1987 Defiant: Space Vehicle Launch Complex

The Defiant: Space Vehicle Launch Complex is still the most expensive toy ever tooled, costing nearly $2 million dollars!

Space Vehicle, Booster and Crawler/Gantry are ready to roll out!

The Space Vehicle docks to the Space Station for fuel and supplies.

​The Defiant's box was even bigger than the U.S.S. Flagg's, with the front box art measuring in over 28" x 46".

Defiant box art courtesy of Wonder World Comics. Check out their Amazon store for tons of vintage and modern Joes! 

An unobscured version of the box art was re-printed in the 1989 Calendar by Landmark.

We love recreating the box art for the 3DJoes 360 spins.

The above spin shows the Space Vehicle and Booster.

The above spin shows the Crawler with upright Gantry.

​Before breaking this scene down we decided to shoot the box art photo gallery seen below. Click the images to view them full screen. 

Defiant box art close up 1

Defiant box art close up 2

Box art recreation: photo 1

Box art recreation: photo 2

Box art recreation: photo 3

Box art recreation: photo 4

Box art recreation: photo 5

Box art recreation: photo 6

Box art recreation: photo 7

Box art recreation: photo 8

Box art recreation: photo 9

Box art recreation: photo 10

Box art recreation: photo 11

Box art recreation: photo 12

Box art recreation: photo 13

The Defiant: Space Vehicle Launch Complex has excellent product photos and diagrammatic illustrations on the box sides

These photos and illustrations show off several of the Defiant: Space Vehicle Launch Complex's features. ​​​Click the images below to view them full screen. 

Box photos: close up 1. Space Vehicle detail.

Box photos: close up 2. Crawler detail.

Box photos: close up 3. Gantry detail.

Box photos: close up 4. Space station detail.

Box photos: close up 5. Space Vehicle and Space Station in docking mode.

Box photos: close up 6. All three components ready to roll out.

Box illustrations: close up 1. Booster/Space Station detail.

Box illustrations: close up 2. Space vehicle detail.

Box illustrations: close up 3. Crawler/Gantry detail.

Box illustrations: close up 4. Space Vehicle and Space Station details.

Box illustrations: close up 5. Crawler and Booster details.

Box illustrations: close up 6. Space Station and Space Vehicle details.

Defiant: Booster/Space Station guided tour

The Defiant: Booster/Space Station features several moving parts and removable parts, and the sculpt is incredibly detailed. 
Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them.

The front of the Defiant: Booster is shielded with high-temp ceramic leading edge tiles. The nose features a reinforced temp-protected avionics cap.

The cockpit is protected by three multi-layer tempered alum-silicate glass windshields.

Above the cockpit canopy you'll see the canopy rotation control system.

The cockpit canopy rotates 90+ degrees on a single hinge.

The cockpit canopy rotates 90+ degrees on a single hinge.

The cockpit houses tactical air navigation (tacan) / guidance systems.

Seat 1.

Seat 2.

Seats 3 and 4.

The Defiant: Booster's forward rotating target-lock laser cannons protect the front of the vehicle.

The Defiant: Booster's forward rotating target-lock laser cannons feature a missile on their underbelly.

The Defiant: Booster features three removable exterior panels.

The Defiant: Booster features three removable exterior panels.

Two inconspicuous doors fold out to reveal rear defenses.

These doors swing out 180 degrees and lock in position.

These doors swing out 180 degrees and lock in position.

The rearward rotating auto-focus laser cannons rotate and feature a missile on their underbelly.

Above each of these cannons, you'll see the pulse-fire laser cannon control system.

In the rear of the Defiant, you'll find four small cones and two large cones. The small cones are the primary reaction control thrusters. The large cones are the main engine thrust nozzles, which house the liquid oxygen/hydrogen main propulsion engines.

In between the cones you'll see the hot-gas manifold/pressurizer, the main injector/high pressure turbopump, and the main combustion valve/flow tube (see blueprint for exact location).

Two inconspicuous doors fold out to reveal rear defenses.

These doors swing out 180 degrees and lock in position.

The rearward rotating auto-focus laser cannons rotate and feature a missile on their underbelly.

The Defiant: Booster features three removable exterior panels.

The Defiant: Booster features three removable exterior panels.

Behind the cockpit canopy you'll see one of the few metal parts utilized on G.I.Joe vehicles.

This metal latch connects the booster to the space shuttle.

This metal latch connects the booster to the space shuttle.

The shuttle rests in these hooks at the rear of the booster and clips in at the front of the booster.

The aluminum/honeycomb payload bay doors are nicely detailed.

There are six heat-absorbing radiators.

The payload door swings open from the bottom/rear and reveals a 65,000lb. capacity payload/operations area.

The booster converts to a space station with work areas, cockpit, living quarters and shuttle entry.

Up top you'll find a sliding shuttle hatch module, that opens to provide access to the shuttle when docked.

Up top you'll find a sliding shuttle hatch module, that opens to provide access to the shuttle when docked.

Just below the hatch you'll see steps and a revolving shuttle entry door.

The shuttle entry door rotates 90 degrees.

The third floor is the EVA (Extravehicular Activity) Center.

In the first hallway you'll find storage for Payload's Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) backpack.

Next are stairs leading down to the second floor.

The second floor houses the crew quarters.

The sleeping compartment features three beds (with backpack pegs for gravity free sleep).

There are foot pegs on the floor and ceiling throughout the Defiant playset (for gravity free play).

The crew quarters feature a wall locker next to the beds.

The wall locker opens to reveal a few shelves.

The wall locker opens to reveal a few shelves.

Steps lead down to the first floor, the heart of the Booster/Space Station.

Next to the steps you'll find a door that opens to the cockpit.

To the left of the door you'll find a cryogenic chamber.

The cryogenic chamber door slides open.

There are four workspaces in the booster / space station's command bay. Here's the first.

Two of the workspaces feature sliding computer stations.

Te rear of the command bay is incredibly detailed.

Here you see one of the sliding computer stations in the upright position (ready to convert back to booster mode).

Here you see one of the sliding computer stations in the ready position.

Here Beachhead fills in as a mission specialist.

There are four workspaces in the booster / space station's command bay. Here's the fourth.

The 65,000lb. capacity payload/operations area is quite expansive and features a plethora of foot pegs for all of your Joe.

The booster bottom is sleek, possibly to avoid friction on re-entry.

This panel is not actually removable.

Defiant: Crawler/Gantry guided tour

The Defiant: Crawler/Gantry features several moving parts and removable parts, and the sculpt is incredibly detailed. 
Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them.

The gantry is a heavily-armed control and mobile launch platform that moves the Defiant from one launch site to another. It has room for 25+ figures.

The Crawler/Gantry features 11 positionable guns. “Protector” forward-facing pulse-activated laser cannons defend the front of the crawler.

The “Protector” forward-facing pulse-activated laser cannons hold three positions.

The “Protector” forward-facing pulse-activated laser cannons hold three positions.

The “Protector” forward-facing pulse-activated laser cannons rotate 180+ degrees.

The “Protector” forward-facing pulse-activated laser cannons rotate 180+ degrees.

Steps lead from the “Protector” forward-facing pulse-activated laser cannons to a personnel staging platform.

The side of the crawler is protected by “Countdown” auto-load auto-fire surface clearing laser cannons.

The “Countdown” laser cannons rotate 90+ degrees.

The “Countdown” cannons are nicely detailed.

The crawler features 16 extra-plated super-traction bogeys.

The crawler is powered by a 1000-kilowatt generator/traction motor and propelled by a “Plough-Boy” 2750 HP / 2050 kilowatt diesel engine.

Steps lead down to two control rooms protected by two rear “Surge” dual repeating self-generated laser cannons.

Two control rooms are protected by two rear “Surge” dual repeating self-generated laser cannons.

These gun turrets feature swiveling seats and slide out a couple inches.

More steps lead away from the control rooms and up to a personnel staging platform.

Another set of cannons protect this corner of the crawler.

More detailed sculpts adorn the side of the crawler.

More detailed sculpts adorn the side of the crawler. A third set of steps lead down to the cab.

The crawler control/operations cabin is protected by a layered tempered alum-silicate blast proof windshield.

The tempered alum-silicate blast proof windshield folds down.

Yet another rotating cannon protects the crawler.

Swivel console seat and scanner with scope. The scope is attached to the black cannon directly above.

A doorway leads to the other cabin.

The crawler control/operations cabin is protected by a layered tempered alum-silicate blast proof windshield.

The tempered alum-silicate blast proof windshield folds down.

The launch control center/electronic control unit (ECU) is protected by a layered tempered alum-silicate blast proof windshield.

A launch control operated surface protection 7.62mm machine gun sits atop the cabin.

Launch control computer/navigations and guidance systems are tucked behind the large front bumper.

Now that we have surveyed the crawler, lets move up to the gantry.

The rear of the gantry features a blast deflector/exhaust shield.

The gantry elevating system is crank operated. "You crank the shuttle into launch position!"

The gantry elevating system is crank operated. "You crank the shuttle into launch position!"

The gantry elevating system is crank operated. "You crank the shuttle into launch position!"

The gantry elevating system is crank operated. "You crank the shuttle into launch position!"

The gantry elevating system is crank operated. "You crank the shuttle into launch position!"

The gantry elevating system is crank operated. "You crank the shuttle into launch position!"

The gantry doors feature blast shield reinforcement plating.

The gantry doors feature blast shield reinforcement plating.

The gantry’s pivoting welded plate steel gantry doors utilize servo-operated door hinges.

The gantry’s pivoting welded plate steel gantry doors utilize servo-operated door hinges.

The rear of the gantry is incredibly detailed. Hasbro's designers integrated several previously released G.I.Joe molds. See if you can spot Tripwire's three mines!

The rear of the gantry is incredibly detailed. Hasbro's designers integrated several previously released G.I.Joe molds. See if you can spot Tripwire's three mines!

The rear corner of the gantry features a step ladder and staging platform.

The rear corner of the gantry features a step ladder and staging platform.

The gantry is well protected by five tilting, rotating quad-cannons.

The gantry is well protected by five tilting, rotating quad-cannons.

The gantry is well protected by five tilting, rotating quad-cannons.

The gantry is well protected by five tilting, rotating quad-cannons.

The gantry is well protected by five tilting, rotating quad-cannons.

The interior of the gantry is incredibly detailed.

The interior of the gantry is incredibly detailed.

Folding blast shield. Hasbro's designers integrated several previously released G.I.Joe molds. See if you can spot the Mauler engine!

Folding blast shield. Hasbro's designers integrated several previously released G.I.Joe molds. See if you can spot the Mauler engine!

Two control rooms are protected by two rear “Surge” cannons. Here you see the left side cannon.

Left side control room, featuring two removable covers.

Left side control room, featuring two removable covers.

Left side control room close up 1.

Left side control room close up 2.

Removable covers from the left side control room.

Two control rooms are protected by two rear “Surge” cannons. Here you see the right side cannon.

Right side control room.

The gantry’s steel doors are also nicely detailed.

The gantry’s steel doors are also nicely detailed.

There are two three level work stations with two working elevators.

There are two three level work stations with two working elevators.

Left top work station.

Left middle work station.

Left bottom work station.

Left bottom work station. Hasbro's designers integrated several previously released G.I.Joe molds. Here you see the bivouac's field radio!

The gantry’s steel doors are also nicely detailed.

The gantry’s steel doors are also nicely detailed.

There are two three level work stations with two working elevators.

Right top work station.

Right top work station. Hasbro's designers integrated several previously released G.I.Joe molds. Here you see the back of the Cobra S.N.A.K.E. armor!

Right middle work station.

Right bottom work station.

Right bottom work station. Hasbro's designers integrated several previously released G.I.Joe molds. Here you see the Snow Cat engine cover!

Defiant: Space Vehicle guided tour

The Defiant: Space Vehicle features several moving parts and removable parts, and the sculpt is incredibly detailed. 
Roll over the images below to find out more, or click the images to enlarge them.

​Defiant: Space Vehicle Launch Complex turnaround

The ​Defiant: Space Vehicle Launch Complex is a mammoth playset! Click the images below to view them full screen.

Front left view.

Left view.

Rear left view.

Rear view.

Rear right view.

Right view.

Front right view.

Front view.

Rear left view, ready for blastoff!

Rear view, ready for blastoff!

Rear right view, ready for blastoff!

Overhead view.

Front left view.

Rear left view.

Rear view.

Rear right view.

Right view.

Front right view.

Front view.

Overhead view.

Bottom view.

Front left view.

Left view.

Rear left view.

Rear view.

Rear right view.

Right view.

Front right view.

Front view.

The following specimen sold on May 18, 2025 for $4,125 via Heritage Auctions. Shown with permission. Visit HA.com for more auctions!

Hardtop and Payload came with the Defiant: Space Vehicle Launch Complex.

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Creator Commentary

Kirk Bozigian (Product Manager) and Guy Cassaday (Vehicle Designer) discuss the Defiant summer of '86, when all hands were on deck to build this behemoth. Guy recalls the designing the suspension and tires, and there eventual performance under the weight of the set: "It was not good!"

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Defiant blueprints and instructions courtesy of Dan Carroll. Check out his eBay store for tons of vintage Joes!

Crawler and Gantry instructions thumbnail images are below. Click the thumbnails to enlarge them.

Crawler and Gantry instructions page 1

Crawler and Gantry instructions page 2

Crawler and Gantry instructions page 3

Booster instructions thumbnail images are below. Click the thumbnails to enlarge them.

Booster instructions page 1

Booster instructions page 2

Booster instructions page 3

Space Vehicle instructions thumbnail images are below. Click the thumbnails to enlarge them.

Space Vehicle instructions page 1

Space Vehicle instructions page 2

Space Vehicle instructions page 3

Label placement instructions thumbnail images are below. Click the thumbnails to enlarge them.

Gantry label placement page 1

Booster label placement page 1

Booster label placement page 2

Space Vehicle label placement page 1

Space Vehicle label placement page 2

Defiant label placement page 1