A modified version of the Alliance Chieftain, the Alliance Crusader's main point of distinction is its fighter bay. The Crusader also offers three internal military compartments and space for up to two crew members, making it ideally suited to combat situations.
— In-Game Description
The Alliance Crusader is a ship manufactured by Lakon Spaceways for the Alliance. It represents a middle-ground between the Alliance Chieftain and the Alliance Challenger,[1] combining heavy firepower with a Fighter Hangar for Ship-Launched Fighters and two additional pilot seats to accommodate Multicrew.[2] While the inclusion of the Fighter Hangar has resulted in a noticeable decrease in overall speed and manoeuvrability, Lakon is confident that the Crusader can hold its own in any combat situation, especially against the Thargoids.[3]
Overview
The third ship in the Alliance faction ship series and the second variant of the Alliance Chieftain, the Alliance Crusader's primary attraction is its ability to equip a Fighter Hangar for Ship-Launched Fighters, a feature that both the Chieftain and the Alliance Challenger lack; as a result, it also boasts an additional pilot seat for Multicrew, giving it a total of three seats versus the two of its companion ships. The Crusader retains the three Military Compartments found in both of its predecessors.
The Alliance Crusader will be released with the Chapter Three (3.2) update of Elite Dangerous: Beyond on August 28, 2018.
The Alliance Crusader's name was accidentally first revealed on the Frontier Store shortly after the release of the 3.1 update. It was promptly removed, leading many to believe that "Alliance Crusader" was an old internal name for the Alliance Challenger rather than a new ship.[4]
Guardian Javelin and Alliance Crusader
