While a group of them could lay waste to an enemy encampment, troop formation, or military base in relatively short order despite their slow rate of fire, they were extremely vulnerable to starfighters and other types of armed airspeeders. In addition, if air cruisers wandered too near, they could be shot down by air defense turrets or soldiers equipped with surface-to-air missiles despite their standard-issue shielding. Because of this, they were often escorted by smaller, swifter craft capable of dealing with potential airborne threats. Air cruisers utilized by the Gungans were actually mounted aquanna, a species of large, flying ray-type creature that was native to the wilds of Naboo.