The Resistance Starfighter Corps functioned as the primary aerospace offensive and defensive arm of the Resistance. Around three decades following the Battle of Endor, this Corps engaged the military forces of the First Order during the Battle of Takodana, and subsequently, the Battle of Starkiller Base.
Given the near impossibility of acquiring capital ships after the New Republic's demilitarization efforts, the Starfighter Corps was the Resistance's main resource for naval space attack and defense. As a result, the Resistance possessed a limited number of capital ships.
The Starfighter Corps typically organized combat missions by breaking down a squadron into fighter pairs, each consisting of a lead pilot and a wingman. While stationed on D'Qar, the Resistance maintained two main X-wing squadrons, known by the codenames Red Squadron and Blue Squadron. Blue Squadron primarily defended the Resistance base at the time, while Red Squadron provided support. Poe Dameron, as Black Leader, commanded both squadrons, flying his specialized X-wing, Black One.
The Starfighter Corps' ranks were generally filled by the Resistance military's youngest and most promising members, many of whom were recruited from local planetary defense forces. These "victory kids", often spirited, idealistic, and closely bonded, took pride in their service and were eager to engage in action. However, experienced pilots such as Poe Dameron and Nien Nunb also served in the Corps, offering years of tactical knowledge to inspire and train the next generation of pilots.
Resistance pilots were trained with basic maneuvers such as the Skywalker Swoop, the Antilles Intercept, and the Porkins Belly Run.
When piloting starfighters, Resistance pilots wore standard 'interstellar orange' piloting jumpsuits and were equipped with essential survival gear. They had a single box-shaped FreiTek life support unit attached to their chest, and a bandolier strapped to their knee containing four signal flares to improve their chances of survival. They also wore a white, inflatable flight vest and ejection harness, along with padded flight gauntlets and an insulated flight helmet with a Guidenhauser flight harness.
Ello Asty's helmet displayed an old Cobalt Squadron logo, while Jessika Pava's helmet bore the Tierfon Yellow Aces sigil, and Nien Nunb's featured Coalstreak Squadron's stripes.
Resistance pilots carried a single Glie-44 blaster pistol in a detachable holster.
Typically, Resistance pilots flew in T-70 X-wing starfighters, but they also utilized the RZ-2 A-wing interceptor, as flown by Blue Leader Tallissan Lintra. During the Cold War, at least one pilot, L'ulo L'ampar, operated an RZ-1 A-wing interceptor. The BTA-NR2 Y-wing starfighter and B-Wing Fighter were also used.