Always looking for a way to expand their market share, Cosby Battlemech Research Firm came up with the Tengu, a cheap and dubiously effective mech designed to soften up clan mechs for its more expensive brethren.
Although noted by many warriors as potential deathraps, the planetary defense militias of the Combine, especially on the clan border, were more than happy to have at least a machine that they could afford, and was capable of fighting on very little support.

The Tengu was built around spare engine parts left from old technology 275 rated engines from the Griffin, Shadow Hawk, and Wolverine mechs. CBRF bought these parts at high discount prices, since hardly anyone used them anymore.
Surplus jump jets for the three Star League designs were also strapped onto the Tengu, enabling it a jump distance of 150 meters. This has proven to be an excellent way to counter the faster speed of clan designs.
Weaponry was also procured at extremely cheap prices. Discarded Lord's Light PPCs were placed in the Tengu's arm, providing it with a heavy offensive punch at range.
For offensive ability at shorter ranges, it has three medium lasers and a Shannon SRM rack. While not as efficient as a streak launcher, the system is cheap and easily maintained.
12 heat sinks provide adequate venting, but firing all the weapons can easily overload the mech's cooling systems.
Due to the nature of the design, CMRF placed a great deal of emphasis on pilot survivability. A solid alloy cage surrounds the pilot for extra protection, and the entire head module is jettisoned in the event of an ejection, much like that found on the Wolfhound.

The Tengu is easily upgraded with some modern technology. By swapping out the heat sinks for double strength freezers, the PPC for an ER version, and the SRM for a streak rack, along with CASE, the Tengu becomes an excellent workhorse design for 400,000 more C-Bills.
Most of the upgraded models are found in the household guards of the Combine's nobles.
Most interesting was the fact that Ghost Bear units have salvaged quite a few Tengus as well, and used their superlative technology to upgrade the mech's weapons. The IIC version mounts extended range energy weapons, and replaces the SRM rack with an ATM-3.

Tengus are found mostly along the Clan border, where they serve as cheap cannon fodder to soften up any clan attack before the real mechs of the DCMS engage. More often than not, the defenders were able to recover the Tengus and their pilots after an attack.