Starfighter

Astarfighter, also referred to as afighter, was a small and maneuverablespacecraft designed for combat in theatmosphere orspace. Certain models ofbombers,gunships,transports,light freighters,shuttles,trainers, andatmospheric fighters could be considered starfighters as well, and often fulfilled many of the same functions.

Although the term was most commonly applied to starships, it could also include certain low-altitudeairspeeders.

Classifications[]

Starfighters often had some degree of overlap with other ship classes, as well as a few distinct sub-classes.Bombers were starships designed to carry heavy ordnance payloads, often at the expense of maneuverability and straight-line speed.Interceptors represented a range of starfighters that usually emphasized speed and agility over versatility and firepower, sometimes at the expense of ordnance payloads, life support, or hyperdrive capabilities.Gunships were heavily-armed vehicles designed to deploy ground forces in landing zones created by their heavy weaponry. Their heavy armament often granted them considerable air-to-air or space-to-space combat capabilities, despite being optimized for air-to-ground combat.^[2][3] Certain classes of starfighters could be modified totrainers while still retaining combat capability.^[4] These included certain classes oftransports,shuttles,^[3][5] andlight freighters.^[3][6]

Characteristics[]

The primary weapon for most starfighters werelaser cannons, but these could be supplemented with additional weaponry such asproton torpedo launchers to provide additional firepower.^[7] Often these were effective against other starfighters and similar targets, but didn't have the firepower to punch through the defenses of acapital ship as during theBattle of Naboo.^[8] However, some starfighters, like theA/SF-01 B-wing starfighter carried sufficient armaments that they could destroy capital ships on their own.^[9] Starfighters could also cause tremendous devastation when working in groups: a squadron ofY-wing bombers were capable of carrying enough ordnance to glass an entire city, bathing the battlefield in blinding white detonations which scrambled enemy sensors.^[10]

Many starfighters were equipped withdeflector shields to protect them from enemy fire,radiation, and micrometeor impacts. Typically they carried a singledeflector shield generator, which could be adjusted to protect specific parts of the starfighter.^[11] Some starfighters though, notably theEta-2 Actis-class light interceptor andTIE/ln space superiority starfighter series, were not equipped with shields, relying instead on their maneuverability and the pilot's skills to avoid these dangers.^[12] Other common forms of protection included heavy armor plating andsensor jammers.^[9] Starfighters were equipped with warning systems to let them know when an enemy missile was locked on to them, and could also use their laser cannons to shoot these down, even against missiles traveling at incomprehensible speeds, so long as theirtargeting computer was functional.^[13]

Some starfighters were equipped with ahyperdrive, whether integral to the craft itself or by means of external attachment such as ahyperspace transport ring. Because of their small size, most starfighternavigation computers or navicomputers could only carry one or two hyperspace routes which either had to be pre-programmed into the computer or installed via removabledatachips (for emergency jumps, navicomputers could also receive coordinates transmitted from friendly ships). This madeastromech droids a valuable addition to many starfighters in that they had the storage capacity to carry up to ten hyperspace coordinates.^[9]

A starfighter's primary means of propulsion weresublight engines which allowed it to get clear of a planet's atmosphere and gravitation field in a matter of minutes and cross vast distances ofrealspace.^[7] Though small, these sublight drives were capable of accelerating starfighters at thousands of times standardgravity.^[12][9] To protect their pilots from being killed by the G-force generated by sublight drives, starfighters were equipped withacceleration compensators.^[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.^[14]

During space combat, starfighters flew and fought at speeds which would be incomprehensible in an atmosphere, crossing thousands of kilometers in a matter of minutes. Only the vastness of space and the relative speeds of those involved made flying at such velocities fathomable for many pilots. Even then, computer assistance was necessary for accurate piloting, as having a starfighter's vectoring be wrong by one degree could easily result in it being kilometers off-target.^[10] Some starfighters like theA-wing were so fast and maneuverable that, because they lacked an astromech droid to assist with flying, even a being withJedi-like reflexes found them challenging to pilot.^[9] Starfighters flying in tight formations relied on close communications between their navicomputers and astromech droids to maintain perfect distance.^[10]

For atmospheric flight and during landings and takeoffs, starfighters carriedrepulsorlift engines as a secondary means of propulsion. Because sublight engines' exhaust was hot and mildly radioactive, using them while inside an inhabited world's atmosphere was generally illegal.^[11] When the need was dire though a starfighter could use their sublight engines for extra speed during atmospheric flight, even flying at maximum acceleration as during theattack on Pandem Nai. While starfighters could function in an atmosphere at such speeds, it put tremendous strain on the ships and the pilots themselves. Systems would start to fail after just several minutes of such velocities, and laser cannons were at risk of melting from the heat generated by these maneuvers.^[10] Starfighters equipped with deflector shields could use them help smooth their passage through and allow for greater control when operating in an atmosphere.^[12] Deflector shields could also allow starfighters, like theARC-170 andV-wing to achieve hypersonic velocities in an atmosphere.^[15]

However, most starfighters were not built to excel at atmospheric flight, and were at a disadvantage againstairspeeders when flying belowmountain range as they were forced to sacrifice their superior speed.^[16] Exceptions to this included theX-wing^[9] andTIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter,^[12] the latter of which was classified as anatmospheric fighter,^[17] yet it also functioned as a starfighter.^[18]

History[]

Early years[]

Starfighters had been an integral part ofspace-based combat formillennia, seeing action as early as thedays of theOld Republic.^[19] However, with the formation of the modern Galactic Republic and the millennium of relative peace that followed,^[20] large-scale battles between opposing space-based combatants were completely unheard of.^[19]

Invasion of Naboo and Separatist Crisis[]

In32 BBY, theJedi Order operated theDelta-7Aethersprite-class light interceptor, but primarily used them for personal transport instead of space combat.^[21]

That year,N-1 starfighters of theNaboo Royal Space Fighter Corps engaged and defeated theTrade Federation'sVulture-class starfighters during the latter'sinvasion of Naboo.^[8] A number of N-1s remained combat capable all the way through the end of theCold War.^[22] The Vulture droids also had a long lifespan, with some remaining operational in theAge of the Empire.^[23]

Also around that time,Darth Maul operated theScimitar, a customizedStar Courier that was also a formidable starfighter.^[8][22] It remained in service of theSith Order well into the Imperial era.

Towards the end of the Separatist Crisis,Jango Fett owned and operatedSlave I, a customizedFirespray-31-class patrol and attack craft. After his death at theFirst Battle of Geonosis, his sonBoba took possession of the ship and continued using it until at least9 ABY.^[24]

Clone Wars[]

During the Clone Wars, theJedi continued utilizing the old Delta-7s,^[20] but also developed theDelta-7BAethersprite-class light interceptor^[25] andEta-2Actis-class light interceptor.^[26] Theclone trooper pilots under theircommand flewLow 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] andAlpha-3Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters.^[26]Grand MasterYoda operatedhis own customizedActis-class fighter.^[29]Skull Squadron, aMandalorian unit serving the Republic, flewFang fighters.^[30] At the conclusion of the Clone War, some of the Republic starfighter classes would be inherited by theGalactic Empire, while others would be decommissioned and fall into the hands of the rebellion. Others would be discarded entirely, seeing almost no military service after the conclusion of the war.

TheSeparatists, which opposed the Republic in the Clone War, mainly usedVulture-classdroid starfighters built for the Trade Federation.^[25] Later, to counter increasingly capable and diverse clone fighters, the Confederacy manufactured and deployeddroid tri-fighters,^[26]Hyena-class Droid Bombers,^[31] andHMP droid gunships.^[26] The Separatists also built manned fighters for their organic commanders, such asRogue-class Porax-38 starfighters,^[25]Belbullab-22 heavy starfighters,^[26] andGinivex-class fanblade starfighter.^[32]Geonosian forces, which allied themselves with the Confederacy, flewNantex-class territorial defense starfighters,^[20] while theUmbaran Militia flew their indigenousZenuas 33 Umbaran starfighters.^[28] TheZygerrian Slave Empire, which allied itself with the Confederacy, had a small force ofHutteseHH-87 Starhoppers, which saw action against Republic forces onKadavo.^[33]Death Watch, a Mandalorian splinter group allied to the Confederacy, operatedKom'rk-class fighter/transports, which doubled as transports and bombers.^[34] After falling out ofCountDooku's favor, Death Watch would pledge their loyalty to Darth Maul'sShadow Collective, but would continue to use the ships in battle.^[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.^[36][23]

Age of the Empire and Rebellion[]

At the conclusion of the Clone War, theImperial Military inherited some of the starfighter classes of theRepublic Navy. By the time of the Galactic Civil War, however, it was reliant on theTIE fighter series. This new generation of vehicles, powered bytwin ion engines, were developed from technology used in the older Republic starfighter and transport classes. These craft included the famousTIE/ln space superiority starfighter,^[37]TIE/rb heavy starfighter,^[38]TIE Advanced v1,^[39]TIE/sa bomber,^[40]TIE Advanced x1,^[37]TIE/IN interceptor,^[41]TIE/d "Defender" Multi-Role Starfighter,^[42]TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter, andTIE/rp Reaper attack lander.^[43] The Empire also deployedVT-49 Decimators andY-45 armored transport haulers.^[3] In addition to Imperial use, numerous TIE/LNs were given to theMining Guild and converted toTIE/mg Mining Guild starfighters.^[44] Imperial TIEs would occasionally fall into rebel hands, and the rebellion made good use of these opportunities.^[45][46]

Out of desperation for any equipment they could obtain, the rebellion operated numerous starfighter classes from a variety of sources.Bail Organa's rebel network operatedRZ-1 A-wing interceptors as early as18 BBY.^[47] TheFree Ryloth Movement used old Separatist droid starfighters in14 BBY.^[23]Berch Teller's rebel cell also used Separatist fighters, in addition toZ-95 Headhunters.^[36] Beginning around5 BBY,theSpectres made use of thePhantom, a customizedCorellianVCX-series auxiliary starfighter that doubled as a shuttle and scout craft. The Spectres eventually joinedPhoenix Cell, which utilized A-wings and a small number ofRZ-1T trainers, which were A-wings converted into two-seat trainers.Jan Dodonna's unit made use of decommissioned Republic Y-wings, which served as multi-role fighter-bombers. Later, the loose-knit network of rebel cells morphed into the better-organized Alliance to Restore the Republic, which continued to operate a fairly ragtag collection of whatever equipment they could acquire.^[48]

TheRebel Alliance Starfighter Corps made use ofA/SF-01 B-wing starfighters,^[41]E-50 Landseers, convertedHWK-290 light freighters,^[3]T-47 airspeeders,^[22]T-65B X-wing starfighters,^[37]T-65C-A2 X-wing starfighters,^[49]UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft,^[5]V-4X-D ski speeders,^[3][22] and at least oneYT-1300 light freighter,^[37] in addition to some of the older classes.^[3] Additionally, the rebellion made use of stolen Imperial vessels.^[45][46] Many starfighter types used by the various rebel groups continued to see action with theNew Republic.^[50]

A number of starfighter classes were used by private security forces, such as theStorm IV Twin-Pod cloud cars used by theBespin Wing Guard.^[22]

Post-Endor[]

In its early days, the New Republic continued to operate the rebellion's old starfighter classes, and even continued stealing TIEs when the need arose.^[50] Beginning in5 ABY, the New Republic operated theT-70 X-wing starfighter,^[52] which was an upgraded version of the T-65. They also operatedRZ-2 A-wing interceptors. By the time of the cold war, theNew Republic Defense Fleet had retired all of the older starfighter classes (as well as some of the newer ones, such as theB-wing Mark II) in favor of theT-85 X-wing.^[53]

TheFirst Order Navy continued the TIE line that the Empire had begun, with the new models upgraded to modern combat standards. This new generation of TIEs included theTIE/fo space superiority fighter, the two-seatTIE/sf space superiority fighter used by theFirst Order Special Forces,^[54] and theTIE/vn space superiority fighter used byKylo Ren.^[55] TheTIE/wi Interceptor andTIE/wi modified interceptor would also come to exist.^[56] Meanwhile, theResistance'sStarfighter Corps continued using T-70s donated by sympatheticsenators.^[54] They also made use of a small number of single-seat A-wings^[57][58] and a few Z-95 Headhunters^[53] for covert operations. On occasion, Resistance personnel would steal First Order TIEs, just like their Rebel predecessors had 30 years before.^[54]

Appearances[]

Non-canon appearances[]

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