The E-Wing: Type B represented an adaptation of the original E-wing escort starfighter, which was produced by FreiTek Incorporated. The initial E-wing designs depended on synthetically spin-sealed Tibanna gas to fuel the laser cannons; however, the starfighters' weaponry was determined to be insufficient. The rapid degradation of the gas diminished the weapons' effective range.
Because the E-wings were scheduled for immediate combat deployment on the planet Dac, New Republic technicians were unable to develop a lasting fix in time. Consequently, they modified the laser cannons to receive three times the normal power input. While the increased power restored the weapons to a suitable combat range, this makeshift solution made the fighters susceptible to a critical power surge.