DX-13 Aerial Drone Mine

An Aerial Drone Mine is a type of Tau Drone (small, disc-shaped, semi-sentient machine) employed alongside Tau forces in an airspace denial role. Aerial Drone Mines consist of an advanced processor unit, which individually has only a basic intelligence (approximately equal to that of a small animal such as a pterasquirrel), and moves about by way of a compact anti-gravitic generator and much modified variant of Tau Jetpack. This allows the Aerial Drone Mine to hover at high altitudes where it can intercept enemy aircraft. They are primarily deployed in planetary airspaces by Tiger Sharks, which drop them off in mid-air. The Aerial Drone Mines can then arrange themselves in formations of six Drone Mines that hover in the air. Aerial Drone Mines are capable of changing the altitude at which they hover using their anti-gravitic engines, allowing them to better spread themselves out. Although not fast enough to actively chase enemy aircraft, they will move to engage any enemy aircraft that pass within their vicinity; before detonating themselves and causing a large explosion that can inflict severe damage. In this way, they act as an aerial minefield that denies airspace; often forcing enemy air forces to move into other areas covered by Tau fighters or ground defences and away from certain flight paths that need to be protected. It is of note that due to their nature as Drone Mines that float high in the sky, Aerial Drone Mines cannot be attached to Tau squads via Drone Controllers, unlike most forms of Tau Drones.