The S-100 Stinger-class starfighter, a single-pilot fighter, was manufactured by the Corellian Engineering Corporation. Its production spanned the time before, during, and after the Great Sith War in 3997 BBY. With a length of 11.5 meters, this hyperdrive-equipped spacecraft found use among the Jedi Order, the Galactic Republic's navy, and private citizens. Equipped with laser cannons and proton torpedo launchers, but only lightly shielded, it was considered under-armed. However, its exceptional speed and maneuverability, surpassing most contemporary starfighters, compensated for its weaker defenses. Even with the arrival of other craft, the Stinger remained the primary choice for the Jedi, who deployed it against the Krath during and after the Sith War, until the Aurek tactical strikefighter was introduced prior to the Mandalorian Wars in 3976 BBY. Despite this, production continued, and it was a favorite of planetary defense forces.
Measuring 11.5 meters, the Corellian Engineering Corporation S-100 Stinger-class starfighter was a snubfighter employed by both military and civilian operators. These single-seat vessels, despite having a mere 30 kilograms of storage, were equipped with Class 2 hyperdrives. The design featured a long, slender central hull containing the cockpit, with two outriggers extending from it. Each outrigger housed an engine and a vertical fin, capped with a laser cannon. Complementing the laser cannons were two proton torpedo launchers, each holding four torpedoes. This armament, along with the Stinger's deflector shields, was considered light for the era. While they outperformed Krath CX-133 Chaos fighters, their standard weaponry was not as effective as that of other Republic starfighters. However, the fighter's agility more than made up for its light defenses; Stingers could reach speeds of 1,150 kilometers per hour in atmosphere, and were known as some of the most maneuverable ships in the galaxy, capable of extremely quick turns with a skilled pilot at the controls.
The S-100 Stinger-class fighter, regarded as one of the most dependable fighters during its prime in the Great Sith War, enjoyed popularity for nearly a century. This lasted until the development of newer craft with improved power-to-mass ratios, offering greater speeds and enhanced armor. Due to its relatively light factory-standard armament, the Republic authorized civilian sales of the S-100 with standard weapons, although its value decreased considerably between the Great Sith War and the Mandalorian Wars. Nevertheless, many Jedi favored the Stinger until the arrival of the Aurek tactical strikefighter, even after the Star Saber XC-01 starfighter was developed. After the Sith War, planetary defense forces widely adopted the fighter.
By the time of the Krath Holy Crusade in 3997 BBY, the S-100 Stinger-class starfighter had already been in production by Corellian Engineering Corporation for a number of years. It was utilized by both the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order, with many Jedi pilots considering it their preferred starfighter. At this time, Stingers were also available for purchase by civilians, owing to their light standard armament. However, freighters and transports were generally preferred by civilians due to the limited protection and utility of the fighters. The Stinger had an off-the-line price of 465,000 credits.
As Jedi Order members stationed on the Jedi library world of Ossus prepared to raid the Krath capital of Cinnagar in the Empress Teta system, Jedi pilots were evaluating the new Star Saber XC-01 starfighters, engineered by the Republic for the conflict with the Krath. Finding the Star Saber sluggish compared to the responsive Stinger fighters – and having lost a Star Saber during test flights due to control problems – the Jedi hesitated to immediately deploy it in battle. Jedi Knight Shoaneb Culu stated her preference for piloting her "little Stinger." However, because there were not enough S-100 fighters on Ossus to escort the Onderon warbeast transport scheduled for the raid, Jedi Knight Dace Diath, a test pilot for the new craft, chose to fly a Star Saber on the mission.
Upon arriving undetected at Cinnagar, the S-100s and Star Sabers strafed the Krath citadel, then provided cover for the Onderon transport, engaging Chaos fighters above the city. The transport released Jedi and Beast Riders from Onderon riding drexl war beasts, who attacked the Krath complex in an attempt to rescue the undercover Jedi, Ulic Qel-Droma, who had infiltrated the Krath ranks. Meanwhile, the Jedi fighters continued their aerial assault, with Culu destroying several anti-air emplacements and Chaos fighters in her Stinger. Despite their efforts, the mission failed when Qel-Droma chose to remain with the Krath, succumbing to the dark side of the Force and becoming a Dark Lord of the Sith.
Following the Great Sith War, S-100 Stingers remained in use by the Republic and Jedi forces, remaining a staple for Jedi pilots until the Aurek tactical strikefighter's development, which was common during the Mandalorian Wars twenty years later. They also saw continued civilian use, although their market value had fallen to 150,000 credits, and became popular among planetary defense forces during an era when the Republic Navy provided more substantial firepower during wartime.
The S-100 Stinger-class starfighter made its debut in the comic issue Tales of the Jedi – Dark Lords of the Sith 6, which was part of the Dark Lords of the Sith story arc within the Tales of the Jedi comic series. Art Wetherell, the penciller for Tales of the Jedi, originally drew the craft. It appeared alongside Star Saber XC-01 starfighters and two other fighters flown by Oss Wilum and Tott Doneeta, which shared design elements with the Stinger but had different configurations. However, the comic only identifies the fighters in the battle as Star Sabers and Stingers. The S-100 Stinger-class starfighter was also featured in the Dark Lords of the Sith audio drama.
The Wizards of the Coast Star Wars Roleplaying Game supplements Power of the Jedi Sourcebook (2002) and Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide (2008) both contained further information about the S-100, including specifications and more detailed summaries of its roles during the Great Sith War and the subsequent era. One inconsistency is the price of the fighters, which can be attributed to the KotOR Campaign Guide covering a period 20 years later than the fighter's description in the Power of the Jedi Sourcebook. However, there are also more obvious statistical discrepancies. The Power of the Jedi Sourcebook lists the S-100 as 3.5 meters long, with 10 kilograms of cargo capacity and a Class 1 hyperdrive. The later KotOR Campaign Guide provides a more accurate length of 11.5 meters, reflecting the fighters' depiction in Tales of the Jedi, with a correspondingly larger cargo space of 30 kilograms. However, it also describes the fighter as having a Class 2 hyperdrive. The hyperdrive class difference is difficult to explain except as a game mechanic to make the craft slower than those of the KotOR era. For consistency, the updated specifications from the KotOR CG are used.