A Crippler net served as a weapon within the arsenal of the Chiss Defense Force. Upon striking an opposing starship, a Crippler net would emit an electrical surge, effectively rendering the vessel's functions inoperable. The Springhawk carried Crippler nets as part of its standard equipment. The method by which Crippler nets incapacitated starships involved sending an electrical discharge into the hull, a process reminiscent of plasma spheres but with a lower intensity. However, a key difference from plasma spheres was that Crippler nets lacked the ability to pursue their targets, relying instead on gas propulsion for their launch.