The X-wing is a versatile Rebel Alliance starfighter that balances speed with firepower. [28], Geonosian Nantex-class Starfighters appear in the climactic Battle of Geonosis in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones when they chase after a Republic attack gunship carrying Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Padm Amidala (Natalie Portman). In order to manage heat levels, the interceptor is fitted with S-foils on the tip of each wing which open to reveal radiator panels. Larger than most starfighters, it can carry a larger crew and accommodate passengers. Jointly manufactured by Incom Corporation and Subpro, it continued to see usage into the reign of the Galactic Empire, but was eventually phased out by the . [38], The Jedi starfighter's triangular shape stems from the shape of Imperial Star Destroyers in the original Star Wars trilogy. By the time of the Galactic Civil War, however, it was reliant on the TIE line. Allowing additional time for the TIE fighter to be introduced, a new starfighter was created instead, purposefully similar in both design and sound to the TIE fighter while also resembling the Jedi's Delta-7 starfighter. This was due to the fact that the P-38's digital model, being a late addition to the film, was not completed to the level originally planned, and so was relegated to a background craft. From the high stakes dogfights with TIE fighters to the lightning fast trench run, the X-wing could do it all. Perhaps the oddest-looking starfighter in the Rebel Alliance fleet, the B-wing fighter is as powerful as it is ungainly. Several of the fighters entered the fray when Vader tracked the Ghost crew to the rebel fleet. Rebel engineers designed the B-wing with a single purpose to destroy Imperial capital ships. Debuting in The Phantom Menace, the droid starfighter is essentially the TIE fighter of the prequel trilogy -- the most identifiable aerial weapon of choice for the Trade Federation and later, the Separatists. Although the term was most commonly applied to starships, it . Developer Totally Games' Star Wars: TIE Fighter is a flight simulator meets space combat game set in the Star Wars universe that wowed fans back in 1994 and surprisingly still holds up in several . [31] While not as fast as a Jedi interceptor, the tri-fighter has three independent thrusters to give it impressive agility. [12][9] To protect their pilots from being killed by the G-force generated by sublight drives, starfighters were equipped with acceleration compensators. [35], The Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptors (better known as "Jedi starfighters") appear in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002), when Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) travels via Jedi starfighter to Kamino to investigate the attempted assassination of Padm Amidala (Natalie Portman); he also flies a Jedi starfighter to Geonosis in an attempt to track down the bounty hunter Jango Fett (Temuera Morrison). Controlled by droid brains, these starfighters are fast, deadly, and require no pilot; they can also land, invert their wings and walk, making them versatile and unique from any other craft on this list -- and it's a feature that gives them an added dimension of creepiness. A group of Rebel starfighters go head-to-head with a Star Destroyer in the Battle of Endor! After a successful strike against the Empire, Senator Bail Organa found a manufacturer willing to develop the starfighter in secret. [61] In order to demonstrate that it was both a robotic being as well as vehicle, it was decide to give the vulture droid a transformative element, allowing its wings to fold down and serve as legs. [59][60], The Vulture Droid or Variable Geometry Self-Propelled Battle Droid is a droid starfighter that made its theatrical appearance in The Phantom Menace (1999) as part of the Trade Federation's space fleet and appeared again, slightly different, in Revenge of the Sith (2005), as a Separatist space unit (likely coming from the Trade Federation, which sells its droid forces to the CIS, as established in Attack of the Clones). Carried aboard Star Destroyers and battle stations, TIE fighters were single-pilot vehicles designed for fast-paced dogfights with Rebel X-wings and other starfighters. An update to the Delta-7, the newer Jedi starfighter is featured prominently in Revenge of the Sith, piloted by Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker in the film's thrilling opening sequence. When necessary, the droid can uses its repulsorlifts to land and transform into a four-legged walking configuration to occupy territory, angling its energy torpedo launchers for antipersonnel use. "Preybird" redirects here. After the New Republic slashed A-wing production, the RZ-2 lived on as a mainstay of the Resistance, which used A-wings for many different missions. Because of their small size, most starfighter navigation computers or navicomputers could only carry one or two hyperspace routes which either had to be pre-programmed into the computer or installed via removable datachips (for emergency jumps, navicomputers could also receive coordinates transmitted from friendly ships). 0. The X-wing starfighter, named for the distinctive shape made when its S-Foils are in attack position, was a class of starfighter used by the Rebel Alliance in their conflict with the Galactic Empire. The craft's narrow attack profile and swivel-mounted wings that provided vectored . Debuting in A New Hope's climactic Death Star battle, the X-wing instantly became (even if only in the minds of audiences) the starfighter of the Rebel Alliance. Armament includes twin laser cannons and twin proton torpedo launchers with a capacity for 10 torpedoes. For one thing, these Vulture fighters are usually deployed in massive numbers, so they can overwhelm the enemy with a storm of laser cannon fire. An improved successor to the X-wing, the E-wing first appeared in Dark Horse Comics' Dark Empire series. In the opening space battle, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) pilot Jedi interceptors on a mission to rescue Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) from General Grievous. Design-wise, it looks suitably sleek, with twin engines, no frills, and no droid slot -- the A-wing looks like it's designed for speed. As the Empire ramped up production of both standard TIE fighters and experimental models, the Alliance sought to turn the A-wing into a starfighter that could outfly them all. The N-1 also appears at the end of the edited and remastered 2004 "Special Edition" DVD version of Return of the Jedi. It made its theatrical debut, as the T-65B model, in Star Wars (1977) as the spacecraft piloted by Luke Skywalker and the Red Squadron when Luke destroyed the Death Star. [7] Often these were effective against other starfighters and similar targets, but didn't have the firepower to punch through the defenses of a capital ship as during the Battle of Naboo. Two versions of the starfighter model exist, one 68m (223ft) long and a smaller variant 52.3m (172ft) long. The fighter technically first appeared as an unlockable vehicle in Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, which was released approximately six months before The Phantom Menace, and was available as a playable vehicle in the video games Star Wars: Battle for Naboo and Star Wars: Starfighter. [72], Director Gareth Edwards wanted Rogue One to be grounded in the aesthetics of the Korean or Vietnam War in order to contrast it with the more World War II look of the original Star Wars film. [11][9] These compensators were designed to automatically adjust their settings during flight, but if this function became disabled a pilot could find themselves subject to potentially dangerous g-forces. U-wings first appeared in the movie Rogue One, where they were pivotal in the transport and protection of the Rebel Alliance's ground forces during the Battle of Scarif. These things were everywhere during the Battle of Endor, and showed that the Empire was still pushing forward in all facets of militaristic domination. However it was also slower and less maneuverable than any other Rebel starfighter and required the most maintenance. STAR WARS Force Link 2.0 Tie Fighter & Tie Fighter Pilot Figure. However the ship was not designed for the tight turns necessary for dogfights, and while the U-wing did feature a hyperdrive for faster-than-light travel, extended operations with a full passenger compliment would quickly deplete the vessel's life support systems. They are usually not equipped with shields or a hyperdrive, which makes them mass-producible and allows for considerable weapon payloads, or alternatively, for high speed and agility. Join the Emperor's cause in eliminating the Rebel uprising as the Empire strikes back! They first appear in Return of the Jedi (1983) and subsequently in the Star Wars expanded universe 's books, comics, and games. For a Star Wars one-man fighter, the Naboo N-1 is truly original. Its curved braces are deliberately reminiscent of the Trade Federation's circular battleship. As an Imperial navy starfighter pilot, you willsafeguard imperiled lives thoughout the galaxy. With the New Republic victorious over the Empires fragments, Kuat Systems Engineering revived the R-22 design as the basis for the RZ-2, a streamlined model that incorporated years of Alliance field modifications and customizations. [45][46] Many starfighter types used by the various rebel groups continued to see action with the New Republic. [63][64] Electromagnetic thrust-vectoring makes vulture droids elusive targets to hit, powered by concentrated solid fuel slugs which provide tremendous power but with the drawback of limited range. That's it. [19][20][21] A Micro Machines Alpha Fleet package includes models both of the B-wing's film appearance and of an initial production design. [2] These engines are used to lift off from planetary surfaces, travel in deep space and engage other starships in space battles, while inertial dampeners protect the occupants from forceful accelerations. They were introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars being used by the Mandalorian splinter group Death Watch. [53][54], The Porax-38 appears in Revenge of the Sith as a starfighter piloted by the native Utapauns during the Battle of Utapau. The TIE interceptor, which made its first appearance in Return of the Jedi, is a sleek update of the classic TIE fighter design. The A-wing was a wedge-shaped strike fighter that took design inspiration from Republic starfighters of the Clone Wars. During the Clone Wars, the Jedi continued utilizing the old Delta-7s,[20] but also developed the Delta-7B Aethersprite-class light interceptor[25] and Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor. Certain models of bombers, gunships, transports, light freighters, shuttles, trainers, and atmospheric fighters could be considered starfighters as well, and often fulfilled many of the same functions. The primary weapon for most starfighters were laser cannons, but these could be supplemented with additional weaponry such as proton torpedo launchers to provide additional firepower. Bail Organa's rebel network operated RZ-1 A-wing interceptors as early as 18 BBY. [37][41] Manufactured for the Jedi by Kuat Systems Engineering, the starfighter measures just 8m (26ft) long, 3.92m (12.9ft) wide and 1.44m (4ft 9in) high, making it difficult to detect. It is also equipped with a Class 1 hyperdrive and a rotating laser cannon mounted on either end of the solar sail. [41][42], The Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptors, also known as "Jedi interceptors", made their first theatrical in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). 4.7 out of 5 stars 550. The Imperial Navy is called upon to eradicate the last of the rebellion andrestore law and order. The Republic commissioned upgraded models of the Z-95 for their clone pilots which featured more powerful weaponry and deflector shields, as well as superior endurance and adaptability. Others would be discarded entirely, seeing almost no military service after the conclusion of the war. [18], Starfighters had been an integral part of space-based combat for millennia, seeing action as early as the days of the Old Republic. Obi-Wan Wednesdays: Reva Figure Revealed and More! The unmistakable shape of this iconic starfighter signifies the military might of the First Order, and features a 2-minifigure cockpit that opens from the top and bottom, 2 spring-loaded shooters and a rotating antenna for homing in on enemy starships. Are we out of our minds? They first appear in the opening battle sequence of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith (2005) and have featured in the 2008 Clone Wars television series. One of several craft that debuted in Return of the Jedi, the A-wing is the fastest starfighter in the Rebel fleet, and has become a fan favorite. As seen in the climax of The Phantom Menace, the N-1 is a fine starfighter in battle, and is one of the prequel trilogy's most famous craft. Welcome to The StarWars.com 10, a feature where StarWars.coms editorial staff huddles to discuss in a committee various topics relating to a galaxy far, far away. Did we overlook something? 3 Star Wars: TIE Fighter. Genre: Action. Gunships were heavily-armed vehicles designed to deploy ground forces in landing zones created by their heavy weaponry. [35] After the conclusion of the war, many of the starfighters used by the Confederacy's regular forces survived the Clone War and were used by rebels fighting against the Empire. Quarrie designed the Blade Wing to be a blockade buster for the Rebel Alliance, combining aspects of previous ships built by the Verpine Slayne & Korpil corporation including the V-19 Torrent starfighter, H-60 Tempest bomber and T-6 shuttle. It gained popularity through its depiction in several video games, such as Battlefront II and 2015 Battlefront, and has been merchandised by several companies. Vessels designated as "Jedi starfighters" included: Jedi Vector Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor Delta-7B Aethersprite-class light interceptor Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor Quinlan Vos's Jedi starfighter Yoda's fighter Delta-6 Sprite-class starfighter Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light . Originally intended as a transport ship for couriers and planetary defense forces, the last of the UT-60D starfighters to be built were secured for the Rebel Alliance thanks to the efforts of Senator Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits). [25] Later, to counter increasingly capable and diverse clone fighters, the Confederacy manufactured and deployed droid tri-fighters,[26] Hyena-class Droid Bombers,[31] and HMP droid gunships. This made astromech droids a valuable addition to many starfighters in that they had the storage capacity to carry up to ten hyperspace coordinates. It won a number of industry awards, and, in May '97, PC Gamer named the "Collector's Edition" CD . [54] They also made use of a small number of single-seat A-wings[55][56] and a few Z-95 Headhunters[53] for covert operations. The full release of Star Wars: TIE Fighter launched in July of 1994 to almost universal acclaim. TM & Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved, ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+, {:title=>"Films", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/films"}, {:title=>"Characters + Histories", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/characters-+-histories"}, {:title=>"Behind the Scenes", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/behind-the-scenes"}, {:title=>"Solo", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/solo"}, {:title=>"The Rise of Skywalker", :url=>"https://www.starwars.com/news/category/the-rise-of-skywalker"}. Finally, the Blade Wing was complete, and the Ghost crews Hera became its first pilot. Knowing that his friend could use all the help he can get, Han urges Lando to pilot the Millennium Falcon into battle. The starfighters of Green Squadron, which flew in the Battle of Endor, were made up of A-wing starfighters. Ages: 4 years and up. United States: DK Publishing. Description. ""A new fighter? Rebel mechanics and technicians transformed their U-wings into sturdy gunships and troop transports for Rebel Alliance Special Forces (SpecForces) making dangerous insertions into Imperial territory. Lift the nose of the ship to seat Darth Vader at the controls. Difficult to see how one small ship will change much. [70], The UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft is a Rebel troop transport/gunship model manufactured by Incom Corporation for the purpose of supporting special operations forces insertion and extraction into denied areas from strategic distances. Lambda-class Imperial Shuttle. FREE delivery Wed, Apr 19 . [10] Some starfighters like the A-wing were so fast and maneuverable that, because they lacked an astromech droid to assist with flying, even a being with Jedi-like reflexes found them challenging to pilot. [27][29], Droid Tri-fighters are droid starfighters used by Separatist forces during the Clone Wars. [26] The clone trooper pilots under their command flew Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry gunships,[20] V-19 Torrent starfighters,[25] BTL Y-wing starfighters,[27] Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighters,[26] Clone Z-95 Headhunters,[28] and Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters. Apr 17 2023 / 3:05 PM EDT. Free shipping for many products! This also makes the starfighter overwhelmingly difficult for a non-Jedi to pilot. TIE Fighter measures 18.5" (47cm) high, 12" (30.6cm) long and 12.2" (31cm) wide. [8][22] It remained in service of the Sith Order well into the Imperial era. TM & Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (Episode VI), ALL OF YOUR STAR WARS FAVORITES NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY+. It was tailor-made for combat, featuring wing-mounted laser cannons and a hidden proton torpedo port in its belly. 99 $39.99 $39.99. 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