Squadron 42 Idris: UEES Stanton Frigate Guide

The Idris is a United Empire of Earth Navy capital ship that appears in Squadron 42 as part of the fleet fighting the Vanduul war. Smaller than the Bengal carrier but larger than any fighter, the Idris occupies the middle ground of the Navy's fleet: big enough to carry a fighter wing and defend itself, small enough to operate in roles the Bengal cannot. The campaign features an Idris named the UEES Stanton. This page explains the ship and its place in the game.

The Ship Class

In Star Citizen's lore, the Idris is a military frigate — a capital ship designed for escort, patrol and independent operations. It carries a small complement of fighters, fields a heavier armament than any destroyer-scale escort, and serves as a command platform for missions that do not require a full carrier group. The class has variants in the wider universe, including the military Idris-M and the civilian Idris-P, but in Squadron 42 the ship appears in its Navy role as part of the fleet engaged against the Vanduul.

The UEES Stanton in the Campaign

The campaign's Idris is the UEES Stanton, commanded by Captain Noah White, played by Liam Cunningham. Within the story, the Stanton is the player's home after flight training — an Idris serving in the 5th Fleet's 87th Battlegroup, stationed in the outer Odin system. Idris-class ships appear in fleet actions and as settings for missions — boarding operations, escort duty and fleet defense — giving the player experience of naval warfare at different ship scales. Specific mission assignments for the Stanton in the final game are "to be confirmed" until launch.

How It Compares to the Bengal

The Bengal is the flagship: 990 meters long, carrying multiple squadrons and serving as the campaign's hub. The Idris is far smaller — a frigate-scale capital ship that punches above its weight but cannot match the Bengal's fighter capacity or command facilities. In gameplay terms, the Bengal is where the player lives; the Idris is the kind of ship the player may be assigned to support, defend or board during specific missions. Both are fully modeled, consistent with CIG's approach of making every capital ship an explorable space.

Why the Idris Matters

The Idris's presence in the campaign reflects the scale of the war the story depicts. The Vanduul are not a raiding nuisance — they are a threat that requires the UEE Navy's full spectrum of capital ships, from carriers to frigates to destroyers. Having the Idris in the fleet gives the campaign more variety in its naval settings and lets the story show the Navy operating as a real fleet rather than a single hero ship.

The Stanton's Crew

The Stanton is a named, populated setting rather than a generic frigate. Its command structure is confirmed: Captain Noah White, played by Liam Cunningham, commands the ship, with Executive Officer Sophia Kelly, played by Rhona Mitra, at his side. Below them, the crew includes characters like Chief Mechanic Webster, played by Sophie Wu, and the player's mentor, Lieutenant Commander Steve "Old Man" Colton, played by Mark Hamill. The ship serves in the 5th Fleet's 87th Battlegroup, stationed in the outer Odin system — a posting the campaign treats as both a backwater and a proving ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Idris in Squadron 42?

It is a UEE Navy frigate — a capital ship smaller than the Bengal carrier. The campaign's Idris is the UEES Stanton.

Is the Idris explorable?

As a capital ship in the campaign, the Idris is fully modeled. The extent of explorable interiors is "to be confirmed" until launch.

Can you fly the Idris?

No. Capital ships in Squadron 42 are settings and objectives, not player-piloted craft. The player flies fighters.