Vulture-class Droid Starfighter

History
The Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid, Mark I, also known as the Vulture-class starfighter, Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid, vulture starfighter, or more simply as the vulture droid, was an unmanned model of droid starfighter utilized by the Trade Federation and later the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Constructed in the cathedral factories of Xi Char, their creation through precision manufacturing was considered an act of religious worship.

Characteristics

 * "Their creators assumed a given fighter would not survive long, and so programmed them to be swarming weapons." "So burning through their resources as fast as possible? Without any long term considerations? Are you sure?" "Look at the curve of the combat pods. The shape of the stripes. The position of the blaster barrels. Weapons such as this not only are functional, but also incorporate the artistry of their creators. The beings who created and built these fighters believe in short quick answers to questions and problems."
 * ―Thrawn and Eli Vanto discuss vulture droids

With the effectiveness of droid starfighters debated in strategic circles for generations, vulture droids were as such capable of extreme maneuvers that could crush even the sturdiest organic pilot, but lacked the resourcefulness and cunning that living pilots brought into combat.[3] Nonetheless, a lack of life-support systems allowed more room for armaments and fuel, and the lack of an organic pilot removed any moral responsibility for its destruction.[5]

Like the ground forces made up of battle droids, vulture droids were remote controlled by a control ship, but as time passed later generations of the fighter were able to operate with limited independence due to the installation of artificial intelligence.[3][5] They were also known to be able to communicate with each other by chattering.[8] While not in flight, vulture droids could transform into walking mode to patrol the surface or provide support during battles, and was specifically designed to fill both space and ground-based roles.