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Announcing a New Fighter Design
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| Senator_Cambrist | Date: Thursday, 23 Feb 2012, 9:32 PM | Message # 1 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 761
Status: Offline
| Senators, and Your Excellency, the Grand Vizier, Brentaal is pleased to unveil to you the Arrowhead-class Interceptor, a drone starfighter that (pending space trials) will be adopted as the workhorse of Brentaal's defense and customs forces and potentially many other worlds, too. Inspired by the cost-efficiency of the Imperial TIE fighter, the Arrowhead is result of a competition by some of the leading engineers in the Empire to produce the best design possible. This is that design. The Arrowhead is co-designed by Kuat Drive Yards and Industrial Automaton, combining renowned expertise in both droid and starfighter engineering to create a model that is smart, fast, and cheap. With the cooperation of Senator Kadram, we expect the Arrowhead to be manufactured and sold by Rothana Heavy Engineering.
But before I go on, I feel a need to address the "controversy," if any. Yes, droid starfighters are out of fashion and they remind us of the Separatists. But this design represents the future, not the past. It is a design whose time has come. Designed, in part, by the same company that builds TIE fighters and Star Destroyers for the Empire, it cannot be said that it's a "Separatist design," and it resembles none of its infamous cousins.
By the Empire's grace (and with its permission), we anticipate this design will be widely-adopted. Cheaper than anything else like it on the market today, for many worlds the Arrowhead can represent quality on a budget. But it is also an extraordinary starfighter; its advantage in combat is its speed and agility, and its affordability means it can be deployed in large numbers. Planetary defense, anti-piracy, customs enforcement—this design can do it all.
For this reason, however, I ask that the Defense Committee treat the sale of these drone starfighters, and indeed all drone starfighters, with extra scrutiny. If the Defense Committee doesn't approve of the sale of drone starfighters, they should not be sold. I will support legislation along these lines, and I hope Senator Kadram will join me in doing so, because drone or droid starfighters must not fall into the wrong hands; the potential for this is, I suppose, the downside of the Arrowhead's affordability.
But it is, perhaps, the only downside of this design. I would also like to praise Brentaal's competitive bidding process. We recruited the best talent to create the best design. This is in contrast to the insular and communistic research and design 'projects' we've seen from some sectors, like the Cronese Mandate, which is known to be unfriendly to industries that aren't its own. Also, unlike Cronese ship designs, the Arrowhead will be available for public sale, the profits from which reward its designers for their hard work. This is how quality products are made and shared with the rest of the galaxy, and I'm pleased that Brentaal can be an exemplar of this.
I will answer your questions about the design, if you have any. I hope Senator Kadram will join me in doing so, too.
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| LomenRyuun | Date: Thursday, 23 Feb 2012, 10:21 PM | Message # 2 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 696
Status: Offline
| An interesting design, Senator Cambrist, and one I applaud you for. It is an innovative design that shows great promise, and Druckenwell will certainly be interested in seeing how it performs in the upcoming war games. I'm sure the Defense Committee will back your thoughts as well regarding the sale of drone starfighters; I certainly will be, Senator.
I am curious as to the application of the Arrowhead against light and medium craft; say for example corvette-class vessels?
I am also curious how this product will bear up against the products released by Vigilance Technologies out of the Kanz Sector earlier this week. It would appear you have some competition for drone programs.
Lomen Ryuun
Senator, Doldur Sector
Senator, Druckenwell
Representative, Monor II (10 BBY - 9 BBY)
Representative, Geridard
Representative, Boranall
Representative, Therenor Prime
Vice-chairman, Defense Committee (Temporarily suspended)
Controlling Shareholder - Druckenwell Arms Corporation
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| Senator_Cambrist | Date: Friday, 24 Feb 2012, 10:11 AM | Message # 3 |
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Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 761
Status: Offline
| I'm not familiar with Vigilance Technologies, and I think that's been the problem with drone starfighters; they haven't been "mainstream." Because of the stigma of the Clone Wars, I suppose. Since then, the few drones produced have been made by small and shady companies—like Vigilance Technologies, perhaps—and they've been necessarily expensive in order to anticipate the traditionally low demand for drone fighters. The Arrowhead-class changes all of this. The approach we had was to recognize that the number one reason anyone wants to buy a drone starfighter is because it's cheaper than having to hire trained pilots. The Arrowhead design doubles down on this idea, making the price as low as possible by forgoing bells and whistles like concussion missiles or rotating ion cannons, etc.
Also, the Arrowhead comes from designers and manufacturers you know and trust, who also have the resources to market it broadly. With Kuat Drive Yards, you know already you're getting a quality spacecraft. With Industrial Automaton, you know you're getting an intelligent droid "brain" that's able to interface with many types of computer networks across the galaxy.
Are there other drones on the market? Yes. Do there need to be any others? Not anymore. The Arrowhead-class Interceptor is the drone starfighter, gentlemen. I suspect any other drone designs coming out this week are simply trying to cash in on the Arrowhead's publicity.Added (24 Feb 2012, 10:11 AM)
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I apologize I overlooked your question about corvette-sized vessels, Senator Ryuun. The Arrowhead is strongest in numbers, and while it's intended as an interceptor and not a fighter/bomber, a sufficient number of them could do comparable damage to a corvette-class vessel—especially with the addition of optional proton torpedoes on the Arrowhead's dual torpedo mounts.
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| LomenRyuun | Date: Friday, 24 Feb 2012, 10:39 AM | Message # 4 |
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Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 696
Status: Offline
| Perhaps it is because you stem from the Core, Senator, and I am from the Rim, but Vigilance Technologies has been a leading designer of security systems along the Rim; not as big a manufacturer Kuat Drive Yards, which makes ships of all kinds and of course, Industrial Automaton, who contributes a large number of droid products to our society. Still, they are not to be discounted, I would say.
I would agree with part of your statement, Senator, except Vigilance Technologies placed their product out before the Arrowhead design hit the market. Don't take this as an attack on your design, by all means, I find it as I said quite efficient. I can't speak for Vigilance Technologies' pricing yet as I haven't looked that deeply yet, but my interest in both designs is piqued, I'll admit, largely because you have offered a superb fighter design that outstrips theirs at the moment. I've sent you a link to their holoNet page, Senator, so you might see what you are up against. Ether way, commendable indeed. I look forward to seeing the live tests.
Lomen Ryuun
Senator, Doldur Sector
Senator, Druckenwell
Representative, Monor II (10 BBY - 9 BBY)
Representative, Geridard
Representative, Boranall
Representative, Therenor Prime
Vice-chairman, Defense Committee (Temporarily suspended)
Controlling Shareholder - Druckenwell Arms Corporation
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| Draken_Turot | Date: Friday, 24 Feb 2012, 2:30 PM | Message # 5 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 258
Status: Offline
| Very interesting, Senator Cambrist!
Not too long ago, Acherin came out with a similar design for a drone, except this one is a mobile, anti-air drone! Perhaps some coordination can proceed to test each others drone?! I think it would do wonders for field testing and advancing the individual AIs for the drones!
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| Roman_Lekpin | Date: Friday, 24 Feb 2012, 11:01 PM | Message # 6 |
 Colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 207
Status: Offline
| I have seen some mention of Acherin's design, Senator Tu'Rot. It's an innovative anti-air design. I have been in contact with the president of Vigilance Technologies recently, and if I may inquire on his behalf, if Acherin and Brentaal would like to field-test their drones, would you be willing to accept a third tester?
Roman Lekpin
Representative, Lorrd (11 BBY-10 BBY) (9 BBY-Present)
Chosen of House Garth
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| Senator_Cambrist | Date: Tuesday, 28 Feb 2012, 11:04 AM | Message # 7 |
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Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 761
Status: Offline
| It's an interesting possibility. The President of Vigilante Technologies has contacted me on this matter, and I told him I'd be willing to arrange a joint trial at some point in the future, and Acherin could participate in this too, possibly. But the Arrowhead's space trials are already scheduled, gentlemen. We'll have to work something out in the future—for the time being, Brentaal's interest is in testing the capabilities of its own design.
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| Bernard_Oriel | Date: Thursday, 22 Mar 2012, 5:47 AM | Message # 8 |
 Colonel general
Group: Users
Messages: 803
Status: Offline
| The Defense Committee is in principle indisposed to support the proliferation of combat artificial intelligence devices. Practicalities aside for us to give production of such a vessel an endorsement we woild require guarantees that production will not be on a widespread basisis, not be done by artificial intelligences (the assembly process would need to exclude the possibility of an artificial intelligence controlling the production of such devices), equally, they would need to be limited in their scope for compatibility with "hyperspace rings".
Would you support such provisions and also a requirement of licensing and limits on the numbers of such devices?
I would not oppose this device unless concerns are expressed by the Imperial Military (who will require consultation), but serious limits must be placed upon it's usage and ability to develop any kind of erratic behaviour.
Do you predict these units to exhibit any signs of (a crude mechanical simulation of at any rate) self awareness?
Bernard Oriel
Senator for the Planet of Vjun
1st Earl Malreaux (Second Creation)
Vjun Delegation to the Imperial Senate
Message edited by Bernard_Oriel - Thursday, 22 Mar 2012, 5:52 AM |
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| LomenRyuun | Date: Thursday, 22 Mar 2012, 6:05 AM | Message # 9 |
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Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 696
Status: Offline
| Senator Oriel, if you do not mind my word on this, I would say that 'widespread basis' can be a misleading term. Naturally, having every single planet have ownership of the Arrowhead, or even any drone starfighter devices, is unacceptable. By and large that would reduce jobs for starfighter pilots and damage economies in the regard of work that goes into production, maintaining and so forth of a naval force.
While I agree that artificial intelligences should not be included in the production of any such device, largely as you said to prevent an artificial intelligence gaining 'improving' any such devices for malevolent ends, I would however be more lenient on where the devices are sold, so to speak. I am more understanding of smaller and poorer worlds purchasing drones of any kind for defense.
Lomen Ryuun
Senator, Doldur Sector
Senator, Druckenwell
Representative, Monor II (10 BBY - 9 BBY)
Representative, Geridard
Representative, Boranall
Representative, Therenor Prime
Vice-chairman, Defense Committee (Temporarily suspended)
Controlling Shareholder - Druckenwell Arms Corporation
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| Bernard_Oriel | Date: Thursday, 22 Mar 2012, 8:29 AM | Message # 10 |
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Colonel general
Group: Users
Messages: 803
Status: Offline
| I should clarify my position, no military device which is either A) Able to take control of it's own manufacturing process or  Sporting some abomination of "machine sentience" will ever have the approval of the Defence Committee for it's widespread proliferation or sale (smaller worlds are also less able to ensure safe countermeasures to "drones" are kept up, and these countermeasures also cost money).
Whatever the cost advantages, they are massively eclipsed by the need to avoid another Clone Wars (which was perpetuated by machines building machines and intelligent systems - thus if they are to be introduced it should be only on a limited and controlled basis.
We are also broadly supportive of maintaining jobs for the skilled pilots of the Galaxy, which after the Clone Wars there are now in abundance, many seeking employment and plying their trade for smaller worlds.
Bernard Oriel
Senator for the Planet of Vjun
1st Earl Malreaux (Second Creation)
Vjun Delegation to the Imperial Senate
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| Artemis_Vanden | Date: Friday, 23 Mar 2012, 10:23 PM | Message # 11 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 302
Status: Offline
| As a world with a respected starfighter corps that is renowned for its encounters with droid starfighters during the Trade Federation occupation and the Clone Wars, Naboo expresses its wariness at the propagation of droid starfighter designs all these years later. On a personal note, I'm uncomfortable with industrial war and nothing symbolizes it more than a starfighter that is essentially a toy that's mass-produced for killing. Removing humans from war removes any semblance of humanity from war (if our non-human peers will pardon the phrase). We remember how the Trade Federation and its Separatist allies used its mechanized forces with complete abandon of any and all moral standards, such as they are in war. There is enough enthusiasm for war in this Senate already without it being a leisure pursuit in which toys are moved about on a game board.
Artemis Vanden
Representative of the Naboo
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| Senator_Cambrist | Date: Saturday, 24 Mar 2012, 9:25 PM | Message # 12 |
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Lieutenant general
Group: Users
Messages: 761
Status: Offline
| This isn't child's play, Representative Vanden. Your views on war, however...
I agree with the chairman on all of his points. Addressing them (briefly) in reverse; third, Brentaal's use of the Arrowhead-class interceptor is on a 5-year trial basis only, throughout which it shall continue to retain the services of its Human pilots, too. Second, Brentaal has been more thorough than Druckenwell or Sluis Van (they, with Senator Lekpin, the most prominent "boosters" of lesser-known—and far more deadly—droid starfighter designs) in condemning the atrocities of the Separatists and warning that there must not be another Clone War. And finally, first, the Arrowhead cannot be called "sentient." It is a drone that is programmed with various tactics and maneuvers, etc. (It is not unlike a TIE fighter in this respect, but the Arrowhead's sub-sentient computer—similar to an R4 droid—is more intuitive and capable of spontaneity).
But I would support even stricter scrutiny, chairman Oriel, because while I'm confident the Arrowhead design will pass this scrutiny, there are other designs on the market that I'm concerned about and the stakes, as we agree, are very high. In the coming hours, I'm going to propose a (preliminary) measure to provide your committee with the discretion it needs to stop the proliferation of the more dangerous drone designs, and I hope to work with you on this measure to be sure it meets your satisfaction.
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| Toben-Domon | Date: Sunday, 25 Mar 2012, 1:54 PM | Message # 13 |
 Major general
Group: Users
Messages: 347
Status: Offline
| I agree with Senator Cambrist that the galaxy must avoid another Clone Wars at any cost. I will point out however that Praesitlyn's recent acquisition of several squadrons of drones, none of which are hyperspace capable and two types of which are strictly atmospheric-based, is hardly cause for concern. I'm sure, Senator, that if you inquired as much of Vigilance Technologies, that they would be more than happy to refute your issues with their designs.
As you know, both the Sluis Van Defense Forces and the Sluis Sector Security Fleet field human and Sluissi pilots; we have no intention of replacing our pilots with drones. However, certain smaller and less wealthy worlds, such as Praesitlyn, are better served by these drones, at least on the trial basis of which they have been purchased for. I'd hardly call the drones we have any more dangerous than your own Arrowhead. After all, a drone is a drone, is it not? However, if we begin to allow the fears of the past to completely limit our visions of the future, we will never have any advancements. After all, under the right circumstances, even a protocol droid could be transformed into a killer, and I doubt any of us need to start looking over our shoulders at the protocol droids we utilize.
Toben Domon
Senator, Sluis Van
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| Roman_Lekpin | Date: Sunday, 25 Mar 2012, 2:04 PM | Message # 14 |
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Colonel
Group: Users
Messages: 207
Status: Offline
| Senator Cambrist, Lorrd did not feature prominently in the Clone Wars, a factor that is not lost on us. Though our world was not ravaged as some were, we paid our own price under the ruthless Argazdan overseers. All of this aside, I cannot say that I am not a believer of drone supplementary of planetary defense forces for smaller worlds. Your Arrowhead seems as if it has great potential for defense, profit for Brentaal and for destructive capability. In that regard, any drone that sells well is alike; it's hardly sporting for you to issue snide commentary towards Vigilance Technologies; a company that the Kanz Sector is rather proud of. When it comes to security and safety, Vigilance Technologies is quite known throughout the sector, and well-trusted. Brentaal simply has the backing of a Core World name behind it.
That being said, I can agree with the need for a Defense Committee oversight on larger drone designs, but worlds purchasing on a trial basis and in small numbers? I don't see an issue with that myself. Then again, I don't have a vested interest in it as you do.
Roman Lekpin
Representative, Lorrd (11 BBY-10 BBY) (9 BBY-Present)
Chosen of House Garth
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| Sate_Pestage | Date: Thursday, 29 Mar 2012, 12:12 PM | Message # 15 |
 Lieutenant general
Group: Moderators
Messages: 639
Status: Offline
| It would appear this discussion has been continued elsewhere.
Sate Pestage
Grand Vizier of the Empire
Assistant to Emperor Palpatine
Chair of the Imperial Senate
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