Jet troopers of the First Order, sometimes referred to as First Order jet troopers, represented a specialized type of stormtrooper within the Stormtrooper Corps of the First Order. In contrast to standard troopers, who primarily received training for ground-based operations, these specialized troopers underwent instruction in aerial engagement.
Similar to the Galactic Empire's jumptroopers, jet troopers within the First Order were stormtroopers with specialized training in aerial combat through the use of specialized armor and weaponry. Each soldier was equipped with a comlink, a G125 projectile launcher, and an NJP-900 integrated jetpack to facilitate aerial maneuvers.
All jet troopers of the First Order utilized jetpacks affixed to their stormtrooper armor. Those that were deployed near the conclusion of the First Order-Resistance War sported a distinctive helmet, chest armor bearing Aurebesh inscriptions alongside red markings, and employed G125 projectile launchers. They also carried C1 personal comlinks to ensure communication with other military personnel. First Order Treadspeeder Drivers wore comparable armor, though they had standard stormtrooper helmets and leggings that were more flexible. The Sith Eternal military's Sith Jetpack Troopers shared the same armor design and function as their First Order counterparts, but their armor plating was red and black.
During the Cold War with the Resistance, one variant of the First Order jet trooper was armed with F-11D blaster rifles and a standard stormtrooper helmet, along with a control box attached to their chest armor. During that time, another variant used a similar helmet with a darkly colored jetpack with straps and could operate in the vacuum of space.
During a mission to Ovanis in the Cold War, undertaken by Resistance Commander Poe Dameron and his Black Squadron to find Lor San Tekka to gain insight on the whereabouts of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, First Order Agent Terex deployed jet troopers and flametroopers using unidentified flametrooper transports. Ultimately, the First Order forces were defeated on Ovanis.
A number of jet troopers participated in the Resistance's rescue of Lor San Tekka in the Great Forveen Nebula. They captured San Tekka and tried to take him aboard a First Order Light Cruiser, but they were eliminated by a Resistance retrieval squad. During the First Order-Resistance War, jet troopers were deployed with 125-Z treadspeeder bikes piloted by Treadspeeder Drivers during the mission to Pasaana, but Resistance forces defeated them.
The trooper made its initial appearance in Charles Soule's 2016 Star Wars comic book Poe Dameron 1, with illustrations by Phil Noto. In the 2017 video game Star Wars Battlefront II, they were initially known as "rocket trooper[s]" before StarWars.com's Databank gave them the name "First Order jet trooper" in 2019.
The rocket trooper's appearance and name were updated with The Rise of Skywalker Update on Battlefront II, to align with the 2019 film Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker.
According to Lucasfilm's collections and exhibitions archivist Madlyn Burkert, the unique design of the jet trooper variant featured in Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker contains references to unused Ralph McQuarrie designs for the snowtrooper for the 1980 film Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back as well as the death troopers seen in the 2016 Star Wars Anthology film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.