Missile Drone

A Missile Drone (Kor’vesa in the Tau Lexicon) is a type of Tau Drone (small, sleek, disc-shaped, semi-sentient machines) employed extensively alongside Tau units in battle. Missile Drones consist of an advanced processor unit, which individually has only a basic intelligence (approximately that of a small animal such as a pterasquirrel), and moves about by way of a small anti-gravitic generator and a smaller and much modified version of a Tau Jetpack. This allows the Missile Drone to hover over the ground and skim over most obstacles. As they hover over landscapes, rotating back and forth, their sensor vane constantly transmits vital information about their surroundings.

Missile Drones have only ever been known to be deployed as part of XV88 Broadside Battlesuit teams during the Third Sphere Expansion. Missile Drones are variants of standard Gun Drones, and forgoes the latters’ twin-linked Pulse Carbines armament in favour of heavier weapon – the Missile Pod. Normally a found as a Tau Battlesuit weapon system, a Missile Pod is a simple but effective delivery system for multiple missiles. These weapon pods are most commonly used to maximum effectiveness on light vehicles and heavy infantry at long ranges, and are especially effective when accompanying XV88 Broadsides armed with High-yield Missile Pods.

Missile Drones that are attached to a Tau squad can be controlled by a Drone Controller, whether it is in the form of a support system for a Tau Battlesuit, or a hard-wired piece of wargear for Tau infantry. A Drone Controller is an electronic device that can be used by the Tau to further enhance their connections and control over their robotic companions. A Drone Controller acts as a hub of digital communications between the Drone's operator and any Drones that are nearby the user. It acts as an advanced interface between the operator and the AI battle programs of the Drones, and is often used to direct the Drones’ firepower far more efficiently and with a level of accuracy far greater than would otherwise be possible on the battlefield.

So deeply do the Tau believe in the Greater Good, that even their Drones are programmed with self-preservation protocols - in the face of what the AI deems to be hopeless odds, a Drone will attempt to escape rather than stand and fight. While, at need, Drones might be used in high-risk missions or purposefully moved to block enemy paths towards the Fire Warriors, the Tau do not consider drones to be disposable and the Drone artificial intelligence will analyse every possibility in order to ensure its own survival.

Ordo Xenos Departmento Analyticus Technical Specifications
The technical specifications for this Tau unit have not been obtained or released by the Ordo Xenos.