The All Terrain Advance Raider (AT-AR), alternatively known as the light AT-ST or simply scout walker, represented a modification of the All Terrain Scout Transport utilized by the Galactic Empire during the era of the Galactic Civil War.
Serving as a modification of the All Terrain Scout Transport, the All Terrain Advance Raider boasted more substantial armor compared to the AT-ST, enabling it to engage in frontline combat situations. Despite being smaller and faster, its armament was limited to a single laser cannon. The "head" structure featured an angled viewport, complemented by a blister-like protrusion on each side of the walker's head. The cockpit provided seating for a pilot and a gunner positioned next to each other.
One variant of the All Terrain Advance Raider, distinguished by supplementary weaponry affixed to its blisters and a body and legs akin to that of an AT-ST, saw action on Cilpar, while another, characterized by relatively light armor, was referred to as the light AT-ST.
During the year 0 BBY, AT-AR units were integrated into an Imperial garrison stationed at the Mos Eisley spaceport located on the planet Tatooine. Additional garrisons also incorporated AT-AR walkers into their arsenals, including the one situated on the jungle planet of Jarnollen. On Jarnollen, an AT-AR pursued Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa following their detection by local Imperial forces. Throughout the night and into the following morning, the walker relentlessly hunted them, intermittently losing their trail and encountering the rebels anew within the dense jungle terrain. The pursuit culminated when the Millennium Falcon destroyed the walker as it prepared to unleash a decisive shot. Following the Alliance to Restore the Republic's abandonment of its base on Yavin 4, AT-ARs were deployed during the Empire's campaign on Reytha. They underwent outfitting at the recaptured base within the planet's capital city of Yeere before advancing alongside the troops to reclaim other territories.
In 3 ABY, AT-ARs were components of General Maximilian Veers' Blizzard Force and participated in the Battle of Hoth. An AT-AR engaged in combat with the garrison stationed on Mandalore, confronting opposition from Mandalorian rebels commanded by Fenn Shysa. During a mission to Cilpar, an AT-AR was part of an Imperial convoy transporting Winter Celchu, disguised as Leia Organa, to a local base situated in the capital city of Kiidan.
The All Terrain Advance Raider was initially conceived for the Star Wars Legends newspaper comic strip The Bounty Hunter of Ord Mantell, authored by Archie Goodwin and illustrated by Al Williamson, which was published from February 9 to April 19, 1981. Prior to its formal identification in the 2004 reference publication Inside the Worlds of Star Wars Trilogy, the 2001 real time strategy game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds designated the AT-AR as the "light AT-ST." Its design drew inspiration from preliminary concept artwork of the All Terrain Scout Transport (provisionally named the "one-man scout walker") developed by Joe Johnston for The Empire Strikes Back, and the All Terrain Defense Pod originated from the same preliminary sketch.
