An air superiority fighter, alternatively known as an atmospheric fighter, represented a specific type of starfighter crafted particularly for aerial combat inside a planet's atmosphere. A prime illustration of this class was the TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter, commonly referred to as the TIE striker.
Atmospheric fighters found their optimal usage within lower to higher atmospheric altitudes, although possessing the ability to achieve suborbital flight. The TIE striker was aerodynamically optimized for dominance in aerial combat. It incorporated a robust, stabilizing core within its central structure. In place of the expansive hexagonal solar panels, which were susceptible to crosswinds on a standard TIE/ln space superiority starfighter, it featured adjustable wings. This design choice made these craft challenging to control beyond an atmosphere-free environment. For propulsion, the TIE striker was equipped with twin ion engines to generate forward movement, while also employing specialized repulsorlifts to facilitate its functions within an atmosphere. The intended role of the TIE striker involved conducting atmospheric patrols above Imperial ground-based facilities.