Ships
Ships are used to traverse space. As with previous Elite games, there will be a variety of designs.
Currently there are 15 ships, with each manufacturer having its own unique style.[1] There are plans to have a total of 30 playable ships and some variants in addition to some non-playable ships. 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 commanders begin the game with a Sidewinder. The player may upgrade components or purchase an entirely new ship based upon their needs. New ships can only be purchased at stations with the Shipyard service and modules can only be changed or upgrades at stations with the Outfitting service.
| Released Ships | Upcoming Ships
|
Ship Types
Multi-purpose
Multi-purpose 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, shooting ships, or exploring the stars the multi-purpose ship can do it all.
Combat
Combat ships are typically faster, more agile and 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 lots of low class internal compartments for scanners. 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 refueling.
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 limousines for space.
Ship Stats
For additional stats please view each ship's individual page.
| Model | Role**/Blast Door Type |
Jump Range (LY) |
Maneuver | Cargo | Speed [Boost] |
Shields | Armor | Value (CR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidewinder | Multi-purpose 0 Small |
7.56 | 8 | 4 | 220 [320] |
40 | 60 | 32,000* |
| Eagle | Combat 1 Small |
8.47 | 10 | 2 | 240 [350] |
60 | 40 | 44,800 |
| Hauler | Freighter 1 Small |
9.87 | 6 | 8 | 200 [300] |
50 | 50 | 52,720 |
| Adder | Explorer 1 Small |
9.12 | 8 | 6 | 220 [320] |
60 | 90 | 87,808 |
| Viper | Combat 3 Small |
6.92 | 6 | 4 | 320 [400] |
105 | 70 | 142,931 |
| Cobra | Multi-purpose 3 Small |
10.46 | 6 | 18 | 280 [400] |
80 | 120 | 379,718 |
| Lakon Type 6 | Freighter 4 Medium |
12.39 | 3 | 50 | 220 [350] |
90 | 90 | 1,045,945 |
| Asp | Explorer 5 Medium |
13.12 | 6 | 38 | 250 [340] |
140 | 210 | 6,661,153 |
| Lakon Type 7 | Freighter 6 Large |
10.72 | 2 | 104 | 180 [200] |
120 | 120 | 17,472,252 |
| Imperial Clipper | Multi-purpose 6 Large |
8.25 | 2 | 74 | 300 [380] |
180 | 270 | 22,295,860 |
| Federal Dropship | Multi-purpose 6 Large |
7.25 | 0 | 56 | 180 [300] |
200 | 300 | 37,814,205 |
| Orca | Passenger 6 Large |
2 | 72 | 300 [380] |
220 | 220 | 48,539,887 | |
| Python | Multi-purpose 7 Medium |
8.23 | 6 | 82 | 250 [280] |
390 | 260 | 56,978,179 |
| Lakon Type 9 | Freighter 8 Large |
7.71 | 0 | 220 | 130 [200] |
240 | 240 | 76,555,842 |
| Anaconda | Multi-purpose 8 Large |
9.00 | 2 | 114 | 180 [240] |
350 | 525 | 146,969,451 |
- * Note the sidewinder is available for free via insurance
| Model | Cargo[2] | Jump Range[3] | Shield[4] [Rating E-A] (Class #) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidewinder | 10 | 16.62 | [34-44](2) |
| Eagle | 14 | 18.41 | [52-66](3) |
| Hauler | 22 | 21.71 | [43-55](3) |
| Adder | 26 | 19.83 | [52-66](3) |
| Viper | 22 | 15.05 | [91-116](3) |
| Cobra | 60 | 22.53 | [62-81](4) |
| Lakon Type 6 | 112 | 26.69 | [78-99](5) |
| Asp | 128 | 36.71 | [116-149](6) |
| Lakon Type 7 | 232 | 25.70 | [81-109](6) |
| Imperial Clipper | 248 | 26.95 | [156-198](7) |
| Federal Dropship | 164 | [100-147](6) | |
| Orca | 192 | [79-131](5) | |
| Python | 292 | 16.24 | [297-389](6) |
| Lakon Type 9 | 532 | 13.04 | [196-252](8) |
| Anaconda | 468 | 35.57 | [303-385](7) |
- [1] Values listed in this table have been discovered by players and thus may contain some errors.
- [2] All Internal Compartments fitted with the largest class Cargo Racks available (No shields)
- [3] Approximate maximum - no cargo with shield
- [4] Shield strength values E to A rating of the highest available class[2]
Ship Outfitting
All ships are highly customizable through outfitting. Each outfit slot has a maximum class that can be put into that slot. This only lists what type of outfit slots are available for each ship, their exact content has to be put on some other page. For example: Internal compartments can contain cargo space, where class 1 = 2t, class 2 = 4t, class 3 = 8t, class 4 = 16t... But Internal compartments can also contain shield capacitors, scanners, etc. Apart from classes, outfits also have a quality rating A-H, and other characteristics such as energy drain, armor piercing, etc.
Max class for each outfit slot in table below (more info on respective ship page):
| Sidewinder | Eagle | Hauler | Adder | Viper | Cobra | Type-6 | Asp | Type-7 | Imperial Clipper | Federal Dropship | Orca | Python | Type-9 | Anaconda | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Hardpoints | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Medium Hardpoints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Large Hardpoints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Huge Hardpoints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Utility Mounts | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 |
| Bulkheads | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Power Plant | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| Thrusters | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Frame Shift Drive | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Life Support | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Power Distributor | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 |
| Sensors | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 8 |
| Fuel Tank | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Internal Compartment |
2 C2 1 C1 |
1 C3 1 C2 1 C1 |
2 C3 1 C2 1 C1 |
2 C3 2 C2 1 C1 |
2 C3 1 C2 1 C1 |
3 C4 3 C2 |
2 C5 2 C4 1 C3 2 C2 |
1C6 1 C5 3 C3 2 C2 |
2 C6 2 C5 2 C4 2 C2 |
1 C7 1 C6 2 C4 2 C3 2 C2 |
1 C6 2 C5 1 C4 2 C3 1 C2 |
1 C6* 3 C5* 1 C4 1 C3 2 C2 *1/each is for cargo only. |
3 C6 2 C5 1 C4 2 C3 1 C2 |
1 C8 1 C7 1 C6 1 C5 2 C4 2 C3 1 C2 |
1 C7 3 C6 3 C5 3 C4 1 C2 |
Manufacturers
- Eagle
- Condor
- Farragut
- Federal Dropship
- Sidewinder
- Viper
- Cobra
- Anaconda
- Python
- Asp Explorer
- Type 6 Transporter
- Type 7 Transport
- Type 9 Heavy
- Imperial Clipper
- Majestic Class Interdictor
- Orca
- Adder
- Hauler
- Panther Clipper
Faction Ships
Frontier are developing a family of ships for the navies of each faction in the game. Examples:
- Empire Fighter - Empire Fighter
- Imperial Courier - Empire Scout
- Imperial Cutter - civilian version of Empire Light Warship
- Majestic Class Interdictor - Empire Capital Ship
- F63 Condor - Federal Fighter
- Farragut - Federal Capital Ship
The fleet-class ships that are available to the game’s major factions follow a hierarchy.[3]
Cruisers (Battlecruisers, Battleships, Interdictors)
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 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.
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 defense 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
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)
Armored warships designed specifically for transporting valuable assets and cargo quickly and safely.
Corvettes (Cutters)
Light multi-role warships, capable of recon, incursions and escort missions. These small warships are also popular with smaller factions, organizations and even wealthy individuals due to their adaptability. The Imperial Cutter is a lighter and faster Corvette-class ship, which players will be able to get their hands on in the final game (assuming they can make the right contacts).
Fighters
Small short-range craft that generally cannot operate independently due to having no jump capability. Their main roles include the defense 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.