Trade Federation Droid Army / Legends The Trade Federation Droid Army was the droid army created and maintained by the Trade Federation during the last decades of the Galactic Republic . As the name suggested , it was made up of battle droids . History . In the years following the Stark Hyperspace War , the Trade Federation became increasingly threatened by pirate and mercenary attacks on outlying trade routes . This led to petitions to the Galactic Senate to allow the Federation to arm its transport vessels to ward off such assaults . The armaments of the Federation were continually increased , but still its Neimoidian overseers did not feel safe . In addition , Viceroy Nute Gunray had entered into a clandestine pact with Darth Sidious , the result of which was the creation of a military force for the Trade Federation . Baktoid Armor Workshop , Haor Chall Engineering , and the Colicoid Creation Nest were all contracted to produce battle droids and war machines for the Trade Federation , many of whose designs were based on existing technology used by the Federation . For instance , the Trade Federation ore barge was used as the basis for its C - 9979 landing craft , while the B1 battle droids that would comprise the Federation ' s infantry force were updates of the Hunter - killer droid . Even Neimoidian designs had been incorporated , and the droideka was made in the image of its Colicoid creators . The earliest recorded assembly of the Trade Federation Army was in the hangar arm of the battleship " Acquisitor " , prior to the Eriadu Trade Summit . Here , representatives from Baktoid Armor and Haor Chall presented their designs to Viceroy Gunray and his aides . As well as landing craft and battle droids , Armored Assault Tanks , Multi - Troop Transports , Platoon Attack Craft , and Single Trooper Aerial Platforms were displayed , though at this point , the Federation had not yet contacted the Colicoids . This army was built up in secret , though B1 battle droids were revealed to the galaxy during the Eriadu Summit , when one was responsible for the deaths of members of the Trade Federation Directorate . The Army was first deployed during the Invasion of Naboo , though tests were carried out in the Karthakk system , where Nym and his Lok Revenants fought against droid forces on Lok and Eos . The Invasion of Naboo served as a turning point for the Federation . Their secret army was fully revealed , and used to subjugate Theed and other Naboo cities . However , this show of force soon turned sour when Queen Padmé Amidala rallied her followers in a desperate counterattack against the Naboo occupation . While the Gungan Grand Army engaged the Droid Army on the Great Grass Plains , Amidala forced Nute Gunray to sign a treaty , effectively ending the occupation . To add insult to injury , the Droid Control Ship in orbit was destroyed by Anakin Skywalker , rendering the entire army useless . The droids were loaded back onto their transports and removed from the system , while Gunray and his cohorts were sent to Coruscant for trial . The Supreme Court decreed that the Droid Army be downsized , although Gunray himself was never convicted , and continued to fight for control of his army . Despite the Republic ' s mandate , the Federation managed to retain much of its armed forces . Further , the Federation began to not only rebuild but also improve its army in secret , utilizing droid factories on many worlds to greatly expand its military . When the Confederacy of Independent Systems was formed , the Trade Federation forces became part of the Separatist Droid Army , fighting alongside droids from the Commerce Guild , the Techno Union , and other major corporate organizations . Composition . The true composition of the Trade Federation Droid Army remained unknown , due to its creation and deployment under a shroud of secrecy . Droid forces were hidden within the cavernous hangar bays of " Lucrehulk " - class battleships and could be assembled from constituent parts that appeared innocuous enough to be overlooked by Republic customs officials . To invade worlds such as Lok and Naboo , the Federation loaded its droids into landing craft , which would make the trip from the Battleship to the planet ' s surface . From there , Multi - Troop Transports , Trade Federation dropships , and Platoon Attack Craft transported B1 battle droids from the landing zone directly into combat . Prior to advancements made during the Separatist Crisis , the Droid Army was slaved to a Central Control Computer , commonly held aboard a specialized Droid Control Ship situated in orbit above target worlds . Ground - based control computers were also deployed to broadcast backup signals . Core ships could also dock in landing pits to broadcast such signals from the ground . Control Computers encrypted to command " Vulture " droid starfighters in control ships and battleships had an approximate operational range of sixteen thousand kilometers . The destruction of the Control Computer would cause all droid forces to shut down , and it was also known for control broadcasts to be intercepted or overwritten with enemy encryption , causing confusion in the Droid Army . The invasion force launched against the city of Theed consisted of thirty - three Multi - Troop Transports — each carrying one hundred and twelve battle droids — and three hundred and forty - two Armored Assault Tanks , as well as additional droid starfighters and infantry . The Naboo invasion force included a wide variety of droids , including the Beetle droid , Energy Pummel , and Bio Cannon . These forces were used against both the Naboo and the Gungans . Organization . The Droid Army , at least by the time of the Clone Wars as part of the Separatist Droid Army , was composed of nine levels in its command structure . Squad . A squad consisted of eight battle droids . Because of their droid status , and thus being either directed remotely or otherwise programmed prior to an engagement , the squads never required an officer for the droid squads , although organic squads were led by a sergeant . Platoon . A Platoon consisted of seven squads , and by extension , 56 battle droids . Company . A Company consisted of two platoons , of which they were transported via either an MTT or a Troop carrier . As such , they were overall complemented by 112 battle droids , in addition to support droids . These were generally led by a battle droid officer , and were the lowest command chain for droid officers . Battalion . A Battalion consisted of seven troop - carrier companies ( either MTT or troop carriers ) , as well as a squadron of 24 AATs . The overall droid count was at 784 battle droids , in addition to support droids , and were commanded by a battle droid officer . Vanguard . Vanguards were designed to break through heavy defenses , and thus were primarily composed of 11 MTT companies and a squadron 18 AATs . As such there were 1 , 232 battle droids in addition to support droids , and were commanded by a battle droid officer . Regiment . A Regiment consisted of four battalions and a single vanguard , composed of 4 , 368 battle droids as well as various support droids and commanded by a battle droid officer . In addition their numbers were the total force carried aboard one C - 9979 landing craft . Division . A Division consisted of five regiments , and were carried into battle via a section of five C - 9979 landing craft . As such , they possessed a total of 21 , 840 battle droids in addition to support droids . Corps . A Corps consisted of five divisions , and were carried into battle via a squadron of 25 C - 9979 landing craft . As such , they possessed a total of 109 , 200 battle droids in addition to support droids . Army . An Army consisted of two corps and represented the total surface force carried aboard a " Luchrehulk " - class battleship . A single army was commanded by the battleship ' s captain , and was composed of 218 , 400 battle droids , as well as support droids . Behind the scenes . The Droid Army in the Battle of Grassy Plains was entirely computer - generated .