No Implementation and AFAIK not being worked on for around a decade

Yeah, I meant the Ranger operation of Point due Hoc in preparation of D-Day.

And the shuttle/stealth missile was meant as an abstraction/justification why troops should be able to land on a planet while being launched some distance away from the planet. They could take the form of ship techs/modules on ships in order to enable such landings.

One could add different levels of ECM/stealth for such modules, making them harder to track/shoot down if you want to make it more realistic and add another layer of defense. If you want to raise the costs for such things having another tech for increasing drop ranges might be a way.

One enabler tech (maybe including a higher number of troops at higher levels for a higher success chance), one range tech, one ECM/stealth tech. In addition to the cost for the modules and the troops this might present enough of a hurdle were this is just one more option, but not necessarily the "best".

Essentially I just like the idea to have another option (even if it is very expensive) than blasting the STOs, shielding/armoring huge/fast drop ships or being willing to risk troops/ships by ignoring the STOs.

Had a thought the other day, what about a troop drop module that works from a distance? Only needing to approach to 50k or so (depending on tech) would lessen troop transport requirements. That and/or just increasing troop capacity or reducing troop size.

Stealth shuttle you say?

The Chantry of Light Month 70

Starbridge Station, Lathandras Orbit, Thedas System

At last the critical technologies based on the basic research of the Circles leading Magi have reached deployment.  Laboratory research into Improved Survey Systems and an armed shuttle assault shuttle remain though the former is apparently nearing final approval.  The Shield and Pathfinders maintenance stands at 4170 MCr representing 38.3% of the Chantry's available tax base.  Ten systems now produce income sufficient to have internal commerce and Niagra has ~35% of the income of the Home system, and the next four systems in order of productivity add up to slightly more than that, so for the first time Home contributes less than 50% to the Chantry's total tax base.

The Shield's artificer staff have produced a full series of refits for the battle riders.

GRACE KNIFE R1 class CT           15 Hull    TL 3
[3] SSAZH(J)(J)QsXr(J)Kb+ [12]
15 RCP  10 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  228.5/ 34.3
HTK 11   Sx2  Ax1  Kbx1 

With this refit the Grace Knife becomes what it was intended to be, a scout ship.  It is decided to maintain its 1st generation kinetic weapon to both keep costs down but to also allow the reusing of the systems.  Further the increased range of the improved system is compensated for by the higher speed of the ships that retain the older variant.

PEACEKEEPER R1 class FG        20 Hull    TL 3
[3] SSAAZH(BbS)M2(J)(J)(J)QsDk5(J)Kb+ [12]
20 RCP  5 MCP       Trg:3        Cost =  268/ 40.2
HTK 15   Sx2  Ax2  Dk5x1  Kbx1

As the Peacekeepers function as patrol leaders it was decided after much debate to forsake their laser emitter bay for additional targeting systems and a 1st generation kinetic interceptor system.  It was also decided to maintain the class with the older kinetic projector as was done with the Grace Knife's.   

FEARLESS R1 class DD           30 Hull    TL 3
[4] Sx3AAZH(J)(J)(J)L(J)Ki+LhQDk5(J)Ki+ [10]
30 RCP  20 MCP       Trg:1        Cost =  402/ 60.3
HTK 18   Sx3  Ax2  Dk5x1  Lx1  Kix2 

The refit to the Fearless incorporates both the new generation of kinetic weapondry but also an interceptor.  It is intended to produce a leader variant which will solve the current issue with insufficient targeting capacity or to begin using Swiftsures as Fearless leaders.

SWIFTSURE R2 class CL        45 Hull    TL 3
[4] Sx5AAZH(J)(BbM)(J)(J)(J)(J)L(J)Ki+M2(J)XrKi+LhQDk5(J)Ki+ [10]
45 RCP  5 MCP       Trg:3        Cost =  667.5/ 100.1
HTK 27   Sx5  Ax2  Dk5x1  Lx1  Kix3 

The second refit of the Swiftsure rounds out its firepower and defences.

This month a ship of each class but the Fearless enters the Starbridge's construction yards to start their refits.

Prepared by the Artificer class for prototyping is the next generation of heavy battle riders.

ENCHANTER class CA           60 Hull    TL 3
[4] Sx6Ax5ZH(J)Q(J)(BbM)(J)(J)L(J)L(J)Ki+(J)Ki+M2(J)Ki+XrLhQDk5(J)Ki+ [9]
60 RCP  40 MCP       Trg:3        Cost =  895/ 134.2
HTK 35   Sx6  Ax5  Dk5x1  Lx2  Kix4 

The Enchanter carries a quadruple kinetic rail system along it's spine coupled with a pair of laser emitter bays and an interceptor suite.  Two of these ships can be carried by a Dawnbringer and the Shield's initial plan is to build four Enchanters of which two will be operational and the second pair in mothballs.

The Pathfinder Flotillas will also be updated with the addition of a corvette sized survey vessel and in all likelyhood the number of ships per Flotilla will be revisited.