space and care must be taken in the scenarios listed.\n\nDISCLAIMERThese answers accurately reflect development's intentions at the time of writing, but the company and development team reserve the right to adapt, improve, or change feature and ship designs in response to feedback, playtesting, design revisions, or other considerations to improve balance or the quality of the game overall."},"links_count":0,"comment_count":0,"created_at":"2026-05-25T12:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"2 days ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-27 19:47:20","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":20005,"next_id":20007}}