So I want to create a dual purpose drone.

Its first role is going to be doing a flyby of target sites for initial recon. Its second and probably more useful role is to covertly carry packages full of specialized equipment and weapons onto runs when the team runs into an obstacle that their current loadout isn't suited for.

The team does not have a dedicated rigger and has limited funds right now, so we're going to try for under 7 and a half k. doesn't need to be perfect yet, just needs to get the basics done.

So my current thoughts for the base chassis are either the MCT-Nissan Roto-drone, the Ford LEBD-1, or the Lockheed Optic-X or Kestrel. Much as I love the Air Supply, it's out of our budget for now and is a bit bulky for our covert drop machine.

The Rotordrone is fast, comes with decent sensors out the box, and is pretty cheap. The LEBD-1 is cheaper, better armoured, and has better stock upgrades, but is slower and more suspicious. It does come with a mechanical arm as standard though, and a weapon mount allowing it to also fill a fire support role.
The Optic-X is smaller and folds for ease of transport, but is slow and has no standard upgrades.
The Kestrel has a handling bonus, good acceleration but a low top speed, and comes with clearsight 1... but is kinda killed by obsolescent, which really hurts it given we don't have an actual rigger and will be relying on its dog-brain.

I think that the LEBD-1 is our best choice. Cheap, comes with a moderate amount of armour, is a medium drone so already has room for a decent sensor suite, and has both a weapon mount and a mechanical arm as stock.

Thinking upgrades wise we throw on a smoke projector so if it's spotted it can still evade small arms fire, and save some mod slots for later when we can upgrade its sensor array and chameleon coating. Gonna leave the weapon slot empty for now so that people think it's just been repurposed as a supply drone.

Sensor wise I am thinking UWB radar, Laser Microphone, Vision Magnification, and Vision Enhancement gives a decent set of recon options (can remote pilot it with command software for this part of the mission). Outside of that, it's a package delivery drone that happens to be well armoured and be able to pop smoke if shot at. Thoughts?

Air elementals are free? May not be very useful for scouting, but for dumping stuff where you want it, I'd think they'd be harder to identify and target than a slow, noisy and radio-frequency - broadcasting drone?

No mage. Also we don't need the drone to be transmitting for delivery function, just receiving.

Anyway, a spirit is going to attract attention. A delivery drone? Probably not. Amazon drones are commonplace now, can you imagine how common their equivalent will be in 2070? Having a drone fly up and drop off a package is probably one of the most common sights in the 6th world thanks to matrix shopping.

I would leave the obvious weapon mount empty, but see if the GM will allow that to be re-tasked as cargo space. I mean it IS a delivery drone and some packages are bigger than a commlink. If he allows you to do that, then use that storage to carry the FUN toys. I would then, later on when you can afford it, add in a hidden weapon mount for a SMG packing Stick and Shock, you don't need this thing to carry an assault cannon. With SnS you can put down the enemy without killing them. Makes the bad guys not want to kill you in return.

Agreed, leaving the weapon mount empty initially is the plan. Probably going with a weapon with chameleon coating when we do put a gun on it so it appears to be unarmed even if it isn't. Though upgrading the weapon mount to concealed is probably cheaper, you're right.

Remember the variant rules form Arsenal - you can always swap out factory modifications:

Both excellent choices, but outside my budget atm. Might look at them later though.

Yeah, the LEDB is probably a better choice if you're going into dangerous territory (which is kind of in the job description). Slower, but that's fine if it's in the van a few blocks away.

Exactly. The others are more for long range resupply if you're heading out of town and need a gear drop rather than "Okay, they have mechanical locks rather than maglocks. Time to break out the autopicker."