Class Alpha drone unit - Transformers Wiki

Class Alpha drone units are drones from the Transformers portion of the movie continuity family.

Undeveloped at the time of their creation the Class Alpha drone units have often been used as the backbone of Cybertron's workforce. When Megatron decreed that they be developed as foot soldiers to help him take over the planet, they were upgraded and refitted for military combat. This body-type is combat-ready and capable of limited flight, seeing as how they transform into fighter jets.

They also look physically similar to Dreadwing, who was once a Class Alpha drone unit himself before he evolved into a warrior in his own right and was put in charge of the entire drone army.^[1]

Fiction

IDW 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 #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 #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 #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. Movie Prequel #1

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

Flatline utilized both Class Alpha Drone units and Class Beta Drone units as security on his ship. He deployed them to stop his experiments from running wild, but they were unsuccessful. Tales of the Fallen #6

Titan movie comics

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

Alternate timeline

In a divergent timeline, the Decepticons succeeded at Mission City and conquered the United States. Purple Dreadwing drones patrolled the skies of the conquered United States of America. Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 1

Following the Decepticons being deposed, hordes of Dreadwing 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

Dreadwing units of both sides have equal of attack and speed but little defense. They are differentiated by little more than the make of their noggins and bellies; Decepticon versions have a circular lens-face while Autobot versions use a facemask-with-optics model and have slightly different torso shapes. Battle for the Allspark

Transformers: The Game (console)

Voice actor: TBA (grunts only)

Dreadwing drones are solo attackers for both the Autobot and Decepticon armies. Their main weapon is a deadly flamethrower with limited range for each arm. They can creating a burning ring of fire by launching into the air then coming down slowly in robot form.

Autobot Dreadwings battled Starscream while he completed his objectives at a military airfield.

Both sides used them as backups during the final showdown in Mission City, during which Jazz encountered two Decepticon Dreadwings.

Aside from the faceplate differences, Decepticon Dreadwings had a gray camo deco, while the Autobot versions had blue and yellow "Blue Angels" markings.. Transformers The Game

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PSP)

Dreadwing drones were Decepticons that attacked Autobots with their pulse cannons. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PSP)

Toys

Transformers (2007)

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

The Transformers Dreadwing toy represents both the main individual and the Class Alpha drone units.

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.

References

External links

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