[Atrocities]

No, they are not like fighters. They are a long range missile for lack of a better term.

You build Drone launchers, (Carriers) and can deploy them into space and order them to attack a target.

I use drones in bulk to attack a hardened target such as a homeworld or strong hold. I send the drones in with planetary war heads and pummal the planet. In most cases you have to send in a ton of drones to get past any good Point Defense (PD) weapons system such as Satellites, or Weapon Platforms.

Eventually your drones will make it through and reck havoc upon your target.

You can build and launch drones from planets, or ships & bases with drone launchers.

Drones can be equiped nicely and are effective against ships/bases/planets. However, strong PD cannons will blow many of them out of the sky.