Air Raid was an Aerialbot and Autobot who had an almost perosnal hatred of criminals on Cybertron. He was skilled at tracking criminals and could combine alongside his other Aerialbots into Superion.
History[]
IDW Comics[]
Many years ago, Air Raid was a member of Cybertron's Science Division under Optimus. After a strange relic was uncovered and aliens from the Eshems Nebula attacked, Protector Megatron declared a military dictatorship, demanding the full cooperation of the entire population. Air Raid was one of those who heeded Optimus' plea for them to not abandon their society's ancient traditions and beliefs. After Optimus Prime and his followers were declared traitors, civil war erupted across the planet. Air Raid joined Optimus Prime's Autobots and led aerial missions against the Decepticon fliers.
Years later, following the defeat of Megatron on Earth, Air Raid was part of a small Autobot unit led by Arcee that tracked Starscream, now the leader of the Decepticons, to his base on Mars. Air Raid took to the skies in the ensuing assault, but was shot down by Thundercracker. Smokescreen attempted to evacuate his badly damaged comrade, but they were both blown to oblivion by Starscream. His lifeless body was later found by Soundwave.
Video Game[]
As a result of increased Decepticon activity, Stratosphere was tasked with transporting early MechTech samples from a NEST base in the Himalayas to Optimus Prime's location for safekeeping. Air Raid was one of the officers there, and intercepted a Decepticon intruder who had been surprised by a NEST trap. To his surprise, the intruder turned out to be the high-ranking Decepticon Starscream, who had been ordered to track down and destroy the MechTech.
Air Raid briefly engaged Starscream in the base proper along with a squad of Autobots and NEST helicopters, but when Starscream proved too powerful, he retreated to the runway where Stratosphere was preparing to lift off. Despite leading Starscream on a merry chase through the mountains, with NEST forces launching ambushes with anti-aircraft fire and missiles, Air Raid was unable to either disable or lose his pursuer. He did, however, manage to warn Stratosphere of Starscream's approach and board his comrade before the Decepticon arrived.
When Stratosphere's fighter escort and anti-aircraft gun proved unable to bring down Starscream, the massive Autobot unleashed the Aerialbots, made up of Air Raid, Breakaway and Silverbolt. Now ready for round two, Air Raid confidently assured Stratosphere that they would not fail.
While the Aerialbots put up a good effort, they fell one by one after a lengthy dogfight. When Air Raid was shot down, Starscream offered him a backhanded compliment, noting that, "You're fast, Air Raid, just not fast enough!"