E-7 E-wing multi-role starfighter

The E-wing was recognized for its remarkable synthesis of firepower, maneuverability, speed, and armor, though early versions necessitated the use of the R7-series astromech droid, which was exclusively produced for this starfighter.

The E-wing's frame was encompassed by a pair of aerodynamic foils, which served to enhance stability and augment its weapons capabilities. The nosecone housed the starfighter's sophisticated sensors, while a concealed astromech droid could be readily accommodated in a central compartment. The cockpit was situated directly ahead of the astromech slot.

This fighter boasted a formidable array of weaponry, comprising three laser cannons and a proton torpedo launcher capable of holding sixteen torpedoes. Mirroring the design philosophy of most Rebel craft, the lasers were distributed and could be configured to converge at varying ranges.

The cost of a single E-wing was 185,000 credits.

A significant portion of the E-wing's high cost was attributed to the inclusion of the R7 droid, a far more refined and costly astromech compared to the more conventional R2 and R5 astromechs. However, later iterations of the E-wing starfighter were engineered to interface with earlier astromech models, such as the R2 or R5 units.

The Republic brought the E-wing into service during Grand Admiral Thrawn's efforts to reconstruct the fallen Empire. Subsequently, the fighter participated in the conflict against the resurrected Palpatine. Constructed utilizing state-of-the-art weaponry, shielding, and propulsion systems, the fighter was exceptionally potent and versatile. It was intended as an escort fighter, but also capable of medium-range assault missions. Its speed was sufficient to engage TIE/IN interceptors effectively, and it possessed superior armor compared to other New Republic starfighters, including the X-wing. The Galactic Federation of Free Alliances employed them during the Second Galactic Civil War, in the initial skirmishes with Corellia.

The E-wing experienced some initial challenges pertaining to the positioning of the wing lasers in proximity to the outboard engines. The synthetic Tibanna gas utilized for the lasers exhibited accelerated degradation, which quickly rendered those guns nearly ineffective (thereby reducing firepower by a third). During the World Devastator assault on Mon Calamari, Rebel engineers devised a temporary solution. These issues were ultimately resolved, and the fighter entered full fleet service. Models featuring redesigned laser cannons were designated as the Type B E-wing.

It is documented that the New Republic's Fifth Fleet utilized it as their primary space superiority fighter. When the Fifth Fleet was relocated to the Koornacht Cluster during the Black Fleet Crisis, numerous E-wings engaged the Yevetha in the ensuing conflict.

Four principal models appear to have been developed; the final one (Series IV) was introduced around the period when the Yuuzhan Vong captured Coruscant. By that juncture in the war, the XJ X-wing was rapidly being adopted by most squadrons as part of the massive military buildup; the more sophisticated E-wing may have been reserved for select elite squadrons. The Series IV E-wing remained in service throughout the transition from the New Republic to the Galactic Alliance, and it was still operational during the Second Galactic Civil War.

The E-wing made its debut in the comic book series Star Wars: Dark Empire. Subsequently, the ship was incorporated into the original "Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels" after West End Games adapted it for their RPG. However, there are several visual inconsistencies between the EGVV schematics and the original Dark Empire artwork:

• Fuselage The Dark Empire artwork illustrates the E-wing's nose with a seamless transition into the hull. The EGVV modified this, giving it a cone more closely resembling the X-wing's. Furthermore, the EGVV schematics depict a significantly narrower craft. Using the established length scale of 11.2m reveals that the EGVV schematics are at MOST one meter wide at the widest part of the cockpit. The Dark Empire artwork depicts a craft approximately twice as wide for its length. Although the two under-wing pods present in the EGVV representation are also visible in the Dark Empire artwork, the EGVV's center pod is absent from any depiction of the E-wing in the original comic. The EGVV also portrays the E-wing with a rounded upper surface, whereas in the original source, the top deck is flattened.

• Wings The EGVV E-wing's wings are symmetrical fore and aft, featuring small winglets at the tip angled significantly downward. Dorsal views of the E-wing in Dark Empire reveal that the wings have a much more pronounced sweep aftward at their leading edges, and a straight or nearly straight trailing edge. The winglets at the tip also have a broader span and are angled less extremely downward.

• Weaponry The dorsal cannon in Dark Empire is significantly larger—in length and diameter—than the wing cannons, with a distinct cup-shaped structure near the firing tip. The EGVV schematics depict all three cannons as being the same size. Additionally, the centerline pod beneath the fuselage where the EGVV positions the ship's proton torpedo launcher is completely absent from the Dark Empire artwork. However, oblong ports are present in the E-wing's nose cone, similar to the torpedo launch tubes visible on the X-wing's fuselage. At least one E-wing in Dark Empire was shown firing weaponry from a position at the wing roots. The E-wing's armament was never definitively stated in the comic; however, one pilot can be seen issuing the command "Arm all turbos and ion cannons!"

• Propulsion Certain images in Dark Empire depict exhaust trails emanating from the lower part of the E-wing's aft fuselage bulkhead. Subsequent comics, such as Star Wars: Crimson Empire, directly positioned engines or thrusters on the aft bulkhead, which are absent in the EGVV schematics.

Stay on Target introduces some conflicting information: While the Databank, Starships of the Galaxy, Saga Edition and The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels assert that the E-wing was first deployed during the Thrawn campaign in 9 ABY, the new source indicates that the Rebel Alliance utilized it. The Databank and Starships of the Galaxy characterize the laser cannons as heavy, whereas the game system of Stay on Target classifies them as medium. Both Starships books and the Databank assign the E-wing a class 2 hyperdrive, but Stay on Target specifies class 1. Starships of the Galaxy and The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels suggest a single torpedo launcher, while Stay on Target indicates two.

The Saga Edition of Starships of the Galaxy refers to the main weapons as blasters.