Surface Recon Vehicles
EDFM // Ships & Equipment / Ships
Player-operated ground vehicles used by Commanders on planetary surfaces.
A Surface Recon Vehicle (SRV) is a player-operated ground vehicle used by Commanders for activities on planetary surfaces. SRVs are transported aboard compatible ships using vehicle hangars and can be deployed after landing on suitable terrain.[1]
Overview
SRVs extend a Commander's reach beyond the ship by providing a dedicated vehicle for ground travel and surface operations. Frontier describes SRVs as lightweight, all-terrain wheeled vehicles for exploring planetary surfaces, while also noting their usefulness for combat and other support roles.[1]
The SRV roster is not a single-purpose set of identical vehicles. The established Scarab is the long-running general-purpose SRV, the Scorpion leans toward combat, and Frontier has announced the Rhino as a larger SRV built around surface mining.[2][3]
Typical SRV activities include planetary traversal, exploration, raw material collection, settlement interaction, combat, and — with the Rhino and its associated systems — surface mining. Not every SRV is intended equally for every role.
Available SRVs
| SRV | Manufacturer | Primary role | Crew | Hangar requirement | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scarab | Unknown | General-purpose surface exploration and traversal[1] | Unknown | Planetary Vehicle Hangar | Available |
| Scorpion | Unknown | Combat-leaning SRV[3] | Unknown | Planetary Vehicle Hangar | Available |
| Rhino | Vodel | Surface mining[3] | Up to three Commanders[3] | Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar[3] | Scheduled for 2 September 2026; ARX Early Access announced[3] |
Scarab
The Scarab is the established general-purpose SRV used for surface traversal and exploration. Frontier's current equipment overview describes SRVs as all-terrain vehicles designed for exploring planetary surfaces and suitable for charting the surface, a role most closely associated with the Scarab in current play.[1] Frontier's Rhino first-look article also contrasts the Rhino with the "all-purpose Scarab".[2]
A dedicated Scarab article has not yet been created.
Scorpion
The Scorpion is the combat-leaning SRV introduced after the Scarab. Frontier has described it as more combat-focused than the Scarab while discussing the Rhino's role in expanding SRV gameplay into mining.[3]
A dedicated Scorpion article has not yet been created.
Rhino
The Rhino is an upcoming large SRV manufactured by Vodel and designed around Surface Mining. Frontier has announced that it requires the new Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar, supports up to three Commanders, and is scheduled for release on 2 September 2026.[3]
Vehicle hangars
Conventional SRVs such as the Scarab and Scorpion use the established Planetary Vehicle Hangar. Frontier has announced that the Rhino cannot be deployed through the regular cargo hatch like the other SRVs and instead uses a new large planetary vehicle hangar because of its size.[2]
The Large Planetary Vehicle Hangar is a new module associated with the Rhino. Frontier's announced pre-release compatibility list limits it to specific ships and module classes.[3]