Class Alpha drone unit

This article is about the mass-produced drones. For the individual Decepticon air warrior who looks just like them, see Dreadwing (Movie).

Class Alpha drone units are drones from the 2007 movie franchise in the live-action film continuity family.

Woah, I must be really drunk. I`m seeing 1,2,3,4...15 Dreadwings!

Drones have often been used on Cybertron for manual labor. It was Megatron who first put drones to use in the military when he had drones upgraded and refitted for combat. The Class Alpha drones are combat-ready and capable of flight.

Dreadwing was once a Class Alpha, but is now a warrior in his own right and has been put in charge of the drone army.

Fiction

IDW Transformers movie comics

Many years ago, Class Alpha drones were the workhorses of Cybertron's military under the command of Protector Megatron. They defended the cities of Trypticon and Simfur when aliens from the Eshems Nebula suddenly attacked. Defiance issue 1 When Megatron declared his military rule and led an attack on the aliens, Alpha drones made up the bulk of the Cybertronians forces, until Dreadwing botched an maneuver and half of the drones were destroyed. Defiance issue 2 The drones were absorbed into the new "Decepticon" army when Megatron declared Optimus Prime's followers as traitors. During the subsequent civil war, Alpha drones in their thousands were destroyed by the better-skilled, independent Autobots, but often, sheer numbers would overcome Autobot tenacity and courage. The drones were also used to help build the mighty starship Nemesis, and were among the troops loaded onto the ship when it left on its mysterious mission. Defiance issue 4

A fleet of Alpha drones were present at the Battle of Tyger Pax, managing to kill at least one Autobot in Bumblebee and Arcee's squad. Most followed the survivors down into the AllSpark chamber, but were presumably destroyed when the Autobots brought the place crashing down. Prime Directive #1

NOT AS PLANNED.

When Starscream's Allspark failed, Dreadwing revealed he had used his massive drone army to take over the Cybertronian Decepticons, and, seemingly resentful of having been left behind when Starscream's pursuit craft was launched, tried to use his troops to take down Starscream's team. However, Starscream and his loyal soldiers proved a challenge, and the Autobots managed to deactivate the drones. The Reign of Starscream #5

Titan Magazines

Grey Dreadwing drones were sent in their dozens in constant attacks on Optimus Prime. He was able to shoot at them whilst simultaneously punching the head off another drone because he's bloody hard. Poor Dreadwing. Prelude: Optimus Prime

The following events occur in a splinter timeline where Megatron won the battle of Mission City.

Purple Dreadwing drones patrol the skies of the conquered United States of America. Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1

Following the Decepticon's being deposed, hordes of drones swooped down on Savannah as part of a plan to set up the Autobots in a fight with NATO forces. Having achieved this, they attempted to ensure Bumblebee didn't ruin their plans by reaching the mind-controlled NATO tank commander. Unfortunately for them, the Autobots took out all but one, and unfortunately for that one he got taken down by Bumblebee's fiery exhaust. Aftermath Part 1 Aftermath Part 2

Dreadwing drones attacked the San Diego docks in California as part of a scorched earth policy. Dark Spark

Games

Battle for the Allspark online game

Probably not Skywarp, definitely not Hooligan.

Dreadwing units can be either Autobot (top) or Decepticon (bottom).

There were also lots of Autobot Dreadwings. While the Decepticon Dreadwings had camera lens-like faces, the Autobot Dreadwings had heads with faceplates. The Autobot versions also had slightly different bellies. Dreadwings of both sides have equal of Attack and Speed abilities, with little defence. Battle for the Allspark

Transformers The Game (console)

Voice actor: Noah Nelson (grunts only)

Dreadwings appearred as solo attackers for both the Autobot and Decepticon armies. Aside from the faceplate differences, Decepticon Dreadwings had a gray camo deco, while the Autobot versions had blue and yellow "Blue Angels" markings. Both were shielded against artillery in robot mode except for the shockwave of Starscream's missiles.

Their main weapon was a deadly flamethrower built into each arm. It had limited range, but hoo doggies does it hurt. They were also capable of creating a burning ring of fire by launching into the air then coming down slowly in robot form. They couldn't be hit with melee attacks while their flame throwers were in use. The only way to stop the flame throwers was to throw something at them, which would leave them vulnerable to melee attacks.

Autobot versions of the drone commonly accosted Starscream while he completed his objectives at a military airfield. Both sides used them as backups during the final showdown in Mission City.

During the final battle at Mission City, Jazz encountered two Decepticon versions individually. He beat the two of them, as well as Starscream and Blackout. Transformers The Game

Toys

Transformers (2007)

• Dreadwing (Deluxe, 2007)
  • Japanese ID number: MD-15
  • Accessories: 2 "flame" missiles

The Dreadwing toy could stand in for any Class Alpha drone.

Dreadwing transforms into a modified MiG-29 "Fulcrum" fighter jet (with a VTOL fan and what looks like to be an undercarriage sensor pod). He's the Decepticon version.

His exhaust flames serve dual purpose as firing missiles in both modes. In robot mode, these represent the flamethrower attack from the video game. His chest also has a spring-loaded Automorph gimmick, opening up and revealing more robot parts.

This mold was later used to make Overcast and Revenge of the Fallen Fearswoop.

Notes

• Artist Ken Christiansen designed Dreadwing (and thus the Class Alpha drones), along with the other new characters in the Transformers - The Game and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - The Game video games.
• The subtle differences between Dreadwing and the Class Alpha drone units are an appearance of purple bits on the drone commander, more spiky head chevrons, and something resembling eyebrow articulation that is absent in the drones. One must be able to express all those emotions when thinking and independent, apparently.
• The Class Alpha drone units were named as such in the bonus material of the The Reign of Starscream trade paperback.

External links

• Dreadwing concepts and final rendering on Ken Christiansen's blog.
• Dreadwing at TFU.info