Ships

Ships are the central feature of Elite Dangerous, and are used to traverse space and perform a variety of different tasks. There are a variety of designs to suit various roles. Many ships were inspired by the classic wireframe and polygonal models of previous Elite games.

File:Elite-Ships-Group.png

Group of ships

Evolution of the Cobra in the Elite Universe

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 ships have been designed with the ship interiors in mind and for future gameplay opportunities.

Currently, there are 31 playable ships and 3 playable fighters, each built by one of several manufacturers with their own unique styles. Initially, there was a planned total of 30 playable ships with multiple variants in addition to some non-playable ships.

All commanders begin the game with a Sidewinder MkI. The player may upgrade components or purchase an entirely new ship based upon their needs and available funds. New ships can only be purchased at Stations; Shipyard service and modules can only be changed or upgraded at stations with the Outfitting service.

Available Ships

All ships available to players are organized below by manufacturer. Playable fighters, which can only be deployed from Fighter Hangars equipped on suitable ships, are italicized.

Core Dynamics	Faulcon DeLacy	Gutamaya	Lakon Spaceways	Saud Kruger	Zorgon Peterson
Eagle	Anaconda	Imperial Clipper	Asp Explorer	Beluga Liner	Adder
F63 Condor (Federal Fighter)	Cobra MkIII	Imperial Courier	Asp Scout	Dolphin	Fer-de-Lance
Federal Assault Ship	Cobra MkIV	Imperial Cutter	Diamondback Explorer	Orca	Hauler
Federal Corvette	Python	Imperial Eagle	Diamondback Scout
Federal Dropship	Sidewinder MkI	Imperial Fighter (GU-97)	Keelback
Federal Gunship	Viper MkIII		Taipan Fighter (Independent Fighter)
Vulture	Viper MkIV		Type-6 Transporter
			Type-7 Transporter
			Type-9 Heavy

Specifications

Default ship specifications as equipped when purchased. Sidewinder can be obtained for free.

Model	Type	Jump Range [Laden] (LY)	Mnvr Rating	Cargo [Max] (T)	Pad Size	Speed [Boost] (m/s)	Armour	Shield (MJ)	Cost (CR)	Hull Mass (T)	Mass Lock Factor	Optional Modules (Restricted)
Sidewinder MkI	Multipurpose	7.56 [6.96]	5	4 [12]	S	220 [321]	108	52	32,000	25	6	4
Eagle MkII	Combat	8.47 [8.27]	7	2 [16]	S	239 [349]	72	78	44,800	50	6	4 (1)
Hauler	Freighter	9.87 [8.08]	4	8 [22]	S	206 [309]	180	65	52,720	14	6	4
Adder	Multipurpose	9.12 [8.47]	4	6 [26]	S	220 [321]	162	78	87,808	35	7	5
Imperial Eagle	Combat	8.22 [8.03]	5	2 [16]	S	298 [397]	108	104	110,830	50	6	4 (1)
Viper MkIII	Combat	7.67 [7.35]	4	4 [22]	S	315 [394]	126	137	142,931	50	7	4
Cobra MkIII	Multipurpose	10.46 [9.78]	5	18 [60]	S	286 [408]	216	92	379,718	180	8	6
Viper MkIV	Combat	10.36 [9.69]	3	18 [50]	S	271 [342]	270	103	426,990	190	7	6 (1)
Diamondback Scout	Combat Explorer	11.35 [11.35]	5	0 [28]	S	283 [384]	216	92	564,330	170	8	4
Cobra MkIV	Multipurpose	9.37 [8.38]	3	34 [88]	S	200 [299]	216	125	745,610	210	N/A	8
Type-6	Freighter	12.39 [10.07]	3	50 [112]	M	223 [355]	324	77	1,045,945	155	8	7
Dolphin	Passenger	10.67 [10.11]	3	14 [84]	S	258 [361]	198	143	1,337,330	140	9	7 (1)
Diamondback Explorer	Combat Explorer	15.61 [15.12]	4	12 [56]	S	251 [328]	270	131	1,894,760	260	10	6
Imperial Courier	Multipurpose	8.83 [7.69]	4	12 [30]	S	280 [380]	144	230	2,542,931	35	7	6
Keelback	Combat Freighter	10.94 [9.48]	2	38 [88]	M	202 [303]	486	80	3,048,000	180	8	6
Asp Scout	Combat Explorer	11.69 [10.84]	5	16 [72]	M	223 [304]	324	105	3,862,130	150	8	6
Vulture	Combat	7.93 [7.75]	5	8 [56]	S	215 [348]	288	293	4,925,615	230	10	5 (1)
Asp Explorer	Multipurpose	13.12 [12.07]	4	38 [128]	M	254 [345]	378	152	6,661,153	280	11	7
Federal Dropship	Multipurpose	7.25 [6.77]	3	56 [164]	M	183 [304]	540	104	14,314,210	580	14	7 (2)
Type-7	Freighter	10.68 [8.63]	1	128 [304]	L	181 [301]	612	78	17,472,252	420	10	8
Federal Assault Ship	Combat	8.33 [7.69]	4	32 [96]	M	214 [357]	540	133	19,814,205	480	14	6 (2)
Imperial Clipper	Multipurpose	8.98 [8.05]	5	74 [248]	L	306 [388]	486	186	22,295,860	400	12	8
Federal Gunship	Combat	6.66 [6.54]	1	16 [168]	M	171 [282]	630	186	35,814,210	580	14	5 (3)
Orca	Passenger	10.48 [10.04]	1	72 [192]	L	308 [390]	396	233	48,539,887	290	15	8 (2)
Fer-de-Lance	Combat	7.00 [6.59]	4	24 [70]	M	265 [357]	405	271	51,567,040	250	12	5
Python	Multipurpose	8.23 [7.36]	2	82 [292]	M	234 [305]	468	294	56,978,179	350	17	9
Type-9	Freighter	7.71 [6.62]	0	220 [532]	L	131 [201]	864	88	76,555,842	1000	16	9
Beluga Liner	Passenger	9.83 [9.58]	2	44 [368]	L	197 [276]	504	92	84,532,780	950	18	11 (4)
Anaconda	Multipurpose	9.41 [8.52]	1	114 [468]	L	183 [244]	945	362	146,969,451	400	23	11 (1)
Federal Corvette	Combat	6.31 [6.03]	2	76 [616]	L	198 [257]	666	516	180,327,022	900	24	10 (2)
Imperial Cutter	Multipurpose	8.21 [7.57]	0	164 [792]	L	202 [323]	720	705	203,745,220	1100	27	9 (2)

A-Class Frame Shift Drive, Thrusters and Power Distributor and lowest mass on everything else except Fuel Tank. All Internal Compartments are Cargo Racks. Power Plant is the lightest available with sufficient power.

Model	Unladen Jump Range (LY)	Laden Jump Range (LY)	Manoeuvrability	Max Cargo (T)	Speed [Boost]	Armour	Cost (CR)
Sidewinder MkI	22.08	16.48	5	12	255 [372]	108	371,520
Eagle MkII	22.36	18.15	7	16	271 [395]	72	1,113,210
Hauler	29.64	16.14	4	22	232 [348]	180	408,060
Adder	26.14	18.15	4	26	255 [372]	162	1,165,400
Imperial Eagle	22.36	18.15	5	16	338 [451]	108	1,174,950
Viper MkIII	18.58	14.69	4	22	346 [433]	126	1,318,850
Cobra MkIII	25.59	20.23	5	60	320 [457]	216	3,759,820
Viper MkIV	24.61	20.30	3	50	306 [386]	270	3,831,710
Diamondback Scout	27.06	23.93	5	28	327 [440]	216	3,912,660
Cobra MkIV	22.59	16.82	3	88	223 [334]	216	4,209,960
Type-6	29.10	18.62	3	112	255 [406]	324	4,591,040
Dolphin	28.46	20.14	3	84	290 [406]	190	8,312,300
Diamondback Explorer	36.09	31.00	4	56	263 [344]	270	9,021,900
Imperial Courier	25.50	17.04	4	30	325 [440]	144	3,705,470
Keelback	25.91	18.59	2	88	229 [344]	486	6,616,000
Asp Scout	27.93	20.73	5	72	240 [327]	324	7,882,100
Vulture	19.61	16.48	5	56	244 [395]	288	13,001,920
Asp Explorer	32.82	24.47	4	128	290 [395]	378	17,665,010
Federal Dropship	17.34	14.08	2	164	209 [348]	540	39,514,040
Type-7	24.17	15.14	1	304	201 [334]	612	17,472,252
Federal Assault Ship	20.17	17.43	4	96	244 [406]	540	44,746,150
Imperial Clipper	23.04	15.74	5	248	348 [441]	486	48,165,760
Federal Gunship	16.32	13.35	1	168	196 [322]	630	67,324,970
Orca	28.74	19.85	1	192	348 [441]	396	71,924,940
Fer-de-Lance	17.17	14.22	4	70	302 [406]	405	61,830,450
Python	22.62	14.72	2	292	267 [348]	468	88,412,870
Type-9	17.69	12.38	0	532	147 [226]	864	150,403,250
Beluga Liner	25.08	19.73	2	368	221 [309]	504	192,677,380
Anaconda	27.82	17.46	1	468	209 [279]	945	241,415,150
Federal Corvette	17.03	11.52	2	616	224 [291]	666	283,970,450
Imperial Cutter	21.94	14.53	0	792	232 [372]	720	435,747,300

A-Class Frame Shift Drive and lowest mass on everything else except Fuel Tank. Internal Compartments contain biggest size A-Class Fuel Scoop, Advanced Discovery Scanner and Detailed Surface Scanner. Power Plant is the lightest available with sufficient power.

Model	Jump Range (LY)	Manoeuvrability	Cost (CR)	Relative Cost (CR per LY)
Sidewinder MkI	21.47	5	2,269,702	105,715
Eagle MkII	23.27	7	3,238,135	139,154
Hauler	28.55	4	2,907,482	101,838
Adder	27.40	4	3,277,509	119,617
Imperial Eagle	23.27	5	3,299,850	141,807
Viper MkIII	19.70	4	3,344,740	169,784
Cobra MkIII	26.41	5	6,587,410	249,429
Viper MkIV	25.37	3	6,685,320	263,513
Diamondback Scout	27.93	5	4,870,520	173,383
Cobra MkIV	23.23	3	6,985,350	300,704
Type-6	30.11	3	13,445,710	446,553
Dolphin	30.38	3	7,809,790	257,070
Diamondback Explorer	37.03	4	11,767,640	317,786
Imperial Courier	27.64	4	5,714,860	206,760
Keelback	26.71	2	15,528,770	581,384
Asp Scout	30.11	5	10,224,600	339,575
Vulture	21.75	5	17,307,900	795,766
Asp Explorer	34.76	4	42,079,470	1,210,572
Federal Dropship	18.99	3	49,693,790	2,616,840
Type-7	25.00	1	52,796,290	2,111,852
Federal Assault Ship	22.45	4	35,605,880	1,586,008
Imperial Clipper	26.28	5	119,497,850	4,547,102
Federal Gunship	18.87	1	71,049,660	3,765,218
Orca	31.12	1	64,851,300	2,083,910
Fer-de-Lance	19.81	4	63,919,800	3,226,643
Python	27.58	2	91,482,370	3,316,982
Type-9	19.16	0	381,456,730	19,909,015
Beluga Liner	26.46	2	167,740,990	6,339,417
Anaconda	38.06	1	254,556,830	6,688,303
Federal Corvette	20.21	2	295,562,890	14,624,586
Imperial Cutter	25.32	0	544,970,390	21,523,317

A-Class everything, Bulkheads as Reactive Surface Composite which is the most expensive part of a ship. Hardpoints, utility mounts and internal compartments empty except Shield Generator which is highest possible size.

Model	Jump Range (LY)	Manoeuvrability	Speed [Boost]	Armour	Shield	Cost (CR)
Sidewinder MkI	17.84	5	245 [357]	210	68 [2A]	854,770
Eagle MkII	18.23	7	259 [377]	140	102 [3A]	1,981,830
Hauler	22.14	4	232 [348]	350	85 [3A]	1,365,130
Adder	20.76	4	244 [355]	315	102 [3A]	2,520,740
Imperial Eagle	17.98	5	322 [430]	210	136 [3A]	2,612,910
Viper MkIII	14.98	4	330 [413]	245	179 [3A]	2,841,390
Cobra MkIII	21.21	5	307 [439]	420	124 [4A]	8,040,840
Viper MkIV	22.06	3	299 [376]	525	226 [4A]	8,181,690
Diamondback Scout	22.98	5	316 [425]	420	139 [4A]	7,425,750
Cobra MkIV	19.11	3	214 [322]	420	173 [4A]	9,346,220
Type-6	23.49	3	247 [393]	630	153 [5A]	12,459,260
Dolphin	20.39	3	290 [406]	385	187 [4A]	14,986,320
Diamondback Explorer	30.49	4	262 [343]	525	191 [4A]	16,893,590
Imperial Courier	19.33	4	306 [415]	280	335 [3A]	11,851,200
Keelback	21.23	2	220 [329]	945	187 [5A]	20,513,520
Asp Scout	21.61	5	242 [331]	630	200 [4A]	20,664,720
Vulture	15.95	5	244 [395]	560	387 [5A]	31,577,410
Asp Explorer	25.45	4	282 [383]	735	234 [6A]	55,553,110
Federal Dropship	14.11	3	201 [334]	1050	228 [6A]	106,036,180
Type-7	19.87	1	192 [320]	1190	217 [6A]	86,817,860
Federal Assault Ship	16.36	4	242 [403]	1050	213 {5A]	113,526,110
Imperial Clipper	17.20	5	348 [441]	945	306 [7A]	168,364,300
Federal Gunship	13.34	1	187 [308]	1225	286 [6A]	185,070,720
Orca	21.65	1	348 [441]	770	321 [5A]	198,948,560
Fer-de-Lance	13.59	4	301 [405]	788	468 [5A]	205,142,660
Python	17.47	2	267 [348]	910	397 [6A]	291,969,770
Type-9	13.86	0	139 [214]	1680	390 [8A]	505,433,850
Beluga Liner	20.25	2	211 [295]	980	204 [6A]	447,582,930
Anaconda	19.74	1	208 [277]	1838	595 [7A]	825,479,020
Federal Corvette	13.62	2	213 [277]	1295	741 [7A]	962,815,660
Imperial Cutter	17.53	0	225 [360]	1400	947 [8A]	1,261,053,840

Outfitting

External Hardpoints and Utility Mounts.

Model	Small	Medium	Large	Huge	Utility Mount
Sidewinder	2	-	-	-	2
Eagle	3	-	-	-	1
Hauler	1	-	-	-	2
Adder	2	1	-	-	2
Imperial Eagle	2	1	-	-	1
Viper MkIII	2	2	-	-	2
Cobra MkIII	2	2	-	-	2
Viper MkIV	2	2	-	-	2
Diamondback Scout	2	2	-	-	4
Cobra MkIV	3	2	-	-	2
Type-6	2	-	-	-	3
Dolphin	2	-	-	-	3
Diamondback Explorer	-	2	1	-	4
Imperial Courier	-	3	-	-	4
Keelback	2	2	-	-	3
Asp Scout	2	2	-	-	2
Vulture	-	-	2	-	4
Asp Explorer	4	2	-	-	4
Federal Dropship	-	4	1	-	4
Type-7	4	-	-	-	4
Federal Assault Ship	-	2	2	-	4
Imperial Clipper	-	2	2	-	4
Federal Gunship	2	4	1	-	4
Orca	-	2	1	-	4
Fer-de-Lance	-	4	-	1	6
Python	-	2	3	-	4
Type-9	2	3	-	-	4
Beluga Liner	-	5	-	-	6
Anaconda	2	2	3	1	8
Federal Corvette	2	2	1	2	8
Imperial Cutter	-	4	2	1	8

Core Internal Compartments. (See Optional tab for the Military Compartments.)

Model	Power Plant	Thrusters	FSD	Life Support	Power Distributor	Sensors	Fuel Tank
Sidewinder	2	2	2	1	1	1	1
Eagle	2	3	3	1	2	2	2
Hauler	2	2	2	1	1	1	2
Adder	3	3	3	1	2	3	3
Imperial Eagle	3	3	3	1	2	2	2
Viper MkIII	3	3	3	2	3	3	2
Cobra MkIII	4	4	4	3	3	3	4
Viper MkIV	4	4	4	2	3	3	4
Diamondback Scout	4	4	4	2	3	2	4
Cobra MkIV	4	4	4	3	3	3	4
Type-6	3	4	4	2	3	2	4
Dolphin	4	5	4	4	3	3	4
Diamondback Explorer	4	4	5	3	4	3	5
Imperial Courier	4	3	3	1	3	2	3
Keelback	4	4	4	1	3	2	4
Asp Scout	4	4	4	3	4	4	4
Vulture	4	5	4	3	5	4	3
Asp Explorer	5	5	5	4	4	5	5
Federal Dropship	6	6	5	5	6	4	4
Type-7	4	5	5	4	3	3	5
Federal Assault Ship	6	6	5	5	6	4	4
Imperial Clipper	6	6	5	5	6	5	4
Federal Gunship	6	6	5	5	7	5	4
Orca	5	6	5	6	5	4	4
Fer-de-Lance	5	5	4	4	6	4	3
Python	7	6	5	4	7	6	5
Type-9	6	7	6	5	6	4	6
Beluga Liner	6	7	7	8	6	5	7
Anaconda	8	7	6	5	8	8	5
Federal Corvette	8	7	6	5	8	8	5
Imperial Cutter	8	8	7	7	7	7	6
* Note: All ships currently have a max Bulkhead class of 8.

Optional Internal Compartments and Military Compartments.

Model	Class 1	Class 2	Class 3	Class 4	Class 5	Class 6	Class 7	Class 8
Sidewinder	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Eagle	1	1+1^[m]	1	-	-	-	-	-
Hauler	1	1	2	-	-	-	-	-
Adder	1	2	2	-	-	-	-	-
Imperial Eagle	2	1+1^[m]	1	-	-	-	-	-
Viper MkIII	1	1	2+1^[m]	-	-	-	-	-
Cobra MkIII	-	3	-	3	-	-	-	-
Viper MkIV	1	2	1+1^[m]	2	-	-	-	-
Diamondback Scout	-	1	3	-	-	-	-	-
Cobra MkIV	-	2	2	4	-	-	-	-
Type-6	-	2	1	2	2	-	-	-
Dolphin	-	3	1	2	1^[r]	-	-	-
Diamondback Explorer	-	2	2	2	-	-	-	-
Imperial Courier	1	3	2	-	-	-	-	-
Keelback	-	2	1	1	2	-	-	-
Asp Scout	-	2	2	1	1	-	-	-
Vulture	2	1	-	1	1+1^[m]	-	-	-
Asp Explorer	-	2	3	-	1	1	-	-
Federal Dropship	-	1	2	1+2^[m]	2	1	-	-
Type-7	-	-	2	-	3	3	-	-
Federal Assault Ship	-	2	1	1+2^[m]	2	-	-	-
Imperial Clipper	-	2	2	2	-	1	1	-
Federal Gunship	-	2	0	3^[m]	1	2	-	-
Orca	-	2	1	1	2+1^[r]	1^[r]	-	-
Fer-de-Lance	1	1	-	2	1	-	-	-
Python	-	1	2	1	2	3	-	-
Type-9	1	-	2	2	1	1	1	1
Beluga Liner	-	-	4	1	2^[r]	2+2^[r]	-	-
Anaconda	-	1	-	3	3+1^[m]	3	1	-
Federal Corvette	-	-	1	2	2+2^[m]	2	3	-
Imperial Cutter	-	-	1	1	2+2^[m]	3	-	2
[m] = Military Compartment, reserved for Hull Reinforcement Package, Module Reinforcement Package, or Shield Cell Bank. [r] = Reserved Compartment, limited to Cargo Rack, Hull Reinforcement Package, Module Reinforcement Package, or Passenger Cabin.

Upcoming Ships

Currently, the only ship known to be in development for inclusion in a future game update is the Panther Clipper, a heavy trader manufactured by Zorgon Peterson. As the Panther Clipper has only be seen through concept art to-date, it is unknown when the ship will implemented or what its final appearance and specifications will be.

Ship Roles

Multipurpose

Multipurpose 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, ship-to-ship combat, or exploring the stars, multipurpose ships can do it all. Multipurpose ships usually can do most jobs just as well if not better than comparable ships targeted towards those jobs.

Combat

Combat ships are usually faster, more agile and more 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 should be fitted with lots of low class Internal Compartments for scanners to optimize jump distance. 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 refuelling through the use of Fuel Scoops.

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 space-limousines.

NPC-only Ship Types

Capital Ships

There are currently two types of capital ships in-game: the Farragut Battle Cruiser and the Majestic Class Interdictor. They're heavily armed and can launch several fighter squadrons. These ships are piloted by NPCs. However, Frontier said in their roadmap that they intend to add the "availability of giant ‘executive control’ ships to players" in a future content update.^[1]

In The Commanders Livestream, a viewer asked "any chance of playing capital ships in the future?", David Braben answered: "it's on the list, but a long way down it, because there's a lot of gameplay to make it work. The issue is what we call the difference between direct control and executive control. Where rather than flying by the seat of your pants you're giving orders to a giant ship. Because you can't expect it to change course very rapidly and that sort of thing. So it's certainly a long-term possibility, but it's long-term."^[2]

Megaships

Naphtha Class Tanker in Okinura

A Megaship is a class of massive ships that travel through the galaxy, and are utilized in a wide variety of roles.^[3] Comparable in size to most stations, and in some cases much longer, a number of megaships are also equipped with docking facilities for small, medium, and large vessels. All services normally available at stations are on offer, with the exception of the Shipyard. Currently only NPCs can fly Megaships.

Development Notes: Fleet Hierarchy

The fleet-class ships that are available to the game’s major factions follow a hierarchy.^[4]

Cruisers (Battlecruisers, Battleships, Interdictors)

Farragut Battle Cruiser and a Vulture

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 Imperial Cruiser 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, the same goes for the Federation's most common and successful Cruiser, named the Farragut Battle Cruiser.

Majestic Class Interdictor

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 defence 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)

Federal Dropship in a planetary ring

Armoured warships designed specifically for transporting valuable assets and cargo quickly and safely.

Corvettes (Cutters)

File:Fed corvette.png

Federal Corvette

Light multi-role warships, capable of reconnaissance, incursions and escort missions. These small warships are also popular with smaller factions, organizations and even wealthy individuals due to their adaptability. The Federal Corvette is a slower Corvette-class Ship with more maneuverability and firepower, while The Imperial Cutter is a lighter and faster Corvette-class ship, players will be able to get their hands on these ships in the game (assuming they can make the right contacts).

Fighters

Imperial Fighter landed

Small short-range craft that generally cannot operate independently due to having no jump capability. Their main roles include the defence 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.