Starfighter

Starfighters often shared characteristics with other classes of ships, and they also had some distinct sub-classifications. Bombers were ship types crafted to deliver substantial explosive payloads, sometimes at the cost of their speed and maneuverability. Interceptors were a category of starfighters designed to prioritize swiftness and agility over all-around capabilities and firepower, sometimes sacrificing things like life support, hyperdrive capabilities, or explosive payloads. Gunships were heavily armed vehicles whose purpose was to deploy ground troops into landing zones established by their powerful weaponry. The heavy weapons they carried also gave them significant capabilities in air-to-air and space-to-space combat, even though they were primarily designed for air-to-ground engagements. Certain starfighter classes could be adapted into trainers while still being able to fight. These included some transports, shuttles, and light freighters.

The main armament on most starfighters was the laser cannon, but they could also carry other weapons like proton torpedo launchers to increase their offensive power. These weapons were usually effective when used against other starfighters and similar targets, but they didn't have the power to break through the defenses of a capital ship, like during the Battle of Naboo. However, certain starfighters, such as the A/SF-01 B-wing starfighter, were armed heavily enough to destroy capital ships on their own. Starfighters could also deal a lot of damage when working together in groups. For example, a squadron of Y-wing bombers could carry enough explosives to obliterate an entire city, covering the battlefield in bright white explosions that disrupted enemy sensors.

Many starfighters had deflector shields to protect them from enemy fire, radiation, and impacts from micrometeoroids. These starfighters usually had a single deflector shield generator that could be adjusted to protect specific areas of the craft. However, some starfighters, most notably the Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor and the TIE/ln space superiority starfighter series, did not have shields. Instead, they relied on the pilot's skill and the craft's maneuverability to avoid danger. Other common protective measures included heavy armor and sensor jammers. Starfighters were equipped with warning systems to alert the pilot when an enemy missile was locked on, and they could use their laser cannons to shoot down missiles, even those moving at incredible speeds, as long as their targeting computer was working.

Some starfighters had a hyperdrive, either built into the craft or attached externally using a hyperspace transport ring. Due to their small size, most starfighter navigation computers, also called navicomputers, could only store one or two hyperspace routes. These routes had to be pre-programmed or installed using removable datachips. In emergencies, navicomputers could receive coordinates from friendly ships. This made astromech droids valuable additions to many starfighters because they could store up to ten hyperspace coordinates.

A starfighter's main form of propulsion was the sublight engine, which allowed it to escape a planet's atmosphere and gravitational pull in minutes and travel across vast distances in realspace. Although small, these sublight drives could accelerate starfighters at thousands of times the standard gravity. To protect pilots from being harmed by the G-forces produced by sublight drives, starfighters were equipped with acceleration compensators. These compensators were designed to automatically adjust during flight, but if they malfunctioned, the pilot could experience dangerous G-forces.

In space combat, starfighters flew and fought at speeds that would be unimaginable in an atmosphere, crossing thousands of kilometers in just a few minutes. The vastness of space and the relative speeds of the ships made flying at such speeds possible for many pilots. Even with this, computer assistance was necessary for accurate piloting, as being off by just one degree could result in the starfighter missing its target by kilometers. Some starfighters, like the A-wing, were so fast and maneuverable that even someone with Jedi-like reflexes found them difficult to pilot because they lacked an astromech droid to help with flying. Starfighters flying in tight formations relied on close communication between their navicomputers and astromech droids to maintain the correct spacing.

For flying in an atmosphere and during takeoffs and landings, starfighters used repulsorlift engines as a secondary means of propulsion. Because the exhaust from sublight engines was hot and slightly radioactive, it was generally illegal to use them inside the atmosphere of an inhabited world. However, in emergency situations, a starfighter could use its sublight engines for extra speed in the atmosphere, even flying at maximum acceleration, as during the attack on Pandem Nai. While starfighters could function in an atmosphere at such speeds, it put a lot of stress on both the ships and their pilots. Systems would start to fail after just a few minutes at these speeds, and laser cannons could melt from the heat generated by these maneuvers. Starfighters with deflector shields could use them to smooth their passage through the atmosphere and improve control. Deflector shields could also allow starfighters like the ARC-170 and V-wing to reach hypersonic speeds in an atmosphere.

However, most starfighters were not designed to excel at atmospheric flight and were at a disadvantage against airspeeders when flying below mountain ranges, as they had to sacrifice their superior speed. Exceptions to this included the X-wing and the TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter, the latter of which was classified as an atmospheric fighter, but could also function as a starfighter.

Starfighters had been an essential component of space combat for millennia, with their use dating back to the early days of the Old Republic. However, with the establishment of the modern Galactic Republic and the thousand years of relative peace that followed, large-scale conflicts involving space-based combatants were practically unheard of.

In 32 BBY, the Jedi Order utilized the Delta-7 Aethersprite-class light interceptor, although primarily for personal travel rather than space combat.

During that year, N-1 starfighters from the Naboo Royal Space Fighter Corps engaged and defeated the Trade Federation's Vulture-class starfighters during the invasion of Naboo. Some N-1s remained combat-ready until the end of the Cold War. The Vulture droids were also durable, with some remaining in service during the Age of the Empire.

Around the same time, Darth Maul piloted the Scimitar, a modified Star Courier that was also a capable starfighter. It remained in service to the Sith Order well into the Imperial era.

Near the end of the Separatist Crisis, Jango Fett owned and operated Slave I, a customized Firespray-31-class patrol and attack craft. After his death at the First Battle of Geonosis, his son Boba inherited the ship and continued to use it until at least 9 ABY.

During the Clone Wars, the Jedi continued to use the older Delta-7s, but also developed the Delta-7B Aethersprite-class light interceptor and Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptor. The clone trooper pilots under their command flew Low Altitude Assault Transport/infantry gunships, V-19 Torrent starfighters, BTL Y-wing starfighters, Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighters, Clone Z-95 Headhunters, and Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighters. Grand Master Yoda flew his own customized Actis-class fighter. Skull Squadron, a Mandalorian unit serving the Republic, flew Fang fighters. At the end of the Clone War, some of the Republic's starfighter classes were passed on to the Galactic Empire, while others were decommissioned and ended up in the hands of the rebellion. Some were discarded completely, seeing little to no military use after the war.

The Separatists, who fought against the Republic in the Clone War, primarily used Vulture-class droid starfighters originally built for the Trade Federation. Later, to combat the increasingly capable and diverse clone fighters, the Confederacy produced and deployed droid tri-fighters, Hyena-class Droid Bombers, and HMP droid gunships. The Separatists also constructed manned fighters for their organic commanders, such as Rogue-class Porax-38 starfighters, Belbullab-22 heavy starfighters, and Ginivex-class fanblade starfighter. Geonosian forces, allied with the Confederacy, flew Nantex-class territorial defense starfighters, while the Umbaran Militia flew their native Zenuas 33 Umbaran starfighters. The Zygerrian Slave Empire, also allied with the Confederacy, had a small force of Huttese HH-87 Starhoppers, which fought against Republic forces on Kadavo. Death Watch, a Mandalorian splinter group allied with the Confederacy, operated Kom'rk-class fighter/transports, which served as both transports and bombers. After losing favor with Count Dooku, Death Watch pledged their loyalty to Darth Maul's Shadow Collective, but continued to use the ships in battle. After the war, many of the starfighters used by the Confederacy's regular forces survived and were used by rebels fighting against the Empire.

At the conclusion of the Clone War, the Imperial Military inherited some of the starfighter classes of the Republic Navy. However, by the time of the Galactic Civil War, it was mainly using the TIE fighter series. This new line of vehicles, powered by twin ion engines, was developed using technology from older Republic starfighter and transport classes. These craft included the famous TIE/ln space superiority starfighter, TIE/rb heavy starfighter, TIE Advanced v1, TIE/sa bomber, TIE Advanced x1, TIE/IN interceptor, TIE/d "Defender" Multi-Role Starfighter, TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighter, and TIE/rp Reaper attack lander. The Empire also deployed VT-49 Decimators and Y-45 armored transport haulers. In addition to Imperial use, many TIE/LNs were given to the Mining Guild and modified into TIE/mg Mining Guild starfighters. Imperial TIEs would sometimes fall into rebel hands, and the rebellion took advantage of these situations.

Desperate for any equipment they could find, the rebellion operated various starfighter classes from different sources. Bail Organa's rebel network operated RZ-1 A-wing interceptors as early as 18 BBY. The Free Ryloth Movement used old Separatist droid starfighters in 14 BBY. Berch Teller's rebel cell also used Separatist fighters, along with Z-95 Headhunters. Around 5 BBY, the Spectres began using the Phantom, a modified Corellian VCX-series auxiliary starfighter that functioned as both a shuttle and a scout craft. The Spectres eventually joined Phoenix Cell, which used A-wings and a small number of RZ-1T trainers, which were A-wings converted into two-seat trainers. Jan Dodonna's unit used decommissioned Republic Y-wings, which served as multi-role fighter-bombers. Later, the loosely connected network of rebel cells evolved into the better-organized Alliance to Restore the Republic, which continued to operate a diverse collection of whatever equipment they could acquire.

The Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps used A/SF-01 B-wing starfighters, E-50 Landseers, modified HWK-290 light freighters, T-47 airspeeders, T-65B X-wing starfighters, T-65C-A2 X-wing starfighters, UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft, V-4X-D ski speeders, and at least one YT-1300 light freighter, as well as some of the older classes. The rebellion also used stolen Imperial vessels. Many starfighter types used by the various rebel groups continued to see action with the New Republic.

Some starfighter classes were used by private security forces, such as the Storm IV Twin-Pod cloud cars used by the Bespin Wing Guard.

In its early years, the New Republic continued to operate the rebellion's old starfighter classes and even continued stealing TIEs when necessary. Beginning in 5 ABY, the New Republic operated the T-70 X-wing starfighter, an upgraded version of the T-65. They also operated RZ-2 A-wing interceptors. By the time of the cold war, the New Republic Defense Fleet had retired all of the older starfighter classes (as well as some of the newer ones, such as the B-wing Mark II) in favor of the T-85 X-wing.

The First Order Navy continued the TIE line that the Empire had started, upgrading the new models to meet modern combat standards. This new generation of TIEs included the TIE/fo space superiority fighter, the two-seat TIE/sf space superiority fighter used by the First Order Special Forces, and the TIE/vn space superiority fighter used by Kylo Ren. The TIE/wi Interceptor and TIE/wi modified interceptor would also be developed. Meanwhile, the Resistance's Starfighter Corps continued to use T-70s donated by sympathetic senators. They also used a small number of single-seat A-wings and a few Z-95 Headhunters for covert operations. Occasionally, Resistance personnel would steal First Order TIEs, just as their Rebel predecessors had done 30 years earlier.