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Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid

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this was the name of the droid starfighters used by the Trade Federation during the last years of the Old Republic. These craft were also known as Vulture Droids, and were sometimes denoted as "Mark 1" droids. The Trade Federation never wished to risk any of its living members, so droids permeated its armed forces in every aspect. The droid starfighter was designed by the Xi Char order, and was a small starfighter with a pair of wings mounted to a wing-like fuselage. Lozenge-shaped weapons emplacements were mounted on the tips of the wings, and could split open in combat to reveal additional weapons systems. A small knob in the center of the fuselage held the droid brain that acted as the ship's pilot. When not in flight - either during storage aboard a Federation battle ship or after landing - the ship's systems transform the fighter into a walking weapons platform. This marvel of droid technology could only have been manufactured by the highly-precise Xi Charrians. The starfighter measured 3.5 meters in length when in flight mode, and was armed with four blaster cannons and two torpedo launcher. The only drawback to this droid starfighter was that it could only remain active for 35 minutes before it required refueling, and would go into standby if it lost contact with the control ship for more than twelve seconds. If it was out of contact for more than six minutes, the ship would self-destruct. Any potential problems were overcome by sheer numbers, as there were 1,500 Vultures aboard every Federation battle ship. These craft were designed for both spaceflight and atmospheric flight, and could attain speeds near 1,200 kilometers per hour in atmosphere. These fighters were used throughout the Clone Wars, primarily because they were cheap to mass-produce. Production of the Vulture Droid was later turned over to the Baktoid Armor Workshop. These craft often augmented the squadrons of Tri-Fighters and HMP Droid Gunships in battle.