Assault scouts (hull size 3) are patrol ships (light corvette) that can attack larger ships much like fighters and bombers, but their larger size and crew of 4 to 6 give them much more versatility. What makes assault scouts different then most corvettes, is better weapons, and aerospace capability. They are big enough to operate without a base station or carrier, and can make interstellar trips, but they require an overhaul after each jump. They serve as scouts and rescue ships as well as combat vessels. Like fighters, they are lightly armed and easily damaged.
The most common class of Assault Scout used by the UPF Fleet is the Dauntless-class.