Air Raid (DOTM)

The name or term "Air Raid" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Air Raid (disambiguation).

Air Raid is an Autobot from the Dark of the Moon portion of the live-action film series continuity family.

Hobbies include seeking and gladiating.

Air Raid is one of the ancient Seekers, ordered into space by the Dynasty of Primes to search for ancient artifacts and catalog stars with the ultimate goal of transferring their power to the AllSpark. Millennia later, Air Raid, like his comrade Jetfire, aligned himself with the Autobots in their struggles on Earth. The same powerful sensory apparatus that served him in his old role now make him an invaluable eye-in-the-sky in the battle against the Decepticons.

Games

Transformers: Dark of the Moon - The Game

Voice actor: Rick D. Wasserman

(Xbox 360/PS3)

Air Raid is that guy on the right who's basically Spawn.

As a result of increased Decepticon activity, Stratosphere was tasked with transporting early MechTech samples from a NEST base in the Himalayas to Optimus Prime's location for safekeeping. Air Raid was one of the officers there, and intercepted a Decepticon intruder who had been surprised by a NEST trap. To his surprise, the intruder turned out to be the high-ranking Decepticon Starscream, who had been ordered to track down and destroy the MechTech.

Air Raid briefly engaged Starscream in the base proper along with a squad of Autobots and NEST helicopters, but when Starscream proved too powerful, he retreated to the runway where Stratosphere was preparing to lift off. Despite leading Starscream on a merry chase through the mountains, with NEST forces launching ambushes with anti-aircraft fire and missiles, Air Raid was unable to either disable or lose his pursuer. He did, however, manage to warn Stratosphere of Starscream's approach and board his comrade before the Decepticon arrived.

When Stratosphere's fighter escort and anti-aircraft gun proved unable to bring down Starscream, the massive Autobot unleashed the Aerialbots, made up of Air Raid, Breakaway and Silverbolt. Now ready for round two, Air Raid confidently assured Stratosphere that they would not fail.

While the Aerialbots put up a good effort, they fell one by one after a lengthy dogfight. When Air Raid was shot down, Starscream offered him a backhanded compliment, noting that, "You're fast, Air Raid, but not fast enough!" Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)

Toys

Dark of the Moon

Considering how many times he's used it as a shield, the reception must be terrible.

• Air Raid (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
  • Japanese ID number: DA33 (November 17, 2011)
  • Accessories: MechTech Shield/Assault Blaster

Air Raid ("Seeker Air Raid" in Japan) transforms from a green AEW&C Boeing E-767 with a hand sticking out the back into a skinny-limbed robot with a stocky torso and an extending plane rear/blaster/axe-flail-thing for a right hand. His radar dome can be detached and held (via the hinge the post and its base are on) as a shield in robot mode. It also can be converted into a blaster by pushing a button and sliding it forward. This multiple functionality is why the weapon is referred to as both a "Battle Shield" and an "Ion Pulse Blaster" in the bio. Aside from his hands, he features MechTech ports underneath his wings, one on top of his fuselage, and one underneath each of the flip-out panels just below the previous port. The vehicle-mode mounting point of his radar dome is also a pair of C joint bars.

He has an Automorph gimmick, wherein hinging his cockpit closer up to his back brings his head up.

Ironically, his swiveled elbows have a greater range of articulation backwards, being able to bend in much further compared to forwards (as per the instructions and stock photography), while a combination of sculpted details on the front of his upper arms and the plane kibble on his forearms prevents any further articulation. As both the instructions and stock photos depict the front details of the upper arms being in the "forwards" configuration, his upper arms do not appear to be misassembled.

The Japanese release comes packed with a character card and an accompanying transparent plastic card of his MechTech weapon for the MechTech Wars online game.

• More information on Air Raid at TFU.info

Notes

• Although the American release of Air Raid gives no idea whatsoever of his relationship, or lack thereof, to the four previous Air Raids from live-action movie continuity, TakaraTomy's toy was called "Seeker Air Raid" (probably because they'd already released their own Air Raid in the form of a Thrust retool) and was confirmed as an ancient star-seeker on the back of his MechTech Wars pack-in card.