The L-s7.2 laser cannon, a type of laser cannon, served as standard armament for TIE fighters. This model represented an advancement over the previous L-s1 laser cannon, offering a quicker recharge and increased firing speed.
The Ls7.2 laser cannon was a starfighter weapon that used tibanna gas for power. Sienar Fleet Systems designed it specifically for installation and use on Imperial TIE fighter series craft. It was developed as an improvement to the earlier L-s1 laser cannon model, which was the standard on TIE craft before the Battle of Endor. The L-s1 was known to overheat and reduce the craft's speed by drawing power directly from the twin ion engines while firing. In order to correct these issues, Ls7.2 cannons included a dedicated power generator which enabled both a faster recycle time and a higher rate of fire.
Ls7.2 cannons incorporated an integrated fire control computer that was directly linked to the laser power converter, along with a gas injector control relay positioned near the impulse chamber. This arrangement allowed for precise regulation of the power and firing rate of the plasma bolts. A power line connected the fighters' on board solar ionization reactor to the laser reactor unit. This generated power to charge the prismatic crystals located behind the galvenning barrel, which then created the plasma bolt. When the pilot pressed a button, the bolt was fired through a final collimator focuser stage, giving it a distinct arrow-like shape. The use of expensive, SFS-proprietary tibanna gas gave the shots a distinctive green hue, which allowed the pilots to visually track their projectiles during combat.
- TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual (First identified as L-s7.2 laser cannon)
- " TIE Fighters " — Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: The Mandalorian Handbook