The All Terrain Advance Raider (AT-AR), alternatively known as the light AT-ST or simply a scout walker, represented a modification of the All Terrain Scout Transport. The Galactic Empire utilized it during the period of the Galactic Civil War.
The All Terrain Advance Raider, a modification of the All Terrain Scout Transport, possessed more substantial armor compared to the AT-ST, enabling it to engage in direct combat at the front lines. Despite being smaller and faster, its armament was limited to a single laser cannon. The "head" featured an angled viewport, accompanied by a blister on each side of the walker's head. The cockpit accommodated a pilot and a gunner, seated next to each other.
One version of the All Terrain Advance Raider, equipped with supplementary weaponry attached to its blisters and a body and legs similar to those of an AT-ST, was deployed on Cilpar. Another variant, characterized by comparatively thin armor, was referred to as the light AT-ST.
In the year 0 BBY, AT-ARs were integrated into an Imperial garrison stationed at the Mos Eisley spaceport located on the planet Tatooine. Other garrisons also included AT-AR walkers in their inventory, such as the one situated on the jungle planet of Jarnollen. On Jarnollen, an AT-AR pursued Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa after their discovery by the local Imperial forces. Throughout the night and into the following morning, the walker relentlessly hunted them, repeatedly losing and regaining their trail within the dense jungle terrain. As the chase concluded, the Millennium Falcon destroyed the walker just as it was about to secure a clear shot. Following the Alliance to Restore the Republic's abandonment of its base on Yavin 4, AT-ARs were deployed during the Empire's campaign on Reytha. These walkers were equipped at the recaptured base in Yeere, the planet's capital city, before advancing alongside the troops to reclaim other territories.
During 3 ABY, AT-ARs were a component of General Maximilian Veers' Blizzard Force and took part in the Battle of Hoth. An AT-AR engaged in combat with the garrison stationed on Mandalore, confronting Mandalorian rebels under the leadership of Fenn Shysa. In the course of a mission to Cilpar, an AT-AR was part of an Imperial convoy transporting Winter Celchu, disguised as Leia Organa at the time, to a local base in the capital city of Kiidan.
The All Terrain Advance Raider was initially conceived for the Star Wars Legends newspaper comic strip titled The Bounty Hunter of Ord Mantell, penned by Archie Goodwin and illustrated by Al Williamson. This comic strip was published from February 9 to April 19, 1981. Prior to its initial identification in the 2004 reference book Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy, the 2001 real time strategy game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds referred to the AT-AR as the "light AT-ST." It drew inspiration from early concept artwork of the All Terrain Scout Transport (referred to as the "one-man scout walker") developed by Joe Johnston for The Empire Strikes Back. Furthermore, the All Terrain Defense Pod was also derived from the same initial sketch.
