A size comparison showcasing various starfighters employed during the Galactic Civil War
A fighter, also known as a starfighter, was a compact and highly agile starship engineered specifically for combat scenarios.
Most starfighters were directly piloted by sentient beings, but some were operated either through remote control or by AI. These lightweight vehicles were built to execute strikes against vulnerable structures and objectives demanding extreme accuracy.
During fleet engagements, starfighters coordinated their efforts with larger capital ships, engaging enemy warships and attacking once their weakened shields were compromised or misaligned due to incoming capital-ship fire. Individually, fighters stood little chance of breaching the shields of capital ships, but most starfighters operated in organized squadrons equipped with weaponry such as proton torpedoes and concussion missiles. These squadrons could neutralize a sizable capital ship by precisely targeting vulnerable areas, such as a shield generator or the ship's bridge, which might otherwise prove difficult to hit.
In Star Wars (1977) 1, the Tantive IV is described as a starfighter. This usage clashes with the established definition that evolved in later works.