The v-150 Planet Defender, a product of Kuat Drive Yards, was a powerful ion cannon designed for launching attacks from a planet's surface into orbit.
This formidable ion cannon, the v-150 Planet Defender, was engineered by Kuat Drive Yards as a self-sufficient, ground-based weapon. Its primary function was to target and disable enemy starships positioned in orbit around a given planet. Typically, the v-150 was mounted on a revolving platform, and the cannon itself was shielded by a dome-shaped structure composed of strengthened permacite. The design emphasized modularity, allowing for setup within a short timeframe of just a few hours.
Each individual unit was equipped with its own dedicated reactor, meant to be placed forty meters underground, directly beneath the cannon's location. Between the reactor and the weapon itself were three levels housing crew living spaces and storage. These facilities held enough provisions to sustain a crew of twenty-seven for a period of three months. Upon activation, the v-150 required several minutes to rotate into its firing position. Being completely stationary, the v-150 was susceptible to assaults from both ground-based forces and aerial attacks. A blast shield that could be retracted offered protection to the weapon, and this shield had to be pulled back before firing.
The v-150 utilized data obtained from electrotelescopes and long-range sensors for targeting, and could also integrate information from orbital sensor platforms to increase accuracy. Its optimal operational range extended to 4,000 kilometers, with a maximum reach of 180,000 kilometers. The fire control computers integrated into the v-150 allowed it to independently target vessels in orbit, and a single ion discharge was capable of crippling even Imperial-class Star Destroyers. The weapon's rate of fire was one shot every six seconds.
The v-150 was often used alongside planetary shields, as maintaining these shields was a costly endeavor, leading planets to activate them only when necessary. Furthermore, achieving full power with these shields could take several minutes. It was during this vulnerable period that the v-150 played a crucial role in planetary defense, engaging enemy ships in orbit before the shield could reach its maximum effectiveness.
The v-150 came with a substantial price tag, ranging from 500,000 to 1.5 million credits, which equated to a quarter of the cost of a complete planetary shield system. To enable firing through planetary shields, planetary ion cannons were synchronized with the shield generators, allowing for a brief lowering of the shield. Despite its rotational base, each cannon had a limited firing arc, covering only a few hundred square kilometers, so they were strategically positioned to defend critical infrastructure like bases, shield generators, spaceports, and cities.
The initial concept for the v-150 Planet Defender came from a Gathi employee of CoMar Combat Systems named Can Lar. CoMar dismissed his idea, deeming the design "militarily useless and an engineering impossibility." Consequently, Lar resigned from CoMar and sought a company that would seriously consider his design, ultimately finding that acceptance at Kuat Drive Yards.
Numerous Imperial worlds procured v-150s to bolster their defenses and lessen the financial burden of maintaining continuous planetary shield operation. The Alliance acquired their planetary ion cannons through the hijacking of a super transport within the Kuat system. These cannons were deployed to Echo Base on Hoth and Bulwark, with others being stationed at undisclosed locations.
The Bothan colony of Kothlis was defended by a concealed V-150.
Alliance personnel often referred to the weapon simply as the "150," recognizing it as the most powerful piece of ground-based weaponry in their arsenal. However, in spite of its cost and effectiveness, it was regarded as a disposable asset to be used only in dire circumstances, and left behind during evacuations. On Hoth, the crew operating the ion cannon consisted of soldiers from Alderaan who were both willing and prepared to die defending their posts in support of the Rebellion and against the Empire. Targeting data for the v-150 on Hoth was enhanced by electrotelescopes and long-range sensors located at Echo Base. While v-150s typically drew power from reactors situated forty meters beneath the surface, the generator for the Echo Base cannon was buried a full kilometer below the icy terrain. These main reactors were scavenged from a Praetor-class Star Battlecruiser.
Before its abandonment, the cannon played a crucial role in providing covering fire for the departing transports from Echo Base as they attempted to break through the blockade maintained by Death Squadron's Imperial-class Star Destroyers in orbit around Hoth. From the base's command center, head controller Toryn Farr directed the ion cannon to target the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Tyrant, successfully disabling it just as the GR-75 medium transport Quantum Storm, the first transport to leave Hoth, managed to evade the Imperial warship and jump into hyperspace. The Alderaanian crew remained at their stations until the battle's conclusion, at which point they rigged the v-150 to explode, providing cover for the final departing transports.
Despite this, the cannon remained structurally sound and functional when Jaden Korr arrived in 14 ABY in search of the Disciples of Ragnos. Two v-150 cannons were also present during Kyle Katarn's mission to Artus Prime.
The New Republic utilized v-150s to protect strategically important but impoverished worlds. However, they proved largely ineffective against the Yuuzhan Vong's biotechnology.
The v-150 Planet Defender made its debut with the release of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and its associated supplementary materials. The ion cannon featured at Echo Base has since appeared in numerous sources. One such source claims that the ion cannon was destroyed to facilitate the Rebels' escape, although this is contradicted by two other sources. In Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds, a 2001 video game, players are tasked with destroying the ion cannon, and must complete this objective before moving on. Conversely, in Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, a 2003 video game, the ion cannon on Hoth is depicted as intact. This article synthesizes information from all three of these sources.
The ion cannon can be seen in the background of the Hoth map skirmish mission in the video game Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike. It is shown firing throughout the duration of the match.