The Kruger S-65 Stingray is Kruger Intergalactic’s first medium fighter, and it arrived with Alpha 4.10 in August 2026. It is built around handling and agility rather than raw firepower, and it is the first ship in Star Citizen with three distinct states: one for landing and two for flight.
CIG’s Behind the Ships episode walks through the design with the developers who made it. This is what they say about how the ship works, what it carries and who it is for.
Where the Stingray fits in Kruger’s lineup
Kruger returned as a ship brand last year with the Wolf and the Alpha Wolf. The developers describe the manufacturer’s style as high-end but more traditional than most, drawing on vintage cars and aircraft, with a focus on materials and simple shapes. They also acknowledge that the Wolf’s tail fin split opinion.
The Stingray extends that line into the medium fighter class. Its shape takes cues from the animal it is named after, from an aircraft prototype of the Second World War that never flew, and from classic sports cars. The team says the ship prioritises handling and agility.
Three states: landed, extended and retracted
Many ships in Star Citizen change shape between landing and flight. The Stingray is the first with three states.
The developers say the retracted state is meant to feel more agile and more serious, as if the ship is ready for a fight, and that having two flight modes lets pilots choose how they approach combat. The episode does not give numbers for the difference between them.
- Landed: the wings bend upward and the landing gear extends from the wings, which gives the ship a tall, dominant stance on the pad
- Flight, extended: the default flying shape, with the wings out and the curves forming one continuous line
- Flight, retracted: the wings pull in toward the body for a tighter, more aggressive profile
Weapons: Kruger guns only
By default the Stingray carries two size 4 laser repeaters. They are the same weapons fitted to the Wolf, so anyone who owns the size 4 guns from a Wolf or Alpha Wolf can mount them on a Stingray in any combination.
The wings also hold size 2 laser repeaters. These are new, and they are interchangeable with other size 2 Kruger ship weapons, including those on the Merlin. A pilot who prefers ballistics can move the Merlin’s size 2 guns onto the Stingray, and the Stingray’s energy weapons can go back onto the Merlin.
The catch is that the choice stays inside the brand. As one developer puts it, Kruger is happy for you to have options as long as they are Kruger.
Getting in, the cockpit and the component bay
The Stingray is a large ship for a fighter. Entry needed a custom animation: a long new ladder that tucks away when not in use, followed by a walk across the top of the hull to the cockpit.
The cockpit shares many parts with the Wolf, but the controls sit at the sides. That leaves the centre clear, and because the lower part of the canopy is also glass, the pilot gets an open view forward and down.
At the back, a clamshell door opens onto the component bay. Two cylindrical turbines frame it, the rear thruster sits at the centre, and all of the ship’s components can be reached from the middle of the bay.
Paints at launch
The default colour is a bright red, which the team accepts will not suit everyone. The launch paints include a white and light grey scheme, a darker black, a camouflage pattern and a bolder design that plays with the ship’s lines.
Who the Stingray is for
The developers describe the Stingray as a ship for players who put flight performance ahead of pure damage output and who like to do things a little differently. It is a single-pilot fighter with a distinctive look and a deliberately limited weapon pool.
One aside in the episode is worth noting for owners of another ship. Asked whether the Eclipse will get its own flight mode, a developer answers that it will at some point, as part of a later pass on the ship.
What this means for new players
The Stingray is a specialist fighter rather than a starter ship, so treat it as something to aim for after you have learned the basics in something cheaper. Most ships can be earned with in-game money once you are playing, which means there is no need to decide on a fighter before you have flown one. If the look appeals, note the trade-off the developers describe: you are choosing agility over damage, and you are limited to Kruger weapons. Our Star Citizen referral code guide explains how the 50,000 UEC signup bonus works and how to apply code STAR-6WPK-3K56 before you enlist.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is Kruger Intergalactic’s first medium fighter in Star Citizen, released with Alpha 4.10 in August 2026. CIG’s developers say it prioritises handling and agility over pure damage.
Two size 4 laser repeaters by default, the same weapons used on the Kruger Wolf, plus size 2 laser repeaters built into the wings.
No. The developers say the mounts take Kruger ship weapons only. The size 4 guns swap with those from the Wolf and Alpha Wolf, and the size 2 guns swap with other size 2 Kruger weapons such as the Merlin’s.
A landed state with the wings bent upward and the gear extending from them, an extended flight state, and a retracted flight state with the wings pulled in. CIG says it is the first ship with three distinct states.
Source: Star Citizen | Behind the Ships: Kruger S-65 Stingray. Details come from CIG’s Behind the Ships: Kruger S-65 Stingray episode, published August 26, 2026.
