The Panther Clipper is a massive new cargo ship in Elite Dangerous, featuring a cargo capacity of up to 1,450 tons with optimized racks, versatile customization options, and robust internals, set for release on July 22nd with both standard and premium editions. Designed for cargo hauling, exploration, and mining, it introduces innovative features like rotating engines and a specialized slot system, signaling Frontier’s move toward more tailored ship roles and diverse gameplay.
The Panther Clipper is an upcoming, massive cargo ship in Elite Dangerous, boasting a cargo capacity of at least 1,000 tons, making it one of the largest in the game. Frontier Developments recently revealed detailed information about the ship during their Frontier Unlocked live stream. The design stays true to the original Panther Clipper from Frontier Elite 2 but incorporates modern aesthetics and unique features like rotating and pivoting engines that deploy landing gear, giving it a distinctive appearance.
In terms of cargo capacity, the Panther Clipper introduces new optimized cargo racks exclusive to this ship, which provide 50% more capacity than standard racks for size seven and eight slots. This innovation alone significantly boosts its cargo potential, with a theoretical maximum cargo capacity of around 1,450 tons when considering all available slots. Players also have the flexibility to replace some cargo racks with dedicated fuel tanks, allowing customization between cargo space and fuel capacity.
The ship is well-equipped for self-defense, featuring ten hardpoints—four small, four medium, and two large—though it is not intended as a combat vessel. Its core internals are robust, including size eight power plant and thrusters, size seven Frame Shift Drive, power distributor, and fuel tank, alongside size five life support and sensors. The Panther Clipper’s large bridge offers panoramic views and hints at potential future uses, though Frontier advises against speculation.
Frontier suggests the Panther Clipper will be suitable not only for cargo hauling but also for exploration and mining, with its massive cargo hold being particularly useful for refueling fleet carriers. The ship will be released on July 22nd, with both a standard hull and a premium Stellar Edition featuring exclusive aesthetics and hull kit parts. The ship will initially be available for purchase with real money before becoming accessible through in-game credits after an early access period.
Lastly, the Panther Clipper introduces a new specialized slot system that Frontier plans to expand in future ships, allowing more tailored customization based on a ship’s intended role. The video’s creator expressed interest in seeing more small ships introduced to the game, especially with unique missions designed around their capabilities. This approach to ship specialization and mission design promises to diversify gameplay in Elite Dangerous moving forward.