Belbullab-22 heavy starfighter
The Belbullab-22 heavy starfighter was a heavy starfighter model requiring a single pilot, and it was built by Feethan Ottraw Scalable Assemblies. During the Clone Wars conflict against the Galactic Republic, it served as the heaviest fighter within the Confederacy of Independent Systems naval forces and stood out as the sole fighter requiring a pilot. General Grievous piloted a specially modified Belbullab-22 known as the Soulless One.
Characteristics
The Belbullab-22 heavy starfighter, with a price tag of 168,000 credits, was the heaviest fighter in the Confederacy of Independent Systems' arsenal. It was manufactured by Feethan Ottraw Scalable Assemblies, located on Utapau, for use by the Confederacy's naval forces during the Clone Wars war against the Galactic Republic. This fighter was unique in that it required a pilot, and it was designed to occupy a heavy attack role, bridging the gap between the Vulture-class droid starfighter and the Hyena-class Droid Bomber.
The Belbullab-22's design was more akin to that of a landspeeder or groundcar than a typical starfighter, relying on powerful engines and high speed to maintain flight. Its design incorporated twin booms with a central, elongated fuselage. The main fuselage housed the cockpit, shield generators, avionics, main engines, and a Class 6 hyperdrive generator. Mounted on spars, the port and starboard nacelles contained the repulsorlift systems, auxiliary thrusters, and weapon systems. The starfighter also featured a navigation computer, close-range sensors, a backup Class 15 hyperdrive, and an autopilot system. Despite the cockpit's limited space, it could be customized at the factory to accommodate almost any body type.
The Belbullab-22, fulfilling a similar role and possessing comparable armaments to the Republic Navy's Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter, was a resilient vessel despite its relative slowness. Its armor rivaled that of some smaller gunboats, and its strong hull along with its powerful shields enabled it to withstand damage that would cripple smaller ships. The fighter was armed with a pair of triple light laser cannons situated in retractable pods. Although it lacked ordnance, its cannons proved more than capable for engaging enemy fighters and even light capital ships.
Following the Clone Wars, and the Separatist's reliance on automated forces, it became the only Separatist fighter designed for a single organic pilot, paving the way for future fighter production during the Imperial era.
Behind the scenes
The Belbullab-22 heavy starfighter made its debut appearance in Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith, the 2005 film from the prequel trilogy. It was later identified in Collapse of the Republic, a 2019 supplement for the Star Wars Roleplaying series by Fantasy Flight Games.