The Advanced Project ship's role was to escort freighters in the Outer Rim Territories for corporate clients. They could deploy into combat from tight-packed launch stacks in standard cargo holds. Advanced Project ships did not have the blade-shaped forward hull of the Scimitar, only a compact, spherical compartment, and had broad vertical cooling vanes at either end of a twenty-meter wingspan. It had essentially the TIE's signature look, but was painted black and was noted as being smaller than previous models.
Ships of the latest and smallest experimental model were finishing construction by 29 BBY. They were paid for in advance by Sienar's clients, one of which was the Trade Federation.
The design of the Advanced Project ship would be expanded upon with the T.I.E. starfighter and its successor designs.