TIE Fighters and other starfighters
The main combat starfighter used by the Empire is the TIE fighter. Fast, maneuverable and apparently endless in number, TIE fighters are deployed from bases and capital ships, as they have neither the range nor the capability to travel great distances on their own. As short-range patrol and attack craft, TIEs serve the Imperial fleet very well. Twin ion engines (TIE) provide the propulsion for these fighters, which are controlled by a single pilot. At the height of theEmpire's military buildup, when resources were plentiful and supplies were nearly unlimited, the need was felt for a deep-space starfighter that was cheap to make, quick to produce, and relatively powerful-especially in large numbers. The TIE fighter was the result. Armed with two laser cannons but lacking any sort of combat shields, TIEs were designed for use as reconnaissance craft, perimeter defense ships, and ship-to-ship combat vehicles. The distinctive hexagonal solar-panel "wings" that jut from the spherical command pod gather light and convert it into energy that powers the propulsion and weapons systems.
Designed and built by SienarFleet Systems, the TIE fighter comes in a variety of special-assignment models. The original TIE starfighter was developed while SFS was still Republic Sienar Systems. The upgraded TIE was produced after the company came under the direct control of the Imperial Navy. The TIE/ln is the standard fleet-based TIE fighter. It carries a separate power generator for its laser cannons. The TIE/rc is equipped with extensive sensor and long-range communications packages to assist it with its reconnaissance duties. Built for fire-control duty, the TIE/fc transmits precise targeting information back to its fleet. Finally, the TIE/gt features an enlarged hull for carrying torpedoes and bombs. It is usually used as a ground-support vehicle, though it is gradually being replaced by the TIE bomber. Every Star Destroyer carries a complete wing of TIE fighters. A wing is made up of six squadrons, and squadrons are divided into three flights of two ships each. Therefore, a TIE squadron has twelve starfighters and a TIE wing totals seventy-two starfighters.
Also in service is the TIE Interceptor, an even faster and more heavily-armed version of the basic fighter. An early prototype of this craft was designed and flown by Lord Darth Vader in the Battle of Yavin in pursuit of Rebel X-wing ships navigating the Death Star trench. The improved handling and structural durability of the interceptor model was shown in Vader's ability to survive a collision with one of his wing fighters and then regain control of his ship following the destruction of the Death Star.
The production model of the interceptor carries laser cannons at the forward tips of its solar arrays, four in all. The middle section of the solar wing is cut away on a horizontal axis so that the pilot is allowed periphal vision. Its engines are larger than those of the TIE, and observable evidence indicates that the TIE Interceptor may be the fastest starfighter in space today.
The third variant in the series is the TIE bomber. Unlike the other models, the TIE bomber features a cylindrical double-hull, one of which carries a cargo of proton torpedoes, guided missiles, orbital mines and atmospherically-shielded free-falling thermal detonators.
The TIE bomber is used whenever surgical precision in the placement of solid ordnance is needed. Its sophisticated targeting sensor systems can pinpoint any ground-based or ship-based target and destroy it without damaging the surrounding area. This is often preferable to full-scale bombardment, which generally destroys entire surface areas along with any commercially or militarily valuable assets within them. A hollow-hulled version of the TIE bomber can be equipped to carry small boarding parties when necessary.
In later years during the Thyferra stranglehold, Twi'leks who had allied themselves with Rogue Squadron had a modified version of the TIE Bomber. It had The middle section of each wing cut out like the TIE Interceptor and four laser cannons on the wing tips. This gave it a combined firepower of six lasers and two warhead launchers. The Twi'leks had also upgraded the ship to include shields, bigger and faster engines, and a more sophisticated sensor package. Fortunately, they were still slow enough for Ysanne Isard's fighters to eradicate them.
This deadly fighter was used increasingly in TIE Bomber missions. It had a faster speed, more weapons systems, a larger payload and shields than its TIE counterpart. The Assault Gunboat, built by Cygnus Spaceworks, was too expensive to be mass produced in large numbers which is why the TIE Bomber was kept.
Unlike the TIE Bomber, the Gunboat proved a worthy dogfighter early on. Its large payload, usually sixteen warheads, could be doubled to thirty-two for heavy assaults. It was also used as a heavily armed boarding craft and escort ship when shuttles or TIEs were not available. Its two ion cannons permitted it to disable craft with ease.
This fighter was produced primarily during Admiral Zaarin's rebellion against the Empire. He had a full complement of these as did our loyal forces. It is one of the few TIEs with shields, a feature becoming typical during later at the time of the second Death Star.
It consisted of a slim body with an enchanced engine and two wings on either side. These wings were cut on the horizontal axis in the front and back middle section. The TIE Advanced had four lasers and two warhead launchers. It could reach a top speed of 133 MGLT and had a distinctive beam weapon capability along with a countermeasure launcher.
The TIE Advanced never reached full production. The few existing ones are in the hands of Imperial factions, and are worth a fortune.
The TIE Defender was the last true TIE fighter to be produced by the Empire. Only a few hundred ever made it to the front lines, the rest were destroyed while destroying Admiral Zaarin's forces and his factories. Unfortunately, only a handful emerged from the Battle of Endor. These have since become a collectors item, and are a rare site to see.
The TIE Defender has a long cone shaped body with the cockpit at the base. It has three wings, each with three parts. The middle front and back sections were cut on a horizontal axis much like the Advanced. This means it has six tips in all, six lasers. The lower two wings had laser cannons while the top two had ion cannons. It had the standard two warhead launchers and a shield system. This deadly fighter could reach speeds of up to 155 MGLT.
The Missile Boat began production about a month before the Battle of Endor. It was used in making bombing runs on Zaarin's factories and the rest were destroyed in the defense of the second Death Star.
The Missile Boat looks something like a shortened version of a MIG-29 with two large missile packs added to the sides of the cockpit. It didn't earn its name by good looks. The Boat can carry a standard load of thirty two warheads or a double load of sixty-four! It can arm itself with two different warheads instead of one for all four warhead launchers. The Missile Boat has one laser cannon mounted beneath the ship which is of little use as it escapes fighters with its superior speeds and shielding.