Variable Geometry Self - Propelled Battle Droid , Mark I The Variable Geometry Self - Propelled Battle Droid , Mark I , also known as the " Vulture " - class starfighter or more simply as the vulture droid , was an unmanned model of droid starfighter utilized by the Trade Federation and later the Confederacy of Independent Systems . Constructed in the cathedral factories of Xi Char , their creation through precision manufacturing was considered an act of religious worship . Characteristics . With the effectiveness of droid starfighter s debated in strategic circles for generations , vulture droid s were as such capable of extreme maneuvers that could crush even the sturdiest organic pilot , but lacked the resourcefulness and cunning that living pilots brought into combat . Nonetheless , a lack of life - support systems allowed more room for armaments and fuel , and the lack of an organic pilot removed any moral responsibility for its destruction . Like the ground forces made up of battle droid s , vulture droids were remote controlled by a control ship , but as time passed were able to operate with limited independence due to the installation of artificial intelligence . They were also known to be able to communicate with each other by chattering . While not in flight , vulture droids could transform into walking mode to patrol the surface or provide support during battles , and was specifically designed to fill both space and ground - based roles . A variant of the vulture droid featured an ion weapon . One of this variant battled Ahsoka Tano and Padmé Amidala while they were flying N - 1 starfighter s during starfighter practice . The unit was destroyed . The design of the vulture droid formed the basis for producing the " hyena " - class bomber , another type of automated droid starfighter used by the Separatist Alliance . Vulture droids were not considered as smart as tri - fighters and hyena bomber s , and relied on speed and overwhelming numbers in combat scenarios . History . Invasion of Naboo . In 32 BBY , vulture droids were deployed with the rest of the droid forces by the Trade Federation to seize Naboo . During the space battle over the planet , vulture droids were controlled by a Droid Control Ship , made out of a modified " Lucrehulk " - class LH - 3210 cargo freighter , and engaged Bravo Flight ' s N - 1 starfighters . All of the droid starfighters were deactivated when Anakin Skywalker destroyed their control ship , the " Saak ' ak " . Clone Wars . During the Clone Wars , many vulture droids were painted with the blue and white hexagonal markings that symbolized the Separatist Alliance . They fought in numerous battles such as the Battle of Coruscant . In addition to being launched from capital ship s , vulture droids were also deployed from Automated vulture droid deployment station s to defend areas from potentially hostile approaching vessels . At some period during the war , vulture droids were upgraded to carry missiles which could deploy Pistoeka sabotage droid s against enemy starfighters . Christophsis . In 22 BBY , vulture droids participated in the Battle of Christophsis , which ended in defeat for the Confederacy of Independent Systems . Jedi General Anakin Skywalker destroyed Admiral Trench ' s flagship " Invincible " with the stealth ship , ending the Separatist blockade of the system . Clone Captain CT - 7567 " Rex " and Clone Commander CC - 2224 " Cody " apprehended Clone Sergeant Slick , ending the traitorous clone ' s collusion with the Separatists . Jedi Master Obi - Wan Kenobi captured General Whorm Loathsom , ending the Confederate occupation . Teth . Vulture droids participated in the Battle of Teth , a crushing blow for the Confederacy of Independent Systems . Despite fierce Confederate resistance , Skywalker rescued Rotta the Hutt and delivered him to Jabba ' s palace on Tatooine . Other battles . The droids continued to see action throughout the rest of the conflict . From large scale battles such as at Ryloth and Umbara , to smaller skirmishes such as over Felucia after the destruction of the Felucia medical station . The droids were involved in the Battle of Coruscant , the last major CIS offense of the Clone Wars , and at the Battle of Utapau , where General Grievous was killed . After the murder of the Separatist Council , all Confederate droids were shut down , including the vulture droids . Post - Clone Wars . During the Imperial Era , Vulture droids fell into the hands of various rebel groups including Cham Syndulla ' s Free Ryloth movement , Berch Teller ' s rebel cell , and the smuggler – turned – insurgent leader Nevil Cygni ( " Nightswan " ) . In 14 BBY , hundreds of Vulture droids were used by the Free Ryloth movement to attack the Imperial Star Destroyer " Perilous " during an assassination attempt against Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader . Later , Berch Teller ' s rebel cell obtained Vulture droids and other former Separatist equipment and material from Vice Admiral Dodd Rancit , who was conspiring against his rival Moff Wilhuff Tarkin . The Chiss Imperial Navy officer Thrawn collected various Clone War artifacts including Vulture droid parts . The insurgent leader Nevil Cygni also procured 400 Vulture droids during the Umbaran uprising . By the time of the cold war , Vulture droids were used as private security forces by the houses of Cato Neimoidia .