The Trade Federation Droid Army, also called the Trade Federation army, served as the private and automated defensive forces of the Trade Federation. Its primary function was safeguarding valuable shipments from pirate attacks. This army was notably employed by the Trade Federation in the invasion of the planet Naboo. Later, it was absorbed into the larger Separatist Droid Army during the period known as the Separatist Crisis.
Functioning as the Trade Federation's own security force, the Trade Federation Droid Army was responsible for protecting Federation assets from pirates and ensuring the safety of valuable cargo. This was all despite a time of supposed peace across the galaxy. As the Viceroy of the Trade Federation, Nute Gunray held the authority to command this military force.
Within the Galactic Senate, few individuals truly grasped the immense power of the battle droid army. Those who did were often incentivized to ignore the potential threat, which made peaceful and militarily undefended civilizations vulnerable to Trade Federation invasions.
In the final decades of the Galactic Republic, the Trade Federation, a prosperous interstellar trade organization, was instructed by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious to create a formidable droid army. While maintaining a private, automated defense force was legally permissible for the Federation, they had initially relied on mercenaries for security. However, the shift to battle droids was driven by their low cost, lack of biological needs, and guaranteed obedience. By 32 BBY, the Galactic Senate had enacted Prop 31-814D, mandating that the Trade Federation pay taxes within the previously exempt Free Trade Zones. In response, the Trade Federation chose to retaliate by establishing a blockade of the Mid Rim world of Naboo, aiming to compel the people of Naboo to sign a treaty that would legitimize their military actions.
In an attempt to resolve the trade dispute, Supreme Chancellor Finis Valorum dispatched an envoy to the blockade. This envoy consisted of the Radiant VII along with two Jedi ambassadors, Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his Padawan Obi-Wan Kenobi. Initially, the Federation welcomed the ambassadors, but upon learning of their identities and under the direction of Darth Sidious, Viceroy Nute Gunray ordered the Federation Droid Army to attack the Jedi and destroy the Radiant VII. After the Jedi saw the Federation Droid Army being loaded onto landing craft, they decided to separate and hide on different transports.
The subsequent Invasion of Naboo involved deploying the Federation Droid Army to the planet's surface via landing craft. After consolidating their forces, the Army captured the Naboo capital city, Theed, and took Queen Padmé Amidala prisoner. The Droid Army then established prison camps throughout the city, including Camp Four, and secured key locations like the Theed Hangar and the Theed Royal Palace.
As Amidala, her security personnel, and the Jedi managed to escape to Tatooine and later to Coruscant, the Trade Federation Droid Army solidified its control over the entire planet. They also initiated a search for the rumored underwater cities of the Gungans. When Amidala and her companions returned to Naboo, they joined forces with the Gungans and mobilized their forces. The Naboo gathered their forces and the leaders of the underground resistance that had begun fighting against the Trade Federation, while the Gungans assembled their Grand Army.
During the following Battle of Naboo, the Droid Army was divided across three fronts: one battle in the Great Grass Plains against the Gungan Grand Army, another in Theed against a Naboo Security Forces strike team aiming to capture Gunray, and a third in orbit above the planet against Bravo Squadron, which was trying to destroy the Droid Control Ship to disable all battle droids. By the battle's conclusion, the Federation Droid Army was deactivated following the destruction of the control ship, the Saak'ak, and the capture of Gunray.
A decade later, in 22 BBY, the Trade Federation and its army remained active and were integrated into the Separatist Droid Army, alongside the droid army of the Techno Union and the resources of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, Corporate Alliance, and the Commerce Guild. This unified force waged war against the Galactic Republic, leading to the pan-galactic Clone Wars.
The primary infantry unit of the Trade Federation's armies consisted of the B1-series battle droid. Variants of the B1, specifically the OOM-series battle droid such as OOM command battle droids, OOM pilot battle droids, and OOM-series security droids, were also utilized by the Federation. Droidekas served as powerful combat units. The PK-series worker droid was responsible for cleaning up destroyed army droids. Additionally, the Federation deployed the droid laser turret.
The Trade Federation Droid Army possessed a diverse array of ground and space vehicles. For ground operations, they employed Platoon Attack Craft, Multi-Troop Transports, Armored Assault Tanks, and Single Trooper Aerial Platforms. The droid army frequently operated in conjunction with the Trade Federation military's fleet of space-faring vehicles, including C-9979 landing crafts and Vulture-class starfighter starfighters. Using Lucrehulk-class LH-3210 cargo freighters and a Droid Control Ship, they were able to blockade entire planets and deploy their military forces.
The standard weapon used by the battle droids within the Trade Federation's army was the E-5 blaster rifle. Many B1 battle droids were equipped with comlink booster packs attached to their backs.
The Trade Federation Droid Army made its debut in the 1999 theatrical release, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. Its official identification occurred in Ultimate Star Wars, a canon reference book that was published in 2015.