The Single Trooper Aerial Platform, also known as the STAP-1 or simply STAP, was a nimble flying vehicle engineered for use by the Trade Federation and the Confederacy of Independent Systems' B1-series battle droids.
Platforms for Single Troopers in the Air shared design similarities with personal airhooks employing repulsorlift technology, utilized in both civilian and military contexts. The STAP, built for rapid movement, was armed solely with a dual blaster cannon affixed to it. The vehicle was powered by high-voltage energy cells.
A lone B1-series battle droid would pilot each STAP, standing on an extended foot panel and grasping two handles that managed the weapons and guided the craft. Typically, B1 battle droids were the pilots of these STAPs. STAPs used by the Trade Federation before the Clone Wars were usually brown, while Separatist STAPs were primarily blue with white triangular patterns.
The STAP-1 fulfilled roles in scouting and anti-personnel operations, and occasionally participated in open combat to harass enemy forces. Due to its exposed structure, STAP units were susceptible to heavy enemy weaponry, forcing them to depend on their speed and maneuverability to evade incoming fire.
A heavy STAP variant existed, equipped with larger laser cannons and a missile launcher.
This vehicle served as the counterpart to the Republic's 74-Z speeder bike.
Forces of the Galactic Republic and the reconstituted Sith Empire deployed Single Trooper Aerial Platforms more than 3600 years before the Battle of Yavin.
During the Invasion of Naboo in 32 BBY, STAPs saw extensive action, with Trade Federation forces employing them effectively against Naboo security forces and to control the local population.
Under the orders of OOM-9, additional units were manufactured at mech factories.
Later, they saw use during the Clone Wars, notably during the Dark Reaper crisis, on planets such as Raxus Prime, in conjunction with heavily armored vehicles. During the Battle of Teth, Separatist forces deployed STAPs against clone troopers and AT-TEs ascending the cliff face. Anakin Skywalker eliminated almost all of them by dislodging their droid pilots, then used the remaining STAP to reach the cliff's summit. The Separatists again used STAPs on Naboo during the Blue Shadow Virus incident. A small contingent of three battle droids on STAPs were escorting a tactical droid when Captain Typho, Chrin, and another member of the Royal Naboo Security Forces ambushed and destroyed the convoy. The CIS also utilized them during the Battle of Tirahnn.
During the Galactic Civil War, a Jawa warlord named Wittin discovered a STAP and a remotely controlled B1 battle droid pilot, utilizing it after making modifications. These included a twin ion cannon to immobilize vehicles and enhanced armor plating. He employed this modified vehicle in Jabba Desilijic Tiure's dangerous gladiatorial contest.
The "jet-sticks" seen in George Lucas's initial story outline from May 1973, where the heroes traverse a dense jungle planet, represent an early iteration of the STAP. This concept remained dormant for over two decades before reappearing in the revised first draft of Episode I. In this version, the battle droids were described as riding STAPS, or Single Troop Armed Pogo Sticks. When developing the STAP's design, Design Director Doug Chiang experimented with bulkier versions reminiscent of the speeder bikes from Return of the Jedi. Ultimately, he drew inspiration from the lightweight form of a hummingbird to finalize the STAP's appearance.
LEGO has released numerous sets featuring the STAP. The first set to include the vehicle was "7121 Naboo Swamp," which was inspired by a scene from Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. The second appearance was in the "7654 Droids Battle Pack" set, presenting a redesigned STAP. The third was part of the "7675 AT-TE Walker" set, based on the Battle of Teth scene. The fourth was the promotional UK set "30004 Battle Droid on STAP," featuring a design derived from the third. The fifth can be found in the 2011 set "7868 Mace Windu's Jedi Starfighter," which incorporates the third design for the STAP.
Some publications released around the time of The Phantom Menace claimed that organic beings were unable to operate STAPs due to radiation emitted by the thrusters at leg level, but this has since been retconned, with subsequent sources depicting organics using STAPs without any negative effects.
In the 2001 video game Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds and its 2002 expansion pack, STAPs function as the Trade Federation's "strike mech" unit. Players receive them in several campaign missions and can construct more at mech factories for 50 units of food and 100 units of carbon.
In the Star Wars MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic, both the digital deluxe and The Collector's Edition offered the Longspur STAP.