"So which weapons are the most important? I'll make it easy for you. Take a good look at each other. Now, take a good look at yourselves. When you climb into your cockpit, and settle into your seat, and ease your finger close to the trigger on your control stick, know that the TIE fighter and its cannons are nothing without the instrument that makes them operational."
―Jad Bean, to the First Order TIE pilots of Zeta Squadron[9]
A First Order TIE pilot helmet
First Order TIE pilots wore a uniform consisting of ablackjumpsuit with a chestplate withlife support gear,pauldrons on the shoulders,gauntlets, autility belt,boots, and a helmet withgoggles. The helmet had a flexible gas transfer hose, which connected to the pilot's life support system.[1] The helmet's goggles also had an interior viewplate that projected combat data to the pilots.[10] TIE pilot cadets were not equipped with pauldrons or gauntlets and wore a special insignia on their left shoulder.[11]
"Our Order is built on survival of the fittest. If one pilot can't do their duty and they die serving the First Order, so be it. The Order becomes stronger by culling the weak."
Since the conclusion of theGalactic Civil War had seen the various flight academies under the Empire returned to local institutions, the TIE pilots of the First Order were trained directly within First Order-owned ships, whether they be newly created ships or Imperial survivors of the war. Largely because they could not afford to train an endless supply of pilots,[10] the First Order treated its fighter pilots as important parts of its war machine instead of disposable assets; unlike itspredecessor. Potential pilots were identified aschildren and given rigorous training, often within the corridors of warships, then tested ruthlessly throughout their careers to ensure their reflexes, visual acuity and coordination measured up.[6]
Due to the nature of their training, many of them never set foot on a planet during this time.[13] However, the First Order was also willing to recruit regular citizens into their starfighter corps,[14] training them to be TIE pilots.[12] The First Order's pilots had a higher life expectancy than their Imperial equivalents; largely due to their not having to be burdened with a restrictive galactic budget.[15] In combat, TIE pilots tended to rely on the same tactics and maneuvers, whichResistance pilotJessika Pava assumed to be something drilled into the pilots during training. While still effective, such overreliance on their standard tactics could make TIE pilots predictable to their foes.[16] They were equipped with enhanced weaponry andsensor systems on their fighters.[17]
History[]
"TIE pilots don't mix up their tactics too much. You see the same maneuvers over and over. Don't get me wrong—they can beeffective… but not a lot of variation. Guess it's how they're trained. But over Grail City… they wereexuberant. Taking risks I'd never seen them take before."
―Jessika Pava recalls the performance of First Order TIE pilots during the Battle of Grail City[16]
Pilots who demonstrated both exceptional skill and unwavering loyalty were promoted to elite ranks within First Order during theCold War.[18]MajorElrik Vonreg was a pilot who answered directly toCaptainPhasma.[3]TN-3465 was recruited by Phasma for thehunt for Rivas.[19] "Quickdraw" was a pilot who was once involved in an engagement amid the wreckage of another starship.[20] During theBattle of Grail City, TIE pilots displayed exuberance and took numerous risks in combat instead of relying on their typical tactics.[16]
LEGO Star Wars: The Resistance Rises — "Poe to the Rescue"
Star Wars Resistance — "The Recruit"
