The Defender was the first of the Industrial 'Mechs produced for Star League member states, designed for police units and corporate security. The Defender Security 'Mech has a lot in common many light BattleMechs and is rather expensive for police equipment. And yet the Defender has continued to be produced in limited numbers for centuries. Although an armored vehicle would be cheaper and possibly more effective, the Defender has shock and fear value on rioting or looting civilians. Few outside the military would dream of fighting a 'Mech.

       The Defender is one of few Industrial 'Mechs that uses a fusion engine, and is fast enough and mobile enough to navigate the cities or industrial complexes it usually protects. Armed with a floodlight and water cannon, the Defender has multiple roles, from firefighter to riot control. In addition, the Defender mounts a 20mm gattling gun for when lethal force is necessary.
       Although the Defender lacks sophisticated sensors for night battles, its General Electric Night Sun floodlight enables it to fight effectively in darkness, rain or fog. The huge Samarkand water cannon on the left arm is used as a firefighting tool or non-lethal weapon. Among other features the Defender can be equipped with at customer request are police lights to announce its presence.

       Called the DC-405, one variant is equipped for battle, with a lighter load of MG ammo and no floodlight or water cannon; instead it caries two medium and one small laser.
       New Samarkand Metals has been debating an ICE engine variant to lower the price. Most likely this would drop the speed, jump jets, some armor and most of the heatsinks. This would lower the price by about 300,000 C-Bills.

       Many police forces and corporate firms keep Defenders on "problem" planets. House Kurita deploys the most, though this is assumed to be because the factory is located within the Draconis Combine.