The clone Z-95 starfighter, alternatively known as the clone Z-95 Headhunter but most frequently called the Headhunter starfighter, represented a starfighter design and a modification of the standard Z-95 Headhunter. It was utilized by clone trooper pilots of the Galactic Republic during the period of the Clone Wars. Even though it wasn't introduced until partway through the conflict, the clone Z-95 rose to become one of the most favored forms of aerial support for the Republic. This adaptable fighter participated in engagements from the Battle of Umbara until the war's conclusion.
The clone Z-95 Headhunter, a collaborative creation of Incom and Sublights Products Corporation, served as the primary multi-role starfighter for the Galactic Republic naval forces'. Priced at 75,000 credits, these Z-95 Headhunters were engineered specifically for the Navy to leverage the physical and cognitive skills of clone trooper pilots. Renowned for its speed and agility, the fighter possessed significant firepower due to its proton torpedo launchers, each equipped with eight torpedoes, which belied its relatively compact dimensions of 16.74 meters in length and 18.13 meters in width. It featured KX5 laser cannons manufactured by Taim & Bak, short-range sensors, and enough consumables for a day's operation. The clone Z-95 also featured a fuselage that was more streamlined than the standard Z-95 model.
The Z-95 starfighter was utilized by the Republic Navy in a variety of roles, which included providing escorts and engaging in starfighter combat against the Navy of the Confederacy of Independent Systems. During the extended Battle of Umbara, Z-95s were instrumental as the Republic fleet broke through the Separatist blockade, and they later escorted gunships that deployed troops onto the planet's surface. As the battle progressed, Z-95s engaged Umbaran starfighters when the Republic clashed with a Separatist fleet in space. One such engagement saw Drift piloting a Z-95.
They also saw action in the Battle of Kadavo. In this battle, they escorted Jedi Master Plo Koon in his starfighter and 104th Battalion's Wolfpack gunships in a mission to rescue Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi, Clone Captain Rex, and a group of Togruta slaves. These individuals were being held captive by Zygerrian keeper Agruss within the Kadavo slave processing facility. During the confrontation, they fought HH-87 Starhoppers piloted by Zygerrians. Clone pilot Warthog sustained damage to his ship from one of these Starhoppers. Koon intervened, utilizing his starfighter to eliminate both Starhoppers, thereby saving Warthog and their fellow pilots. However, they were unable to destroy the facility's defense towers. With the assistance of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, who managed to commandeer and destroy three defense towers, Admiral Barton Coburn's ship, the Hand of Justice, was able to approach the facility and rescue the slaves before the gunships destroyed the facility itself.
During the attack launched against Obi-Wan's fleet, Z-95 Headhunters played a role in defending against General Grievous. One Z-95 was flown by clone pilot Killer, who provided covering fire for his wingman Engle as he executed bombing runs on Separatist warships in his Y-wing starfighter. Tragically, Killer perished in the battle, while Engle was forced to crash-land on Kenobi's ship, the Negotiator. Engle managed to escape the burning wreckage with Kenobi's assistance.
Z-95 Headhunters were also involved in the defense of Cato Neimoidia, where they were under the command of Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano. Their mission was to protect the planet from Separatist control. In the ensuing battle, Skywalker created an opening through the ranks of vulture droids to allow the Z-95s to advance. Several Z-95s then engaged in dogfights with droid tri-fighters, resulting in one Z-95 being shot down. Unfortunately, Skywalker and Tano were ordered to break off their attack to investigate an attack on the Jedi Temple, while the Republic forces continued their assault on the planet.
On Coruscant, a number of clone Z-95s were maintained as a reserve force at a Republic Navy base, alongside other starfighters and personnel. Z-95s also provided aerial security for the cloning facilities on Kamino, especially at the clone military education complex. During Skywalker's campaign to liberate Ringo Vinda from Separatist forces, squadrons of Z-95 starfighters engaged enemy fighters near the massive space station orbiting the planet. During Skywalker's invasion of Scipio, the headquarters of the InterGalactic Banking Clan, clone pilot Hawk and other pilots flew Z-95 starfighters to escort the 501st Legion's LAAT/i gunships. Z-95s engaged vulture droids to clear a path for the gunships to land, which caused the Confederate navy to withdraw and abandon the ground forces left in the planet. In the ensuing chaos, Hawk and his comrades shot down the remaining vulture droids outside Scipio's Main Vault, allowing the Republic to win the battle. However, one of the vulture droids shot down by Hawk crashed into the vault, inadvertently causing the death of Rush Clovis, who was holding Senator Padmé Amidala hostage.
Later, Z-95s participated in the Outer Rim Sieges, where many of them engaged droid fighters at Anaxes, the location of the Republic Navy's shipyards, often resulting in significant losses. They also took part in a battle between a Republic and Separatist fleet commanded by Grievous and assisted Plo Koon in capturing Cato Neimoidia. Z-95s and Republic gunships also participated in the Battle of Yerbana, where they engaged droid tri-fighters while Kenobi, Commander Cody, and the 212th Attack Battalion engaged the forces on the ground. Despite some Z-95s struggling to effectively shoot down the tri-fighters, the Republic emerged victorious.
Near the end of the war, Z-95s were stationed on a Venator-class Star Destroyer under Skywalker's command. When Republic forces were summoned to Coruscant to counter an planet invasion, Skywalker encountered his former Padawan, Tano, in the hangar after she had left the Jedi Order. As Tano was dispatched to Mandalore with the newly formed 332nd Company of the 501st Legion, led by the recently promoted Commander Rex, Captain Vaughn, and Mandalorian resistance forces led by Bo-Katan Kryze, Skywalker and Kenobi departed for Coruscant.
Shortly thereafter, Z-95 Headhunters were also present aboard the Tribunal, a Venator that had recently taken the former Sith Lord Maul into custody following the Siege of Mandalore. When Order 66 was issued, the 332nd Division turned against Tano. After freeing Rex from his inhibitor chip, they passed by the Headhunters in the starship's repair bay while searching for a working ship to steal, ultimately commandeering a BTL-B Y-wing starfighter/bomber. The Headhunters were destroyed when the Tribunal crashed into a moon.
Between 32 ABY and 34 ABY, Poe Dameron of the Resistance's Black Squadron piloted a Z-95 Headhunter during a mission to retrieve a data archive containing the remnants of the Royal Library of Alderaan.
The clone Z-95 Headhunter was created for the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series, making its debut in the "Darkness on Umbara" episode, which first aired in October 2011. The episode guide for "Darkness on Umbara" on StarWars.com originally identified the craft as the "Z-85 Headhunter," suggesting it was a precursor to the Z-95 Headhunter. This designation was later revised to "Headhunter starfighter." The starfighter's entry in the StarWars.com Encyclopedia and subsequently in the Databank clarified its identity as a "Clone Z-95 starfighter" and confirmed it as one of several variants within the Headhunter line.
The television series' design team intentionally crafted the starfighter to avoid visual similarities with the T-65 X-wing starfighter from the Star Wars original trilogy. Instead, its design bore a closer resemblance to artist Colin Cantwell's original X-wing starfighter model.