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TIE/IN interceptor
Production information
Manufacturer
Line
Model
Type
Technical specifications
Width
Height/depth
Engine unit(s)
Hyperdrive rating
Hyperdrive system
Power plant
Shielding
Targeting systems
Navigation system
Armament
Escape craft
Usage
- "This is the design I'm most worried about. Dagger-shaped solar arrays feed an advanced ion-stream projector. It's incredibly agile. Only our A-wings are capable of matching it in dogfights."
- ―Antoc Merrick inThe Rebel Files[15]
TheTIE/IN interceptor, also known as theTIE Interceptor, orTIE/in was a type ofTIE fighter used by theGalactic Empire, most notably during theBattle of Endor. Theinterceptor was identifiable by the addition of four arrow-shaped panels tipped withlaser cannons. They were nicknamed "Squints" due to their narrow shape.
Characteristics[]
- "Interceptors are a lot tougher than TIE fighters."
- ―Din Djarin[16]
A TIE interceptor wing
The TIE/IN interceptor[17] or TIE/in[18] was a far deadlier opponent than the standardTIE/ln space superiority starfighter and featured four very recognizable pointedsolar panels.[6] These panels, based on the "bent-wing" configuration used on theprototype TIE Advanced flown byDarth Vader, were given a dagger like design, which gave aTIE fighter pilot a wider field of vision.[19]
Engines and power[]
Lacking bothshields and ahyperdrive, the TIE/in made up for its lack of defensive capabilities with a top speed of 1,250kph[6] owing to enlarged[2]P-s5.6 twin ion engines[8] as well as anautothruster[7] providing considerably improved maneuverability and speed.[2] In order to achieve optimal performance and collect as much power from the enlarged solar panels, Sienar also equipped the TIE/in with an SFSI-a3a solar ionization reactor, whose extra power allowed pilots to overclock their engines and execute tight turns and rolls not possible in most other starfighters.[8]
Armament[]
Despite the LS-series hardpoints on the cockpit being intentionally left empty to reduce weight, fourL-s9.3 laser cannons on the TIE/in's wingtips allowed for far more firepower to overload the shields on an enemy craft. Binocular scanner modules were also placed in the midline of the TIE/in's engines, creating an overlapping stereoscopic field for thetargeting computer which ensured that the weapons were unlikely to miss once locked on.[8] With theEmpire placing its elitepilots into Interceptorcockpits to maximize the craft's effectiveness, interceptors were ideally suited for their main function: chasing down and eliminating rebelstarfighters.[2]
History[]
Time of the Empire[]
Development[]
The TIE Interceptor was developed bySienar Fleet Systems as an alternative to theTIE Advanced x1, which was determined to be too costly to mass-produce.[20] Heavily influenced by other Sienar bent-wing prototypes, such as theTIE/ad v1[8] which was tested onLothal byflight baronValen Rudor,[21] the TIE/IN was stripped of the Advanced's hyperdrive and equipped with heavier weapons. To achieve an improved fight performance, Sienar also removed theL-s1 laser cannons from the standard hardpoints in the cockpit module and reduced the armor.[8] Aprototype TIE/IN was developed by14 BBY[9] and tested by theInquisitorius'Second Sister[22] who also used it onBracca to investigate reports of a survivingJedi. Another TIE/IN was present on theImperial-occupied planetKashyyyk during that time.[23]
The TIE/IN soon entered production in the Sienar factories as the third full-productionTIE fighter series variant after theTIE/ln and theTIE/sa.[8] In3 BBY,[10] the Empire began to officially field TIE Interceptors[24] to serve as the Empire's direct response to the fasterstarships introduced by[20] the then-informal[25]Rebel Alliance.[20] Nonetheless, it was not as fast as theRZ-1 A-wing interceptor, being 50 kph slower.[6] The improved TIE units were distributed to elite starfighter squadrons, including the128th Fighter Group and the181st Imperial Fighter Wing, while some were offered to the commanders of TIE/ln squadrons as their personal starfighter.[8]
Operational history[]
Vult Skerris' TIE/IN featured red and grey markings.
Three TIE Interceptors carried out themassacre near Teralov.[26] The first confrontations between the Rebellion'sX-wing fighters and the Empire's TIE interceptors came with theBattle of Turkana.[27]GeneralWeir flew a TIE interceptor.[28] When defecting ImperialsJon Melton andBevelyn, who were both secretly agents ofCrimson Dawn, sought toreveal the existence of theDS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station by escaping aboard theLambda-class T-4a shuttleScopium, three TIE interceptors were deployed from theDeath Star and chased after the defectors. However, they managed to escape.[29]
Some interceptors belonging to elite pilots featured additional red and dark grey markings.[30] In2 BBY,[31]Vult Skerris flew one of these starfighters, when he was based atSkystrike Academy.[30]
TIE Interceptors also took part in thebattle against Crimson Dawn[32] and theBattle at Amaxine Station. A group ofcrimson interceptors escorted theLambda-class T-4a shuttle carrying Imperial leadersSheev Palpatine andDarth Vader into the station.[33] By thetime of theBattle of Endor, the TIE Interceptor made up one-fifth of the Empire's starfighter fleet.[34]Nash Windrider piloted a TIE Interceptor during theBattle of Jakku.[35]
Era of the New Republic[]
- "Something's coming up on us fast. It looks like a squadron of TIE Interceptors."
- ―Bo-Katan Kryze, to Din Djarin[16]
Around9 ABY,[36]Gideon's remnant of the fallen Empire possessed a massive force of TIE ships, including many interceptors, through the support of theShadow Council.[13] Aninterceptor squadron supported the force ofTIE/sa bombers thattargetedKryze Castle onKalevala.MandaloriansBo-Katan Kryze andDin Djarin, returning to Kelavala after theirmission to the Mines of Mandalore, engaged the TIE ships until their true numbers were revealed. Faced with the many TIE ships and surpised, both retreated.[16]
Bo-Katan would eventually be able to reunite her forces and lead theMandalorian resistance in an effort toretake their homeworld. This effort lead them into conflict with Gideon's Imperial Remnant where they discovered that they operated out of asecret base built on the planet which housed many TIE Interceptors. During the battle, these fighters saw action against the Mandalorians, including targetingtheir fleet in orbit.[13]Axe Woves would make to theirstolen command ship and altered the fleet of the attack, allowing them to escape and bring reinforcements for the final effort to retake Mandalore while he commanded the light cruiser and engaged several TIE Interceptors and bombers. The cruiser sustained heavy damage and eventually fell from orbit hurling straight towards the Imperial Base with Axe Wolves escaping just before impact which saw the base's destruction, taking any grounded TIE Interceptors and other starfighters with it.[37]
Legacy[]
Main article:TIE/ba Baron Space Superiority Interceptor
A TIE/ba interceptor during the Cold War.
By the time of theCold War, theFirst Order used theTIE/ba Baron Space Superiority Interceptor, which served as its own version of a TIE interceptor.[38]
During the reign ofSupreme LeaderKylo Ren, the First Order also fielded theTIE/wi Interceptor andTIE/wi modified interceptor.[39]
Behind the scenes[]
The Databank entry for the TIE interceptor onStarWars.com states that it was first deployed sixteenyears after thefall of theGalactic Republic in3 BBY.[40]Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order later showed the TIE interceptor being used by the Second Sister[23] in14 BBY.[9] The mobile gameStar Wars: Galaxy of Heroes later established that the Second Sister's craft was a TIE/IN Interceptor Prototype.[22] However, another TIE/IN is featured inFallen Order on Kashyyyk.[23] The status of this second TIE/IN has not been clarified. However, theElectronic Arts website provided an explanation for[24] the 3BBY[10] inconsistency, clarifying that year was only the ship'sofficial deployment.[24]
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
- Star Wars: Battle Pod
- LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return of the Kyber Saber"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Zander Freemaker, Superstar Pilot Guy!"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "A New Home"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return of the Return of the Jedi"
- "Vader Shows His Skills" —LEGO Star Wars 49
- Star Wars: Visions — "THE TWINS"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga
- "The Rakanal Run" —LEGO Star Wars 110
- "The Juggernaut and the Scoundrel" —LEGO Star Wars 122
Sources[]
Non-canon sources[]
- LEGO Star Wars 67(Free Gift)
Notes and references[]
External links[]
- Every Starfighter in Star Wars Explained By Lucasfilm on the officialWIREDYouTube channel(backup link)
- Related categories:
- TIE/IN interceptors
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- TIE/IN interceptors