Recently there seems to be increase in the interest in the subject of drones here, so it looks like it is a good opportunity to get some discussion going about a theoretical fully robotic part of the SLDF, operating as a third force next to the Regular and Royal parts of the SLDF, but completely unmanned and only answering to the Cameron's.
This scenario does assume that SDS development went a lot smoother and that a number of technical hurtles had been solved, such as hyperspace jumping by Drones, and drone systems for all unit types (Mech/BA/etc). I will also be assuming that most of the drones would be based upon designs already in use by the SLDF, along with a lot of standardization. A big issue will be the balance between covering all the needed combat roles and limiting the number of designs for the systems own logistics.
Here is my initial selection for a fully robotic force that can fulfill its purpose.
Mechs (restricting to the ones with new plastic minis)
For the Mechs standardize again on a 300 XL engine (just like the canon SDS ASFs) with modified designs and each having several variants. I have to give preference to 'Mechs with hands.
25T 12/18 Mercury SDS
30T 10/15 Stinger SDS
50T 6/9 Phoenix Hawk SDS
60T 5/8 Crusader SDS
75T 4/6 Archer SDS
100T 3/5 King Crab SDS
VehiclesThe smaller vehicles required a second standard engine (210 XL). And as with the 'Mechs having 3 or 4 variants for each combat design.
29T 12/18 VTOL Vector SDS
38T 6/9 Wheeled Chevalier SDS
49T 9/14 Hover Zephyr SDS
50T 6/9 Tracked Chaparral SDS
70T 3/5 Tracked Missile Carrier SDS
75T 4/6 Tracked Von Luckner SDS
100T 3/5 Tracked Alacorn SDS
Engineer Drone (Engineering Vehicle)
Harvester Drone (Heavy BattleMech Recovery Vehicle)
Repair Drone (100 ton Wayland Mobile Base)
InfantryBA Worker (Light BA Quad) *how to add manipulators?*
BA Soldier - Nighthawk SDS
Micro SV platoons, such as
The KillWasp by Liam's Ghost
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=22247.msg498319#msg498319Drone Infantry by me:
https://bg.battletech.com/forums/index.php?topic=27184.msg621229#msg621229AeroSpaceASF Scout (MK 39-009 30tons)
ASF Dogfighter (MK 39-00? 50 tons)
ASF Interceptor [MK 39-004]
ASF Striker [MK 39-007]
ASF Attack (MK 39-005 100 tons)
SC Screen/Boarding (Modified M-1)
SC Cargo (K-1)
Capital UnitsDS GunShip [M-3]
DS PWS (Mule Q-Ship?)
DS CV [M-10]
DS Command [Model-96C]
DS Heavy Transport (Lee)
SS Factory (M-7? With KF boom?)
SS Refinery (M-8? With KF boom?)
SS Command/Repair [M-9 as an modular space station]
WS Destroyer [M-5]
WS Command [M-5C]
WS Transport (Potemkin?)
WS BattleShip [M-6]
WS YardShip [M-11]
WS Dreadnought (enlarged McKenna? 2.5MT)