DefenseCon 2956: Complete Manufacturer Schedule and Ship Lineup Revealed

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Star Citizen's DefenseCon 2956 has arrived, and Drake Interplanetary has pulled out all the stops. The manufacturer hasn't just attended the event—they've built it from the ground up, bringing together every major ship and vehicle manufacturer under one roof for what promises to be the most comprehensive defense expo the verse has ever seen.

The event coincides with a free-fly period, allowing both veteran pilots and newcomers to experience Star Citizen without any barriers to entry. Players can grab ships and dive straight into the action, with no prior experience required. This presents an excellent opportunity for those curious about the game to explore what the universe has to offer.

How the Rental System Works

DefenseCon operates on a rotating schedule, with different manufacturers showcasing their full lineups across specific days throughout the event. Every ship and vehicle on display is available for rental through Travelers Rental terminals, with each vehicle offering a 48-hour rental period. The catch? Each vehicle can only be rented once during the event, so pilots need to choose wisely and make their time with each ship count.

Days 1-2: Drake Interplanetary Takes Center Stage (May 14-15)

As the event's primary sponsor, Drake Interplanetary opens DefenseCon with an impressive showcase of their entire catalog. The lineup includes combat-focused vessels like the Buccaneer, a light fighter that trades durability for raw firepower, and the newly revealed Pitbull, details of which will be unveiled on Drake Day.

The Drake selection spans multiple roles, from the cargo-hauling Caterpillar and the versatile Cutlass series (Black, Blue, Red, and Steel variants) to exploration ships like the Corsair. The Cutter family makes an appearance with the standard model, Rambler, and Scout variants. Heavy-duty operations are represented by the mining-focused Golem and its OX variant, along with the massive Ironclad freighter and its Assault variant.

Grey's Market also makes a mysterious appearance with the Shiv, accompanied by the cryptic tagline about not asking questions regarding its origins.

Days 3-4: Roberts Space Industries and Origin Jumpworks (May 16-17)

RSI brings its prestigious lineup to the floor, headlined by the iconic Constellation series in all its variants: Andromeda, Aquila, Phoenix, and Taurus. The manufacturer showcases both its medical capabilities with the Apollo Triage and Medivac, and its combat prowess with the Perseus capital ship hunter and the nimble Scorpius fighter alongside its Antares variant.

The newly reimagined Aurora Mk II makes its appearance, representing RSI's vision for the next generation of starter ships. Combat enthusiasts can explore the Meteor medium fighter, while the Polaris corvette demonstrates the company's capital ship expertise. Ground operations are covered by the Ursa Rover family, including the standard and Medivac variants, plus the luxurious Lynx.

Origin Jumpworks contributes its signature luxury fighters, the 125a and 325a, along with the mysterious M80, which will be detailed during Origin Day.

Kruger Intergalactic rounds out this segment with the L-21 Wolf and L-22 Alpha Wolf light fighters, emphasizing quality and agility in their compact frames.

Days 5-6: MISC, Mirai, Argo, and Greycat (May 18-19)

Musashi Industrial and Starflight Concern presents its diverse portfolio, featuring the militarized Freelancer MIS and the nimble Reliant Tana. The Starlancer family takes prominence with both the MAX cargo variant and the TAC military configuration. The fuel-focused Starfarer Gemini and the mysterious Starlite round out MISC's offerings.

Mirai demonstrates its fusion of human and Xi'an technology through the Fury snub fighter series and the Guardian heavy fighter lineup, including the standard, QI, and MX variants. The Pulse hoverbike and stealthy Razor EX complete Mirai's showcase.

Argo contributes its utilitarian MPUV series in Cargo, Personnel, and Tractor configurations, alongside the versatile SRV for search-and-rescue operations. Greycat brings ground-based firepower with the MTC weapons carrier and the MDC, featuring the verse's first ground vehicle with a point-defense turret.

Days 7-8: Aegis Dynamics Dominates (May 20-21)

Aegis Dynamics brings overwhelming firepower to DefenseCon with one of the most extensive lineups. The Avenger series appears in all its variants: Stalker, Titan, Titan Renegade, and Warlock. Combat pilots can explore everything from the agile Gladius and its Valiant variant to the stealth-focused Eclipse bomber and the devastating Sabre family, including the Comet and Firebird variants.

Multi-crew operations are well-represented with the turret-bristling Hammerhead corvette, the gunship Redeemer, and the capital-ship-hunting Retaliator. The Vanguard series showcases its versatility through four variants: Harbinger, Hoplite, Sentinel, and Warden. The mysterious Tiburon will be revealed during Aegis Day.

Days 9-10: Crusader and Tumbril (May 22-23)

Crusader Industries presents its atmospheric expertise with the Ares duo—Inferno and Ion—designed specifically for taking down larger vessels. The Mercury Star Runner offers courier capabilities, while the Spirit family (A1 and C1) provides mid-size versatility. The massive Hercules family dominates with its A2 bomber, C2 cargo, and M2 military transport variants.

Tumbril Land Systems showcases ground superiority with the Cyclone series in MT, AA, RN, and TR configurations. The Nova heavy tank and Storm mini-tank family, including the AA variant, demonstrate serious battlefield presence.

Days 11-12: Anvil Aerospace Arsenal (May 24-25)

Anvil Aerospace closes out the scheduled manufacturer days with an impressive display of military hardware. The agile Arrow fighter leads a lineup that includes the heavily armored Asgard dropship and the legendary F8C Lightning. The newly updated Hornet Mk II family appears in standard F7C, Super Hornet, Tracker, and Ghost configurations.

Exploration and support roles are covered by the Carrack, Pisces variants, and the armored Terrapin with its Medic variant. Combat support includes the Gladiator bomber, Hawk bounty hunter, Hurricane heavy fighter, and the formidable Paladin gunship. Ground operations benefit from the Ballista air defense system, Centurion anti-aircraft platform, Spartan troop transport, and Valkyrie dropship.

Days 13-14: Full Fleet Access (May 26-27)

DefenseCon concludes with a spectacular finale: every vehicle showcased throughout the event becomes available simultaneously for free rentals. This represents the last opportunity for pilots to experience any ships they missed during the rotating schedule before the event closes.

The event runs through May 27, giving players ample time to explore the vast array of military and civilian hardware on display. With ships ranging from single-seat fighters to massive capital vessels, DefenseCon 2956 offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience the full spectrum of spacecraft available in the Star Citizen universe.