yes, that is teh case. Many of the Houses' police's ships also 'cheat' in that way, as well. the best way to think of it is that the military gets stronger models of the ships, while we get the degraded models. After all, it's not like we can get an Army Humvee; instead, we get the civilian model.

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Makes things a lot more interesting too. It makes up for their lack of regenerative shielding.

The NPC's also drop there weapons alot which gives you cash, and you'll get more if there better weapons right. Also the pirates need the advantage over us SP players because we are so much more BADASS

Also note that Juni and King cheat in the later missions, its to make up for the fact they still fly Liberty ships. King flies his patriot to the second last mission, try doing that with the one you bought on manhatten!

"It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold, it is very cold in space."
~Khan, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Juni and King are invulnerable in the SP missions. As if a Defender and a Patriot could take on the Rheinland Military combined with Nomads...

Imagine if Rheinland did fight Liberty in the SP mission using MP ships, the Rheinland Valkyries would rape the Liberty Defenders.

"I don't want to end up a corspe before my time because YOU were daydreaming... AAAAAHHH[!"

King flies a defender in mission 4. Walker also flies a defender in the early part of the "rescue President" mission. Juni never changes, despite always ending up trailing flames and leaking atmosphere for half the mission. THey all cheat.

Reaper: $200,000,000.
Rockets: $100,000
The look on that pilot's face when you launch a full pod of screamers up his tailpipe: priceless

NPCs also never run out of ammo or Thruster energy.
Having said that I think that small advantage is well outweighted by them not using bats and bots or having shield regen. Add to that their suicidal tendencies in mine fields, gas fields and combat and they need a cheat here or there just to be credible.