The Starfighter Corps of the Galactic Republic was a separate fighting branch and was active in the Clone Wars against the Separatist Alliance.
When the Republic was transformed into the Galactic Empire, the Republic Starfighter Corps was reformed into the Imperial Starfighter Corps, and was reorganized under the Imperial Navy due to the navy's new doctrine that relied on capital ships.
The Republic Starfighter Corps, although administered by the Republic Navy, was considered a separate military branch of the Republic Military. There were various squadrons that were under its auspices, including Blue Squadron and Group Two, Clone Flight Squad Seven, Gold Squadron, Shadow Squadron, Razor Squadron, and Red Squadron.
Jedi Generals Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi lead clone-piloted ARC-170s into combat from their Eta-2s.
As a Starfighter Corps, the branch contained a vast array of starfighters and bombers in its war effort against the Separatists. Initially, V-19 Torrent starfighters were commonly used as the mainline craft, until they were mostly replaced by ARC-170 starfighters and Clone Z-95 Headhunters. By the end of the war, the ARC-170 remained as the main craft of the corps, which was also supplemented by Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters. Two variants of the V-wing included the Alpha-3B "Besh" and Alpha-3E "Esk".
Interceptors were also used. Often used by Jedi Generals and Jedi Commanders, some starships included Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptors Delta-7B Aethersprite-class light interceptors, and Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptors. Bombers like the BTL-B Y-wing starfighter/bombers were also deployed, as were Cord-class starfighters.
The Starfighter Corps of the Republic first appeared in the 2005 Star Wars saga film Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, albeit unidentified.
- Dawn of Rebellion
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- Star Wars Search and Find Volume I
- Rise of the Separatists