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Z-95 Headhunter

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Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition,Rendezvous Point,Age of Resistance - Rose Tico 1,Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker: A Junior Novel,The Last Jedi: Bomber Command,Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 59,Star Wars: A-wing Deluxe Book and 3D Wood Model,Z-95-AF4 Headhunter Expansion Pack

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Z-95 Headhunter

Production information

Manufacturer

Model

Z-95 Headhunter^[2]

Type

Starfighter^[2]

Technical specifications

Length

16.74meters^[3]

Width

18.12 meters^[3]

Height/depth

3.24 meters^[3]

Maximum atmospheric speed

1150kph^[3]

Engine unit(s)

Incom2a fission engines^[3] (4)^[2]

Hyperdrive system

Equipped(retrofit only)^[4]

Crew

Pilot (1)^[5]

Life support

Equipped

Usage

Role(s)

Close air support^[2]

Affiliation

"I'm going to be sitting in a Z-95 cockpit wearing an EVA suit, and you want to sit on my lap? Worry less about being left behind and more about making certain the concussion missiles are fitted with the proper warheads, okay, buddy?"

―Poe Dameron, to BB-8^[5]

TheZ-95 Headhunter, also referred to as theZ-95 starfighter or simply theZ-95, was a multi-purposestarfighter jointly manufactured byIncom Corporation andSublights Products Corporation. Despite being considered outdated, the Z-95 was durable and adaptable to a variety of different roles, which led many to recognize it as a versatile and respectablesnub-fighter of its era. Countless variants of the Headhunter were produced, including onemodel designed specifically for theGrand Army of the Republic'sclone pilots during theClone Wars. The Z-95 was the forerunner of Incom's popularT-65B X-wing starfighter.

Characteristics[]

"I'm transmitting jump coordinates to your fighter. Ease out of the fight while Tarkin is concentrating on us. The Headhunter's hyperdrive will do the rest."

―Salikk, to Berch Teller^[4]

Though already outdated^[7] by thetime it entered production,^[5] the multi-purpose Z-95 Headhunterstarfighter boasted endurance and adaptability and was largely recognized as a respectable and versatilesnub-fighter of its era.^[7] Named after theCoromon Headhunter,^[10] the Z-95 was equipped with two pairs ofengines,^[2] the Z-95 was originally manufactured without ahyperdrive, though it could be retrofitted with a rudimentary one.^[4] However, as it lacked anastromech socket, itspilot was forced to pre-programhyperspace routes or force-feed itsnavicomputer jump coordinates provided bydata chips. The Z-95 was also noted for its cramped one-mancockpit.^[5]

Despite these drawbacks, the Z-95 featured internal environmental controls^[5] and a pair of wingtip-mounted,^[2] high-poweredblaster cannons. It also boastedconcussion missile launchers^[5] and a center-mountedion cannon, which was capable of penetratingdeflector shields.^[2] The Z-95 was the forerunner ofIncom's incredibly successfulT-65B X-wing starfighter, which implemented technologies and designs tested in the Z-95.^[1] Another successor to the Headhunter was theZ-96, introduced after the Clone Wars.^[11]

History[]

Prolific starfighter[]

"The Headhunter starfighters seen in the holovid could have come from anywhere."

―AnImperial technician, following a rebel attack on Sentinel Base^[4]

The clone Z-95 starfighter, one of the Headhunter's countless variants

Jointly manufactured by Incom Corporation andSubpro,^[1] the Z-95 Headhunter entered production during theClone Wars^[5] and spawned countless variants. TheGalactic Republic made its own mark on the Headhunter's large production run with aclone-specific model.^[7]Reaper Squadron was one unit that flew Headhunters. Decades after the end of the war, the wreckage of one of Reaper Squadron's Z-95s was recovered fromCastilon'sKaravian Trench bySynara San.^[11]^[12]

Even after the war had ended, Z-95s were extremely common.^[4]Idryssa Barruck flew a Headhunter during her time withSaw Gerrera'sPartisans,^[9] and several modified with basic hyperdrives and upgraded weaponry were used byBerch Teller'srebel cell in itsfight against theGalactic Empire.Hask Taff, a member of Teller's cell, used several Headhunters to craft a falseholovid that was transmitted to the Empire'sSentinel Base. The signal was meant to deceive the Imperials into believing that theirRampart Station had fallen underattack, thus inciting them to protect the station and leave Sentinel Base vulnerable. However,Moff Wilhuff Tarkin, the base'scommander, detected that the message was a fraud and instead set a trap for the insurgents, who were immediately ambushed upon entering thesystem and forced to retreat intohyperspace. The rebels later used Z-95s toattack an Imperial convoy near theGulf of Tatooine; all but one were obliterated, as Teller used the remaining Headhunter to escape to theplanet Christophsis while the rest of his cell was captured and summarilyexecuted.^[4] A gang ofPakiphantos also used Z-95s modified withproton cannons. The gang tried to capture theMillennium Falcon onDhandu 3, but were outflown or outgunned.^[6]

Venerable snub-fighter[]

"General, with respect, I've fought the First Order before and beat them every time. Once in a ship that had to be at least fifty years old."

―Poe Dameron, to General Leia Organa, on fighting the First Order in a Z-95 Headhunter^[13]

During theGalactic Civil War, theAlliance to Restore the Republic continued to use Z-95s. Despite being slightly slower and less maneuverable than its successors, including the T-65B, the Z-95 proved a close-air-support staple of theRebel Alliance Starfighter Corps.^[2] TheTIE fighter pilots of theImperial Navy referred to Z-95s as "skulls." During abattle onPortocari, Rebel Headhunters killed an Imperial pilot namedBarsay.^[14]

Though they had long been retired from military use, Z-95s were a favorite amongsmugglers,gangsters,pirates, and a variety of others seeking to do both legitimate and illegitimate business^[5] twenty-nineyears after the end of the Galactic Civil War.^[15] In one instance,Resistance pilot Poe Dameron acquired three Z-95s for a covert mission designatedOperation: Sabre Strike.^[5]

Pilots with theCitizens' Fleet flew Z-95s during theBattle of Exegol in^[16]35 ABY.^[17]

Behind the scenes[]

The Z-95 Headhunter made its first appearance in the newStar Warscanon in themobile gameStar Wars: Commander, published byDisney Interactive^[2] onAugust 21,2014.^[18] Before that, it was referenced in the clone Z-95 starfighter entry in the now-discontinuedStarWars.com Encyclopedia.^[1] This entry, including the Z-95's mention, has since transferred over to the Encyclopedia's current replacement, theDatabank.^[7] The Z-95 Headhunter was originally created for the1979 Star Wars Legends novelHan Solo at Stars' End, written byBrian Daley as the first entry inThe Han Solo Adventures trilogy.^[19]

WhilePoe Dameron: Flight Log says the length of the Z-95 is 16.74 meters,^[3]Star Wars: Build the Millennium Falcon 59 says the ship is only 11.8 meters long.^[10] This article assumes the former is correct.