The Leopard Class DropShip is the standard light transport vehicle throughout the Successor States and has proved its worth over years of continuous service. Ease of maintenance and low operating costs have made the Leopard popular among all the Successor State militaries. Designed as a small and reliable assault craft, all of its systems save for the sophisticated propulsion unit can be easily repaired or replaced.
         The V84 drive system is more difficult to service, but a large supply of them still exists and spares are continually salvaged from destroyed DropShips. It therefore seems likely that the Leopard and Leopard-CV will remain in service for many years.

         The Leopard Class DropShip was introduced in the early days of the Star League as a support and transport vehicle for BattleMechs. The DropShip's slab-sided design and less-than-impressive in-atmosphere handling earned it the nickname "the Brick," but the ease of repairing the vessel gave the Leopard a longer life span than its designers'.
         Like many of the early BattleMechs it was designed to transport, the Leopard has a blocky, angular silhouette because its aligned-crystal steel armor could initially be formed only in flat sheets. That problem was later solved, but the Leopard retained its boxlike shape.
         Designed to carry four BattleMechs and a pair of aerospace fighters, the Leopard is a versatile small transport, well suited to small BattleMech actions and to support of larger-scale operations. The Leopard's cousin, the Leopard-CV, is the most common fighter carrier in service; it carries six aerospace fighters, as well as fuel and spare parts. By the time it was first built, several years after the original Leopard, Inner Sphere manufacturers had perfected the technology of forming armor in curved shapes. With armament identical to the standard Leopard, the CV is widely used for everything from short raids to full-scale invasions.
         Though more lightly armed than larger DropShips, the Leopard nonetheless has an impressive weapons array: twin heavy PPCS, three LRM -20 racks, seven medium lasers and five heavy lasers. Though this assortment offers less firepower than the armaments of larger Union and Overlord Class DropShips, it is still sufficient to knock out large numbers of opposing fighters. However, a Leopard being swarmed by fighters in the air or by 'Mechs on the ground is in serious trouble.
         The standard Leopard is most often used in raids. Its small size helps prevent detection, and it is inexpensive to operate and maintain. Its lance-sized 'Mech complement often consists of light, fast Stingers, Wasps, or Locusts. The Leopard can carry heavier 'Mechs if necessary, but raiding missions usually require speed over firepower.
         The Leopard-CV is a fine fighter-carrier, but structural weaknesses in its unusual-looking tail section sometimes hinder its operation. If its tail section is shot off, the CV drops like a rock toward the planet's surface. If so crippled in space, the CV may not attempt atmospheric entry.
         The Leopard's standard crew complement is nine, plus six MechWarriors or aerospace pilots. Quarters are cramped and supplies are limited, as the Leopard was not designed for extended operations.

         Both the Leopard and the Leopard-CV date back to the early days of 'Mech warfare, when they were used in conjunction with other older ships such as the Lion heavy transport. Of this early generation of DropShips, only the Leopard and Leopard-CV have survived the ravages of the Succession Wars.
         Raids and small 'Mech operations remain the Leopard's primary mission, though they are also deployed in larger-scale operations. A standard Leopard is perfect for short missions away from the main body of an invasion force.
         Vulnerable on the ground and lightly armored by comparison to Union and Overlord Class DropShips, the Leopard almost always returns to space or high altitude after delivering its 'Mechs. The CV version almost never enters low atmosphere, where its weapons are useless.
         Standard Leopards can carry a full air lance of 'Mechs and aerospace fighters, and many air lances are traditionally associated with a specific Leopard. This combination is especially useful when the Leopard is assigned to commando and raiding duties. Because they are so easy to maintain and repair, Leopards are popular with pirates, who often use them in raids for water and spare parts.