It does have a defense mechanisms however, it opens up it ass and send out a smokescreen and has a Flamethrower turret (both shown in picture), but this will result in the pilot jumping out of the thingy and dying because they get freaked out of their mind at seeing fire on the escape pod. Sorry, no transforming. Needless to say it's only purpose it to pretty much avoid your death by gun trip and take you to a death by crash landing from 30 Kilometres at high speed into ground and getting hit by the 1,000 pound guy on board trip.