The Hellraven was conceived as a dedicated military boarding platform and Marine transport. Fast, well protected, and capable of deploying a short platoon of heavy armed boarders, the Hellraven saw service on both sides, as a number were abandoned early in the mercenary conflicts and a small production facility in the outer rim remained active well after the end of the wars.

The MA-037 was not well armed for its size, but it was fitted with external ordnance racks. These were intended for additional fuel tanks, but in desperate situations Hellravens could be fitted with torpedoes and gun pods. A number of Royal Marine Hellravens were adapted to the ground-attack gunship role, with additional hardpoints mounted to the wings, though this was hard on the spaceframe and quickly wore out the thruster systems, which were not adapted to constant atmospheric use.