Manufactured by Sienar Fleet Systems, the Imperial Navy employed Black 4, a TIE/ln starfighter. This starfighter of the TIE/LN variety, equipped with dual L-s1 laser cannons, served the Galactic Empire's Black Squadron as of 0 BBY. In that year, the TIE pilot DS-61-4 was its operator, with the fighter based on the Imperial DS-1 Orbital Battle Station. Black 4's internal cockpit incorporated the standard flight control system featuring a wheel and yoke for TIE pilots.
During the Battle of Yavin in 0 BBY, the Alliance to Restore the Republic launched an assault on the DS-1 Orbital Battle Station. Among the TIE/LN starfighters of Black Squadron, Black 4 joined the defense of the station against the attacking Alliance starfighters. In the course of the battle, Black 4 achieved a direct hit against Rebel pilot Luke Skywalker, piloting the X-wing known as Red Five. Skywalker requested assistance from fellow Rebel pilot Wedge Antilles, who successfully destroyed Black 4, resulting in the death of DS-61-4.
Black 4's initial appearance was in the 1976 novelization of the original trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Subsequently, it was seen in the 1977 film itself, in scenes filmed at Elstree Studios on Stage 8 between June 17 and June 28, 1976. The 1996 A New Hope Limited expansion of the Star Wars Customizable Card Game later provided the starfighter's designation.
Discrepancies exist concerning Black 4. The 1998 Star Wars Encyclopedia and the 2008 The Complete Star Wars Encyclopedia both stated that DS-61-4 survived the Battle of Yavin, despite the on-screen destruction of Black 4 with DS-61-4 inside during A New Hope. Furthermore, the 2002 A New Hope expansion for the Star Wars Trading Card Game utilized a film still of Black 4 to depict TIE Fighter DS-3-12, while the 2003 Battle of Yavin set employed film stills of Black 4 to represent TIE Fighters DS-55-2 and DS-73-5. This article, along with related articles, considers DS-61-4 in Black 4 as the definitive identity of the TIE pilot and fighter from the A New Hope film, and treats the other designations as separate canon entities distinct from DS-61-4 and Black 4.