Yautja Drone: Types And Capabilities Of Predator Drones

The Yautja, known for their advanced equipment, have integrated various drones into their arsenal to enhance their effectiveness in the field and make hunting easier. These drones come in many types and serve multiple purposes, from reconnaissance to combat support. While most of the Yautja drones fly, some use hover technology and keep close to the ground.

Falconer Drone

Like modern military forces, the Yautja occasionally utilize automated flying drones to aid in tracking prey. One example is the falcon drone, deployed by the Super Predators during the events on the Game Preserve planet. This device featured multiple vision modes, similar to those in Yautja bio-masks, and was used for reconnaissance rather than direct engagement. The drone was linked to the Falconer Predator's bio-helmet and mounted on his shoulder when inactive. While effective in surveillance, it played no role in combat, as the act of killing remained the responsibility of the hunter.

Witch Predator Drone

The Predator drone, featured in the Witch Predator DLC for Predator: Hunting Grounds, acts as a scouting device that utilizes advanced Yautja scanning systems. Once activated, it becomes cloaked and emits a pulse that briefly highlights nearby enemies, marking them for easier tracking. Designed as a support tool, it enhances the Witch Predator's efficiency in identifying and engaging multiple targets. The drone represents a technological evolution of the earlier model used by the Falconer Predator.

Harpoon Drone

An inventive extension of Predator technology is the harpoon drone—an autonomous or semi-autonomous weapon system. In Killer of Killers, the harpoon fired from the Predator ship was not merely a projectile; the attached cable was connected to an automated drone unit. After the harpoon struck the Allied warplane and its pilot, the drone—not the ship itself—generated the pulling force from behind. As a result, the pilot was forcibly extracted from the cockpit along with part of the plane's engine. These drones may also feature tracking sensors, cloaking technology, propulsion systems, and automated retrieval mechanisms.

Alien Egg Transporter

The original Aliens vs. Predator comic series briefly showcased a specialized Predator vehicle used for transporting Xenomorph eggs. After capturing an Alien Queen, the Yautja installed her aboard their massive Mothership, constructing an assembly system to harvest eggs efficiently. At the end of the extraction line, a uniquely designed, saucer-shaped drone-like vehicle collected a set of three eggs and transported them to another processing area. These were likely transferred to scout ships for planetary deployment, allowing the Yautja to seed new hunting grounds with Xenomorphs born from local hosts.

Yautja Shrine

Aliens vs. Predator: Extinction, a real-time strategy game, is one of the few titles to feature dedicated Yautja vehicles. The Predator Shrine acts as a mobile command structure, combining functionality with cultural significance—it serves as a communication hub, weapons cache, trophy vault, and a place of reverence for the Yautja gods. Equipped with multi-targeting laser arrays, it can engage several enemies at once, although it struggles against fire-resistant units, long-range attackers, and close-quarters assaults. The game also features the "Pred-Gun," a hovering automated turret that functions as a mobile support drone, capable of providing defense and area control on the battlefield.

Conclusion

The Yautja make use of various drones to support their hunts, ranging from reconnaissance units to automated weapons. The Falconer Predator used a flying scout drone with multiple vision modes on the Game Preserve planet, while the Witch Predator deployed a cloaked scanner that marked targets. In Killer of Killers, a harpoon drone pulled a pilot and engine from a plane via an automated tether. A saucer-like drone in the original AvP comic transported Xenomorph eggs aboard a mothership. In AvP: Extinction, the Predator Shrine functioned as a mobile base and temple, while the Pred-Gun acted as a hovering defense turret. These varied drones demonstrate the Yautja’s integration of autonomous technology into both ritual and combat roles.

Tag Categories: Predator Technology