imported>Teizan: Category:Light freighters (because it can)

2026-02-27T08:41:01Z

Category:Light freighters (because it can)

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{{for|other uses|Vulture (disambiguation)}}
{{Vehicle
| uuid = 34077e67-5e2c-4903-a17c-2d0e163751c7
| name = Vulture
| image = Vulture flying through debris field.jpg
| manufacturer = DRAK
| series = Vulture
| career = Industrial
| role =
| size = small
| productionstate = Flight ready
| productionstatedesc = Since [[Update:Star Citizen Alpha 3.18.0|Alpha 3.18.0]]
| mincrew = 1
| maxcrew = 1
| length =
| width =
| height =
| retractedlength =
| retractedwidth =
| retractedheight =
| pledgecost = 175
| originalpledgecost = 140
| warbondcost = 160
| originalwarbondcost = 120
| pledgeavailability = Always available
| developedfrom = Vertical Landing Test 3
| rsistoreurl = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/pledge/ships/drake-vulture/Vulture
| presentationurl1 = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link//16618-Your-Ship-Your-Sky
| brochureurl = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/media/v9btjo8p89u1nr/source/Drake-Vulture.pdf
| trailerurl = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7E1z8vMQE
| qandaurl1 = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/engineering/16647-Q-A-Drake-Vulture
| galactapediaurl = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/galactapedia/article/RPDAMBAOr4-vulture
| whitleysguideurl = https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/19899-Whitleys-Guide-Vulture
| releasedate = 2938
| conceptdate = 2017-12-01
| saledate = 2018-06-14
| queryimage =
}}

The '''Vulture''' is a small [[StarCitizen:salvage]] [[StarCitizen:ship]] manufactured by [[StarCitizen:Drake Interplanetary]]. Focusing on long range and self-reliance, the Vulture allows single-operators to engage salvage with Drake's signature emphasis on practicality.<ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/pledge/ships/drake-vulture/Vulture|text=Pledge - The Vulture|accessdate=2025-04-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/en/comm-link//16618-Your-Ship-Your-Sky|text=Vulture: Your Ship, Your Sky|accessdate=2025-04-19}}</ref>

== Features ==
{{List item
|Scraper Beams
|Dual integrated scraper beams use Drake’s patented Tomium system, developed with professional salvagers for the ultimate in speed and efficiency.
}}
{{List item
|Integrated Tractor Rig
|The Ripper’s claw is outfitted with an integrated Lariat tractor rig, designed specifically for the Vulture. This industrial-grade tractor’s innovative proprietary beam configuration makes it more powerful than setups three times its size.
}}
{{List item
|Cargo
|The Vulture’s interior bay offers ample space outside the boundary of its cargo grid, where more cargo can be loosely packed. Or it can house small ground vehicles such the Mirai Pulse, Argo ATLS, or Greycat STV.
}}
{{List item
|Long Haul Capable
|The Vulture eases the pain of lengthy travel, and the frequent dangers associated therewith, by providing a versatile combination of comfort and convenience. A full-size bunk employs a new composite mattress developed and tested by professional salvagers and haulers right here at Drake. When the going gets rough, you’re never more than a skip and a stumble away from the cockpit and command station.
}}
{{List item
|Central Intuitive Control
|With maximum visibility and vital ship system controls at your fingertips, the Vulture puts you in command of navigation, defense, weapons, and the Vulture’s unique all-in-one utility arrangement.
}}

== Specifications ==
{{Vehicle hardpoints}}

== Model ==

=== Ship profile ===
<tabber>
In-space=
{| class="wikitable"
!Isometric
!Above
!Port-side
!Front
!Rear
!Below
|-
|[[File:Vulture in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture in space - Above.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture in space - Port.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture in space - Front.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture in space - Rear.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture in space - Below.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|}
|-|
Landed=
{| class="wikitable"
!Isometric
!Above
!Port-side
!Front
!Rear
|-
|[[File:Vulture landed in hangar - Isometric - Cut.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:placeholderv2.png|center|frameless|128x72px|link=|class=noviewer]]
|[[File:placeholderv2.png|center|frameless|128x72px|link=|class=noviewer]]
|[[File:placeholderv2.png|center|frameless|128x72px|link=|class=noviewer]]
|[[File:placeholderv2.png|center|frameless|128x72px|link=|class=noviewer]]
|}
|-|
Schematic=
{| class="wikitable"
!Isometric
!Above
!Port-side
!Front
!Rear
!Rear Isometric
|-
|[[File:Vulture - Schematic - Isometric.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture - Schematic - Above.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture - Schematic - Port.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture - Schematic - Front.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture - Schematic - Rear.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture - Schematic - Rear Isometric.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|}
</tabber>

====Special editions====
{{Note|'''Note:''' These are non-standard 'variants' and are '''only available in-game''' as a reward by completing various missions or tasks.}}
{| class="wikitable"
![[StarCitizen:Teach's Ship Shop#Teach's Special|"Teach's Special"]]
|-
|[[File:Teachs_Ship_Shop_logo.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|}

=== Paints ===
{{for|more information|:Vulture series/Paints}}

{| class="wikitable"
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Assembly"|"Assembly"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Best in Show 2953"|"Best in Show 2953"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Carbonide"|"Carbonide"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Carnival"|"Carnival"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Deck The Hull"|"Deck The Hull"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Dying Star"|"Dying Star"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Foundation Festival"|"Foundation Festival"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Ghoulish Green"|"Ghoulish Green"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Heartthrob"|"Heartthrob"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"IceBreak"|"IceBreak"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Longhorn"|"Longhorn"]]

![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Outcast"|"Outcast"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Pyrite"|"Pyrite"]]
![[StarCitizen:Vulture series/Paints#"Skullcrusher"|"Skullcrusher"]]
|-
|[[File:Vulture Assembly in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture BIS2953 in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Carbonide in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Carnival in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Deck The Hull in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Dying Star in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture FF in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Ghoulish Green in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Heartthrob landed in hangar - cropped.png|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture IceBreak in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Longhorn in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]

|[[File:Vulture Outcast landed in hangar - cropped.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Pyrite in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|[[File:Vulture Skullcrusher in space - Isometric.jpg|center|frameless|128x72px]]
|}

== Acquisition ==
{{Vehicle availability}}

== Lore ==
<tabber>
The "Empire Slipper"=
On the 9th of August, 2895, the freighter "''Empire Slipper''", registered under the [[StarCitizen:Terra]] flag, experienced critical system malfunctions that led to erroneous navigation displays. This caused the navigation officer to plot a course through a dense asteroid field near a red giant star, resulting in a collision that disabled the ship's shields and exposed the crew to lethal radiation. The ship's location became unknown while it carried valuable metals and rare artworks, drawing significant media attention and prompting an extensive search. After eight months, the wreckage was found by a [[StarCitizen:United Empire of Earth Navy|UEE Navy]] picket ship in a highly irradiated debris field, dispelling conspiracy theories about hijacking. Unfortunately, the area was nearly inaccessible for conventional salvage vessels.<ref name="whitley"/>
|-|
Vertical Landing Test 3=
In response to the challenge, Drake Interplanetary, a new spacecraft manufacturer, offered support. Motivated by potential salvage rights and a ten million credit bounty from [[StarCitizen:MISC]], the ship's original builder, a specialized team gathered on [[StarCitizen:Borea]] to devise a solution. They modified an [[StarCitizen:Cutlass Black|AS-1 Cutlass]] prototype, the [[StarCitizen:Vertical Landing Test 3]] (VLT-3), by removing its testing equipment and converting it for debris recovery of the "Slipper." The VLT-3 featured enhanced shield generators that reduced cargo capacity but improved shielding and agility for its two-person crew. Its external manipulator arms allowed for salvage operations without extravehicular activity, minimizing risks from hazardous radiation.<ref name="whitley"/>
|-|
The salvage=
Fourteen months after the "''Empire Slipper''" disappeared, Drake's test crew began salvage operations from a modular space station outside the hazardous zone. Over thirty-six missions, the VLT-3 navigated the debris field, retrieving flight recorders and cargo containers. Drake secured salvage rights and transferred the flight recorders to MISC, but the company faced legal issues after duplicating the flight data before submission. Despite the controversy, the mission improved Drake's reputation amid piracy allegations.<ref name="whitley"/>
|-|
Piracy attack=
After a successful salvage operation, Drake launched a public relations tour for the VLT-3 at aerospace exhibitions. However, controversy arose over allegations of his support for piracy following a coordinated attack with unmarked Cutlasses and a MISC [[StarCitizen:Hull-D]]. In response, the company shifted focus to developing the [[StarCitizen:Caterpillar]] command ship, putting the VLT-3 in storage.<ref name="whitley"/>
|-|
Early development=
In 2932, the [[StarCitizen:Aegis Dynamics]] [[StarCitizen:Reclaimer]] "''General Dogsbody''" had a highly profitable salvage mission, increasing interest in the field. Recognizing this demand, Drake's team evolved the VLT-3 into the Vulture, an independent salvage vessel featuring Rippers, salvage booms, and a Tomium scraper rig, while retaining key aspects of the VLT-3.<ref name="whitley"/>
|-|
Launch=
Officially launched in 2938, the Vulture capitalized on public interest in salvage operations, leading to high demand that exceeded production capabilities and the establishment of remote manufacturing facilities. The Vultures successfully recovered high-profile hulls, boosting Drake's reputation and sustaining interest in the spacecraft.<ref name="whitley"/>
|-|
Present day=
In 2941, Drake launched a revised Vulture with improved weapon mounts for hazardous environments. In 2949, the civilian variant received an upgrade with a larger cab for increased cargo capacity, and Drake offers upgrade options for earlier models to enhance capacity and add new weapon mounts.<ref name="whitley"/>
|-|
Military variant=
By 2943, the UEE Navy had requisitioned 300 units for battlefield support, primarily to clear wrecked spacecraft after [[StarCitizen:Vanduul]] conflicts. Drake is developing a government-specific version in anticipation of increased naval confrontations.<ref name="whitley">{{Cite Jump Point|title=Whitley's Guide: The Drake Interplanetary Vulture|volume=7|month=8|startpage=29|endpage=32|accessdate=2023-06-20}}</ref>
</tabber>

== Gallery ==
{{for|a full gallery|:Category:Vulture images}}

<tabber>
Official=
{{gallery
|Vulture hull scraping Hammerhead.png
|Vulture - Breaking scrap down into smaller bits.png
|Vulture with tractor beam.png
|Vulture hull scraping Hammerhead 2.png
|Vulture flying through debris field.jpg
|Vulture Flying Concept.jpg
|Vulture Salvaging Concept.jpg
|Vulture_-_Crew_Area.jpg
|Vulture - Isometric Rear.jpg
|Vulture - Cockpit - Closeup 2.jpg
|Vulture - Cockpit - Looking out.png
|Vulture - Rear - Cargo door down.jpg
|Vulture - Lone Box beside giant debris.jpg
|Vulture - x2 Flying through station debris.jpg
|Vulture - Cut Process Sell.png
|Vulture - Grinders.png
|Vulture - Salvage comes out and stacks.png
|Vulture - 12 Cargo Units.png
|Vulture - Cockpit - Closeup 1.jpg
|Vulture CargoBay Concept.jpg
|Vulture ExternalCockpit Concept.jpg
|Vulture Landed Concept.jpg
|Vulture Teaser.jpg
}}
|-|
In-game=
{{gallery
|Time is Money.png
|Streaking Vulture.png
|Vulture Leaving Hurston.png
|FitzSteveVultureScreen1.png
|FitzSteveVultureScreen2.png
|FitzSteveVultureScreen3.png
|SparkyVultureScreen1.png
|SparkyVultureScreen2.png
|IAE-2952-day1-vulture.jpg
|Invictus-2952-Drake-Vulture-top.jpg
|Invictus-2952-Drake-Vulture-showfloor.jpg
|Invictus-2952-Drake-Vulture-back.jpg
|Invictus-2952-Drake-Vulture-ramp.jpg
|Invictus-2952-Drake-Vulture-rear-section.jpg
|Invictus-2952-Drake-Vulture-ladder.jpg
|Invictus-2952-Drake-Vulture-living-section.jpg
|Drake-defensecon-hologram-vulture-01.jpg
|Drake-defensecon-hologram-vulture-02.jpg
|Drake-defensecon-hologram-vulture-03.jpg
}}
</tabber>

== Development ==
<tabber>Timeline=
{{Timeline styles}}
{| class="timeline"
|-
|2017-12-01
|Introduced as an option for the next Drake ship to be developed in the vote "YOU Pick the Next Drake Ship" in 2017 Anniversary Special.<ref name="YOU-Pick-The-Next-Drake-Ship">{{Cite RSI|text=YOU Pick the Next Drake Ship|int=Comm-Link:YOU Pick the Next Drake Ship|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/citizens/16303-YOU-Pick-The-Next-Drake-Ship}}</ref>
|-
|2017-12-11
|Voted to be the next Drake ship by backers with 44% of 37,696 voters.<ref name="YOU-Pick-The-Next-Drake-Ship" />
|-
|2018-06-14
|Concept sale.<ref name="presentation">{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link//16618-Your-Ship-Your-Sky|text=Your Ship Your Sky|accessdate=2020-04-03}}</ref>
|-
|2020-05-30
|During the 2950 [[StarCitizen:Drake Defensecon]], the ship was on display at the [[StarCitizen:Riker Memorial Spaceport]] in [[StarCitizen:Area18]]. It was represented by a downscaled holographic display of the model.<ref>[[StarCitizen:Star Citizen Alpha 3.9.1|Alpha 3.9.1]] in-game survey during [[StarCitizen:Drake Defensecon]]</ref>
|-
|2021-05-05
|Revealed that the Vulture was in production and to be implemented in game with an allocated work schedule of 18 weeks.<ref name="rr05052021">{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/spectrum-dispatch/18107-Roadmap-Roundup-May-5th-2021|text=Roadmap Roundup - May 5th, 2021|accessdate=2023-06-16}}</ref>
|-
|2023-03-10
|Flight ready in [[StarCitizen:Star Citizen Alpha 3.18.0|Alpha 3.18.0]], along with the first implementation of the salvage gameplay.<ref name="patch3180">{{Cite RSI|url=https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link//19126-Star-Citizen-Alpha-3180|text=Star Citizen Alpha 3.18.0 - Patch notes|accessdate=2023-06-16}}</ref>
|}
|-|
Credits=
{| class="wikitable"
!Role
!Contributors
|-
|Original concept
|[[StarCitizen:Toby Lewin]] (first round), [[StarCitizen:Alex Akstinas]] (second round)<ref name="wip">{{Cite Jump Point|title=Work in Progress: Drake Vulture|volume=6|month=7|startpage=15|endpage=34|accessdate=2020-04-03}}</ref><ref name="shipshape">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH9qDTKTR7U&t=1295s Ship Shape: Drake Vulture] on YouTube</ref>
|-
|Art
|[[StarCitizen:Paul Jones]]<ref name="wip"/><ref name="shipshape"/>
|-
|Technical design
|[[StarCitizen:John Crewe]]<ref name="wip"/><ref name="shipshape"/>
|}
|-|
Design brief=
{{Note|'''Note''': The following design brief is extracted from [[StarCitizen:Jump Point (magazine)|Jump Point]] issue 06.07.<ref name="wip"/>}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Aims & Aesthetic
|-
!Aims
|
* Starter Salvage Ship – The one-man entry into the salvage career.
** Designed for small scale personal salvage via EVA and external processing rather than using the ship to salvage.
** Single utility mount on the front of the ship that houses the “scraper” laser which strips the surface of ships into a resource.
** Uses MultiTool and Salvage charges to break up wrecks and take individual components and loot rather than processing chunks of ship.
* Player can live long term on board with the basic accommodation, when finding wreckage they take their hand held Salvage tools from their internal storage to go recover valuable assets, these can be stored in the rear cargo hold, like a space pickup truck.
|-
!Aesthetic
|
* Similar shape/styling to the other Drake ships, rough and ready Soviet-era style.
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|+Specifications
|-
!Length
|33 m
|-
!Width
|16 m
|-
!Height
|9 m
|-
!Mass
|114,591 kg
|-
!Speed
|165 m/s
|-
!Crew
|1
|-
!Powerplants
|1x Small
|-
!Shield
|2x Small
|-
!Armor
|Large
|-
!Weapons
|2x
|-
!Thrusters
|2x Small, 2x VTOL
|-
!Utility items
|Scraper Beam, Tractor Beam
|-
!Cargo capacity
|12 SCU
|}</tabber>

== Trivia ==
*The vessel derives its name from the Vulture, a sizable avian species belonging to the Accipitridae and Cathartidae families. This bird is closely related to hawks, eagles, and falcons, however, it possesses less robust talons and typically features a bare head. Vultures primarily or exclusively feed on carcases, otherwise known as carrion.<ref>https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vulture</ref>
*CIG said that the ship was inspired by both the HXBL-20 made by [[StarCitizen:Sheng Lam]] and the [[StarCitizen:Dragonfly]] with its two arms.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/BYqJdlXnKdV/?hl=fr&img_index=1 HXBL-20], 8bitwizard (Sheng Lam), Instagram, 5 September 2019</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/qzJooyFlSKc?si=S2QZSoXgMBOyCcH- Star Citizen: Reverse the Verse LIVE - A Wild Vulture Appears!], Star Citizen, Youtube, 15 June 2018</ref><ref>[https://youtu.be/DH9qDTKTR7U?t=1299 Star Citizen: Around the Verse - Vulture Views and Weapons 2 on YouTube]</ref> It is not inspired by the Veldor from ''Privateer II''.<ref>[https://www.wcnews.com/ships/p2veldorcis.shtml Veldor], Wing Commander Combat Information Center</ref> It has some resemblance to the Venture ship in ''EVE Online''. On 2018-06-14, shortly after the design of the Vulture was revealed, players and fans of ''EVE Online'' on reddit pointed out the similarity between the two ships and accused CIG of copying the design.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/Eve/comments/8r4xsx/behold_the_totally_not_a_copy_drake_vulture/ Behold, the totally not a copy, Drake Vulture on EVE subreddit]</ref> The rivalry escalated with redditors brigading both the ''EVE Online'' and ''Star Citizen'' subreddits, to the point that even ''EVE'' developer CCP tweeted about it.<ref>[https://twitter.com/EveOnline/status/1007352147426594816 EVE Online tweet on Vulture]</ref><ref>[https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-06-16-eve-online-and-star-citzen-fans-at-war-over-112-copycat-spaceship Eve Online and Star Citzen fans at war over £112 "copycat" spaceship]</ref>

== External links ==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFSvBqSlt9k Inside Star Citizen: Vulture Venture Summer 2022]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH9qDTKTR7U&t=1295s Ship Shape: Drake Vulture]{{trx|url=around-the-verse-vulture-views-and-weapons-2}}

== References ==
<references />

{{Navplate manufacturers|DRAK}}
{{Navplate vehicles}}

{{Short description|Single-seat salvage ship manufactured by Drake}}

[[Category:Salvage ships]]
[[Category:Light freighters]]

StarCitizen:Vulture - Revision history

imported>Teizan: Category:Light freighters (because it can)